A Study of Computer-Mediated Social Life Kenneth Simon March 6, 1991 "...what fascinates me is the unstated question that lies behind much of our preoccupation with the computer's capabilities. That question is not what will the computer be like in the future, but instead, what will we be like? What kind of people are we becoming?" - Sherry Turkle, The Second Self (1984) Introduction Social life has entered the computer age. No longer is the computer merely a tool of personal and professional pro- ductivity. Linked via modem to other computers -- a simple and relatively inexpensive arrangement -- the keyboard and monitor have become an arena for personal "networking", bringing people together through hobbies, occupational or sexual interests, and through lively public message interchange on topics ranging from the latest football game to heated debates on capital punishment. The computer user can play interactive games with other users across the room or around the world, and can also access live, "C.B.-style" group interactive systems (Hansen, 1984). In addition to the worlds of information available through the personal computer, then, there are worlds of social/recreational activity as well. Computer-Mediated Social Interaction Social, non-utilitarian functions are characteristic of media designed for practical purposes. When the printing press was a new invention, no one imagined that it would spawn such a vast array of social activities -- club newsletters, community updates, and singles magazines, for example. The telephone as well has become a social access tool. Waiting to be dialed are teen party lines, religious "dial-a-prayer" numbers, recorded "jokelines," and sexual hotlines. C.B. radio caused con- troversy in the 1970's when hobbyists moved beyond practical use of the airwaves and clogged them instead with friendly banter (Marvin and Schultze, 1977). As networks of interconnected computers move into individuals' daily lives, similar social uses are developing on this medium as well. Print takes time to distribute -- a conversation as such is not possible on the printed page. Telephone or C.B. radio con- versations are limited in their complexity -- even on a con- ference call, group interaction must be subject to strict rules of turn-taking. With C.B.-style interaction on computer-mediated communication, however, such li- mitations are overcome: many users may speak at once; the computer orders the input and presents it in chronological sequence on the screen. Conversations progress as quickly as the interactants can type, yet there is always the chance to pause midsentence, rethink, add an afterthought, and even to backspace, obliterating something before it is really "said" with a press of the return key. As a result, group interaction can occur with ease, relative to other media. In a case study, David Myers (1987) operated a computer "bulletin board" system (a forum of public message exchange) and observed that frequent users manipulated the social context by changing topics of public discussion and suggesting software and policy alterations. Bulletin board system (BBS) users seemed to perceive a "BBS community" in which they shared motivations and interests. In another case study of computer- mediated communication, Hiltz (1984) noted that in order to gain entrance to the BBS community, an outsider first had to learn its "language" and rules: When a user first signs in, he or she is likely to feel that this mode of communication is "unnatural" and difficult, and to feel awkward and inept. Successfully "getting through" spurs the motivation to learn the basic mechanics. After several hours of ex- perience, the mechanical procedures become transparent and one begins to feel comfortable with the system. As the volume and complexity of their interactions online increase, users are motivated to learn advanced features which enable them to generate and organize their communications more efficiently. They also begin to actively explore the potentials of the medium and to ask for features that do not seem to exist. (p. 111) The computer-mediated communication user is physically "invisible." The real-world self1 and visual cues can be left behind (Dubrovsky, 1986; Kiesler and Sproull, 1986), and in its place, the user, interacting with online social groups, has the option of presenting a fantasy "self" -- a personal ideal, perhaps, or an established fictional character. Such fantasy roles pose little risk to real-world personal identity (Foster, et al., 1988). He or she can choose to appear under any name and can consciously create a "personality" with which to present him or herself. Myers noted in his study that the process of self-creation, through which the users formed their personally meaningful BBS personas, depended heavily upon continuous group negotiation --just as do "everyday" personas in face-to- face interaction (Strauss, 1959).2 Hiltz (1984) noted that many computer-mediated communication users become confessed "addicts" after exposure to the social and recreational computer world: ---------------------------- 1The terms "real-world" and "real-life" are used in this report to indicate any social context which involves face-to-face inter- action without the mediation of a computer. 