- Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Elections Update
by Nancy Baym 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

There seems to be a little bit of confusion, so let me take a minute to clarify the elections process and timeline. TODAY, September 24, is the last day to nominate yourself or someone else.It's not too late! VOTING begins on Wednesday September 26th and continues through October 9 The new executive committee begins duties at the end of the general meeting at the conference (Oct 14) Voting and running are limited to dues-paying members and will be conducted through the website. The member website (www.aoir.org/members) is the official election place -- all nominees who submit bios will have them posted there. People may or may not choose to post their bio to air-l, but you should remember that air-l is considerably larger than the number of people who are dues-paying members (and not all members of aoir are subscribed to air-l). When the time comes to vote and you choose amongst candidates, please remember that after today when Jeremy gets the chance to upload them, the website will be the place to find statements/bios of all who have submitted them. Thanks and if there are remaining confusions or questions, please address them to me, steve, or any other executive committee member for clarification. Nancy

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yet another open seat candidate
by Jonathan Sterne 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

Hi, I am writing you all to accept a nomination for an open seat. Here's a little about me and my platform: Who I am: I am an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. My research focuses on technology and communication, broadly defined, and I have published several articles about the internet and new communication technologies. I also co-direct _Bad Subjects: Political Education for Everyday Life_, which is one of the oldest continuously running publications online. I've been online in one form or another since 1984. My full c.v. (more or less) is available at http://www.pitt.edu/~jsterne/webcv.html if you have more questions about my experience. My platform: I am a musician, academic, intellectual, and activist. My work in an open seat would reflect this background. Specifically, I will promote: 1. Increased intellectual breadth and depth in internet scholarship -- within and without the organization. Internet studies is a young field, and it still needs to make connections with longer, more established intellectual traditions so that it can both extend them and challenge them. I am especially interested in seeing internet scholarship connect up with other studies of media and social relations. 2. I believe that all research works within and promotes specific sets of values. While acknowledging that any healthy scholarly organization must be resolutely pluralistic in the approaches and orientations is admits and fosters, I will work actively to promote "critical" scholarship within AoIR. "Critical" is of course a buzzword for lots of different things: I mean to promote research that is driven by an intellectual engagement with fundamental philosophical or social/cultural-theoretical questions, or research that is driven by political and ethical engagement with questions of access, social justice, and social change. I am also interested in promoting scholarship that connects with the use of new technologies for new forms of creative expression. 3. Like every other candidate that has ever run for an elected position in a scholarly organization, I would like to promote connections between AoIR and other organizations or community groups. But in specific, I would like to forge connections between AoIR researchers and groups actively working to democratize communication and technologies through access intiatives, education, and other approaches. And I would like to forge connections between AoIR and groups that are using new technologies in their battles for social justice around the world. I hope that this platform is sufficiently concrete and distinct that it helps you decide whether to vote for me. If you support my platform, I hope that I will get your vote. Thanks for reading. Sincerely, --Jonathan P.S. I am happy to answer questions via email, though I may be offline for several days starting Wednesday.

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UNSUBSCRIBE
by Dr. Pierre Hostettler 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

