January 2002 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

CFP: Ethnographies of the Internet -- Grounding Regulation in Lived Experience
by Christian Sandvig 15 Jan '02

15 Jan '02

Dear AIR colleagues, I'm circulating the call for papers for our upcoming one-day conference again as there seems to still be some confusion about the deadline for abstracts (likely because of a typo in my first post about it -- many apologies!). The abstract deadline is not until the 21st of this month. Sincerely, Christian Sandvig ------------------------ Christian Sandvig christian.sandvig(a)csls.oxford.ac.uk http://www.niftyc.org/ *************************************************************************** Ethnographies of the Internet: Grounding Regulation in Lived Experience CALL FOR PAPERS Oxford University - Friday, 8 March 2002 Researchers studying Internet use are invited to submit work with policy implications for a one-day research conference to be held at Oxford University. This conference will bring together grounded research that produces deep ethnographic accounts of the way that the Internet is formed or negotiated by particular actors in a specific context, and open a discussion about the lessons social science holds for law and policy debates affecting the Internet. These debates include: freedom of expression, protection of minors, privacy, consumer protection, social exclusion/the "digital divide", intellectual property protection, globalisation, industrial and economic development, political participation, access to public services, and others. RATIONALE Governments and content developers for on-line media are now acting to influence the development of the Internet on a number of fronts. At the same time, scholars from many disciplines have applied social scientific methods to the study of those who use and create the Internet. This conference seeks to deepen our understanding of the confluence of use, policy, and content production by confronting the interventions of private and public actors with the scholarship on Internet use. Specifically, we hope to open a dialogue between policymakers, leaders in the on-line media, and specialists in law and policy - and those who are developing rich and detailed knowledge about the use of the Internet in everyday situations through empirical research. RESEARCH TOPICS For the purposes of this conference, terms such as Internet "policy" and "regulation" are meant to be as inclusive as possible. Internet policy might include other policy initiatives not mentioned above, and regulation might involve public agencies, private groups, and NGOs; regulation might consist of state action, but also industry codes of conduct that preempt state action, or even informal agreements between actors. Suggested topics include: * Ideal policies and products. What are the implications of current empirical research for public policy and Internet industries? How can deep qualitative accounts which celebrate the particular provide lessons for public policies and media products that by necessity must apply to the general? * Macro initiatives/micro contexts. How do macro policy initiatives translate to the micro contexts of daily experience? How do users respond to, challenge, promote or subvert regulatory action? But also, how do producers, carriers, and media industries respond to, challenge, promote, or subvert regulatory action? On the Internet, to what extent is the distinction between users and producers useful? * The Internet as disjunct. In what ways is the Internet different from and similar to other communication media? Are there sound rationales for differential regulation? Are there ways to leverage the existing knowledge about media and policy into Internet policy? Most relevant will be broadly qualitative, rich methodologies in the tradition of cultural anthropology, but now found in anthropology, sociology, psychology, communication, socio-legal studies, media studies, geography, cultural studies, and other fields. This meeting will be the 4th CSLS conference on the theme of law and anthropology (relevant papers are solicited from any discipline, however). TO PARTICIPATE To present research that addresses the topic: "Ethnographies of the Internet: Grounding Regulation in Lived Experience," please submit an abstract via e-mail to Dr. Christian Sandvig (christian.sandvig(a)csls.ox.ac.uk) Abstracts should be under 1500 words and are due no later than January 21, 2002. Abstracts should be in a common format (plain text, RTF, MS Word, PDF). The key dates for the conference are: Jan 21 - Deadline for abstracts Feb 4 - Notification of acceptance Mar 1 - Completed papers due via e-mail Mar 8 - Conference held at Oxford University As it may not be possible to accommodate all papers within the constraints of a brief conference, selection may be necessary. Accepted papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of a peer-reviewed academic journal and/or an edited book. In order to provide lunch and refreshments at the workshop, a small fee may be charged. Additional information is available on the PCMLP Web site (see: http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk/conf08022002.htm) -- Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy (PCMLP) Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) Wolfson College, University of Oxford Oxford OX2 6UD, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1865 284220 Fax: +44 (0)1865 284253 http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk/

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Young Mammals in Steamy Bipedal Locomotion
by Ken Friedman 15 Jan '02