2 A similar phenomenon occurred on C.B. radio. Powell and Ary (1977) write: "Communication over C.B. radio offers a dis- embodied voice without real ownership. Code names (handles) and coded language allow concealment while extending the op- portunity for fantasizing and idealized self-image through name choice, i.e., "Super Stud," "Happy Hooker," etc. The personal commitment, inherent in face-to-face situations, even tele- phonic communication, can be safely converted to an impersonal recitation of code words or phrases without loss of a sense of participation. It is expected, of course, that all players follow the same rules." (118) ----------------------------- Many of the experienced users with 100 or more hours online begin to refer to themselves as "addicts," in the sense that they not only have incorporate the system into their daily pattern of activities, but also get a 'kick' out of using it." (p.111) Why do these users become addicts? I believe that part of the reason is the tendency for computer-mediated communication to become an involving social world, which serves not only as a trans- formation of a work tool into a non-alienating, "friendly" and controlled machine, but which also proves fulfilling to some degree as a substitute for face-to-face social interaction. ForumNet: The World of Network Chatting I have been a long-time user of interactive computer systems; throughout adolescence I used BBS systems such as the one de- scribed in David Myers' aforementioned study. My use tapered off until I was introduced to ForumNet by another user of the Unix computer system here at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Signing onto the system for the first time, I typed a hesitant query into the machine: "Hello?" A user in Kentucky rushed to my aid and showed me how to use the program. ForumNet is based at the University of Kentucky and is run solely by its programmer, Sean Casey. It is accessed through the Internet, here described by Robert Chansky: The Internet was developed so that thousands of large minicomputers and mainframes could transfer data between their physical locations. This led to a complex routing system that facilitated the transfer of electronic mail among users who held accounts on any of the machines in the network. Other programs besides those that shuffled mail could take advantage of the connectivity of the machines, and gradually the Internet evolved from a data- transfer network to the hub of a culture, that of a large number of computer enthusiasts. (Chansky, 1990) ForumNet users can create "handles" of their own choosing and change them at will. Just as on C.B. radio (Powell and Ary, 1977), there are symbolic representations of body language which would otherwise be lacking: smiles, winks and frowns, for example, can be typed sideways, and are often used to punctuate sentences, accentuate humor or demonstrate feelings (see Appendix 3). Other commands exist which help the ForumNet environment take shape (see command list, Appendix 1). Users can send private messages to each other which are invisible to the rest of the group. They can send each other proverbial smiles, back- rubs, hugs, flirts and even a "boot to the head." (For a sample screen of ForumNet activity, see Appendix 2) Users can form separate subgroups on the system, comparable to C.B. channels. A simple command gives the user a list of the groups and their current participants. These groups can be made publicly accessible, or limited to invited users, or even made totally invisible to the uninvited. The creator of a group is known as the moderator, and has the power to change the topic, "boot" a user out of the group, or invite new users into the group if it is private. The default group (group "1") has no moderator. The user is automatically placed in this group if no other is specified. The environment is malleable: groups can be created at will by any user who so chooses. I discovered that invisible groups were often used for "forum sex" -- active fantasizing, anonymous and untouched by face-to-face contact. In the weeks following my introduction to ForumNet, I became acquainted with the "regulars," and was able to distinguish them both by handle and by the "personality" with which they presented themselves. My own handle became familiar to the ForumNet users, and now, over a year after my first introduction, I can reflect on the lasting friendships I made, some local and ultimately face-to-face, and others across the miles. I became a ForumNet "addict,"spending five, on rare occasions up to ten hours a day as a ForumNet participant. I have travelled, and plan to travel more, to meet ForumNet users across the United States and Canada. Method As a regular ForumNet user, I conducted field research in the role of active participant. I hope that as a familiar name and personality, I eased the "strangeness" of the research situation for the participants. ForumNet has the capability of storing a verbatim