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.^ The language game framework provides a useful and relevant lens for researchers interested in taking a developmental approach to the study of online discussion forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Based on our findings, we posit general inferences regarding how professional groups with loose social ties can develop sustainable online discussion forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ This is an internet forum, on a site about making fun of stupid things that people do.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[1] It originated as the modern equivalent of a traditional
bulletin board, and a technological evolution of the dialup
bulletin board system.
[2][3] From a technological standpoint,
forums or
boards are
web applications managing
user-generated content.
[3][4]
.^ Locked Reply Contact bstorer: As it is now, attempting to correct people results in replies saying, "Who made you boss of the forum?"- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ This is an internet forum, on a site about making fun of stupid things that people do.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Not everyone spends all their time on Internet forums, so there are going to be a lot of people who don't understand how to use sucky forum software.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
History
.^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Other contributors to the forum occasionally took on the facilitative role and could do so in a smooth, effective fashion, mimicking the moderator/facilitator's behavior.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP is nearly the only contributor to post messages during this argument segment, and when others post they don't refer to the argument.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ You seem to confuse a desire on my part to develop, nuture and protect the particular culture of this forum with some kind of authority complex.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Messages that provide information (e.g., state opinions, point to resources, describe experiences, pass on suggestions) are more frequent than messages that request information (i.e., ask questions).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ What's more, Michael has indicated on IRC several times that is planning to get particular users banned from the forums.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[2]
.^ Beyond these basic forms of relationship management, the forum contributors develop several idiosyncratic communicative practices.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
In terms of countable posts, Japan is far in the lead with over two million posts per day on their largest forum,
2channel.
.^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Forums perform a function similar to that of dial-up
bulletin board systems and
Usenet networks that were common from the late 1970s to the 1990s.
[2] .^ Based on our findings, we posit general inferences regarding how professional groups with loose social ties can develop sustainable online discussion forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Whoever was joining the forum could have a sense of social belonging by reading the messages, often starting with "dear group," "dear KM Forum members," etc.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ KM is then I regret to say that this need will not be fulfilled at this forum I believe that sense making is the actual knowledge creation process for the community" .- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Is there usually a sports game usually tuned in on your television?
^ What video or computer online games do you give a thumbs-up to?
^ Other studies might take a comparative approach to investigate linguistic development at the level of topical domains, such as comparing the evolution of forums devoted to the KM theme or comparing forums on particular medical topics, to surmise whether there is a specific language game enacted for each of these topics.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Internet slang and
image macros popular across the Internet are abundant and widely used in Internet forums.
.^ The language game of guru involves formal recognition as such; gurus are identified, usually with titles (e.g., "Dr.," "guru") and treated with respect by others in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Not everyone spends all their time on Internet forums, so there are going to be a lot of people who don't understand how to use sucky forum software.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In sum, a language game approach offers researchers who are interested in studying online forums a powerful framework to investigate such forums' evolution and dynamics.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
The configuration and records of posts can be stored in
text files or in a
database. Each package offers different features, from the most basic, providing text-only postings, to more advanced packages, offering
multimedia support and formatting code (usually known as
BBCode). Many packages can be integrated easily into an existing website to allow visitors to post comments on articles.
.^ The language game of guru involves formal recognition as such; gurus are identified, usually with titles (e.g., "Dr.," "guru") and treated with respect by others in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Wordpress comments at the bottom of a blog post allow for a single-threaded discussion of any given blog post.
.^ Recently, Michael has taken an interest in moderating this forum more closely.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Is there a moderator (administrator of the forum) or facilitators (persons who direct discussion content)?- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In T2, there are many references to a common identity as well as some discussions about behaviors that are acceptable or not in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Registration or anonymity
.^ You seem to confuse a desire on my part to develop, nuture and protect the particular culture of this forum with some kind of authority complex.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Just because you have been here longer than most, and have posted way too much, does not make you some sort of authority figure.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Registered users of the site are referred to as
members and are allowed to submit or send electronic messages through the
web application.
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In other words, long-term performing seems to prevent any movement to adjourn as a forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The forums provide an alternative to educational courses or dues-paying associations that require face-to-face encounters, bounded times of interaction or other formalities and obligations.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[5][6][7] Subsequently, if all goes well, the candidate is presented with a
web form to fill requesting at the very least: a
username (an alias), password, email and validation of a
CAPTCHA code.
