Crazy Corporations Crooked Contempt

For this post I wish to tie in themes from both weeks 7 and 8.

My first thoughts on Trainz was, who the hell would want to play a train simulator? Secondly, I though that fans obsessed enough to create their own content for a game must clearly know what there getting themselves into and should just get over it. Perhaps a rather naive view, but that is what I thought.

However, after hearing John explain the situation between Trainz enthusiasts and Auran my opinion somewhat changed. Perhaps users should have control over the use of the content they create, and that other companies should take note of the relationship between the Trainz fan community and Auran as it has evolved into a collaborative one beneficial for both parties.

In the lecture notes, Jenkins describes fans in the context of the fan-corporation relationship as having "only the most limited resources with which to influence entertainment industry’s decisions...withing the cultural economy, fans are peasants." Then continues to say that the relationship "is often charged with mutual suspicion, if not open conflict."

What I now find most difficult is how a media corporation could ever actually hold fans of its content with such contenmpt! Ever! Because without fans, media simply would not exist. By one of its most basic definitions 'media' is an organized dissemination of fact, opinion, entertainment and other information. A dissemination to PEOPLE, i.e. FANS! If a media organisation of anysort continues to treat its fans with illregard and contempt, it will eventually find that there will be no more left which will have significat implications for its profit margins i.e. No Fans, NO MONEY! Corporations should act in a way that embraces their fans, not repulses them, or as it was put "a collaborative relationship rather than confrontational", for without fans, media would not exist at all.

My Online Community

The online community I have chosen to join is a forum based community attached to the John Butler Trio official homepage. The purpose of the community is not to make money, rather to bring fans of the John Butler Trio together to discuss everything from the band themselves to a smorgasbord of musical, political and environmental issues.

As well as being highly gifted and accomplished musicians, the John Butler Trio are also extremely vocal about many political and environmental issues. The band use the online community to extend the messages behind their music and it is the discussion of music and such important issues which draws like minded people from around the world to join the community. Fans can keep up to date with whats happening with the band, swap stories and discuss issues which are of interest or importance to them.

The community is divided up into several areas and based on observation is seems that members predominately contribute to their own areas of interest, for instance I found the technical forums such as the jam room of particular interest and participated in as it covered topics related to music and tech issues such as pedals, tuning, amps etc. whereas other members took active roles in promoting political and environmental issues in the ‘Mother Earth’ forums.

To visit the community click HERE!

Click Here to see my very first post to an online community EVER! (It's not much but it's a start).

An Insight on Messenger

I was randomly watching SBS today when Insight came on and they were talking to a group of 13 year olds. They came across the topic of MSN Messanger and online chat and I felt that their opinions were quite interesting and relevant to virtual cultures.

The interview most definatley provided an insight into the minds of young computer users and why they use them.

• They said that they like computers as they are reliable and do what they want.
• They also prefer using computers to other activities such as sport because its multi-function, they can chat, send emails, chat and do their homework all at once.
• They said that they feel like different people online, and that adults should understand that MSN is an important socialising tool for children.
• They felt that with MSN it is eaisier to quarrel because it is not in someones face and you can talk freely.
• It's also eaiser for boys to talk to girls as they felt there is no real life reaction if the girl doesnt like you back.
• One young boy believes "As we grow technology grows with us, like brother and sister."

These statements not only answer questions such as why kids socialise online, but also raise questions such as 'is it healthy for kids to be doing so much socialising online?'

While it is important for children to become technologicaly aware, and parents should understand that online communication does play a role in the socialisation process, I think it is important that socialising online only augments a childs social life in the physical realm, not become their primary source of social interaction.

"Hi, my name is Mina William. I'm 13 and at school I have a reputation for being a computer whiz. I love my computer so much because it's challenging, it's dependable and, when I want to, it feels like as if I'm in a different world. Technology is important for teenagers because it helps them socialise, but some adults don't understand this, but they have to understand, it's just something natural, it's everyday life, like breathing and eating. I don't consider myself a sporty person but I do do some sports but my... ..I prefer the computer more. Teenagers prefer to be on the computer rather than playing sport because it's multifunction - you can do, like, more than one thing at once, like, check your email, talk to a friend and do your homework at the same time. "

- Mina Willams (13yr old boy)

For a transcript of the interview click here and follow the link to 'THIRTEEN'

Community Presentation

Well it's finally holidays! Unfortunatley for me I have several assessment items to attend to. Including my Virtual Cultures online community proposal presentation. Don't have any reading or lectures this week, so I'm gonna improvise and talk about our proposal.

I think the propsal is a good idea, as it forces groups to look pratically about issues surrounding online communities, particuarly an online communities feasibility and how they are constructed.

We are proposing to build an online community for those people associated with the Angel Flight charity. Angel Flight Australia is a charity that co-ordinates non-emergency flights for financially and medically needy people. All flights are free and assist patients or compassionate carers travelling to or from medical facilities anywhere in Australia.

This often leaves loved ones seperated for periods of time, which is where we come in. Our community will help families and friends stay in touch while they are receiving treatment, and also once they return home. It will also enable to 4000+ Angel Flight volunteers a place to communicate aswell.

The community will be both forum based, have a live chat function and a medical health database. There will be specailist areas for all members of the angel flight charity to engage with, such as areas for pilots, patients and carers.

Facebook.com

Read an interesting article in Rolling Stone today, about an online community, facebook.com.

Mark Zuckerberg was studying at Harvard, when frustrated with the admins failure to create an online community for students created facebook.com. At 21 Zuckerberg is now the CEO Facebook, which with over 7 million members is now the seventh most trafficked site on the web, valued at a cool 1.38 BILLION DOLLARS!

The thing I find interesting about facebook, which is most relevant to virtual cultures centers around the issue of online personas. On facebook students must use their .edu emails to join, which has put inherent social pressure on people to be real. As opposed to many communities which use fake alias's and avatars, students are found sharing their real moblie numbers, holiday plans, and topless photos for anybody and everybody to see. According to rolling stone it's like walking through a giant dormitary and every kid is swilling jack daniels. Although created for fun, this is now turning out to the detriment of some students.

Students have been expelled from College because of contraversial facebook profiles, employers are using profiles to screen potential candidates and one person even got arrested for setting fire to nine alabama churches after posting "It is time to reconvene the season of evil!" on his friends profile. Who knows, in 20 years time there may be presidential candidates who will have to answer to facebook?

Here we go

Well I guess I should probably stop wasting my time and start concentrating on the task at hand, right? Writing an online weblog reflecting on the units content. Well I'm not really sure how I'm going to approach this, I don't have an overall plan to how this blog is going to work out, I think I'll just wing it and see what happens. Ok, here we go...

My thoughts so far on virtual cultures

...It was explained to us in our tute that learning about Virtual Cultures will help us advise future employers on policy and such. I can definatley think of a lot better things to spend $490 on. Things that will be much more beneficial to my education/future employer. Nuff said.

Welcome To Chuck Norris Uncut

Why Chuck Norris Uncut? Why Not? It had to be something. Some foreign person had alread taken chucknorris.