log of inter- action which takes place therein. I will examine a series of such logs reflecting group discussions which I have participated in, observed, or been supplied with by fellow users. The object of this search will be to locate evidence of a social environment created and sustained through interaction. Analyzing The Data One of my first observations in reviewing the logs was the commonality of face-work employed by ForumNet interactants. In "On Face-Work" (1969), Erving Goffman writes about the structure and function of face-to-face social encounters. He portrays everyday interaction as a largely cooperative venture in which the ultimate objective is to "save face." A "line," according to Goffman, is the comfortably predictable pattern of acts, both verbal and non-verbal, by which a person expresses his or her definition of the surroundings, the situation and its participants, including him or herself. This line is broken when something happens to contradict the image which the individual has established. "Face" is the self-esteem which a person has gained from maintaining a line consistent with others' ex- pectations. When this line is not reaffirmed by others, the person "loses face" and may feel hurt, embarrassed or insulted. An un- comfortable state of "ritual disequilibrium" results. Loss of face spreads as others become embarrassed. Until the loss is remedied, a state of ritual disequilibrium remains and the inter- action threatens to break down. "Face-work" is the complex, cooperative use of avoidances, corrections, apology interchanges, etiquette, innuendo, and reciprocal self-denial; the cooperative process which both protects and restores face. It makes human interaction safe and practical, according to Goffman. The presence of face-work as described by Erving Goffman indicates social interaction and therefore an environment in which such interaction can take place. If face-work takes place within computer-mediated communication, then, the computer is shown to be an arena for social interaction with a high level of personal "investment." Evidence for face-work was found in the ForumNet logs:* ---------------------------- * Real names have been changed; handles changed only at the request of the user. ---------------------------- [1] Interactants reinforce each others' lines by showing continuity in their status as friends in good standing, both at the beginning (a) and end (b) of conversation: (a) ICEMAN!!!! How are you? beezer: not bad...and you??!! Not too bad iceman (b) well folks I gotta go now. It's been a pleasure, to be sure! As usual! leaving, so soon? Bye Bye Draccy! Stay cool! bye draccy bye drac [2] A sense of group cohesiveness is maintained by keeping individual lines (expectations) in equilibrium: (a) Maybe I'm a back-person. Some people notice eyes, others hair... I notice backs. "Excuse me, I think I know you. Could you turn around, please?" snicker. i'm not gonna make the rude comment that came to mind. [grin] Ack. I figured it would come to mind. ;) This is forum after all, we're all disgusting at heart! Here, a user mentions the embarrassment which would occur if users' lines came into contradiction: (b) Mating call of the barfly. "Hey Bay-bee. Hey Bay-bee." That's how I picked my name...too many drunken males have come up to me at parties, saying, "Hey, babe!" hahahahahahaha... Gee, babe, wouldn't we all be embarrassed if we found out you were male. :-) Here is an occasion upon which embarrassment actually occurs. I (Draccy) had sent an invitation to "Malg," who was in a private group with "muleskinner". I had evidently assumed that "muleskinner" was male. (c) [=Status=] Invitation message sent to Malg <*Malg*> Are you serious?? I'm in here with Julie! :) THAT'S julie???? oh my god I made a mistake <*Malg*> Yea. it's julie... what did you tell her??? It's not that I told her anything bad.. It's just that I thought she was a guy!!! [3] The following two examples show correction for offenses which have already occurred. In the first example, a glitch in the computer system had been causing me to disconnect without warning -- something akin to Goffman's sudden withdrawl from interaction. The offense (my repeated, unexplained departure) must be accounted for: (a) Why do you keep leaving? Why do you keep doing that Draccy? I can't help it, Shades. The server hasn't been working properly. Oh... Here, a typographical error results in an inappropriate statement between peers which must be corrected so as not to create a state of ritual disequilibrium: (b) Hehe... Um, Beezer, I am going to get some dinner now. This was a good discussion. Let's talk again son! soon! not son ok. later dude! [4] Following is an account of a situation in which I lost face. The loss was due to an embarrassing error made in trying to match my own line with that of others. ... like you, i assume most [ForumNet users] are around 19-20 This is true. My biggest surprise came when I found I was talking about my romantic life to a "woman" all of 14 years old. :) [5] Goffman wrote that etiquette can be used to avoid threats to face. (a) is a response I received