While simply completing the registration
web form is generally enough to generate an account
[note 1] the status label
Inactive is commonly given by default until the registered user confirms the email address given while registering indeed belongs to him.
.^ It seems as though this "moderator" couldn't figure out how to use the forum software, though, so he ended up posting it to pastebin.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Locked Reply Contact <*ranting about edit times on forum posts*> .- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Then it may be time to add some new mods.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Internet Forums are used frequently in conjunction with multiplayer online game sites.
Sometimes a
referrer system is implemented.
.^ We learn from KMforum that a loose collection of professionals who share interest in a common topic but otherwise do not know one another or share task goals or incentives can develop a rhythm of conversation that allows them to develop sustainable interaction.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Because discourse constitutes the essence of discussion forums, Wittgenstein's framework would seem to offer a particularly powerful approach for studying how people who otherwise do not know one another can enter, participate and exit from an online social setting with ready ease.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Locked Reply Contact I don't mind that he locked the SS thread, its not like another one can't be started anytime for those who feel left out.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The language game of guru involves formal recognition as such; gurus are identified, usually with titles (e.g., "Dr.," "guru") and treated with respect by others in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Such an approach would help to highlight the dynamics of learning within professional development forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[8] The purpose is commonly just to give credit (sometimes rewards are implied) to those who help the community grow.
In areas such as China and Japan, registration is frequently optional and anonymity is sometimes even encouraged.
[9] .^ This may be related to the high value placed on titles, and formalities in use of titles, in Indian culture (India Review, 2003).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Roles, social identity, and linguistic style are merely three of the many dimensions of organizing that may occur within a forum's discourse.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ One could explain the emergence of these practices as a more intimate discourse that emerges after the forum has established a strong enough feeling of social identity.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Rules and policies on forums
.^ A preliminary view of the contents suggested that the forum is made up of a loose collection of professionals—not a tight community—and meets the description of professional development forum as defined early in this paper.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ ROLES Moderator - the administrator of the forum who regulates the technology or its use by contributors.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Efforts have to be made right at the beginning not only to get the discussion going but also to set the context and behaviors that will become the basis for the forum's routine of discourse long into its life.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Some reflection on the rules and the aim of the community (9 messages) + 4 messages referring to the activity of the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ It seems as though this "moderator" couldn't figure out how to use the forum software, though, so he ended up posting it to pastebin.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ (The "learn to use the forum software" thing is getting nearly as bad.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Not everyone spends all their time on Internet forums, so there are going to be a lot of people who don't understand how to use sucky forum software.- Forum Moderator WTF - TDWTF Forums 15 September 2009 10:27 UTC forums.thedailywtf.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Rules on forums usually apply to the entire user body and often have preset exceptions, most commonly designating a section as an exception. For example, in an
IT forum any discussion regarding anything but computer
programming languages may be against the rules, with the exception of a
general chat section.
.^ In the case described in this article, ignoring conflict was a smart and wise choice by forum participants as it allowed the participants to maintain their language game.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Our analysis shows how rules of linguistic interaction emerge around these three dimensions and help to shape social order in the forum over time.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Most American forum software contains such a system.
[10][11] .^ One could also add some functionalities such as pictures or videos in order to embody the different actors and their postings (per Mynatt et al., 1998).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Using it will notify all currently available moderators of its location, and subsequent action or judgment can be carried out immediately, which is particularly desirable in large or very developed boards. Generally, moderators encourage members to also use the
private message system if they wish to report behavior. Moderators will generally frown upon attempts of moderation by non-moderators, especially when the would-be moderators do not even issue a report.
.^ GV indicates that he is not a moderator anymore, but he nonetheless acts the part by stating rules and advice: (167) "when this e-group was started it was moderated so that such occasions do not occur.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP posts frequently and in a few instances acts as a moderator.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The argument with JF was occurring in another online forum (which we will call KM-2forum), but the moderator of that forum stopped posting PP's messages (according to PP).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
While not harmful, statements which attempt to enforce the rules are discouraged.
[12]
When rules are broken several steps are commonly taken. First a warning is usually given; this is commonly in the form of a
private message but recent development has made it possible for it to be integrated into the software. Subsequently, if the act is ignored and warnings do not work, the member is – usually – first exiled from the forum for a number of days. Denying someone access to the site is called a
ban. Bans can mean the person can no longer log in or even view the site anymore.
