The presenter from the last class made me realize how diverse communities of people can really be. The internet is the driving force for the participatory cultures we were talking about that included Star Wars, Hello Kitty, and Pirates of the Caribbean fandoms. (Swash buckle-swash buckle) Yesterday, I was walking around downtown St. Augustine and I noticed people wearing "authentic" pirate costumes. My friend said that those people dress up like that all the time. They aren't paid, they just take part in these roles for their own personal entertainment. It is an entirely unique experience that only some people take part in around the town. They attempt to recreate a culture and create their own at the same time.
I thought it was interesting to hear about how protective people are about their unique communities. The internet is, for the most part, a public space and people post their opinions and ideas for all to see. But if a stranger comments about something the online community cares about and they aren't familiar with what these people stand for, then controversies erupt and people get offended. If you think about it, though, it's not that surprising. It's like how any "normal" social group would react to outsiders criticizing their community: athletic teams, fraternities, sororities, and other clubs...it's just in a new and different environment.
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1 comment:
You make some good comments on Claire's presentation but your post is on the short side. Remember to expand on your thoughts next time.
-Starfish
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