I'm an internet studies researcher at Syracuse University studying the local blogging phenomenon and writing a book chapter on the topic, focusing on OP as a case study. In late March I visited Chapel Hill and Carrboro and conducted a series of interviews with about 14 contributors to the site. I would like to expand the net of participants in my study to include more readers/lurkers, and others who post and comment.
I am interested in hearing feedback on the following questions:
1. Why do you participate in this site (whether as reader or contributor)?
2. Has your participation changed your ideas about local politics or your community in general?
3. Have you taken any direct actions or made any decisions based upon your participation in the site?
4. Describe instances in which your life in the community has been affected by events played out in the site.
5. What new role if any does the site play in the local community and the lives of its residents?
If you have thoughts on any of these questions, or any other topic you think would add to my research on OP, I would love to hear from you. You can post thoughts here, or email me at rebecca.reynolds AT gmail DOT com. If it's easier for you to talk via phone, email me and I can call you.
Thanks!
Issues:
Comments
1. Why do you participate in
I read OP to get a feel for what other people in my community are thinking. I wish more readers would be commenters.
Absolutely. I haven't lived in Chapel Hill long. But by reading OP I've gotten a better understanding of the community. (part of it any way) Often times things people don't say in person they write online. The opposite is true too. When I meet and talk with people in person its so different. I feel as if I communicate more clear and focused by writing. I wonder if people think about what I write when they talk to me in person. I hope so.
Well... ya. I joined a town board. But that was mostly because of Ruby's influence. But isn't that what OP is? A positive influence I think. :)
I've learned about things fast that I feel the local news wouldn't have explored as deeply as OP can.
Its amazing what you can learn about people from what they write. Talking to people can be so uninformative about intellectual things. But I'm an emotional person and enjoy learning from people by what they don't say. Blogging doesn't replace physical proximity to a person. Hell, I need to meet a lot of ya'll!
I think it acts as a media watch dog, brings light to issues that some would prefer hidden, informs people about what local politicians stand for, and gives people a place to share their deep feelings.
Also I see allot of release happing on OP. For some reason our deep most honest feelings go from our minds to our fingers on keyboards much faster than they do to our mouths. Then we hit the enter key. Pow! Release.
That to me separates the commenters from the readers. Readers suppress. Commenters share. What are the repercussions of our writing that Google copies and caches for all the world to search? I think we'll be rewarded for our courage to write honestly.
Thanks Brian, your insights
Thanks Brian, your insights on some of the psychology of online sharing and release is something new to my interviews. In contrast, I've also heard some talk about how it can be somewhat intimidating to post, given the level of sophistication and argumentation of the people who frequently contribute. An interesting contrast, because that's also what makes the blog great. Thanks for responding! Happy Mem Day Wkend.
1. Why do you participate in
1. Why do you participate in this site (whether as reader or contributor)?
once you get some background information, OP does a pretty good job of keeping you up to date on what is happening in town/county.
2. Has your participation changed your ideas about local politics or your community in general?
I don't think in general, in specific yes.
3. Have you taken any direct actions or made any decisions based upon your participation in the site?
I joined the Orange Unified Transport Board (OUTBOARD) as a step to become more active and have started paying more attention to the town board meetings.
4. Describe instances in which your life in the community has been affected by events played out in the site.
The change in Southern Community Park. I found out about them here instead of at the board meeting when something could have been done about it, hence the renewed interest in what is going on at the board meetings.
5. What new role if any does the site play in the local community and the lives of its residents?
The proverbial, virtual, coffee house/bar. And, I agree with Brian that it is a great place to find out about the local happenings as they happen from many of the people that are making them happen.
Speaking of meta . . . A
Speaking of meta . . .
A diary I wrote has made the recommended list at Daily Kos, so please feel free to drop by and wave the Orange Politics flag. The story is about Art Pope, the man who would be King of North Carolina.
Thank you, James, a million
Thank you, James, a million times for your work in this matter.