.^ Over time, the game's discourse became more intimate as players addressed one another by name and issued invitations and follow-on notes about face-to-face events.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Continuous harassment of the site eventually leads to a permanent ban. However, in most cases this simply means the account is locked. In extreme cases where the offender – after being permanently banned – creates another account and continues to harass the site, administrators will apply an
IP ban (this can also be applied at the server level): if the IP is static, the machine of the offender is prevented from accessing the site. In some extreme circumstances, IP range bans or country bans can be applied; however, this is usually for political, licensing or other reasons. See also:
Block (internet),
IP blocking,
Internet censorship.
Offending content is usually deleted. Sometimes if the topic is considered the source of the problem, it is locked; often a poster may request a topic expected to draw problems to be locked as well, although the moderators decide whether to grant it. In a locked thread, members cannot post anymore. In cases where the topic is considered a breach of rules it – with all of its posts – may be deleted.
Troll
.^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Collectively, the research to date shows that intimate relationships and development of community are possible online, and that online forums can be productive and sustainable.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The building of the community is a key topic in T1, with GV's messages often hailing the latest number of participants.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Their provocative behavior may potentially start
flame wars (see below) or other disturbances. Responding to a troll's provocations is commonly known as 'feeding the troll' and is generally discouraged, as it can encourage their disruptive behavior.
Sock puppet
.^ Numbers in parentheses preceding quotes refer to message number in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ References to Indian thinkers (7 messages refer to 4 different "gurus").- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Some reflection on the rules and the aim of the community (9 messages) + 4 messages referring to the activity of the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
The analogy of a sock puppet is of a puppeteer holding up both hands and supplying dialogue to both puppets simultaneously.
.^ Some of these are maintained during the five time periods, whereas others are patterned early on but then are replaced with new practices in later periods.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ On the other hand, the pattern of feedback—expressing agreement or disagreement, and seeking others' reactions to comments—is rarely used in T1-T3 and increases markedly in T4, which corresponds to the period where the forum is well-established.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Similarly, personal addressing—"speaking" one-on-one to others in the forum—grows markedly in later periods.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Sock puppets are usually found when an IP check is done on the accounts in forums.
Spamming
Forum spamming is a breach of netiquette where users repeat the same word or phrase over and over, but differs from multiple posting in that spamming is usually a willful act which sometimes has malicious intent. This is a common trolling technique. It can also be traditional
spam, unpaid
advertisements that are in breach of the forum's rules. Spammers utilize a number of illicit techniques to post their spam, including the use of
botnets.
.^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Double posting
.^ Post only one message T1-T5 .- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ It is not a particularly large forum; people come and go, with the majority of visitors contributing one message.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Post only one message T1-T5 .- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ He still plays facilitator and moderator roles but much less enthusiastically than in earlier periods, especially after an argument segment which occurs in this period; thereafter, GV mainly forwards messages and posts articles.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP is nearly the only contributor to post messages during this argument segment, and when others post they don't refer to the argument.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Multiple posting instead of editing prior posts can artificially inflate a user's post count.
.^ Figure 2 shows the message posting pattern for the forum over time, and Table 1 summarizes the types of contributors and their posting patterns.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Members must go to the forum website to read and post messages, which include text and limited graphics capability.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The argument with JF was occurring in another online forum (which we will call KM-2forum), but the moderator of that forum stopped posting PP's messages (according to PP).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Multiple posting can also be used as a method of
trolling or spreading
forum spam. A user may also send the same post to several forums, which is termed
crossposting.
.^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ It is not a particularly large forum; people come and go, with the majority of visitors contributing one message.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Word censor
A word
censoring system is commonly included in the forum software package.
.^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The language game of guru involves formal recognition as such; gurus are identified, usually with titles (e.g., "Dr.," "guru") and treated with respect by others in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In other words, long-term performing seems to prevent any movement to adjourn as a forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The language game of guru involves formal recognition as such; gurus are identified, usually with titles (e.g., "Dr.," "guru") and treated with respect by others in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[13][14] But such auto-censors can make mistakes, for example censoring "
wristwatch" to "wris****ch", "
Scunthorpe" to "S****horpe", or "
shitaki" to "****aki."