air-l-request(a)aoir.org wrote: > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. election information (jeremy hunsinger) > 2. Re: election information (Nancy Baym) > 3. FW: [Air-l] election information (Ellis Godard) > 4. RE: nominations (Bunz, Ulla K) > 5. air statement -- david silver (D. Silver) > 6. Re: networks (Niels Ole Finnemann) > 7. nomination ..... (Nils Zurawski) > 8. nomination (Kathleen O'Riordan) > 9. election information 9/24/01 (jeremy hunsinger) > 10. RE: election information 9/24/01 (Bunz, Ulla K) > > --__--__-- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 12:34:25 -0400 > From: jeremy hunsinger <jhuns(a)vt.edu> > Organization: Virginia Tech > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: [Air-l] election information > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > This is a list of everyone that has accepted nominations as of 12:30pm > Sunday as compiled to the best of my ability. There are several > outstanding nominations, and there were a few well reasoned rejections. > If there are errors, Please send me a note at nominate(a)aoir.org so that > I can do what you request. There are more people actually in the > process, considering running, trying to decide what position to run for, > I encourage all interested parties to run, send a note to > nominate(a)aoir.org to get on the ballot or nominate someone to be on the > ballot. More information about the elect will be provided on the > members website at http://aoir.org/members > > again contact nominate(a)aoir.org if there are any problems: > > The List: > > President > > Steve Jones > > Vice President > > Nancy Baym > > Secretary > > Treasurer > > Ben Bates > > Open Seats > > Mia Consalvo > Charles Ess > Laura Gurak > Nick Jankowski > Klaus Bruhn Jensen > Michel Menou > Gitte Stald > Barry Wellman > > -- > Jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy > CDDC/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu > 526 major williams hall 0130 > virginia tech > blacksburg, va 24061 > 540-231-7614 > > --__--__-- > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 12:39:26 -0500 > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > From: Nancy Baym <nbaym(a)ku.edu> > Subject: Re: [Air-l] election information > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Hey Grad Students! There's an open seat reserved for you and I'm not > seeing any grad students on this list! Nominate yourself or your > buddy now! Nancy > > >Open Seats > > > >Mia Consalvo > >Charles Ess > >Laura Gurak > >Nick Jankowski > >Klaus Bruhn Jensen > >Michel Menou > >Gitte Stald > >Barry Wellman > _______________________________________________________________ > Nancy Baym, Communication Studies > University of Kansas > NEW! email: nbaym(a)ku.edu > NEW! snail mail: 102 Bailey, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA > NEW! url: http://www.ku.edu/home/nbaym > > --__--__-- > > Message: 3 > From: "Ellis Godard" <ellisgodard(a)starband.net> > To: <Air-l(a)aoir.org> > Cc: <nbaym(a)ku.edu> > Subject: FW: [Air-l] election information > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 11:29:42 -0700 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I do not know how many other grad students are on the list. But if getting > my PhD within the next year does not disqualify me, I would be honored for > the opportunity to serve in an open seat. I have helped network sociologists > in cyberspace for nearly a decade, including web site design as well as > initiation of the first two Usenet newsgroups about sociology > (alt.sci.sociology and sci.sociology). I also have some relevant experience, > ranging from departmental committees (such as the Computing Committee) to > executive boards (such as the Netspace Foundation, a volunteer nonprofit > which provides discounted online services to other nonprofits). > > I have studied cyberspace for almost as long, including a Master's thesis on > social movements and cyberspace, several conference participations, a > forthcoming dissertation on social control in cyberspace ("The Moral Order > of Cyberspace: Conflict Management and Social Structure Online"), and an > article soon to be under review, as well as teaching several courses on the > subject. And I have recently broadened my scholarship to consider > communications studies, including a book chapter out next spring in a volume > edited by two Professors of Communicaton, and an invited participation at > the Eastern Communication Society meetings in April. > > Thanks for your consideration, > > Ellis Godard > godard(a)virginia.edu > University of Virginia > > -----Original Message----- > From: air-l-admin(a)aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin@aoir.org]On Behalf Of > Nancy Baym > Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 10:39 AM > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: Re: [Air-l] election information > > Hey Grad Students! There's an open seat reserved for you and I'm not > seeing any grad students on this list! Nominate yourself or your > buddy now! Nancy > > >Open Seats > > > >Mia Consalvo > >Charles Ess > >Laura Gurak > >Nick Jankowski > >Klaus Bruhn Jensen > >Michel Menou > >Gitte Stald > >Barry Wellman > _______________________________________________________________ > Nancy Baym, Communication Studies > University of Kansas > NEW! email: nbaym(a)ku.edu > NEW! snail mail: 102 Bailey, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA > NEW! url: http://www.ku.edu/home/nbaym > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > --__--__-- > > Message: 4 > From: "Bunz, Ulla K" <ulla(a)ukans.edu> > To: "'air-l(a)aoir.org'" <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Subject: RE: [Air-l] nominations > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 17:25:05 -0500 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Who am I? > Those of you who attended Aoir 1.0 in Lawrence may remember me as the smiley > person at the top of the stairs, chiming, "Good Morning! Registration is > down here and to your right!" > When I'm not playing hostess, I teach and research as a doctoral candidate > in Communication Technology at the University of Kansas. As I will graduate > this year, I am disqualified for the Graduate Seat, which I would have loved > to run for. So, I'm forging ahead, and I will now accept Nancy Baym's > nomination for an Open Seat. > > International and Interdisciplinary Experience > Growing up in Belgium and attending universities in Germany, New Zealand and > the United States I have learned the value of intercultural collaboration. > Along those lines, I recently suggested a joint conference between Aoir and > the German Online Research conference (or any other qualified organization). > I am officially in Communication Studies, but my research and teaching draw > from various fields, such as cyber studies, communication studies, > human-computer studies, psychology, and sociology. I strongly support > international and interdisciplinary endeavors. > > Committee Experience: > In preparation for Aoir 1.0, I have helped Nancy Baym with local > organizational issues. Together with some students, I also filmed the Aoir > 1.0 video and took conference pictures. I am currently involved in the > Instructional Development Division of the Southern States Communication > Association, and have ties into both the National and the International > Communication Association. I have served on several departmental committees. > I like to get things done. > > I want Aoir to: > - become increasingly international both in membership and in conference > location > - become increasingly interdisciplinary, maybe even to the degree of > branching into different divisions (not to be confused with "majors") during > conferences > - become an even stronger presence online, so that Aoir's website will > become a valuable resource on all things Internet Research related for both > members and non-members > - work towards the future, so that maybe Aoir could eventually publish its > own journal > - recruit academic "youngsters" and foster their development through, for > example, more workshops, seminars or cross-university courses > > Thanks. See you in Minnesota! > ulla > ******************************************** > Ulla K. Bunz > Ph.D. Candidate, Teaching Assistant > University of Kansas > 102 Bailey > Lawrence, KS 66045 > 785-864-1160 > ulla(a)ukans.edu > ******************************************** > Never Surrender ... > ******************************************** > > --__--__-- > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2001 23:09:37 -0700 (PDT) > From: "D. Silver" <dsilver(a)u.washington.edu> > To: <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Subject: [Air-l] air statement -- david silver > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Last week, Nancy Baym nominated me for an open seat position in the > upcoming AIR election. I'd like to accept the nomination and offer a > brief personal statement. > > Instead of using my time to broadcast my qualifications, I'd rather > discuss what I would work towards if elected. Within two short years, the > existing council and members of AIR have established a dynamic academic > space to discuss Internet research. It is now time, I believe, to expand > *dramatically* the conversations and communities. Building on the > directions already put forth by AIR, I propose we work towards a more > diverse and inclusive association, especially in terms of > interdisciplinarity, internationalism, and, well, funkiness. > > As evident in last year's conference and this year's program, AIR is, by > all accounts, interdisciplinary. Yet it seems to me that it remains > dominated by communications, media studies, and sociology. If elected, I > would work proactively to invite scholars from fields like ethnic studies, > women's studies, queer theory, and labor studies, as well as from fields > like anthropology, computer science, history, literature, psychology, and > public policy. I would work towards a massive and member-generated > database of academic and professional mailing lists, to which we could > send information regarding our organization. I would work to encourage > members to establish more special interest groups, and I'd encourage all > of us to do what Steve Jones does tirelessly: to attend non-Internet > specific conferences and spread the word. > > Last week, Charlie Breindahl encouraged members to think internationally. > I agree wholeheartedly with Charlie, even if it means I'm not elected. > Through the center I run (www.com.washington.edu/rccs) I have worked hard > at this task, publishing reviews of books written by authors from outside > the US and, in some cases, in languages other than English, and > maintaining a collection of syllabi and researchers from around the world. > Yet it's not nearly enough and, if elected, I would suggest a task force > on international issues and explore options of using translation software > to make AIR's Web site and discussion list more linguistically inclusive. > > This is getting long, my apologies. I'm almost through. > > Although members of AIR have done an admirable job of keeping up with a > field that changes as I type, we need, I believe, to search wider, go > deeper, get stranger. Some of us, myself included, are too comfortable > with derivative scholarship, looking once again at LambdaMOO and its 17 > users -- :) -- while ignoring environments like Quake and Asheron's Call, > online communities that attract hundreds of thousands of users. How can > we enliven our scholarship? How can we expand our conversations to > include communities outside of academe? As academics, how can we improve > (or begin?) our conversations and collaborations with digital artists and > activists? And, perhaps most importantly for many of us, how can we help > one another keep up with our students -- students who demand more and more > classes in cyberculture and bring with them a significant amount of > experience, expertise, and curiosity? In other words, how do we > rediscover, highlight, and fly high the less explored aspects of the Net, > the funky elements that attracted so many of us to the Net in the first > place? If elected, I will jumpstart such discussions. > > Finally, if elected, I will try my hardest to inaugurate on-site hot tub > parties at all AIR conferences. Thank you for your time, > > david silver > school of communications > university of washington > faculty.washington.edu/dsilver > > --__--__-- > > Message: 6 > Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 09:27:55 +0200 > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > From: Niels Ole Finnemann <finnemann(a)imv.au.dk> > Subject: [Air-l] Re: networks > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > <fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>Aldon, > > I am sorry if I misunderstood your posting (air-l 117, 118). I admit > that I read the sentence: > > »If we work from a model of human knowledge and learning as being based > on neural networks then any organization is a network of neural > networks, an internet« as if it meant that the function of the human > mind in general was based on the neural network model and that all > sorts of networks, the internet included, could be understood on the > basis of this model. > > Now, I am not sure what it means. > > However, in your reply you make a similar analogy, saying that »neural > networks ... provide a model for storing of information, just as RAID 5 > arrays present a similar model for storing information«. > > As you describe these two models, they are in no way similar. > > In neural networks, »it is the network itself, and its connections that > store the information and not the individual nodes« while in RAID »the > information is spread across several different drives with some > redundancy built in«. > > I suppose that it means that the information in the Raid model - > contrary to the neural net-model - is actually stored in a number of > distinct nodes. > > Lets take it a little further. When it comes to the storage of > organisational information, we will always find that it is distributed > and stored in much more complex ways than any of these two models, > since information is both stored in computers (digital form), in > printed texts and reports, eventually in videos, tapes and other > traditional media, in the memories of many individuals, as explicit > knowledge as well as in the form of tacit knowledge (Polanyi) etc.. > Even the internet exist in a relationship with the whole matrix of > available media, both when it comes to the social use of the internet > in general and when it comes to the strategic use of the net within a > specific organisation. > > There cannot be an organisation - not even a fordist or a leninist one > - in which the information is not distributed in a number of different > ways, in a variety of medias and minds, in a variety of semiotic codes > and according to a number of different »models« of which we so far have > only mentioned a few. In this respect I can follow Wilford Uncapher > (air-l, 118) where he points to a number of aspects which seems of > relevance for a theory of networks. The neural net and Raid models are > to flat, they cannot present the whole array of complexity, e.g. the > variety of heterogenous scales present in all organised communicational > systems. > > They also lack a historical perspective. Distributed information is a > constituent part of any sort of division of labor, whether »physical« > or »intellectual«. It is not a new historical phenomenon, and if we > want to identify new forms of distribution we can only do so if we are > able to identify older forms. > > Finally, however, I agree that it is highly relevant to analyse the > function(s) and various forms of redundancy used in all sorts of > communication. This is not simply a matter of the amount of redundancy, > a matter of more or less, it is also a - tricky - matter of functions > and forms, not to say definitions. E.g. in Shannon's famous 1948-paper > he employs at least three and maybe four different definitions of > redundancy, though without making the differences explicit. > > (For those interested I have discussed his notions of redundancy and > among other things shown that redundancy in various forms can be used > both as a means of stabilisation and of (unexpected and perhaps > uncontrolled) innovation of new forms and procedures. See the paper > Redundancy and Codes, available as html or pdf at > http://www.hum.au.dk/ckulturf/pages/publications/nof/redundancy.htm ) > > Maybe network organisations could be defined as organisations which are > based more on redundancy than on regulations and rules, but anyway, all > sorts of organisations in the whole history of mankind have been based > both on rules and redundancy functions in one mixture or another. > > Finally, a comment concerning the assumed new network-organisation of > Bin Laden, mentioned in various postings. Taking into account for > instance the various national Resistence-movements in Europe during > WWII, Viet Cong, ANC and other organisations in South Africa, Rote Arme > Fraction, Brigada Rosso (Italy), ETA (Spain), IRA, The real IRA, The > various Hizbollah groups, a list which could be continued with numerous > guerilla-movements throughout the 20th century, I think the claim that > a new kind of (terrorist) network organisation has emerged need to be > substantially qualified. > > Niels Ole Finnemann > > </fontfamily>PS excuse me the strange codes appearing in my former > posting and perhaps also in this. > > *************************************************** > > Niels Ole Finnemann > > Lektor, dr. phil. > > Institut for Informations- og Medievidenskab > > Aarhus Universitet > > Niels Juelsgade 84 Tlf: 89 42 19 34 > > 8200 Aarhus N > > > > Mail: finnemann(a)imv.au.dk > > http://www.imv.au.dk/medarbejdere/adresselisteekstern.html/finnemann/ > > Leder af Center for Internetforskning > > http://imv.au.dk/cfi/ > > --__--__-- > > Message: 7 > Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 09:48:45 +0200 > To: nominate(a)aoir.org, air-l(a)aoir.org > From: Nils Zurawski <zurawsk(a)uni-muenster.de> > Subject: [Air-l] nomination ..... > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I do accept the nomination made by Nancy Baym. Although I am not > 100% sure about the tasks of a secretary, I would also be willing and > happy to provide my time and services for aoir in this position. > > on myself...... > I am a trained sociologist and anthropologist and did research in the > field of ethnic identity and Internet. I am less than many people on > this list an Internet researcher, but I do research on, about and > with the Internet as part of my work and research interests. It is > mainly the Internet in a global social context that I am interested > in as well as its anthropological sides and features. Apart from that > I work on issues such as violence, identity, surveillance, social > interface. Thus my networks extend into areas that until now have not > heard about aoir and are new to internet research. More under > http://www.uni-muenster.de/PeaCon/zurawski > > my interest/goals in the aoir..... > I am very much interested in bringing in more Europeans and other > people not living in North America, to help widening the scope and > outreach of aoir and to make it known among the research community. A > European conference finds my strong support and even the future idea > of regional chapters. > > I cannot attend the IR2.0 this year, despite earlier plans, but hope > to be in contact and discussions with some of you anyway. > > Best wishes > > Nils Zurawski / nilz > > --__--__-- > > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 10:29:44 +0100 > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > From: K.S.O-Riordan(a)sussex.ac.uk (Kathleen O'Riordan) > Subject: [Air-l] nomination > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > I accept nomination for an open seat. > > As a member of the committee I would like to continue to develop AoIR's > commitment to becoming both an international and interdisciplinary > organisation. > > The AoIR organisation has already become relevant to, and inclusive of a > diverse community. There is however, much further to go in this direction. > Like Jeremy I would also like to see areas of social analysis such as queer > theory, feminism and postcolonial theory inform the work of the organisation > more extensively. There are already these elements in place but again such > directions need to be sustained and developed. I would also like to see the > work of the ethics committee further sustained. > > I have served on the AoIR ethics committee and was also present at AoIR 1. I > unfortunately will not be able to attend AoIR 2 but hope to see it in Europe > next year. > > Academically I come from a literature and critical theory background but moved > into media studies and IT at postgraduate level. I then developed a research > project specific to Internet Research around my DPhil. I have also carried > out additional research into cross-platform media such as Big Brother. I am > interested in looking further at the convergence of media and communication > forms and also in continuing to map a history of communications to better > understand these periods of change. I am also invested in both developing and > analysing the interdisciplinary and international elements of the field. > > At present I teach and research media studies, multimedia and IT in the > Cultural studies framework of Continuing Education in the U.K. > > Kate O'Riordan > Arts C304 > CCE > University of Sussex > Falmer > Brighton > BN1 9RG > > Tel: 01273 877774 > Email: k.s.o-riordan(a)sussex.ac.uk > > -- > > --__--__-- > > Message: 9 > Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 09:48:09 -0400 > From: jeremy hunsinger <jhuns(a)vt.edu> > Organization: Virginia Tech > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: [Air-l] election information 9/24/01 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > send corrections, additions, bios, etc. to nominate(a)aoir.org more > information is at http://aoir.org/members/article.php?sid=8&mode=&order=0 > the current list: > > President > > Steve Jones > > Vice President > > Nancy Baym > > Secretary > > Ulla Bunz > Nils Zurawski > > Treasurer > > Ben Bates > > Open Seats > > Matt Allen > Ulla Bunz > Mia Consalvo > Charles Ess > Laura Gurak > Nick Jankowski > Klaus Bruhn Jensen > Lisbeth Klastrup > Geert Lovink > Michel Menou > Kate O'Riordan > David Silver > Gitte Stald > Barry Wellman > > -- > Jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy > CDDC/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu > 526 major williams hall 0130 > virginia tech > blacksburg, va 24061 > 540-231-7614 > > --__--__-- > > Message: 10 > From: "Bunz, Ulla K" <ulla(a)ukans.edu> > To: "'air-l(a)aoir.org'" <air-l(a)aoir.org> > Subject: RE: [Air-l] election information 9/24/01 > Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 08:53:41 -0500 > Reply-To: air-l(a)aoir.org > > Jeremy-small problem... I can remember neither my nickname, nor my password, > nor my code... > Help? > ulla > ******************************************** > Ulla K. Bunz > Ph.D. Candidate, Teaching Assistant > University of Kansas > 102 Bailey > Lawrence, KS 66045 > 785-864-1160 > ulla(a)ukans.edu > ******************************************** > Never Surrender ... > ******************************************** > > -----Original Message----- > From: jeremy hunsinger [mailto:jhuns@vt.edu] > Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 8:48 AM > To: air-l(a)aoir.org > Subject: [Air-l] election information 9/24/01 > > send corrections, additions, bios, etc. to nominate(a)aoir.org more > information is at http://aoir.org/members/article.php?sid=8&mode=&order=0 > the current list: > > President > > Steve Jones > > Vice President > > Nancy Baym > > Secretary > > Ulla Bunz > Nils Zurawski > > Treasurer > > Ben Bates > > Open Seats > > Matt Allen > Ulla Bunz > Mia Consalvo > Charles Ess > Laura Gurak > Nick Jankowski > Klaus Bruhn Jensen > Lisbeth Klastrup > Geert Lovink > Michel Menou > Kate O'Riordan > David Silver > Gitte Stald > Barry Wellman > > -- > Jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy > CDDC/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu > 526 major williams hall 0130 > virginia tech > blacksburg, va 24061 > 540-231-7614 > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > --__--__-- > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > End of Air-l Digest