after inviting the user "thlayli" into my private group; (b) occurred when a user entered my group ten minutes after an invitation had been sent; (c) is in response to a "smile" sent to the user. (a) Thanks, I'll keep it in mind... (b) sorry i didn't respond earlier no prob wolfkiller (c) Merci. Smile returned. :) [6] Following is an example of retaliation which occurs after an offense is not corrected [the "/m" mentioned below is a command which sends a private message readable only by the recipient]. Everyone - /m gabriella and call her Gabe- she gets real pissed! archenemy Why do you want to piss off gabriella? She is being rather childish about it. I called her Gabe, and she's been sending me messages to the effect that I've offended her. The above quotes from the ForumNet system reflect many of Erving Goffman's descriptive claims about face-to-face social interaction: we find cooperative work in maintaining face and coordinating lines; correcting for or avoiding of- fense; an incident in which face had apparently been lost; and one in which the corrective process had fallen to an act of retaliation. It is evident that face-work is utilized in the computer-mediated communication context, suggesting the existence of a social setting valued by those interacting within it. Other aspects of the ForumNet environment also reveal the presence of a social environment valued by the par- ticipants. Many users feel it imperative to establish identity through name ("handle") choice. My own choice, after some experimentation, was "Draccy." This shortening of the name Dracula came from a show in which I had portrayed Count Dracula some years ago. I went about developing vam- piric traits in my ForumNet personality: /m Jennifur Hi! *CHOMP* <*Jennifur*> *BITE* Draccy! Other handles include Ponykid, Black, Wolverine, Child and Fireboy. Some users offered me explanations for their choice of name: <*Skull*> because it is my cracker-name for years. <*orgasm*> as a joke originally. guess I was horny that day! <*Count*> comes from William Gibson's book Count Zero <*bloodlust*> it's from the Marvel Superheroes. Besides, I am a vampire. Would you believe that? <*chrono*> short for Chronozoid; chrono is a direct result of my time-addiction. Zoid = just something kinda out of the ordinary. These unique handles represent the decisions of the in- dividuals to establish a certain image, a specific representation of self, on the ForumNet system. Other users are expected to play along, as "Jennifur" did with my fanged folly (other users respond variously by running away, brandishing a stake or dangling a string of garlic). In contrast to the fantasy nature of these handles, many users choose to use their real first names. As one user explained, he uses his real name "because (i) i like my name (ii) i don't see the point in `hiding'." Whether the users choose fantasy names or their real- world names, recognizable individual personalities seem to emerge. A particular user can be identified by gram- matical style, use of spacing, capitalization and "smileys." In one case, a user normally known as "muaddib" moved into a hidden group, changed his name to "cool," and began teasing me. He did not expect me to know his identity, so when I challenged him, bluffing only at first, he was surprised: /m cool I know who you are! <*cool*> who am i then? /m cool I recognize your typing <*cool*> ha ha. /m cool Hmmm...who *are* you, anyways? :) <*cool*> Hey, who are *you*? I am cooooooool! /m cool Muaddib? <*cool*> ok /m cool Told you I recognized your typing! hehe Users Mister and Paula discussed through private messages the way in which ForumNet allowed them to duplicate their real-world mannerisms. Mister reflected on the fact that he usually remained in a hidden group: <*Mister*> It's odd how well the mechanics of this program manage to let people duplicate their normal patterns... My super-secret status takes the place of the totally neutral ex- pression that's on my face when I'm not talking to someone, and the *'s on my /m's take the place of the surprise my direct attention creates. <*paula*> it's kind of neat. often people use the relative anonymity of it to "act", but i've found for the most part that people are usually very true to their personalities. <*Mister*> That means, at least in the case of you, me, and Ted, we're in our patterns, both in forum and in life, because we've chosen them. That's one of the gifts of this sort of tech- nology...it allows people to choose their environment... The conversation on ForumNet seems to span a wide range of styles and topics, similar to the range found in real-world social interaction. Gossip is widespread, especially as intimate relationships may develop between users. Travel over great distances is commonplace when users desire to meet each other. A personal relationship which I developed took me over one thousand miles from home (see Appendix #4 for a satirical look at these relationships): /m beezer Oh by the way Ned and Fireboy have a date. :) But ned is sick and he has to cancel :( But it will be re-made soon! <*beezer*> oh? when did they make