15 Jan '02

Marj Kibby from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at The University of Newcastle wrote an interesting note in the thread on porn spam: "I was amused to receive one addressed to "The adult site surfers at the University of Newcastle" with a dozen or more names and email addresses in the header. I thought briefly about contacting the others - all male - some well known to me and in areas like aviation and chemistry, to discuss our mutual 'research' interests." My guess is that the guys over in chemistry are searching for a new source of combustion, while the fellows in aviation were probably looking at birds. For me, there's nothing like a Web site featuring "Hominid Mating Events," or "Young Mammals in Steamy Bipedal Locomotion." And now, back to the Web to see if I can't locate one of those oh-so-risque neo-Darwinist evolutionary biology anime strips. -- Ken Friedman, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Leadership and Strategic Design Department of Technology and Knowledge Management Norwegian School of Management Visiting Professor Advanced Research Institute School of Art and Design Staffordshire University

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FW: Carnegie Mellon E-Democracy Conference
by Laura Gurak 15 Jan '02

15 Jan '02

"PROSPECTS FOR ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY" COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ISSUES CALL FOR PAPERS Community Connections, a Hewlett Foundation-funded project on on-line civic deliberation, is planning a conference in late September or early October 2002 on "Prospects for Electronic Democracy." (Care will be taken not to conflict with the Euricom Colloquium on Electronic Networks & Democratic Engagement scheduled for October 9-11, 2002.) The organizers hope to turn accepted papers into a published volume. Papers are sought in the following areas: * Case studies of successful efforts to foster meaningful and enduring on-line civic engagement and deliberation. * Papers that relate prospects for electronic democracy to the social and psychological factors that either contribute to or impede political deliberation and community engagement in real space. * Research that addresses the individual, social, and political consequences of on-line deliberation, whether on communication, individual decision-making processes, or public policy formation. * Research relating the Internet to the future of representative democracy, including such topics as political campaigns, grass-roots organizing, communicating with representatives, and on-line voting. * Papers addressing the implications of electronic communication for democratic theory. Proposals should be submitted no later than March 15, 2001 to Professor Peter M. Shane, Project Director, Community Connections, H. J. Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Anyone interested in discussing paper ideas preliminarily is also welcome to contact Professor Shane at pshane(a)andrew.cmu.edu. Completed drafts will be due August 30, 2002. Interdisciplinary and collaborative proposals are welcome. For more information, see www.cmu.edu/insites. [Apologies to anyone receiving this call on more than one list!] Peter M. Shane Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Public Policy and Director, Institute for the Study of Information Technology and Society (InSITeS) H. J. Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 412-268-5980 FAX: 412-268-5338 E-Mail: pshane(a)andrew.cmu.edu ------End Forwarded Message--------

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Re: [Air-l] Re: Porn spam
by Frank Schaap 15 Jan '02

15 Jan '02

Marj wrote: > Having done research into Internet Porn for some years I receive quite a > bit of porn spam, though I have never (voluntarily) given my email address > at any of these sites. > I was amused to receive one addressed to "The adult site surfers at the > University of Newcastle" with a dozen or more names and email addresses in > the header. I thought briefly about contacting the others - all male - > some well known to me and in areas like aviation and chemistry, to discuss > our mutual 'research' interests. I've read many different explanations about how spammers get their fingers on your (an) e-mail address. However, if you've never given out your (work) e-mail address AND the pornspam (the pinky almost-fake fleshness of spam makes this neologism all the more icky!) is targeted so precisely that they send it to specific persons at the UofN, then this warrants the question: HOW the heck did they gather this set of e-mail addresses including yours? If there is no satisfactory technological answer, maybe a university sysop is making some money on the side by looking at logfiles...? Did you run the message through Spamcop.net or similar service to see where it came from? Frank. -intrigued... <snip>

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Roundup 2002: You need to be there!
by Deborah Elizabeth Finn 14 Jan '02