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RE: [Air-l] election information 9/24/01
by Bunz, Ulla K 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

Jeremy-small problem... I can remember neither my nickname, nor my password, nor my code... Help? ulla ******************************************** Ulla K. Bunz Ph.D. Candidate, Teaching Assistant University of Kansas 102 Bailey Lawrence, KS 66045 785-864-1160 ulla(a)ukans.edu ******************************************** Never Surrender ... ******************************************** -----Original Message----- From: jeremy hunsinger [mailto:jhuns@vt.edu] Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 8:48 AM To: air-l(a)aoir.org Subject: [Air-l] election information 9/24/01 send corrections, additions, bios, etc. to nominate(a)aoir.org more information is at http://aoir.org/members/article.php?sid=8&mode=&order=0 the current list: President Steve Jones Vice President Nancy Baym Secretary Ulla Bunz Nils Zurawski Treasurer Ben Bates Open Seats Matt Allen Ulla Bunz Mia Consalvo Charles Ess Laura Gurak Nick Jankowski Klaus Bruhn Jensen Lisbeth Klastrup Geert Lovink Michel Menou Kate O'Riordan David Silver Gitte Stald Barry Wellman -- Jeremy hunsinger http://www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy CDDC/political science http://www.cddc.vt.edu 526 major williams hall 0130 virginia tech blacksburg, va 24061 540-231-7614 _______________________________________________ Air-l mailing list Air-l(a)aoir.org http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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nomination
by K.S.O-Riordan＠sussex.ac.uk 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