it? /m beezer It was going to be tomorrow night I think. But it got postponed due to illness. ..and yes I met someone new yes- terday from forum and tomorrow night I am meeting two new people as well <*beezer*> keep me informed on the Fireboy/Ned story! Counseling and consolation is also a common feature of ForumNet interaction; advice and sympathy seem to flow easily and often: /m maryk How are you? <*maryk*> I have a horrendous headache and the world is falling apart......otherwise okay <*maryk*> :) /m maryk :( :( :( *HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUG* What's wrong? Conflict occurs frequently as well, as personalities clash, def- initions do not mesh, and smooth interaction reveals its rough edges: in one heated "discussion" which lasted for one hour and forty minutes, a user, significantly nicknamed "Heteroman" argued his point: Reproduction and evolution occurs among those who produce the most offspring. GAYS are stupid misfits. I will bet you anything it will NEVER be socially acceptable to be a FAG. Why? Because it's unnatural. DIE FAGS! It is going to be socially unacceptable, in the near future I believe, to be a biggot such as yourself, Mr. Heteroman! ...and as the argument proceeds in the crowded group, a sig- nificant name change takes place: [=Status=] andrea has changed his or her nickname to "Neutral". The lengthy argument regarding the acceptability of homo- sexuality helped bring to my attention the unusual prevalence of sexual issues on ForumNet. I asked one ForumNet user about the differences between this system and the CB radio he used in the 1970's: Do the same kinds of conversations take place? not nearly. There is alot of SEX in here! Hmmm...it does seem that sex comes up a lot here. I wonder why. i don't know. frustration, i guess. Yeah. Also probably because we are kind of hidden, we don't even have to use our voices like on CB right. we can be whatever we want to be. Male, female, young, old. whatever...i think people feel free to be themselves, more than anywhere else, because of distance. I mean, heck you and I are nearly 3000 miles apart. Note the implication beezer makes in his last statement above: "people feel free to be themselves, more than anywhere else..." Here ForumNet takes on an ultimate social reality for the user. Beezer has stated that people are more themselves on the net- work than anywhere else; that in other contexts, people are somehow "less real." The user's sense of an essential social reality on the computer is clearly revealed with his statement. The sexual innuendo and activity which occurs on ForumNet ranges in intensity and gender orientation. Much support can be found for homosexual, lesbian and bisexual users -- they often have their own special interest channel -- and crossdressers, too, have a channel of their own. The social position of females on the network differs greatly from that of males -- many female users feel the need to go "undercover" with male or non gender-specific names. Explained one user: There were a lot of remarks going around between fnet users that it was a place for girls to get picked up by desperate guys, but I never had that problem too often, probably because my account name was gender-ambiguous and I never made it obvious that I am a woman. (Chansky, 1990) Women characteristically receive much special attention on the network. Here, during the long, heated discussion on homosexuality, Andrea signs on: [=Change=] "andrea" has entered the group warns andrea that a bizarre discussion is happening...... (conversation progresses...) [=Signoff=] "andrea" has signed off. you guys scared andrea away... No, if anything, akolman, you guys probably scared her off. Andrea signs on again later in the argument and is immediately used as an "example" by the male participant Heteroman: [=Change=] "andrea" has entered the group I love you Andrea. heteroman you what? I love you Andrea. leave andrea alone! I would not advise encouragement, andrea. This is a very sick person. you dont know me hetero and i love someone else sorry...:-) Love will not hurt her. andrea: heteroman is having a self worth crisis and is trying to reach out and show his manhood by saying he loves you i suggest you egnore him. you don't love her, you don't even know her... you're just saying you love her because she is a girl and you might get a good lay out of it! excuse me i dont lay... andrea: no offense meant to you Andrea, what we have here is some boys and two men. Myself and NikkiSixx. They don't like women. In the above selection, Andrea is advised, argued over and spoken of as if she were not present. She is an object, defined in the interaction, yet her actual participation in the definition process seems to be overlooked by the other actors. These gender dynamics, issues in the social psychology of face-to-face interaction, take place clearly within the social context of the ForumNet system. Many fantasy settings are used for flirtation and seduction with the support of an actively participating group. The most common is the "hot tub" setting: [=Change=] "Draccy" has entered the group "Hot_Tub" *splash* Regina: would you like a massage? alex: Sure why not let me get ready for the tub first *removes clothes* *wistles appreciatively* *enters tub* Regina: the water is hotter over here... *reaches hand to escort Regina* alex you smoothie you :^) :^) *starts to rub Regina's neck* Discussion between males about females, both public and private, is a thread running through many ForumNet dis- cussions. Often, when a female is in a group and one of the group members has met her in "real-life," private queries fly. The answers to these eager questions may be guarded and possessive: <*Danzig*> what does Jocelyn look like? be honest. /m danzig Ask her yourself. Males' concern about ForumNet women and their real-life gender often leads to a great deal of worry about being fooled. Men have been known to pose as women on ForumNet, and this history is disturbing to many male participants. The definition of reality which they hold, in an attempt to import gender re- lationships from the face-to-face world of interaction, is fragile, for it may be biologically "wrong." Do you like to [be] helped Andrea. If I held the door for you, would you think I was sexist? HETEROMAN: what makes you think Andrea is female? What if this user was male? ---- Draccy, tell Danzig that I'm female... he doesn't believe me. Yes Danzig, I've seen a pictre and all...she's a she. :) How am i supposed to believe that Draccy isn't a pathalogical lier. It is not only women who must grapple with imported gender roles in the ForumNet social context. Males are also prone to be evaluated on the basis of their "manhood," a set of definitions about the "real" man imported from the real- world social context: Homos are just men who are too wimpy to find a girl... I am Hetero HETEROMAN!!!!!! Horrah! Three real men. I count myself, NikkiSixx, and Akolman. The rest are fairies. Conclusion The above quotes from the ForumNet system reflect many aspects of face-to-face social interaction: we find Erving Goffman's face-work; gender issues in terms of voice and the right to self-definition; the use of innuendo, gossip, and con- solation; the continual manipulation of definition and identity; and a strong sense that real-world definitions and "per -sonalities" have been imported into the computer-mediated social world. The presence of an interactive, cooperative process of identity, definition and redefinition in ForumNet interaction suggests that computer-mediated social interaction makes many of the same personal demands of maintaining face and line as does face-to-face interaction. Advanced technology is therefore not necessarily blatantly cold and depersonalized; it in fact has the capacity to become an arena in which inter- action may take place with a personal meaning which ap- proaches that of face-to-face encounters. A cold, impersonal tool is "claimed" by its users and transformed into a personal and recreational device. Will computer-mediated com- munication, just as did the printed page and the telephone, become a part of daily social life? How far can computer- mediated communication go in supplementing, replacing or transforming human interaction? Must it carry with it the politics of appearance and gender which manifest themselves in face-to-face interaction? The implications of a computer- mediated social life for the community, the family and all other social networks, must be examined. Appendix 1 ForumNet Command List Note: Private messages sent by you must be preceded by a /m. When you receive a private message, the sender's name will appear surrounded by asterisks; i.e., <*name*> --- Locally processed commands --- /? /h /help list help file /backrub [user] send user a "backrub" /beep [nick] enable beeps or beep a user /btth [user] send a "boot to the head" /bug send a bug report to sean /c list commands /confuse [user] send a confusing message /cute turn on "cute" messages /derange use dErAnGeD printing /display [num] review past messages /echo enable echo of own messages /flirt [user] send user a "flirt" /hug [user] send user a "hug" /hush [nick] hush a user or list hushees /log [filename] start session logging /nobeep disable beeps /nocute turn off "cute" messages /noderange turn off dErAnGeD printing /noecho disable echo of own messages /nohush [nick] un-hush a user or everyone /nolog end session logging /smile [user] send user a smile /q quit /t display the current time --- Remotely processed commands --- /beep user send someone a beep /boot user forcibly remove someone /c get a list of commands /cancel [nick] cancel one or all invites /g [group] [@nick] list or change groups /m user send a personal message /name [nick] show or change nickname /pass [user] pass moderatorship /invite [user] list or issue invitations /status [p|r] show or change status /topic [topic] list or set a group topic /w [.] get a list of users Appendix 2 Sample of ForumNet Log i'm uninvolved. have been for more than four years. Does this bother you or are you content that way? i don't know. It really doesn't bother me at all. Good. You see, my problem is I can't stand the feeling of not being involved. So I was really depressed before I met these people (hard to believe that was only 1 week ago...things move fast) i get depressed, but i try not to let it bother me. I try to keep on an even keel, and that includes learning to be content alone. It's good to come to terms with yourself in that way. It seems like if you make the best of your situation, and don't spend too much time TRYING to change things, the situation changes of its own accord. that's right, at least accepting your situation is better than dwelling on what you wish you had. Exactly. That only makes you preoccupied and withdrawn, and then things get lonely. /beep annie /beep iceman /m iceman A fellow banana slug! right. I like to say i avoid relationships, but I think I really don't need one. [=Beep!