14 Jan '02

Dear Colleagues, If you are a... - a specialist in research and evaluation of nonprofit organizations - an activist or advocate who wants to go online to expand your outreach - nonprofit professional who has become an "accidental techie" - a supporter of the Community Technology Center movement - an IT consultant with nonprofit clients - a nonprofit management support professional who needs to learn more about IT - a member of the "Circuit Rider" movement ...then it's time to consider attending Roundup 2002. ========================= FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) *What is the Roundup? It's an annual conference for individuals and organizations working in nonprofit technology--a great opportunity to meet peers and build relationships, share resources and ideas, and learn more about what's happening in the field. For more information on why you should attend, please go to http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$25. *When is the Roundup? April 11-14, 2002. Check out the Roundup Schedule of Events at http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$21. *Where is the Roundup? Orlando, FL. See the Roundup Hotels and reserve a room now. http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$22 *How much does it cost to attend? The registration fee is $250, or $400 for TAG members. This includes meals. Limited scholarships will be available--see http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$23 for details. *How do I register? Go to http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$23 *Are airfare discounts available? Yes--check out http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$24 *Will there be a day of service this year? Yes--volunteers are needed! See http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$26 for details. * Can I help to spread the word about Roundup 2002? Yes! If you'd like to get involved, go to http://www.nten.org/stories/storyReader$27 . ========================= If you have other concerns or questions, please feel free to email me (finn(a)techfoundation.org) I'll be happy to refer you to a member of the Roundup 2002 Committee who can give you a definitive answer. Many thanks and best regards from Deborah (Co-Chair, Roundup 2002 Outreach Committee) Deborah Elizabeth Finn Nonprofit Liaison Officer and Director of the Boston TechConnect Series TechFoundation 20 University Road, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. finn(a)techfoundation.org www.techfoundation.org www.imakenews.com/techfoundation

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Re: Porn spam
by Marj Kibby 14 Jan '02

14 Jan '02

HI, Having done research into Internet Porn for some years I receive quite a bit of porn spam, though I have never (voluntarily) given my email address at any of these sites. I was amused to receive one addressed to "The adult site surfers at the University of Newcastle" with a dozen or more names and email addresses in the header. I thought briefly about contacting the others - all male - some well known to me and in areas like aviation and chemistry, to discuss our mutual 'research' interests. Cheers, Marj Dr Marjorie Kibby, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies Department of Sociology & Anthropology The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia Marj.Kibby(a)newcastle.edu.au +61 2 49216604 >>> cvb(a)utah.edu 01/15/02 04:46am >>> Hello, While I have not received porn spam or other types of spam at my university email account (makes me wonder if the U filters it for me), for the past 6 mos. or so I have received between 10-20 spams/week of various types at my personal email account. The porn spams have become increasingly graphic, with images embedded. I attribute these spams to the fact that my personal address is listed with Internic as the administrative address for a domain I control (vanburns.com) The information in the porn spams seem to indicate that the links lead to heterosexual porn sites, leading me to think that the spammers' assumption is that most domain administrators are heterosexual males. Any thoughts? Cheers, Cassandra o::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::o Cassandra Van Buren, Ph.D. New Media and Communication Technology Department of Communication University of Utah 255 S. Central Campus Drive LNCO 2400 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 801.581.7268 voice || 801.581.6255 fax http://www.utah.edu/newmedia cvb(a)utah.edu _______________________________________________ Air-l mailing list Air-l(a)aoir.org http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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Re: Porn spam
by Cassandra Van Buren 14 Jan '02

14 Jan '02

Hello, While I have not received porn spam or other types of spam at my university email account (makes me wonder if the U filters it for me), for the past 6 mos. or so I have received between 10-20 spams/week of various types at my personal email account. The porn spams have become increasingly graphic, with images embedded. I attribute these spams to the fact that my personal address is listed with Internic as the administrative address for a domain I control (vanburns.com) The information in the porn spams seem to indicate that the links lead to heterosexual porn sites, leading me to think that the spammers' assumption is that most domain administrators are heterosexual males. Any thoughts? Cheers, Cassandra o::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::o Cassandra Van Buren, Ph.D. New Media and Communication Technology Department of Communication University of Utah 255 S. Central Campus Drive LNCO 2400 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 801.581.7268 voice || 801.581.6255 fax http://www.utah.edu/newmedia cvb(a)utah.edu

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[Fwd: [CC] CALL FOR ENTERIES: The Stockholm Challenge Newsletter 1/2002]
by jeremy hunsinger 14 Jan '02

