February 2003 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

RE: [Air-l] FC: How anti-Iraq war protesters employed technology, from NYT
by Gina Neff 23 Feb '03

23 Feb '03

Not to be a crank, but there are some pretty big assumptions in this article. Are these groups free-wheeling and amorphous? This is contradicted by our data collected from protests organized by the same groups organizing peace rallies in the US. Can national and international protests mobilize effectively without working through organizations for logistics and mobilization? Again, contradicted by our data. Are protesters within the new social movements organizationally unaffiliated individuals who hear about the protest through the Internet? Again, contradicted. I am not questioning whether the Internet is important or whether protest movements use it or not, but I am questioning the newness of the functions fulfilled by the internet. Yes, the current peace movement may have organized more quickly than those in the past, but that is partly due to a political situation that is very different from Vietnam and other wars (and Gitlin, quoted in the article, knows that. Besides, [snide comment ahead] Gitlin is one the very last people I'd trust with a comment on the current peace movement -- Has he even been to a peace march since Vietnam?). National days of action are not new. Local protests held in conjunction with larger, national ones are not new. Coordination in "non-hierarchical, heterarchical" coalitions is not new. (on this point, Leslie Kauffman has written a great history of the Mayday Tribe and the heterarchical organization of the May 1971 actions to shut down DC, which led to the largest mass arrest in US history. ) I'm with Steve: we need to think clearly about how the characteristics of the internet may make the medium something else other than just faster/broader than what's come before. And there's still a lot of research that needs to be done on how the technology is actually being used. Gina

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free speech via ISPs
by Sandra Braman 23 Feb '03

23 Feb '03

David Silver comments that many folks he knows are opening yahoo or other accounts separate from those they hold at universities and/or their employers and/or with smaller ISPs because of fear that political speech during these times may be restricted in those other venues. Before assuming that any particular type or specific example of a type of ISP-like service provider offers anything different in the way of potential constraints on free speech, read the terms of service and/or acceptable use policies! I did a comparative study of these agreements from about 30 different ISP-like entities (currently in press as Advadntage ISP: Terms of service as media law (with Stephanie Lynch), in Lorrie Cranor & Steve Wildman, Eds., RETHINKING RIGHTS AND REGULATIONS: INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO NEW COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (Cambridge: MIT Press). As they existed in spring of 2002, the time of the study, there was not much difference across ISPs on this point and almost all of them constrained speech rights in ways that would be deemed unconstitutionally overbroad were they not agreed to by the contract that is your agreement with your service provider. Historically one has always been able to sign away one's First Amendment rights by contract, but historically that has only affected a few, in circumstances in which there were other alternatives to agreeing to the contract. Under current circumstances, as ISP terms of service and acceptable use policies increasingly conform, we have no choice but to sign these agreements. A serious threat to free speech. Sandra Braman

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"The game is over..."
by Pete J. Otis 23 Feb '03

23 Feb '03

check this out.. http://www.idleworm.com/nws/2002/11/iraq2.shtml pete

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Internet Studies textbook
by Norman Clark 23 Feb '03

23 Feb '03

If you're looking for an introductory Internet Studies textbook for Fall 2003, that combines theory and practice, please check out the book that I co-authored with Ty Adams, titled _The Internet: Effective Online Communication_. The publisher's site for this book is at: http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M2b&produc… If you would like a free examination copy, e-mail the Thomson/Wadsworth Textbook Request line at: review(a)thomsonlearning.com and provide the ISBN no. [0155062271] and title of this textbook, (2) your full mailing address, (3) the proposed class in which you might use the textbook, and (4) the potential course enrollment for these classes. Thanks for considering our text! Norm Clark Dept. of Communication Appalachian State University Boone, NC, 28608-2039

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what's appropriate
by Barry Wellman 23 Feb '03