=] annie sent you a beep. But at the same time if something felt right...wouldn't you want it to happen? <*iceman*> Yes!!!!!!!!! /m iceman Did you know...McHenry is not fun to hang out in. :( i don't know. i guess, but I don't even know if I would recognize it if something felt right. Hmm... I bet you would. I mean, nobody ever knows things for sure. "Love at first sight" is a myth. But after a while you know when something is comfortable. Group List Nickname Idle Resp Sign-On Account Group: 1 knap - 4s 5:52pm yo 1m - 7:29pm Dark_Angel - 3s 8:22pm MeanThug - - 8:23pm bag - 4s 4:54pm hube - 2s 8:31pm LadyBug - - 8:06pm Group: `beezneez' This Place is the Bees Knees! beezer - 3s 8:06pm Draccy - - 8:21pm Nick - 4s 8:12pm MetallicA - - 8:07pm Morrison_Poe - - 7:14pm stinger - 3s 7:51pm Group: `DarkArea' Malg 14m 2s 8:09pm Appendix 3 Key To "Smileys" The Unofficial Smiley Dictionary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :-) Your basic smiley. This smile is used to inflect a sarcastic or joking statement since we can't hear voice inflection over Unix. ;-) Winky smiley. User just made a flirtatious and/or sarcastic remark. More of a "don't hit me for what I just said" smilie. :-( Frowning smiley. User did not like that last statement or is upset or depressed about something. :-I Indifferent smiley. Better than a Frowning smiley but not quite as good as a happy smiley :-> User just made a really biting sarcastic remark. Worse than a :-). 8-) User is wearing sunglasses :-[ User is a Vampire :~-( User is crying |-I User is asleep :-P Nyahhhh! :-P~~ Raspberry :-D User is laughing (at you!) :-o Uh oh! X-( User just died **Note: A lot of these can be typed without noses to make midget smileys: :) :] Gleep...a friendly midget smiley who will gladly be your friend :} - Sheepish :) - Happy :( - Sad :,( - Crying :-p smiley sticking its tongue out (at you!) Appendix #4 "Network Mating Game" Author Unknown GUYS!!!!! GIRLS!!!!! Can't find a mate on your own? Are you obnoxious to others when you meet them in person, or just plain annoying? Do you live a life where you dream about that special someone from another school, someone who you've never met before? Then you want to join the meat market out there... RELAY!!!!!!! Yes, the place where you too can experience the thrill of enjoying someone else's company without ever meeting the person... Find that you are a female, and not many people talk to you? Just go on to relay, and watch the guys come FLOCKING to you. It first starts with a simple hello, then BAM!!!! private messages, then the DREADED ID file, then an exchanging of photographs, then the guy wants to come over and visit you in person! He'll usually ask for some measurements from you, seeing as he's already told you how hard it is to be humble when he has a ten inch "schlong" (thanks, Bob!). Tell him you are a 38-26-34, he'll love you! Doesn't matter if they are accurate or not, because if he ever meets you in person, he won't care anymore - it will be one of the few times he has ever actually TALKED to someone of the female gender. Unless you count the time he swore at the computer voice on that video game. Guys - can't seem to find that girl of your dreams? Can't seem to find ANY girl? Don't even know what a girl looks like? Well, hop on the relay bandwagon. Pick a channel, any channel. Doesn't matter, they're all the same (unless you are gay - then you want channel 33!). Anyhow, get on, and say hi to everyone; it's the polite thing to do, and a nice way to try to accomplish what you want (get a girl, ANY girl, in the sack). Start talking to people - if you talk to another guy, chances are he won't answer because he is trying to pick up GIRLS, not guys. He doesn't want you. So don't talk to him (unless he knows some girl, which he probably doesn't). Soon, you will find that the ratio of guys to girls is even worse than that here at Tech, which means at least 7 guys to 1 girl. If you are real lucky, you'll get on a channel with 3 girls. So, now you've started talking... First, gotta find a nickname. If you are male, try hardbody, or teninches!, or girlsluvme, or something equally untrue and inappropriate. Females - choose something like Manhunter, 36D, or luvbutts! It will get people of the other sex talking to you. You're wondering why several of the other guys on the channel are suspiciously