What do you think about anonymous users in an online community? How about lurkers?
Ultimately, the nature of anonymous users in an online community, operative word there being community, is something of an inherent contradiction. It is not technically possible to have a community, which is based on the sum of interactions between known or semi-known entities, if the users are anonymous. That being said however, it does not change the fact that the internet is a place that has no hard and fast rules, per se; it is a place where users may do what they like and how they like, and the only real rule is that the user must face for the consequences of their actions, for good or for ill. Philosophically, I find that anonymous users in any community are fine as long as they are not disruptive to the normal operations of the community. People interact the way they do on the internet not just because they want to feel safe in their interactions, but also because they choose to function on their own terms, rather than someone else's. If an anonymous user is causing trouble in the community, it is a simple task for the administrator to simply block the user's IP address to prevent them from ever so much as even getting on the website ever again. Not really a problem.
The case of lurkers, like anonymous users, is similar. Lurkers often are there because the overall conversation within the community, particularly its content, is something interesting and compelling for them to take a look at. They generally cause no harm by existing and looking, and should not feel forced to contribute if they don't want to. Ultimately I subscribe to the idea that a lurker will become a contributor on their own time and terms when it is acceptable for them to do so. Often all it takes is the right forum and the right thread topic to compel a lurker to at last say something. In addition, often lurkers are the way they are to learn to get used to the community's culture and rules, so as not to cause any unnecessary trouble.
I also tend to note that a major reason for my views is a result of my general interactions with internet communities over the last 15 years. There's an interesting misconception on the part of the mainstream population, who feels that the internet is this strange and mysterious community that all belong to a singular organization such as "Anonymous". This is nonsense. The social structure of the internet is an inherent paradox; it is not structured at all; it is anarchy; an environment without government or effective rules. People are allowed to do what they like and accept the consequences for it. This is an uncomfortable concept for many, but it is the truth. There is no organization out to get you; no larger online conspiracy; no "Anonymous" who plots the downfall of western civilization.
Want to know what "Anonymous" really is? It's me, it's you, it's anyone who has ever acted or performed any kind of function or communication online. That's it. There's no sign up sheet for this; no rules, no secret handshake. This is why when the media talks about the idea of an "Anonymous" I find it absolutely ridiculous. They treat it as somekind of organization when really it was a random group of people who decided to do one thing or another in a haphazard form of coordination (most of which is accidental). Last ranting point; there is no such thing as an act of "Anonymous" IRL, or in the real world. Inherently, you can't be anonymous offline, there for it is no longer an action by "Anonymous". So who is anonymous again? You, me, and everyone else on the internet. Who isn't? Everyone when they do something offline. Welcome to the internet, fellow Anonymous.
I enjoyed reading your post. I like your ideas on lurkers because I agree. Lurkers are just people trying to figure out the inner workings of a group before making a move. In one of my classes, we talked about how sometimes librarians have to be lurkers to find out what their young patrons want to learn about or what they are interested in. Many classmates decided that we would lurk on certain online communities to better understand a group of people. It would then be our choice to add to the community. I completely agree that once someone feels comfortable enough in a setting they will choose to speak out. I also found that your ideas about who is “anonymous” interesting. Great post.
ReplyDelete