I accept nomination for an open seat. As a member of the committee I would like to continue to develop AoIR's commitment to becoming both an international and interdisciplinary organisation. The AoIR organisation has already become relevant to, and inclusive of a diverse community. There is however, much further to go in this direction. Like Jeremy I would also like to see areas of social analysis such as queer theory, feminism and postcolonial theory inform the work of the organisation more extensively. There are already these elements in place but again such directions need to be sustained and developed. I would also like to see the work of the ethics committee further sustained. I have served on the AoIR ethics committee and was also present at AoIR 1. I unfortunately will not be able to attend AoIR 2 but hope to see it in Europe next year. Academically I come from a literature and critical theory background but moved into media studies and IT at postgraduate level. I then developed a research project specific to Internet Research around my DPhil. I have also carried out additional research into cross-platform media such as Big Brother. I am interested in looking further at the convergence of media and communication forms and also in continuing to map a history of communications to better understand these periods of change. I am also invested in both developing and analysing the interdisciplinary and international elements of the field. At present I teach and research media studies, multimedia and IT in the Cultural studies framework of Continuing Education in the U.K. Kate O'Riordan Arts C304 CCE University of Sussex Falmer Brighton BN1 9RG Tel: 01273 877774 Email: k.s.o-riordan(a)sussex.ac.uk --

