Blogs as “Protected Space”

							Blogs as “Protected Space”

     Michelle Gumbrecht
     Stanford University
How do blogs stack up communicatively?
(Herring et al, 2004)


• Classified in-between websites and asynchronous
  CMC (e.g. email)


• Highlight “limited interactivity” and
  “asymmetrical communication rights” between
   blogger and blog reader
Reader’s Comment
Building a “protected space”.


                        Media selection:
  Bloggers’ ability to
                       Limited interactivity
    control content
                             of blogs

            Bloggers’ ability to
             receive feedback
Ethnographic study.

• Conducted in Spring 2003 w/ Bonnie Nardi,
  Diane Schiano, and Luke Swartz

• Conversational-style interviews focusing on:
     - blogging uses & habits
     - thoughts on blogging
     - use of other communication media
     - future directions of blogging software

• Continued close reading of informants’ blogs
Sample.

• 23 bloggers (16 men, 7 women; ages 19-60),
  some with multiple blogs


• All lived in California or New York, but countries
  of origin varied widely
Developing the sample.

• Searched Google’s Stanford University portal
(http://www.google.com/univ/stanford) for words “blog”
and “Weblog” to create initial list of Stanford-hosted blogs

• Contacted a small number of bloggers we knew
    personally


• “Snowballed” sample by asking informants about other
bloggers to contact
Building a “protected space”.


                        Media selection:
  Bloggers’ ability to
                       Limited interactivity
    control content
                             of blogs

            Bloggers’ ability to
             receive feedback
Controlling content.

• Bloggers imposed constraints on themselves by:


   - Using ambiguous language and references to
     get message across to selected audience without
     being hurtful
Manipulation of common ground.

• Bloggers took advantage of “accumulated”
  knowledge shared with family/close friends


• Acquaintances and strangers only privy to surface
  information


• Could maintain privacy within a public medium
Building a “protected space”.


                        Media selection:
  Bloggers’ ability to
                       Limited interactivity
    control content
                             of blogs

            Bloggers’ ability to
             receive feedback
Why the preference for blogs over other media?

“I feel like I can say something in the blog and have
 it be sort of like my safety net, you know? Whereas like
 in a more immediate and personal form of digital
 communication…I would sort of have to face their reaction,
 you know? Metaphorically speaking, anyway…”

                            -Max, one of our informants
• Grounding took place indirectly


• Responses not expected immediately—particularly
  helpful when discussing sensitive issues


• Blog readers could choose whether or not to
  respond to posts


• If and when conflicts arose, they were “transferred”
  to other media
Building a “protected space”.


                        Media selection:
  Bloggers’ ability to
                       Limited interactivity
    control content
                             of blogs

            Bloggers’ ability to
             receive feedback
Importance of feedback.

• In community settings:

  - valued highly
  - BUT comments didn’t come automatically!

• “Individualistic” blogs:

  - mixed reviews
  - dependent on the blogger’s attitude:
    “community-minded” vs. “egocentric”
Summary.

• Blogging has created interesting dynamics that
  set it apart from other media of communication


• Bloggers try to maintain a delicate balance between
  themselves and their audience with their content


• There is still much work to be done to learn about
  the “blogger mentality”!
      Thanks to:

      Bonnie Nardi

      Diane Schiano

       Luke Swartz

Our informants for this study