Forum structure
.^ The argument with JF was occurring in another online forum (which we will call KM-2forum), but the moderator of that forum stopped posting PP's messages (according to PP).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ In all of these analyses our approach was exploratory, intended to generate insights into the development of the forum and its evolutionary phases.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Whoever was joining the forum could have a sense of social belonging by reading the messages, often starting with "dear group," "dear KM Forum members," etc.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Today these forums are vast, covering innumerable specialty topics for a wide array of professional groups.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[citation needed]
User groups
.^ Whoever was joining the forum could have a sense of social belonging by reading the messages, often starting with "dear group," "dear KM Forum members," etc.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Privileges and rights are given based on these groups.
.^ Based on our findings, we posit general inferences regarding how professional groups with loose social ties can develop sustainable online discussion forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Although case studies of tightly-knit online groups are of interest, more studies are sorely needed of loose, fragile forums that make up the bulk of the online landscape.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[15] .^ Tends to post long messages that are just articles or references.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ During this period there were 527 messages posted by a total of 123 contributors.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Is there a moderator (administrator of the forum) or facilitators (persons who direct discussion content)?- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[16]
An unregistered user of the site is commonly known as a
guest or
visitor. Guests are typically granted access to all functions that do not require database alterations or breach privacy.
.^ A preliminary view of the contents suggested that the forum is made up of a loose collection of professionals—not a tight community—and meets the description of professional development forum as defined early in this paper.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Is there a moderator (administrator of the forum) or facilitators (persons who direct discussion content)?- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The language game of guru involves formal recognition as such; gurus are identified, usually with titles (e.g., "Dr.," "guru") and treated with respect by others in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
[note . A person who is a very frequent visitor of the forum, a section or even a thread is referred to as a
lurker and the habit is referred to as
lurking.
^ Is there a moderator (administrator of the forum) or facilitators (persons who direct discussion content)?- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Newcomers introduce themselves—often indicating that they have been lurking for a while.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ But the forums generally produce no tangible products; nor do they provide the participants with tangible rewards or outcomes.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Whoever was joining the forum could have a sense of social belonging by reading the messages, often starting with "dear group," "dear KM Forum members," etc.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Moderator
.^ Members discuss the aim and netiquette of the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ ROLES Moderator - the administrator of the forum who regulates the technology or its use by contributors.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Because they have access to all posts and threads in their area of responsibility, it is common for a friend of the site owner to be promoted to moderator for such a task.
.^ At one point a contributor calls on others to learn more about human resource policies in specific companies, and he generates many replies.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In T2, there are many references to a common identity as well as some discussions about behaviors that are acceptable or not in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ There are also general discussions about definitions and concepts, and discussions about practical issues in specific contexts.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
They also can do anything to lend a helping hand to a user in need.
[17] Moderators themselves may have ranks: some may be given mod privileges over only a particular topic or section, while others (called 'global' or 'super') may be allowed access anywhere. Common privileges of moderators include: deleting, merging, moving, and splitting of posts and threads, locking, renaming,
stickying of threads, banning, suspending, unsuspending, unbanning, warning the members, or adding, editing, removing the polls of threads.
[18]
Essentially, it is the duty of the moderator to manage the day-to-day affairs of a forum or board as it applies to the stream of user contributions and interactions. The relative effectiveness of this user management directly impacts the quality of a forum in general, its appeal, and its usefulness as a community of interrelated users.
Administrator
The
administrators (short form: "admin") manage the technical details required for running the site.
.^ GV indicates that he is not a moderator anymore, but he nonetheless acts the part by stating rules and advice: (167) "when this e-group was started it was moderated so that such occasions do not occur.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ As the rules became established and well performed on the part of the group, the moderator/facilitator became less active; nonetheless, he remained present throughout the 15 months of the forum's life.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The facilitator/moderator can set up the rules and make sure that they are followed, as suggested by Preece (2000).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Administrators often also act as
moderators. Administrators may also make forum-wide announcements, or change the appearance (known as the skin) of a forum.
[18]The term
prune used extensively in administration panels is synonymous with
delete or
remove. The term comes from
pruning, the practice of removing diseased, non-productive, or otherwise unwanted portions from a plant.
Post
.^ This step required multiple readings of the complete text of the all messages that composed each time block.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Figure 2 shows the message posting pattern for the forum over time, and Table 1 summarizes the types of contributors and their posting patterns.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ We segmented the data into five three-month blocks so that we could identify and compare patterns within and between these blocks of time.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Members are usually allowed to edit or delete their own posts.