quiet. Well, they're NOT quiet - they're sending private messages to the lone girl on the channel, or to a girl on a private channel! So, you better join in - pick any girl at random, and start sending her private messages. Start telling her about how you are great at the latest video game, how making love is SO difficult lately (no girl can seem to resist me! what will i do?), and why classes are so hard lately {but then again, everythingis hard with me! * hee hee * :-) }. Always remember to put in * hee hee * , * grin *, and other things like that. Makes it appear that you are human. It's just an act, though. OK, now you've got this girl in your sights. She's actually talking to you, and she's put up with your gibberish about your sex life. Occasionally, you and she talk about things in the REAL world, but both of you seem at a loss for words. Can't talk about what you don't know. After some small talk, you must send her your id, and maybe if you are lucky, get one back. OK, here's Joe Goofball reading it... "She likes horseback riding, romantic evenings, candlelight dinners, kissing (Joe blushes - he's never KISSED a girl before, unless you count his sister), and watching T.V. (Joe is finally happy! - he watches T.V. all the time, when he is not on relay!)" Next time Joe logs on relay, he finds this hot (cough! cough!) girl on relay. Try having compusex with her! It's a fun, safe way to give yourself pleasure you can't get any other way. Just ask her (through private messages, of course!) if she wants to have computer sex with you. She'll probably want to, of course. So, just act along with her - she might know more than you about it, anyhow. It'll give you something to dream about, unless... You actually want to MEET this person! Doesn't matter if she lives 10 miles away, or across the country. You can fly out to meet her. If she's as desparate as you are, she'd love to have you come out to meet her. Maybe you two can spend an evening together on the computer or something... Or, you can be like a person from Philadelphia...who "found" the perfect girl for him. They exchanged letters, and phoned each other constantly. Finally, he decided to visit her (note that no pictures had been exchanged) in Michigan, and flew up there. He was in an all girls dorm, and when he met this girl, she was "the ugliset, fattest girl i had ever seen" {his quote - i can only guess how boring he was}. So, what did he do? (his quote again) - "I slept with her". Why, you ask? "Because I had to get something for my money". If you don't want to meet the girl in person, YET you have had compusex with them...what better way to show your love for this person that a relay marriage? Relay marriages are safe, you never have to worry about alimony, AND, in Bitnet land, bigamy is legal!!! So, get married to two or three people - have computer sex with all of them - it's safe, fun, and you don't have to worry about any nifty diseases... Wait, you say! You don't want to pick up a guy or girl for life on relay? You're a girl, and afraid that some guy will try to pick you up? Well, you can either 1) sign on to relay as a guy, and talk normally or 2) "If you're from Stevens Tech, I'm a guy! Really!" [thanks, Jenny!] The hardest trick of all is to find a person on relay who is actually three dimensional. Most are two dimensional - just like the video screen that they are looking at. Bibliography Chansky, Robert 1990 "F-Net." Unpublished term paper, Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1990. Dubrovsky, Vitaly, et al. 1986 "Group Processes in Computer-Mediated Com- munication." Organizational Behavior And Human Decision Processes 37: 157-187. Foster, Donald L., et al. 1988 "Becoming the Easter Bunny: Socialization Into A Fantasy Role." Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 17(1): 67-95. Goffman, Erving 1969 "On Face Work." Pp. 1-36 in Where the Action Is. London: Allen Lane The Penguin Press. Hansen, Terry, and Tom Kieffer 1984 Get Acquainted: A Guide to Telecommunications. Culver City: Ashton-Tate. Hiltz, Starr Roxanne 1984 Online Communities: A Case Study of the Office of The Future. Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex Publishing Company. Kerr, Elaine B., and Starr Roxanne Hiltz 1982 Computer-Mediated Communication Systems: Status and Evaluation. San Francisco: Academic Press. Kiesler, Sara and Lee Sproull 1986 "Reducing Social Context Cues: Electronic Mail in Organizational Communication." Management Science 32(11): 1492-1512. Marvin, Carolyn and Quentin J. Schultze 1977 "The First Thirty Years." Journal Of Communication 27(3): 104-117. Myers, David 1987 "'Anonymity Is Part of The Magic': Individual Manipulation of Computer-Mediated Communication Contexts." Qualitative Sociology 10(3): 251-266. Powell, Jon T. and Donald Ary 1977 "Communication Without Commitment." Journal Of Communication 27(3): 118-121. Strauss, Anselm L. 1959 Mirrors And Masks: The Search for Identity. Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press. (esp. pp. 44-48) Turkle, Sherry 1984 The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit. New York: Simon and Schuster.