23 Feb '03

Folks, I've seen too many lists torn apart by digressing from their purpose -- in this case, discussing internet research -- to other matters. Sure, everything is germane (I once unsuccessfully tried to get the BMW list to discuss the class struggle as a cause of car jackings), but some are more germane than others. Second, I've seen too many instances where posters to lists assume that everyone shares their opinions. It's part of the partial communities that we belong to. There is a rough community of interest around internet research here, but that doesn't generalize to politics, etc. In short, political discussions belong on political lists, not here. That's my .02. YMMV (curious if anyone remembers where the latter comes from). Barry ___________________________________________________________________ Barry Wellman Professor of Sociology NetLab Director wellman(a)chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** Just Out ***** (1) _The Internet in Everyday Life_ Barry Wellman & Caroline Haythornthwaite, eds. Oxford: Blackwell, 2002 (2) _Social Strucutres: A Network Approach_ Barry Wellman & S.D. Berkowitz, eds. Toronto: CSPI/Women's Press ___________________________________________________________________

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Assistance Request
by combja＠email.uc.edu 23 Feb '03

23 Feb '03

Hi, I'm a graduate student currently taking a class about communication and technology. I'm working on a paper that deals with "online dating." I'm looking for articles/books/websites/magazines/etc. that deal with this phenomena, especially the popularity of it, it's comparisons with face-to-face communication, and/or how it is really 'done' via the internet. Does anyone know good places to find this information? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please send replies to: combja(a)email.uc.edu Thanks, Jessica Combs University of Cincinnati

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panel on metaphors
by Anne Beaulieu 22 Feb '03

22 Feb '03

We are planning a panel on 'Metaphors and the Internet' for the AoIR conference in Toronto. The scope of the panel is broad, and includes work on metaphors of the Internet, as well as the study of metaphors in various Internet settings. If you are interested in being part of the session, you can send an abstract to either one of us, by Wednesday 26 February. Thanks, Anne Beaulieu (anne.beaulieu(a)niwi.knaw.nl) Iina Hellsten (iina.hellsten(a)niwi.knaw.nl) Dr Anne Beaulieu Networked research and digital information KNAW-Netherlands Royal Academy of Arts and Science Joan Muyskenweg 25 Postbus 95110 1090 HC Amsterdam The Netherlands tel: (31)(20)462-8739 fax: (31(20)665-8013 http://www.niwi.knaw.nl/nerdi/

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Couch Award reminder
by Mark Johns 21 Feb '03

21 Feb '03

CALL FOR AWARD APPLICATIONS Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award Sponsored by the Carl Couch Center for Social and Internet Research http://www.cccsir.org/ The Carl Couch Center issues an annual call for student-authored papers to be considered for Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award. The Couch Center welcomes both theoretical and empirical papers that (1) apply symbolic interactionist approaches to Internet studies, (2) demonstrate interactive relationships between social interaction and communication technologies as advocated by Couch, and/or (3) develop symbolic interactionist concepts in new directions. Papers will be evaluated based on the quality of (1) mastery of Symbolic Interactionist approaches and concepts and Couchs theses, (2) originality, (3) organization, (4) presentation, and (5) advancement of knowledge. Evaluation will be administered by a Review Committee of four: Dr. Mark D. Johns, Luther College Dr. Katherine M. Clegg, University of Illinois, Chicago Dr. Lori Kendall, SUNY-Purchase Dr. Shing-Ling S. Chen, University of Northern Iowa Competition is open to graduate or undergraduate students of all disciplines. Works that are published or accepted for publication are not eligible for award consideration. The top three papers will receive Couch Awards to be presented at the 2003 International Conference of the Association of Internet Researchers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The top paper will be awarded a certificate and a cash prize of $150, runner up will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $100, and a third paper will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $50. All three authors will be invited to present their work at a session of the A.o.I.R. conference, October 16-19, 2003. Those interested should send a copy of their paper, with a 100-word abstract, electronically to Mark Johns at johnsmar(a)luther.edu . Application deadline is May 1, 2003. Notification of award will be sent by June 15. Those with questions or comments about Couch Award application, please contact: Mark D. Johns Dept. of Communication/Linguistics Luther College Decorah, IA 52101 Tel: (563) 387-1347 E-mail: johnsmar(a)luther.edu

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Maldives - Life in prison for editors of an electronic newsletter
by George(s) Lessard 21 Feb '03

