Webbed Galaxy - Networking and my opinion.

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]I see communities as a web of relationships. Essentially, some people are 'bonded', and some are not. In context of OB, if you've never seen someone before, then you are not bonded to them...unless you've heard about them through others. If there are people who you see around often and respect, but have never spoken to through an IM for example, your bond is different compared to someone you often speak with.

And, as with all social situations, certain groups become obvious. You notice those who fawn and bootlick, those who don't give a damn, those who care about everyone, and the quiet ones. People will separate, like oil and water. Only those who are somewhat similar will bond. Of course, some people are more popular or outgoing than others. As such, they tend to have a larger group of associates or friends, and tend to be more towards the center of their 'group'. Watching from an objective vantage point, you can clearly see the distinguishing marks between groups. You can see who ties them together, who is closely related and who is not. Some people are natural magnets for others, and tend to have their own group which is separate to another magnet's group. But the magnets themselves may be closely related, in terms of the social web.

I suppose it could be thought of as a galaxy. The bigger brighter suns are the more popular and central figures, with their planets, varying in size and centrality. These suns and planets in turn, may interact with other galaxy's suns and planets. Obviously, it gets quite complex, but I believe the distinctions are still there.

I'm not saying that these distinctions are a bad thing, or in any way negative. People gravitate towards certain people, and tend to associate with some people more than others. It is only natural.

So, what does everybody else think about this. Any revelations about the nature of the political or social working of a forum? Things that you yourself have noticed? Have no idea in hell what I mean?[/size]

[DeadSeraphim]

[COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial]Ah, I understand now Josh. It only took half an hour and a new thread in OL about the subject, but you got it through to me. XD Good work. *claps*

I suppose I've noticed these kind of things before, mainly at school but I've seen it at the OB too. There's a massive 'circle' around James, for example... I'd say the majority of people who talk to him just irritate him though, or are trying to get into the admin's good graces, lol. But such interactions are common with figures of power, I guess. lol

There seems to be one of these circles around people in the art forum too... Retribution and Imi and etc. And another in OL. Damn, this gets complicated fast, Josh. lol[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Dagger]

This reminds me of a certain [url=http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/index.htm][u]link[/u][/url] in my signature... although I suppose that could qualify as a different topic altogether. :animesmil

My take on this is probably quite different from that of most OB members. Obviously there are plenty of people I like and respect here, but although I do go on AIM and so forth, I rarely interact with anyone outside the forum itself. I'm open to chatting and such, and I hope it doesn't make me come across as being unfriendly--yet still, I'm not really someone to initiate conversations/relationships, and because of that I mostly stay out of the fray (or whatever one would call it).

~Dagger~

[Semjaza]

This is basically how life is general, honestly. There's always people you might respect or dislike or whatever else to different levels depending on how well acquainted you are with them.

[Retribution]

[quote name='Generic NPC #3']This is basically how life is general, honestly. There's always people you might respect or dislike or whatever else to different levels depending on how well acquainted you are with them.[/quote]
[SIZE=1]You beat me to the punch. I was thinking while reading this, that there are the popular people who are the hub of their group of friends and shine brighter in the social arena, making them a natural sun.[/SIZE]

[Kamuro]

[SIZE=1]I agree with Retri for the most part. Just as groups are formed in real life, they're formed here. I think it's a bit easier here though.

For example, the forum is seperated into different areas allowing people with similar interests to interact freely. So of course people realize certain similarities between them and form a friendship with those they feel closest to within the forum. It's easier to make friends since you're interest and often your intentions are blatant upon entering the forum. You're able to read people's profiles, learn more about them, read their opinions on certain things, and form a bond with their personality without ever having met them before.

Some of the larger groups are more obvious then others, but I'm sure that there is tons of people who get along and could be classified as a group, yet no one else really pays attention to them, or they don't advertise it within the forum. I think a good example of groups within OB is the "Otaku Real World" thread I put up awhile ago. Most of the people who posted wanted to be in the house with their friends and those they thought would make for a fun experience. Same as simply forming a group.

