Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Computer Communities: Conflict and Cooperation

For today's class, I read Kollock and Smith's chapter "Managing the Virtual Commons. Within this chapter, the problem of conflict and cooperation in computer communities is discussed. Now that communication is available through the computer, relationships are not only face-to-face or through the telephone like they once have been; a new form of social relationships has been created. There is one major concern within this new scope of interaction, and that is the free-rider problem. Taking someone's thoughts and ideas and not contributing your own is always an easier route. This causes a dilemma within computer-mediated communication.

The Usenet provided a public forum for news groups and public discussion. Groups are allowed communicate and interact through posts or threads, but unlike emails, a post in response to someone is visible to the whole group and not just that single person. Similar to the concept of blogging in this class; a person reacts to an article they have read through a blog but it is visible to the whole class and not just the professor. Cooperation in these groups has to be established so that there is a clear and common goal within a group. Being off topic and having lack of focus can steer off the coordination of that group, at the same time destroying the value and meaning of interaction. Free-riding can be a strain on the process of useful interaction and information. For example in a group of four people, if one is free-riding that is 25% decline in the group effort and less is accomplished. On the other hand, if it is large group free-riding is easier to accomplish. I am sure I am not the only person who was in a large group for school or other activities where one or two people in large group made no effort and received the same credit for effort.

Computer-mediated communication, like anything else has both positive and negative aspects. It becomes easier to monitor and watch other peoples actions, but harder to keep track of people who take the "free-ride." The creation of the Usenet made it possible for people to connect for common interests, just as we now have our own websites of preference that we go to, to communicate with others (facebook, myspace, ESPN, CNN, etc.). It is not fair that someone can take information from you but not contribute anything back; the problem of free-riding will probably never go away, but there are alternative methods of blocking or preventing people from participating.

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