21 Feb '03

------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: asie2(a)rsf.org From: RSF asia <asie(a)rsf.org> Date sent: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:12:05 +0100 Subject: [rsfasie] Maldives - Editors of an electronic newsletter sentenced to life in prison (Eng+Fr) Send reply to: rsfasie-owner(a)yahoogroups.com 14 February 2003 International Secretariat Asia-Pacific News Desk MALDIVES Editors of an electronic newsletter sentenced to life in prison Since July 2002, Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee and Ahmed Didi, editors of the electronic newsletter Sandhaanu, have been serving a life term in prison. Fathimath Nisreen, Ibrahim Luthfee's assistant, received a 10-year prison term. They were found guilty of "insulting the President" and of "committing acts hostile to the government () by creating a newsletter known as Sandhaanu." Reporters without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) called upon the Maldivian President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, to demand the immediate release of those four people, whose only crime was to exercise their right to freedom of speech. Indeed, Article 25 of the Maldives Constitution guarantees that "Every citizen shall have the freedom to express his conscience and thoughts orally or in writing or by other means" In January 2002, businessmen Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee and Ahmed Didi, as well as Fathimath Nisreen, Ibrahim Luthfee's assistant, were arrested by the police for having circulated articles critical of the government on their electronic newsletter Sandhaanu. According to Amnesty International, this Internet publication, written in Dhivehi (the language of the Maldives), had not advocated violent political opposition. After being held in solitary confinement for two weeks by the police force in Malé (the capital city), they were transferred to the detention centre on the island of Dhoonidhoo. In May, they were charged with "defamation" and "committing acts hostile to the government" by publishing critical information on Sandhaanu. The authorities denied them the right to legal representation and refused to allow visits from their families. In June, they were transferred to the island of Mafushi, where they are being held in small cells. On 7 July 2002, Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee and Ahmed Didi were sentenced to life in prison. Fathimath Nisreen, 21, was given a 10-year prison term for having expressed her "dissatisfaction with government policy" and having sided with the authors of the Sandhaanu articles. The authorities have denied their request to file an appeal. During the trial, Ibrahim Luthfee, 37, and Ahmed Didi, 50, admitted that they were the authors of this electronic newsletter, while 50- year-old Mohammed Zaki, a resident of Malaysia, was responsible for sending it to Internet users who requested it. Before the judges, Ibrahim Luthfee claimed that he was prepared to prove, point-by- point, every accusation that he had made against President Gayoom. They are all still behind bars on the island of Mafushi, under harsh prison conditions. The authorities have placed them in Block C, usually reserved for drug addicts and thieves. Their cells are not ventilated and they only receive five litres of water a day for drinking and washing. Their families are not permitted to visit them more than once a month. MALDIVES Les animateurs d'un bulletin d'information électronique condamnés à la prison à vie Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee et Ahmad Didi, responsables du bulletin d'information électronique Sandhaanu, purgent depuis juillet 2002 une peine de prison à perpétuité. Fatimath Nisreen, assistante d'Ibrahim Luthfee, a été condamnée à dix ans de prison. Ils ont été reconnus coupables d'avoir "insulté le Président" et d'avoir "tenté de renverser le gouvernement () en créant un bulletin d'information dénommé Sandhaanu." Reporters sans frontières s'est adressée au président des Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, pour demander la libération immédiate de ces quatre personnes dont le seul crime est d'avoir exercé leur droit à la liberté d'expression. Ainsi, l'article 25 de la Constitution des Maldives garantit à tous les citoyens "le droit d'exprimer sa conscience et ses idées oralement, par écrit ou par tout autre moyen". En janvier 2002, les hommes d'affaires Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee et Ahmad Didi, ainsi que Fathimath Nisreen, assistante d'Ibrahim Luthfee, ont été arrêtés par la police pour avoir diffusé des articles critiques du gouvernement sur leur bulletin d'information électronique Sandhaanu. Selon Amnesty International, le bulletin en divehi (langue des Maldives) ne comportait aucun appel à la violence. Après avoir été détenus au secret pendant deux semaines par la police de Malé (capitale), ils ont été transférés au centre de détention de l'île de Dhoonodhoo. En mai, ils ont été inculpés de "diffamation" et d'avoir "tenté de renverser le gouvernement" en publiant des informations sur Sandhaanu. Les autorités leur ont refusé le droit de consulter un avocat et de recevoir des visites de leurs familles. En juin, ils ont été transférés sur l'île de Mafushi où ils sont détenus dans de petites cellules. Le 7 juillet 2002, Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee et Ahmad Didi ont été condamnés à la prison à vie. Fathimath Nisreen, âgée de 21 ans, a quant à elle été condamnée à dix ans de prison ferme pour avoir notamment exprimé son "mécontentement à l'encontre de la politique du gouvernement" et avoir soutenu les auteurs des articles de Sandhaanu. Les autorités leur ont refusé de se pourvoir en appel. Lors du procès, Ibrahim Luthfee, âgé de 37 ans, et Ahmad Didi, âgé de 50 ans, ont reconnu être les auteurs de ce bulletin d'information électronique, tandis que Mohamed Zaki, âgé de 50 ans et résidant en Malaisie, était chargé de l'envoyer aux internautes qui le demandaient. Ibrahim Luthfee a affirmé aux juges qu'il était prêt à prouver point par point les accusations qu'il a lancées contre le président Gayoom. Ils sont toujours incarcérés sur l'île de Mafushi dans des conditions de détention difficiles. Les autorités les ont placés dans le Bloc C habituellement réservé aux drogués et aux voleurs. Leurs cellules ne sont pas ventilées et ils ne disposent que de cinq litres d'eau par jour pour boire et se laver. Leurs familles ne sont autorisées à leur rendre visite qu'une fois par mois. -- Vincent Brossel Asia - Pacific Desk Reporters Sans Frontières 5 rue Geoffroy Marie 75009 Paris 33 1 44 83 84 70 33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax) asia(a)rsf.org www.rsf.org ------- End of forwarded message --------- :-) Message Ends; George(s) Lessard's Keywords Begin (-: Freelance Media Arts, Management, Training, Mentoring & Consulting On line: Internet / Workshops / Research / Presence / Content / On location: TV / Radio / Production / ENG / EFP / Editing Interests: Access / Activism / Communities / Cultures / Arts Resume and more @ http://members.tripod.com/~media002 Queries / Offers / Patronage / Commissions should be sent to media(a)_no_spam_web.net Rostered Volunteer UNV# 120983 & CESO/SACO VA# 11799 -Caveat Lector- Disclaimers, NOTES TO EDITORS & (c) information may be found @ http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Because of the nature of email & the WWW, please check ALL sources & subjects. - 30 - Public, keyword searchable archives @ http://www.eGroups.com/list/mediamentor FEEDBACK: mediamentor-owner(a)yahoogroups.com POST: If subscribed, post to the list @ mediamentor(a)egroups.com No attachments...... less viruses.... text only please.... 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Re: e-mails and the Internet (was: Iraq and the internet)
by Bram Dov Abramson 21 Feb '03