As well as groups, relationships are formed within the forums. People transcend the friend boundary and become something more. A lot of the time couples like to group with one another and simply the long distance relationship is enough to form a common bond. There's a lot of ways to form a "group" lol.[/SIZE]

[Delta]

[COLOR=Firebrick][SIZE=1][b]The Stars[/b]

It seems that the "right person", henceforth known as The Star, already has a system of individuals, henceforth known as Planets, gravitating towards The Star. When a lesser-known star, henceforth known as Star Prime, catches The Star with a non-contact force, the Planets will also start to revolve around Star Prime, forming a binary star system.

[b]The Planets and the Asteroids[/b]

Revolving around Stars are Planets which also have people revolving around them, henceforth known as Satellites, and Asteroids which have no Satellites at all. Of course the Asteroids are greater in number but they fumble through space and collide with each other, and that's probably why they don't survive long. The Planets, on the other hand, have established their orbits around The Star and, save for highly-eccentric, orbit-crossing Planets, will never collide with each other as long as The Star is around.


It's odd that we look at the motion of great celestial bodies to model more trivial terrestial interactions.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Semjaza]

[quote name='Kamuro][SIZE=1']I agree with Retri for the most part. Just as groups are formed in real life, they're formed here. I think it's a bit easier here though.[/SIZE][/quote]

Yeah, for example, I notice butt kissing is far more rampant online than in my general life. People in charge of sites and forums of average to great popularity seem to be sucked up to to a rather large degree. Not that it's surprising. On the other end, they also seem to be subject to the most bitching and criticism lol.

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think the biggest thing I notice on the web is that people tend to feel that they can truly be who they are. For example, a lot of people here may not want to share their love of anime in a typical school situation...but online they can find people who share their interest and there isn't a problem.

So, your success or your popularity is no longer about what you wear or how you look or anything like that. Online, it's much more about your ideas and behavior, I think. In some ways that's better, I guess. It could be said that people are responding to the "real you". But that itself is dependent on interpretation to some degree. For instance, I know that a lot of things (like tone of voice) can't be adequately expressed online. As a result, people can easily be misinterpreted or something can be taken in a way that it wasn't intended. I'm sure that I've made ridiculous comments over the years that people have taken seriously and I've been unaware that they required further explanation (or perhaps something as simple as a wink). But it happens...and it really can't be avoided all the time.

In terms of running sites and stuff, I don't think it's ever an entirely positive thing where popularity is involved. Honestly, if people like you or become your friend because you run a site, then that kind of speaks for itself. At the same time, the bigger the audience is, the more direct criticism and negative comments you get...so yeah, it's absolutely a very mixed bag.

But in terms of a general popularity it's probably just the same as liking someone for making music or writing a book - they're generally popular but that doesn't mean everyone is their friend.[/font]

[Semjaza]

[quote name='James][font=franklin gothic medium']I think the biggest thing I notice on the web is that people tend to feel that they can truly be who they are. For example, a lot of people here may not want to share their love of anime in a typical school situation...but online they can find people who share their interest and there isn't a problem.[/font][/quote]

On the flip side, I feel like a lot of people have a far easier time being something they are [i]not[/i] on the internet as well. Largely due to the same reasons such as the relative anonymity.

[James]

[quote name='Generic NPC #3]On the flip side, I feel like a lot of people have a far easier time being something they are [i]not[/i'] on the internet as well. Largely due to the same reasons such as the relative anonymity.[/quote]

[font=franklin gothic medium]That's very true. I think it's probably usually akin to someone who isn't really vocal about their interests in the real world...but who feels safe enough to do it online. I mean, they can be as expressive or vocal about whatever issues they want, because they are somewhat protected.

Although I'm also sure that many of the people who are very "loud" on the 'net are also very quiet in person. That anonymity can definitely be a curse as well as a blessing.[/font]