Chapter 8 of Here Comes Everybody titled “Solving Social Dilemmas” especially struck a chord with me this week. From the reading, I felt that Shirky was making the point that Web 2.0 facilitates connectedness among social groups that normally would in some way be ostracized or forced to overcome barriers to prosper. Case in point: the list on page 197 citing 6,757 witches and 1,339 vampires. (Who knew there were so many vampires out there?!)
Putting the supernatural aside, I wanted to look into the positive and negative sides of these kinds of online communities and websites linking social groups that would otherwise be underground due to the nature of their interest and content. Through Google searching, it was rather disturbing to find how many explanatory web sites and message boards exist that aid young women in losing weight, promoting anorexia/bulimia, and posting “thinspiration.” As I delved further into these deviant communities, I also found web sites that provided guides for self-mutilation (e.g., cutting, burning, etc.), and even sites that list recommended methods for attempting suicide based on effectiveness, pain threshold, and more. From what I understand, the powers that be will not shut down these kinds of sites because it infringes on the right to free speech. (In Shirky’s YM example, I’m guessing they were able to shut down their message board because they were a private company.) In my personal opinion however, I cannot help but wonder what good could possibly come from these sites that promote self-harm.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are positive outlets to connect these same groups of people. For those who are looking for self-help to overcome anorexia, self-mutilation, and suicidal ideation there are websites which serve as online support groups. In particular, via Dr. Phil’s blog I was linked to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Gallery. This is a website where visitors pick a self-representative avatar and then record their own personal story to be posted on the site. People visit this website to share and listen to stories of hope and recovery. I was impressed that this website allows people to reach out and feel connected but still maintain a level of anonymity. In this example, those with mental illness and their family and friends can overcome stigma and open up a dialogue that may not always be acceptable in real life social settings.
This information serves to reinforce the belief that there are positive and negative sides to every coin and the Internet can be a very dangerous tool in the wrong hands.
I would say that just about anything can be found online -- any perspective, any interest, it's all there. That people who feel in the minority or all alone in their immediate physical surroundings find it a comfortable way to congregate and share with likeminded others (whatever the likemindedness may be) really isn't surprising, is it?
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