14 Jan '02

I sent an application in to this last year. they sent a nice letter of rejection and a really big poster:) -- jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy cddc/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu 526 major williams hall 0130 http://www.dromocracy.com virginia tech -under construction blacksburg, va 24061 540-231-7614

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interesting new book
by david silver 14 Jan '02

14 Jan '02

Folks, This new book might be of interest to members of A(o)IR ... many of its contributors are among us. david silver http://faculty.washington.edu/dsilver/ ****** Community Informatics: Shaping Computer-Mediated Social Relations Edited by Leigh Keeble & Brian D. Loader Routledge, 2001 ISBN 0415231116 (hardcover), 0415231124 (paperback) Will the Internet destroy community life or be the catalyst for its resurrection? Community groups, social support networks, voluntary agencies and government organisations are all actively exploring the potential of the new information and communications technologies (ICTs) to bring about democratic development and renewal. A rich variety of social experiments in what has become known as Community Informatics is now beginning to provide useful research findings and exciting examples of innovative applications. This book sets down some of the defining features of a Community Informatics approach and some of the common themes which are emerging. In particular it considers the following issues: * Sustainability * Employment * Community management * Public service provision * Partnerships of stakeholders * Local learning * Social support and networks This edited collection brings together leading exponents of Community Informatics from around the world and critically evaluates their experiences. CONTENTS Notes on Contributors Preface by Howard Rheingold 1. Community Informatics: themes & issues Leigh Keeble & Brian Loader 2. Staten Island Stories - handing over the tools of video communi-creation Perry Bard Part 1 -- Communaity Informatics as Place and Space 3. Physical Place & Cyberplace: The Rise of Networked Individualism Barry Wellman 4. Creating Community in Conspiracy with the Enemy Erik Stolterman 5. The Technological Story of a Woman's Centre: A Feminist Model of User Centred Design Eileen Green & Leigh Keeble 6. The Safety Net? Some reflections on the emergence of computer mediated self-help and social support. Nicholas Pleace, Roger Burrows, Brian D Loader, Sarah Nettleton & Steve Muncer Part 2 -- The Experience of Community Informatics 7. Community Networks and Access for all in the Era of the 'Free' Internet: "Discovering the Treasure" of community. Fiorella De Cindio, L Ripamonti & G Casapulla. 8. On Crafting a Study of Digital Community Networks: theoretical and methodological considerations. Nicholas Jankowski, Martine Van Selm & Ed Hollander. 9. Community Networking in Russia: identifying the research agenda. Sergei Stafeev 10. Some Lessons of Social Experiments with Technology Birgit Jaeger 11. Change Agency and Women's Learning: new practices in Community Informatics Anne Scott & Margaret Page Part 3 -- Electronic Empowerment and Surveillance 12. Social Capital and Cyberpower in the African American Community: A case study of a community technology centre in the dual city. Abdul Alkalimat & Kate Williams 13. Online Forums as a Tool for People-Centred Governance: experiences from local government in Sweden. Agneta Ranerup 14. Surveillance in the Community: Community development through the use of Closed Circuit Television. C William, R Webster & John Hood 15. The Techno-Flaneur: Tele-Erotic Re-Presentations of Women's Life spaces Tamara Seabrook & Louise Wattis Part 4 -- Policy Implications of Community Informatics 16. Community Informatics: Setting out the Research Agenda Mike Gurstein 17. Cultivating Society's Civic Intelligence: patterns for a new "world brain". Doug Schuler 18. Participating in the Information Society: Community Development and Social Inclusion Peter Day 19. Communities and Community E-Gateways: Networking for Social Inclusion Sonia Liff & Fred Steward Glossary Bibliography Index

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increase in spam...
by Laura Gurak 14 Jan '02

14 Jan '02

Has anyone else noticed a sudden increase in the amount of porn-type spam they are getting? At least six people, including one journalist, have been asking me what's up. I've heard from both academics and folks in the private sector, and all seem to indicate a sudden (past 5-7 days) rise in this stuff. I personally have noticed it as well. Anyone know what's going on? ---------------- Laura J. Gurak, Ph.D. Associate Professor Rhetoric Department, University of Minnesota 1994 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108 v 612-624-3773 also--Director, Internet Studies Center -- www.isc.umn.edu Faculty Fellow, Law School gurakL(a)tc.umn.edu http://www.rhetoric.umn.edu/faculty/LGurak/

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