Fascinating subject, Geoff!
I'll mostly observe what will be said here, and feel I don't have too much to add. Still, 2 reactions:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff
1 Forums provide a unique opportunity to level the playing field
2 Communication format is text, which influences communication - different members view it as live vs correspondence
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On 1: I do feel the leveling is less complete as you put it. There is the gender difference, but I also strongly recognize an age element. In many cases the difference between people in their teens/ early 20's and the elder is felt and this brings about a different type of dynamics.
On 2: many people don't seem to grasp the effect of irony in writing. Some people never see it, others assume everyone will or should notice. It is annoying then that people refuse to use smileys, because if there is one good application for those "funny faces" it is in the field of emotion and irony (hence "emoticons"
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And something else: the effect of polarisation, be it on the individual level or in groups. Edahn pointed this out earlier on, but I can't remember where