.^ They post one or two messages once in a while.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ We can separate dimensions conceptually, but, in fact, they dynamically evolve and influence one another.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
The first post starts the thread; this may be called the TS (thread starter) or OP (original post).
.^ At one point a contributor calls on others to learn more about human resource policies in specific companies, and he generates many replies.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ He also plays a role in stirring up discussions, raising questions, challenging the group to respond, and, at times, summarizing a discussion thread.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Figure 2 shows the message posting pattern for the forum over time, and Table 1 summarizes the types of contributors and their posting patterns.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ However, more than a formal netiquette, it is the way the messages are written—how informal, friendly and positive they are—that will create a sense of sociability and belonging, allowing newcomers to have a sense of the forum's style as soon as they start reading the postings.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Members must go to the forum website to read and post messages, which include text and limited graphics capability.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Posts have an internal limit usually measured in characters. Often one is required to have a message of minimum length of 10 characters.
.^ Many 50 in 10 postings (most of them in the argument period).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Most of the messages are fairly long (20-30 lines).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Most forums keep track of a user's postcount. The postcount is a measurement of how many posts a certain user has made.
[19] Users with higher postcounts are often considered more reputable than users with lower postcounts. However, some forums have disabled postcounts in the hopes that doing so will reduce the emphasis on quantity over quality of information.
Thread
A thread (sometimes called a topic) is a collection of posts, usually displayed – by default
[citation needed] – from oldest to latest, although this is typically configurable: options for newest to oldest and for a threaded view (a tree-like view applying logical reply structure before chronological order) can be available.
.^ GV stops stirring up discussions and only provides announcements, often posting articles with no greetings.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ He also plays a role in stirring up discussions, raising questions, challenging the group to respond, and, at times, summarizing a discussion thread.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP is nearly the only contributor to post messages during this argument segment, and when others post they don't refer to the argument.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ They post one or two messages once in a while.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
A thread is contained in a forum, and may have an associated date which is taken as the date of the last post (options to order threads by other criteria are generally available). When a member posts in a thread it will jump to the top since it is the latest updated thread.
.^ PP is nearly the only contributor to post messages during this argument segment, and when others post they don't refer to the argument.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Members must go to the forum website to read and post messages, which include text and limited graphics capability.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In the last periods, postings increasingly referred to conferences and some members suggested the creation of local chapters.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Threads which are important but rarely receive posts are
stickyed (or, in some software, 'pinned'). A
sticky thread will always appear in front of normal threads, often in its own section.
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ But no one replies to PP's postings; hence, no one joins him in the language game that he is initiating.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Some forums also track page views.
.^ Other practices, such as the use of collective language, the reference to rules and netiquette, and the praising of the number of members, are enacted only during some periods.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
This icon may stand out more to emphasize the thread.
Thread (viewing as moderator)
|
Forum (viewing as moderator)
|
Discussion
Forums prefer a premise of open and free discussion and often adopt
de facto standards.
.^ In T2, there are many references to a common identity as well as some discussions about behaviors that are acceptable or not in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Because of their volatile and random behavior it is not uncommon for nonsense or unsocial behavior to sprout as people lose temper, especially if the topic is
controversial. Poor understanding of differences in values of the participants is a common problem on forums.
.^ Efforts have to be made right at the beginning not only to get the discussion going but also to set the context and behaviors that will become the basis for the forum's routine of discourse long into its life.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP in the argument: "I include back the KMforum (KM India) because it is important to study what is going on here and to communicate back into the American community the feelings from India about this."- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ He posts several aggressive messages arguing with another well-known consultant.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
It is not uncommon for a style over substance or
ad hominem debates to be the ones to take it over.
Flame wars
.^ We integrate the results of the case study to highlight the major phases of forum development.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Our results suggest that Wenger et al.'s advice may apply to online professional forums that form outside of corporate boundaries.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ It seems that some people know one other, at least by reputation; however, there are no references to off-line meetings and, hence, no embodiment.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
When the discussion becomes heated and sides do nothing more than complain and not accept each other's differences in point of view, the discussion degenerates into what is called a
flame war.
.^ Here’s how one woman found that giving someone a little more than expected can go a long way.
.^ We refer to this phenomenon as embodiment of the language game-the link between the forum and sharing of physical space.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Using Wittgenstein's (1953, 1969) language game framework, we analyze the evolution of an online discussion forum of information systems professionals in India.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Although it would be possible to examine the language game surrounding a forum's topical focus (e.g., knowledge management), our interest is in the language game of the forum as an organizing entity.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
)
When a topic that has degenerated into a flame war is considered akin to that of the forum (be it a section or the entire board), spam and flames have a chance of spreading outside the topic and causing trouble, usually in the form of vandalism.
