Comments on: [Insert "field" here] Studies http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/2009/08/31/insert-field-here-studies/ Research in Professional Writing, Games, and Design Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:26:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ashley Gonzalez http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/2009/08/31/insert-field-here-studies/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Ashley Gonzalez Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:52:14 +0000 http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/?p=25#comment-7 It seems like there are two successful approaches to gleaning reliable info from your user base. In the case described in Cathedral and the Bazaar, the developers maintain their membership in the community of users, and by doing so they can release their programs and get feedback about the pros and cons. In the case of WB and HP, WB doesn’t pretend to be a part of the community and doesn’t interfere with the inner workings. They are still able to retrieve info on what aspects are catching on, what people are talking about and why, but they maintain an external presence. In the case of the record label taking over the band site, the label reps breached the trust of fans by feigning membership in an established community, and it cheapened the experience for everyone. I’m sure those points people get for posting don’t provide the insight into the fanbase that the personal connections made way for. I think that in academic circles (even in high school) there is still balance in the give-and-take. Regarding your Facebook example, Chris - it's not like you're using your online connection to these students to only benefit you. They are learning about social networking as well as about a different approach to class material, which they will ultimately benefit from. And both parties experience the convenience factor. I think it will take a lot more than academic use to strip the shine from Facebook. J It seems like there are two successful approaches to gleaning reliable info from your user base. In the case described in Cathedral and the Bazaar, the developers maintain their membership in the community of users, and by doing so they can release their programs and get feedback about the pros and cons. In the case of WB and HP, WB doesn’t pretend to be a part of the community and doesn’t interfere with the inner workings. They are still able to retrieve info on what aspects are catching on, what people are talking about and why, but they maintain an external presence. In the case of the record label taking over the band site, the label reps breached the trust of fans by feigning membership in an established community, and it cheapened the experience for everyone. I’m sure those points people get for posting don’t provide the insight into the fanbase that the personal connections made way for.

I think that in academic circles (even in high school) there is still balance in the give-and-take. Regarding your Facebook example, Chris – it’s not like you’re using your online connection to these students to only benefit you. They are learning about social networking as well as about a different approach to class material, which they will ultimately benefit from. And both parties experience the convenience factor. I think it will take a lot more than academic use to strip the shine from Facebook. J

]]> By: Dave http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/2009/08/31/insert-field-here-studies/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Dave Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:10:20 +0000 http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/?p=25#comment-6 <b>Chris</b>, thanks for commenting! Your experience sounds like something that George Lucas would do with Star Wars fan sites. Fortunately, a lot of higher profile fan cultures are now left alone by the corporate overlords. Companies have figured out that fans will work their butts off to promote and relay information about their favorite media, teams, etc. if they'll just leave that community alone. I spend a lot of online time in an HP fan community, and I'm always amazed at how much latitude J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., and the publishers allow fans to play in the Potterverse. They've had a couple of run-ins with fans (Steve van der Ark being the most famous case). But, for the most part, as long as fans aren't making money off of direct appropriation of the stories, they've largely left HP fans alone. Chris, thanks for commenting! Your experience sounds like something that George Lucas would do with Star Wars fan sites. Fortunately, a lot of higher profile fan cultures are now left alone by the corporate overlords. Companies have figured out that fans will work their butts off to promote and relay information about their favorite media, teams, etc. if they’ll just leave that community alone.

I spend a lot of online time in an HP fan community, and I’m always amazed at how much latitude J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., and the publishers allow fans to play in the Potterverse. They’ve had a couple of run-ins with fans (Steve van der Ark being the most famous case). But, for the most part, as long as fans aren’t making money off of direct appropriation of the stories, they’ve largely left HP fans alone.

]]> By: Chris English http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/2009/08/31/insert-field-here-studies/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Chris English Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:30:15 +0000 http://djone111.grads.digitalodu.com/blog/?p=25#comment-5 I like your example of fan cultures. I was very active in an online forum for my favorite band, but when the band earned a major label deal, the marketing people took over the website and re-tooled the interface, added a point system for posting, and eliminated old threads. Here, marketing factors attempted to take advantage of an existing cyber-culture, but in doing so, changed the nature of the community and left a number of users/community members confused and angry. The "core" of the group broke off and formed an independent forum. I worry about this same cultural pollution from academics. If I force students to use facebook and "friend me" in order to get class updates, do I then take the shine off of using Facebook? I like your example of fan cultures. I was very active in an online forum for my favorite band, but when the band earned a major label deal, the marketing people took over the website and re-tooled the interface, added a point system for posting, and eliminated old threads.
Here, marketing factors attempted to take advantage of an existing cyber-culture, but in doing so, changed the nature of the community and left a number of users/community members confused and angry. The “core” of the group broke off and formed an independent forum.
I worry about this same cultural pollution from academics. If I force students to use facebook and “friend me” in order to get class updates, do I then take the shine off of using Facebook?

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