CMC probably only recently gained attention among researchers as an area of study that will potentially yield many interesting insights about human cultures. It appears to be a really dynamic field, since the tools and technologies involved are ever evolving and developing very rapidly.
One focal issue that arises in the literature on CMC is that of computer intervention, and the ways in which it leads to human communication behaviour being different from behaviour in real life, or from other more traditional discourse contexts. Academics have come to regard forms of CMC such as online journals as constituting a genre of their own. Some unique features that have been thought to characterize online journals include the prevalent use of non-standard vocabulary and spelling (slang, ungrammatical forms, etc) and haphazard narrative lines.These features which deviate from standard forms of writing are viewed as attempts by authors to assert their individuality (Eg. See Sutton, 1999), and therefore assist in the projection of a unique identity.
For forums and chatrooms, options for anonymity sometimes presents opportunities for socially inappropriate behaviour – such as ‘flaming’ (hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users) and the use of excessively emotive or vulgar language when sharing opinions.
Source: http://wineeconomist.com/2007/11/
This frequently cited comic by Peter Steiner succinctly captures the notion of anonymity on the Internet, and its potential implications. On the Internet, one may use language to project different social identities (female or male; teenager or professional, etc). This seems to have provided the basis for studies on CMCs like Blogs and Instant Messaging and how they are used to negotiate individual and group identities.
Thus, it seems that Internet and other forms of new media in general have really offered a whole range of opportunities for not just communication, but also self-expression for people today. I find discourse and communication in computer-mediated forms really interesting and worthy of further pursuit by academics and researchers, especially if it allows us to examine the extent to which technology has shaped the way we write and communicate in modern tech-savvy societies of today.
I think CMC does allow us to be someone else and behave differently from our normal selves.
ReplyDeleteCMC in a way provides a shield to conceal our true identity. Hence, we have the power to say and be everything we want while staying well hidden behind our whatever gadgets.
I think this is one of the reasons why the Internet is becoming an increasingly popular place to trick people: older men preying on children, fake you-win-$100000000000-lottery emails, etc.
While the current concern now is more on the issue identity theft, I think the issue of multiple identities created through CMC will certainly pose further dangers in the future.
True. Research on CMC has grown steadily over the years, a strong evidence of the importance of CMC on our lives.
ReplyDelete