.^ We examine expression of social identity within the discourse to assess coherence among the players and the distinctiveness of the online language game from other language games of which the forum may be a part, such as the geographic locale or the larger professional community.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Evolution of an online forum for knowledge management professionals: A language game analysis.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ We hope the initial study reported here leads to further inquiry into the language games of online forums and their developmental processes.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In today's fast-paced, global business environment online discussion forums present a potentially valuable venue for interaction among busy, working professionals.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ During this time there are many discussions about appropriate behaviors, the aim of the forum, and its activity.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Common features
By default to be an Internet forum, the web application needs an ability to submit threads and replies. Forum software may sometimes allow categories or subforums. The chronological older-to-newer view is generally associated with forums (the newer to older being associated more akin to blogs).
Tripcodes and capcodes
In a tripcode system, a secret password is added to the user's name following a separator character (often a
number sign). This password, or tripcode, is
hashed into a special key, or trip, distinguishable from the name by HTML styles.
.^ First, we review some of the known properties of online discussion forums and the challenges they confront.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Moderators and administrators will frequently assign themselves capcodes, or tripcodes where the guessable trip is replaced with a special notice (such as "# Administrator"), or cap.
Private message
.^ As a Vocalpoint member, you'll be able to speak your mind on the Message Board and let other members know your thoughts on Vocalpoint experiences or any other topic that interests you.
^ Apart from the core group, there are three members who are highly active in T1 (i.e., post more than 5 messages) who then stop making any contribution after T1 or T2.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ As GV recedes as facilitator in T3 and T4, other members of the core contributing group become more active in stirring up discussions.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
The ability to send so-called
carbon copies is sometimes available. When sending a
carbon copy (cc), the users to whom the message is sent directly will not be aware of the recipients of the carbon copy or even if one was sent in the first place.
[example 1]
Private messages are generally used for personal conversations.
.^ The used sheet picks up all the lint, it's great!
Attachment
An attachment can be almost any file. When someone attaches a file to a post they are uploading the file to the forums' server. Forums usually have very strict limit on what can be attached and what cannot (among which the size of the files in question).
BBCode and HTML
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is sometimes allowed but usually its use is discouraged or when allowed it is extensively filtered. When HTML is disabled
Bulletin Board Code (BBCode) is the most common preferred alternative. BBCode usually consists of a tag, similar to HTML only instead of
< and
> the tagname is enclosed within square brackets (meaning:
[ and
]). Commonly
[i] is used for
italic type,
[b] is used for
bold,
[u] for
underline,
[color="value"] for color and
[list] for lists, as well as
[img] for images and
[url] for links.
The following example BBCode: [b]This[/b] is [i]clever[/i] [b] [i]text[/i] [/b] when the post is viewed the code is rendered to HTML and will appear as: This is clever text.
.^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ However, more than a formal netiquette, it is the way the messages are written—how informal, friendly and positive they are—that will create a sense of sociability and belonging, allowing newcomers to have a sense of the forum's style as soon as they start reading the postings.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ One could also add some functionalities such as pictures or videos in order to embody the different actors and their postings (per Mynatt et al., 1998).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Emoticon
.^ There is now heavy use of punctuation and emoticons to express emotions, creating an oral style.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Some patterns, such as those associated with social identity, were enacted during all five periods but through different communicative practices as the forum evolved.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
XD,
:p) are rendered as a small image.
.^ For example, studies could compare online forums discussing medicine, supply chain management, or graphic design.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ PP brings argument into the language game of the forum; but since others do not reply to any of his postings regarding the argument, an argumentative discourse fails to take off.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Although it would be possible to examine the language game surrounding a forum's topical focus (e.g., knowledge management), our interest is in the language game of the forum as an organizing entity.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
*(^O^)*,
(^-^)b).
Poll
Most forums implement an
opinion poll system for threads. Most implementations allow for single-choice or multi-choice (sometimes limited to a certain number) when selecting options as well as private or public display of voters. Polls can be set to expire after a certain date or in some cases after a number of days from its creation. Members vote in a poll and a statistic is displayed graphically.