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nomination .....
by Nils Zurawski 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

I do accept the nomination made by Nancy Baym. Although I am not 100% sure about the tasks of a secretary, I would also be willing and happy to provide my time and services for aoir in this position. on myself...... I am a trained sociologist and anthropologist and did research in the field of ethnic identity and Internet. I am less than many people on this list an Internet researcher, but I do research on, about and with the Internet as part of my work and research interests. It is mainly the Internet in a global social context that I am interested in as well as its anthropological sides and features. Apart from that I work on issues such as violence, identity, surveillance, social interface. Thus my networks extend into areas that until now have not heard about aoir and are new to internet research. More under http://www.uni-muenster.de/PeaCon/zurawski my interest/goals in the aoir..... I am very much interested in bringing in more Europeans and other people not living in North America, to help widening the scope and outreach of aoir and to make it known among the research community. A European conference finds my strong support and even the future idea of regional chapters. I cannot attend the IR2.0 this year, despite earlier plans, but hope to be in contact and discussions with some of you anyway. Best wishes Nils Zurawski / nilz

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Re: networks
by Niels Ole Finnemann 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

<fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>Aldon, I am sorry if I misunderstood your posting (air-l 117, 118). I admit that I read the sentence: »If we work from a model of human knowledge and learning as being based on neural networks then any organization is a network of neural networks, an internet« as if it meant that the function of the human mind in general was based on the neural network model and that all sorts of networks, the internet included, could be understood on the basis of this model. Now, I am not sure what it means. However, in your reply you make a similar analogy, saying that »neural networks ... provide a model for storing of information, just as RAID 5 arrays present a similar model for storing information«. As you describe these two models, they are in no way similar. In neural networks, »it is the network itself, and its connections that store the information and not the individual nodes« while in RAID »the information is spread across several different drives with some redundancy built in«. I suppose that it means that the information in the Raid model - contrary to the neural net-model - is actually stored in a number of distinct nodes. Lets take it a little further. When it comes to the storage of organisational information, we will always find that it is distributed and stored in much more complex ways than any of these two models, since information is both stored in computers (digital form), in printed texts and reports, eventually in videos, tapes and other traditional media, in the memories of many individuals, as explicit knowledge as well as in the form of tacit knowledge (Polanyi) etc.. Even the internet exist in a relationship with the whole matrix of available media, both when it comes to the social use of the internet in general and when it comes to the strategic use of the net within a specific organisation. There cannot be an organisation - not even a fordist or a leninist one - in which the information is not distributed in a number of different ways, in a variety of medias and minds, in a variety of semiotic codes and according to a number of different »models« of which we so far have only mentioned a few. In this respect I can follow Wilford Uncapher (air-l, 118) where he points to a number of aspects which seems of relevance for a theory of networks. The neural net and Raid models are to flat, they cannot present the whole array of complexity, e.g. the variety of heterogenous scales present in all organised communicational systems. They also lack a historical perspective. Distributed information is a constituent part of any sort of division of labor, whether »physical« or »intellectual«. It is not a new historical phenomenon, and if we want to identify new forms of distribution we can only do so if we are able to identify older forms. Finally, however, I agree that it is highly relevant to analyse the function(s) and various forms of redundancy used in all sorts of communication. This is not simply a matter of the amount of redundancy, a matter of more or less, it is also a - tricky - matter of functions and forms, not to say definitions. E.g. in Shannon's famous 1948-paper he employs at least three and maybe four different definitions of redundancy, though without making the differences explicit. (For those interested I have discussed his notions of redundancy and among other things shown that redundancy in various forms can be used both as a means of stabilisation and of (unexpected and perhaps uncontrolled) innovation of new forms and procedures. See the paper Redundancy and Codes, available as html or pdf at http://www.hum.au.dk/ckulturf/pages/publications/nof/redundancy.htm ) Maybe network organisations could be defined as organisations which are based more on redundancy than on regulations and rules, but anyway, all sorts of organisations in the whole history of mankind have been based both on rules and redundancy functions in one mixture or another. Finally, a comment concerning the assumed new network-organisation of Bin Laden, mentioned in various postings. Taking into account for instance the various national Resistence-movements in Europe during WWII, Viet Cong, ANC and other organisations in South Africa, Rote Arme Fraction, Brigada Rosso (Italy), ETA (Spain), IRA, The real IRA, The various Hizbollah groups, a list which could be continued with numerous guerilla-movements throughout the 20th century, I think the claim that a new kind of (terrorist) network organisation has emerged need to be substantially qualified. Niels Ole Finnemann </fontfamily>PS excuse me the strange codes appearing in my former posting and perhaps also in this. *************************************************** Niels Ole Finnemann Lektor, dr. phil. Institut for Informations- og Medievidenskab Aarhus Universitet Niels Juelsgade 84 Tlf: 89 42 19 34 8200 Aarhus N Mail: finnemann(a)imv.au.dk http://www.imv.au.dk/medarbejdere/adresselisteekstern.html/finnemann/ Leder af Center for Internetforskning http://imv.au.dk/cfi/

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air statement -- david silver
by D. Silver 24 Sep '01

24 Sep '01

Last week, Nancy Baym nominated me for an open seat position in the upcoming AIR election. I'd like to accept the nomination and offer a brief personal statement. Instead of using my time to broadcast my qualifications, I'd rather discuss what I would work towards if elected. Within two short years, the existing council and members of AIR have established a dynamic academic space to discuss Internet research. It is now time, I believe, to expand *dramatically* the conversations and communities. Building on the directions already put forth by AIR, I propose we work towards a more diverse and inclusive association, especially in terms of interdisciplinarity, internationalism, and, well, funkiness. As evident in last year's conference and this year's program, AIR is, by all accounts, interdisciplinary. Yet it seems to me that it remains dominated by communications, media studies, and sociology. If elected, I would work proactively to invite scholars from fields like ethnic studies, women's studies, queer theory, and labor studies, as well as from fields like anthropology, computer science, history, literature, psychology, and public policy. I would work towards a massive and member-generated database of academic and professional mailing lists, to which we could send information regarding our organization. I would work to encourage members to establish more special interest groups, and I'd encourage all of us to do what Steve Jones does tirelessly: to attend non-Internet specific conferences and spread the word. Last week, Charlie Breindahl encouraged members to think internationally. I agree wholeheartedly with Charlie, even if it means I'm not elected. Through the center I run (www.com.washington.edu/rccs) I have worked hard at this task, publishing reviews of books written by authors from outside the US and, in some cases, in languages other than English, and maintaining a collection of syllabi and researchers from around the world. Yet it's not nearly enough and, if elected, I would suggest a task force on international issues and explore options of using translation software to make AIR's Web site and discussion list more linguistically inclusive. This is getting long, my apologies. I'm almost through. Although members of AIR have done an admirable job of keeping up with a field that changes as I type, we need, I believe, to search wider, go deeper, get stranger. Some of us, myself included, are too comfortable with derivative scholarship, looking once again at LambdaMOO and its 17 users -- :) -- while ignoring environments like Quake and Asheron's Call, online communities that attract hundreds of thousands of users. How can we enliven our scholarship? How can we expand our conversations to include communities outside of academe? As academics, how can we improve (or begin?) our conversations and collaborations with digital artists and activists? And, perhaps most importantly for many of us, how can we help one another keep up with our students -- students who demand more and more classes in cyberculture and bring with them a significant amount of experience, expertise, and curiosity? In other words, how do we rediscover, highlight, and fly high the less explored aspects of the Net, the funky elements that attracted so many of us to the Net in the first place? If elected, I will jumpstart such discussions. Finally, if elected, I will try my hardest to inaugurate on-site hot tub parties at all AIR conferences. Thank you for your time, david silver school of communications university of washington faculty.washington.edu/dsilver

