In taking on the assignment, I had a difficult time finding an online space with a Leviathan. Eventually, I came across a Harry Potter forum at Mugglenet.com, which I had heard was famous for its dedicated fans. However, instead of looking at the Harry Potter-related posts, I decided to look at the “Department of International Magical Cooperation" forum, which was the current events forum. On this particular forum, posters took a break from analyzing Harry Potter to discuss real world affairs.
Upon entering the forum, it was immediately clear as to who acted as the Leviathan: the moderators. The moderators’ two posts at the top of the forum were sticky notes informing visitors of the rules for posting in the forum. One post instructed users on “how to have a pleasant conversation on any topic.” The other post was very specific in giving guidelines for posting: visitors were prohibited from making “rude or offensive comments directed at a person’s beliefs” and from showing “direct disrespect toward any public figure.” Visitors were discouraged from breaking the rules by being warned that the forum was “a heavily moderated and policed area.” The moderators also notified users that if they gave other posters problems, they would be removed from the forum. Moderators further enforced the rules by examining and approving newly submitted threads before posting them publicly.
In chapter four of her book, Wallace discusses under what circumstances Internet users depend on a Leviathan. She explains that people are willing to give up some of their freedoms and obey a Leviathan “in order to preserve the value and energy of the medium itself” (69). In the case of the Harry Potter forum that I observed, the posters were all courteous to each other; they often challenged each other’s points, but they were careful not to attack each other’s views. The posters were willing to give up some of their posting freedoms in order to avoid a hostile environment. Thus, the forum was a space conducive to intelligent and calm reasoning and debate. As Wallace notes, “the presence of some authority figure can have a calming influence and insures participants that a means is available to resolve disputes” (70). Because the posters on the current events forum knew that the moderators were supervising their posts, they refrained from making rude remarks. Visitors were able to focus on the topics being debated and write posts without fear of being involved in a flame war.
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3 comments:
When thinking about the leviathan, I don’t usually think of it as being clearly visible but instead everyone just knows it’s there. It’s interesting that this forum had rules posted so blatantly when those things seem like they would be known to those that use the site. I guess it is better to warn people before they act in an inappropriate manner, and it makes everyone feel more comfortable, but the way in which this forum did it makes me wonder if it may deter people from writing everything they really want in fear that they will be removed. Good post though, and it helps that it involves Harry Potter!
I think it is really interesting that you were able to find an online forum with the rules being stated both so extensively and blatantly on the forum. In the online forum that I observed there was only a small disclaimer at the top; not two separate posts about the rules of the forum. You raise an excellent point in Wallace’s book about individuals giving up smaller freedoms in order to preserve the integrity of their online group. I’m almost surprised that there weren’t individuals on the forum that didn’t try and “test” the leviathan by breaking one of the moderators’s posted rules. Because the leviathan is somewhat hard to detect it’s quite normal to see a small minority of posters violating a rule or two to see what will happen. I that the since the rules were posted so blatantly on the door that it discouraged this kind of experimenting.
Hey Alice, I really like your post, which may or may not be directly related to the fact that it discusses Harry Potter. I think you had an fascinating take on the assignment and found a very original space in which to find and study an internet Leviathan. I think it's very interesting that the Leviathan is so clearly stated in this online environment, and the effect that this "sign on the door" take on enforcing a Leviathan has on the members of the forum. I'm just wondering how you think this effects the "raised eyebrow," and other forms of reproach. Are these forms of reproach even necessary, and if so, how are they achieved? And do you think that this "sign on the door" method of enforcing a Leviathan is more effective than the more self-regulated Leviathan that exists in other internet arenas such as facebook? Overall great, original, and fun post!
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