21 Feb '03

rtynes(a)u.washington.edu: >1. I think that we might want to put aside past research on the effects of >e-mails in a political process. Maybe it's better to just observe what is >happening - what do e-mails to gov't officials do? maybe they don't get >read? but is that the point? could they be jamming devices, designed to >overload the system in conjunction with all the other forms of protest, >such as marches? So, presumably e-mail "effects" are an artefact of the formalized and not-formalized institutional practices put in place to enable outside access to e-mail, on the one hand (publicising an e-mail address, choosing the e-mail address, positioning it, and so forth) and to deal with inbound e-mail, on the other hand (who deals with it, their role, their number; the interfaces through which they deal with it; etc.). Which would be an interesting ethnographic/organizational study to read about, or for someone to undertake; maybe there are pointers. In the meantime, anyone want to chime in with anecdotes? In my experience in the corporate sector, and to a lesser extent the civil service, as soon as the organization grows beyond a small number of persons -- say, 15 or so -- an informal firewall tends to grow between frontlines folk who answer external inquiries, and specialized workers who deal with external folks only in specialized or directed circumstances. Where this happens, feedback mechanisms to link the parts will include: - no notification; - lists prepared routinely which define common topics and count the number of inquiries (complaints, questions) on each topic, then used to feed into various organizational practices; - informal water cooler type discussion. So in all cases, very heavy external inquiry will translate into some pressure, but the denial-of-service attacks of the type Robert identifies are diverted and localized to two groups -- others trying to get through with inquiries and complaints, and those who manage the inbound flow of e-mail to the frontline folks. On the other hand, I suspect that in politically-oriented organizations, the feedback mechanisms are more elaborate and have insides that make more of a difference. Anyone worked in that kind of environment? cheers Bram

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