IR11 Pre-Conference: Academic Career Development Workshop

I did something I have not done in some time at a conference; I took notes by hand during the wonderful “Academic Career Development Workshop for Research Students and Early Career Academics” pre-conference session. I did not want to hear tap tap tap, nor did I want to have the possibility of multitasking, so I used a new notebook I bought during a recent holiday in Paris. The notebook is thick, solid leather with a great pad of unlined paper (though I often prefer graph paper with the boxes), though this is fine, thick paper that was a strange pleasure to write on. Reminds me, I owe somebody a physical letter . . .

The pre-conference sesion was organized by Marcus Foth, who could not attend at the last minute, and Jaz Hee-jeong Choi (who did a wonderful job facilitating the entire session). The 15 or so of us spent the entire day discussing our work, our interests, our questions, our concerns, and our best practices to help one another. An international bunch, I felt quite comfortable with them all after the first round of introductions when it became apparent that my concerns and worries and struggles were often shared by others.

There were other learners who are also considering academe as a second career. Teaching internationally means that the same terms are used, though often in very different ways. Funding is a persistent problem. The importance of building and fostering a network. Even the value of presenting at conferences and then expanding to publish. All valuable for us to know.

Overall, I got what I came for, in that I feel a little more informed and expect that my challenges are similar enough to other early career researcher that my confidence was bolstered. Kudos.

The Internet Omnopticon: Mutual Surveillance in Social Media

Jacob Linaa Jensen (who I spoke with last for the first time in the conference) began with a background of this topic.

Seems norms of privacy are not uniform, based 0n age and values and norms and such. Some people feel more confortable sharing everything, while others are more concerned about various things.

Jesper Taekke is now speaking about problems for the social constructino of personal identity. He tried to study Facebook from a community vs. a network perspective. Social identity.

Charles Ess is now speaking about new ethical challenges. Fascinating content that is just too rich for those who are uninitiated. Lots more things for me to learn; what a useful experience to attend a conference session (again) and leave with more tantalizing questions than answers!!

Another presentation that is now focusing on Real ID and the World of Warcraft. Seems there is an interest in anonymity within the WoW community.

Lars Holmgaard Christensen is now speaking about Facebook, especially about dataveillance. Interesting table on the Self-Assertive I, the Social We, and the Self-transcendent Other. I really need to know more about surveillance studies.

Facebook is an Omnopticon — a mutual surveillance. Manuel Castells talked about the thing that everyone can watch now.

Now, questions and comments.

Power, Gender, and Collective Action

The first of these papers that is being presented is entitled “When Technology Matters.” Their research question is “Why go public with the private?” Nice slides — black background with white text that just jumps out at us.

The first part is about a woman who blogged without people initially knowing her, but then people recognizing her and her struggles with that. The next paper was about bloggers who starve themselves or otherwise hurt themselves. Finally, another person who blogs about her body. Fascinating experiences of people who speak public about issues that others can easily miss.

Hmm, what is important to me may not be important to you? Talk about a jolt to worldview!

The role of technology in the private / public. Where is control? Whose control? How does ethics work with this? I am getting more and more confused with how to handle this research if using other people’s blogs. Thus far, my research is leading me to direct interaction with bloggers; phew.

Ahh, a presentation on female gamers by Malin Sveningsson. Gender and sexuality with female gamers. There certainly seems to be a a theme here at the confernce around gamers / online games. Think I want to know a little more about this area (sounds familiar?)

Interesting theme that female gamers bring a friendly touch to the game. Yes, Fatal attraction with knives and guns and such like fatal attraction. Hmm, homosociality (cf. Sedgwick, 1985).  Same-sex gaming environments can be liberating or constraining. I wonder what future areas of research exist in this area?

Hmm, how do gender differences disrupt online gamer expectations / experiences?

Girls being made invisible on the Internet, with a reference to Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Not quite sure what population of girls that is being studied, as girls in general may be a little general for research. Their focus is on the individual lived lives researchers.

I like hearing about the everyday activism, and it is seen in this research and images that were provided in the blog here.

Rong Wang will present her paper via Skype from Singapore. This is exactly the sort of presentation style that we will only see more of. Hmm, new experiences = new research opportunities.

The theory of social capital, social ties, and collective action are all considered. Nice use of social network analysis (SNA). Makes me wonder what methodologies are most common in Internet Research?

Tweeting it Out: Twitter and Sociality

Quite fitting that there is a session on Twitter here at AoIR, even given the number of Tweets coming from #ir11.

Axel Maireder is speaking now about Twitter for transnational public discourses in Europe. Quite interesting how much research is now being done using Twitter, and how it is much more of just a microblogging medium. Hmm, I think I told people this a few years ago when I first started to tweet. I think I need to read his paper, as I am struggling to understand how he is using some of his  terms  (demos, public sphere). I do like his use of slides. Large text, blocks of color, and not too many (or any) bullet lists.

Musing about the variety of presentation skills I have seen here at the conference. Perhaps conference organizers can suggest guidelines for providing slide development and presentation guidelines. The first presentation has a wonderful slide deck. Large block type, few words, solid color backgrounds, etc. Perhaps I am focused on this as I teach management communication, and perhaps because I get paid for learning design, but there is such value in having good presentation skills to convey the many valuable messages that people have to share.