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RE: [Air-l] nominations
by Bunz, Ulla K 23 Sep '01

23 Sep '01

Who am I? Those of you who attended Aoir 1.0 in Lawrence may remember me as the smiley person at the top of the stairs, chiming, "Good Morning! Registration is down here and to your right!" When I'm not playing hostess, I teach and research as a doctoral candidate in Communication Technology at the University of Kansas. As I will graduate this year, I am disqualified for the Graduate Seat, which I would have loved to run for. So, I'm forging ahead, and I will now accept Nancy Baym's nomination for an Open Seat. International and Interdisciplinary Experience Growing up in Belgium and attending universities in Germany, New Zealand and the United States I have learned the value of intercultural collaboration. Along those lines, I recently suggested a joint conference between Aoir and the German Online Research conference (or any other qualified organization). I am officially in Communication Studies, but my research and teaching draw from various fields, such as cyber studies, communication studies, human-computer studies, psychology, and sociology. I strongly support international and interdisciplinary endeavors. Committee Experience: In preparation for Aoir 1.0, I have helped Nancy Baym with local organizational issues. Together with some students, I also filmed the Aoir 1.0 video and took conference pictures. I am currently involved in the Instructional Development Division of the Southern States Communication Association, and have ties into both the National and the International Communication Association. I have served on several departmental committees. I like to get things done. I want Aoir to: - become increasingly international both in membership and in conference location - become increasingly interdisciplinary, maybe even to the degree of branching into different divisions (not to be confused with "majors") during conferences - become an even stronger presence online, so that Aoir's website will become a valuable resource on all things Internet Research related for both members and non-members - work towards the future, so that maybe Aoir could eventually publish its own journal - recruit academic "youngsters" and foster their development through, for example, more workshops, seminars or cross-university courses Thanks. See you in Minnesota! ulla ******************************************** Ulla K. Bunz Ph.D. Candidate, Teaching Assistant University of Kansas 102 Bailey Lawrence, KS 66045 785-864-1160 ulla(a)ukans.edu ******************************************** Never Surrender ... ********************************************

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FW: [Air-l] election information
by Ellis Godard 23 Sep '01

23 Sep '01

I do not know how many other grad students are on the list. But if getting my PhD within the next year does not disqualify me, I would be honored for the opportunity to serve in an open seat. I have helped network sociologists in cyberspace for nearly a decade, including web site design as well as initiation of the first two Usenet newsgroups about sociology (alt.sci.sociology and sci.sociology). I also have some relevant experience, ranging from departmental committees (such as the Computing Committee) to executive boards (such as the Netspace Foundation, a volunteer nonprofit which provides discounted online services to other nonprofits). I have studied cyberspace for almost as long, including a Master's thesis on social movements and cyberspace, several conference participations, a forthcoming dissertation on social control in cyberspace ("The Moral Order of Cyberspace: Conflict Management and Social Structure Online"), and an article soon to be under review, as well as teaching several courses on the subject. And I have recently broadened my scholarship to consider communications studies, including a book chapter out next spring in a volume edited by two Professors of Communicaton, and an invited participation at the Eastern Communication Society meetings in April. Thanks for your consideration, Ellis Godard godard(a)virginia.edu University of Virginia -----Original Message----- From: air-l-admin(a)aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin@aoir.org]On Behalf Of Nancy Baym Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 10:39 AM To: air-l(a)aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-l] election information Hey Grad Students! There's an open seat reserved for you and I'm not seeing any grad students on this list! Nominate yourself or your buddy now! Nancy >Open Seats > >Mia Consalvo >Charles Ess >Laura Gurak >Nick Jankowski >Klaus Bruhn Jensen >Michel Menou >Gitte Stald >Barry Wellman _______________________________________________________________ Nancy Baym, Communication Studies University of Kansas NEW! email: nbaym(a)ku.edu NEW! snail mail: 102 Bailey, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA NEW! url: http://www.ku.edu/home/nbaym _______________________________________________ Air-l mailing list Air-l(a)aoir.org http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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