THE AGE OF THE KEYBOARD WARRIOR

While the internet has opened up channels for dialogic exchange between producers and users, I have not really partaken in the practice beyond simple comments about my friends posted material. In this environment, the banter is restricted to a select network of people that can openly poke fun at each other with little recourse. The issues arise when the discussion environment grows to include anyone who wants to be heard. Issues of anonymity, trolling, moderation and regulation are all areas of concern regarding these open exchanges on the web.

Fiona Martin (2011) discusses these concerns in relation to ABC online forums in her article “Vox Populi, Vox Dei: ABC Online and the Risks of Dialogic Interaction”. Martin covers some of the ways that institutions such as the ABC are attempting to control the flow of discussion including the pre-moderation of comments (pg. 184) and the inclusion of a “three strikes holding policy”(pg. 186) where users that breach the code of conduct have their posts withheld for hours or days (2011).

Tanja raised some interesting discussion points regarding how to balance the two sides to this development. How can we have anonymity and community at the same time? How can we promote the free flow of ideas without allowing for heated debates and most importantly, how can all of this be regulated? Or can it at all? 

I’m a strong believer that the majority of what we do on the internet is self-regulated.  It is up to us to determine what is suitable to present on the web. We can be open to an extent but when it gets to the point where it causes emotional harm, individual morals and ethics should come into play. I believe institutions still have a massive part to play in the regulation of online discussion, but I am more concerned about the number of people out there that join online communities with the sole intention to harm others.

References

Fiona Martin (2012) ‘Vox Populi, Vox Dei: ABC Online and the risks of dialogic interaction’, in Histories of Public Service Broadcasters on the Web, editors, N. Brugger and M. Burns. New York: Peter Lang. pp. 177-192