David Houghton is now presenting on Linguistic markers to self-disclosure of sensitive information on Twitter. Humorous Tweets are being shared with the question about linguistic differences on how people disclose things about themselves. Nice considerations of privacy issues.

Privacy and social networks, around informational or accessibility privacy. Juicy. Makes me think about identity development (yet again, how do I define myself or present myself usuig Twitter). Hmm, a reference for an online service, Secret Tweet. Have to explore that a bit.

Interesting linguistic markers. I wonder how these were developed? Yes, more papers I want to read. Wonder what is leading to David’s passion in this area? davidhoughton.info

Just heard about a cool website that everybody but me seems to know about, prezi.com.

Interesting session by Theo Plothe about Twitter feeds with NFL players. What a novel idea to bring various passions and interests together into novel research streams. I am struggling to follow some of the football references (surprised?), but really like to hear the down and dirty of the research methods used in this research. Really good model for presenting — engaging, examples, clear methods, research questions, and such.

I had no idea so many NFL players use Twitter in strategic ways. Interesting insight.

It is clear that Twitter research will increase, as the limited research that has already been done raises all sorts of new issues.

Sweet reference to Marcuse in a question about repressive tolerance.

I am beginning to think about liveblogging more directly through Twitter rather than here. Hmm, wonder if I should consider that for the next session?

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2010-10-22

  • Ahh, the Pro-Am stands for Professional-Amatuer! Yes, I am slow on the uptake. #ir11 #
  • Every session I attended today has challenged my thinking in some way. I think this conference is money well spent. #ir11 #
  • Anybody else think it is ironic that the porn research presentation is being presented in the dark? #ir11 #
  • I think this porn research is a great follow-up to all the work on surveillance and identity development I have attended today. #ir11 #
  • Fascinating research; rise of amateur porn as instrument for subversion that problematizes the role of the oppressed and the oppressor #ir11 #
  • Alas, I missed that O'Reilly reference to the long tale. #ir11 #
  • Did I hear that research right? #ir11 Glory holes provide ways that promote heteronormativity and male bonding (though not gay sexuality)? #
  • Who would have ever dreamed that that title seems to describe primarily straight porn? #ir11 My learning continues . . . #
  • I like the next title in the panel discussion – Widening the Glory Hole: Mapping the discourse of online porn fandom. #ir11 #
  • Ahh, a quick queer reference in the panel discussion. #ir11 I wonder even more about how that fit in? #
  • Interesting that all the examples in the Porn Panel Discussion thus far include (only) heteronormative examples. #ir11 #
  • Attending a panel discussion — Pro-Am Pornography: New Economies of Sex Production and Consumption #ir11 #
  • I really like these surveillance studies. Wonder what the hegemonic effects of them are on teaching and learning? #ir11 #
  • We are considering the research question "How might actuarial surveillance play subvert ideologies of identity." #ir11 #
  • Nothing like attending a conference to become even more aware of how little I know #ir11 #
  • I did not know there was such a thing as surveillance studies and scholarship. I am out of the loop, I suppose. #ir11 #
  • Rats, another presenter in this paper session is not here due to sickness. Rrr #ir11 #
  • Alas, no keynote speaker just now #ir11 #
  • Wow, reviewing Tweets, seems the lull of #ir11 Tweets demonstrates lunch is being enjoyed by most. #
  • Had to eat lunch quickly so I can go find an available outlet before the next presentation. #ir11 #
  • I disagree with some panelists who are speaking about how people blog or upload photos to make impact. How about public reflection? #ir11 #
  • Yes, I do not like reading online / Kindle / iPad either. I still print articles to read. I like to feel the paper and pencil in hand #ir11 #
  • "This is a roundtable without a table." One of the best lines I heard all day. #ir11 #
  • RT @astridmager: thinking about emotions in online research right now: room ascom #ir11 #
  • Have a lengthy liveblog post ready to go. #ir11 #
  • I really liked these presentations on online identity formation. I wonder what that means for me? #ir11 #
  • "Questioning anonymity in the blogosphere: A blogging cycle of identity formation" presentation now. This is very related to my work. #ir11 #
  • Bisexuality as a narrative of resistance. Hmm, interesting concept about online hegemonic discourse. Ahh, I love critical theory. #ir11 #
  • Nora Madison is now speaking about bisexual identity. First direct GLBT reference I have seen here at AoIR #ir11 #
  • Interesting session on identity at #ir11 Heard about trolling (or not) on Reddit. and now the "right of reply." So much still to learn! #
  • The first session is about to begin. I am attending the one in Ledningsrummet on online identity, my area of interest. #ir11 #
  • Happy with the wifi here at #ir11 Many conferences I have attended do not have it so much together. This is INTERNET Research, of course! #
  • Wonder why there is already a coffee break? We have only been formally together for 20 minutes ofrso. #ir11 #
  • RT @silnan: Remember kids, we are in Gothenburg at #ir11 not Copenhagen at #ir09 #
  • My goal for attending #ir11 is to get some more ideas for my thesis proposal (that I formally begin working on in January). #
  • Thus far, enjoying my first #ir11 #
  • Finally, we are here at the beginning of #ir11 at Chalmers University. #
  • The conference #ir11 of #AoIR begins today, after the excellent pre-conference yesterday. #

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