RSS and ATOM
RSS and
ATOM feeds allow a minimalistic means of subscribing to the forum.
.^ Life seems to reappear only in the last few messages posted during the period.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Other forum features
.^ PP is nearly the only contributor to post messages during this argument segment, and when others post they don't refer to the argument.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
In most implementations they are referred to as
foe list or
ignore list. Usually the posts are not hidden, but minimized with only a small bar indication a post from the user on the
ignore list is there.
[11][20] .^ Members must go to the forum website to read and post messages, which include text and limited graphics capability.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Initiated an argument with a member of another forum and uses KMforum as a stage to display the argument.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ First, we review some of the known properties of online discussion forums and the challenges they confront.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ We look for patterns of speech related to each dimension with the aim of then integrating these into a comprehensive understanding of the forum's overall language game.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
It usually notifies either by email or on the site when the member returns. The option to subscribe is available for every thread while logged in.
.^ How open source software works: "Free" user-to-user assistance.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ Based on our findings, we posit general inferences regarding how professional groups with loose social ties can develop sustainable online discussion forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ For these and other reasons, a number of researchers have argued that many forums fail to function as "communities" and instead operate as very loose networks with (at best) weak social ties (e.g., Jones, 1997; Jones, Ravid, & Rafaeli, 2004).- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Some patterns, such as those associated with social identity, were enacted during all five periods but through different communicative practices as the forum evolved.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Such features include personal galleries, pages as well as a social network like
chat systems.
Comparison with other Web applications
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Greetings of new members, expressions of politeness and gratitude; Parenthetical expression continues; Message forwarding, linking of messages, and feedback persist as in T1; Few personal addresses.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Figure 2 shows the message posting pattern for the forum over time, and Table 1 summarizes the types of contributors and their posting patterns.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The argument involved one of the active members of the forum, PP, but the target of his argument (JF) was not a member of KMforum and never replied to PP's postings in the forum.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The language game framework provides a useful and relevant lens for researchers interested in taking a developmental approach to the study of online discussion forums.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The forum has no formally stated rules or requirements for participation.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Early in this period PP is very active and uses the forum as a stage to display an argument he is having with JF, a participant in a different KM forum (491): "I suggest that this discussion between John and his supporters and I and my supporters move to the KM India forum."- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The forum has no formally stated rules or requirements for participation.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ But the forums generally produce no tangible products; nor do they provide the participants with tangible rewards or outcomes.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.^ The well-defined and friendly patterns of discourse allow newcomers to enter and participate, even as the forum's game is ongoing with others.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Visitors to a forum must be able to interpret text comfortably, find meaningful content, and know how to formulate messages that will interest others.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ In all, we examined 15 months of message content.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
This level of content manipulation is reserved for moderators or administrators on most forums. Wikis also allow the creation of other content outside the
talk pages.
.^ Although GV is the most active contributor, there are three other highly active contributors and some less active contributors whose messages generate extensive discussion.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Life seems to reappear only in the last few messages posted during the period.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ At one point a contributor calls on others to learn more about human resource policies in specific companies, and he generates many replies.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Forums differ from
chat rooms and
instant messaging in that forum participants do not have to be online simultaneously to receive or send messages.
.^ Many posts refer to his work at the EI forum and to some work on Topic.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Figure 2 shows the message posting pattern for the forum over time, and Table 1 summarizes the types of contributors and their posting patterns.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Members must go to the forum website to read and post messages, which include text and limited graphics capability.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
One rarity among forums is the ability to create your own picture album.
.^ The forum name, participant names, and other personal identifiers have been substituted with fictitious names.- Evolution of an Online Forum for Knowledge Management Professionals: A Language Game Analysis 23 September 2009 0:00 UTC jcmc.indiana.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Pictures are in the same format as posting threads, and contain the same options such as "Report Post" and "Reply to Post".
See also
Notes
- ^ an account is a space on the site identified by the chosen username through which a member carries out activities and contributes.
- ^ read marking is the process through which a thread, post or forum which has been viewed is distinguished from those which have not. The function is usually automatic with the addition of controls, like Mark All etc.
Examples
- ^ Presuming someone is sending a private message and has the ability to send carbon copies: If someone fills the recipient field with "John" and "Tom", and the carbon copy field with "Gordon". John will know Tom got the message. Tom knows John got the message. But, both Tom and John have no clue that Gordon got the message as well.
References
Wikis
Quiz
Facts
Map
Search
