Misbehavior in Cyber Places

The Regulation of Online Conduct in Virtual Communities on the Internet

By (author) Janet Sternberg

Not available to order

Publication date:

25 October 2012

Length of book:

232 pages

Publisher

UPA

ISBN-13: 9780761860129

Misbehavior in Cyber Places studies computer-mediated, interpersonal communication on the Internet up to the turn of the century, portraying a technological universe that existed before social media, smartphones, and commercialism began to dominate cyberspace in the new millennium. Here, with amateurs prevailing over professionals, digital immigrants explored online frontiers and founded virtual communities. Based on early stages of Internet research, this book examines misbehavior across a wide range of online environments. Sternberg distinguishes misbehavior and rule-breaking from crime and law-breaking, and discusses cybercrime, cyberlaw, and the differences between local and global regulation. This book lays out the theoretical framework and fundamental ideas of media ecology, a branch of communication scholarship. Sternberg highlights pioneering media ecology perspectives on space, place, situations, rules, and behavior in public. These subjects are highly relevant for understanding digital media, mediated interpersonal communication, and behavior in online environments.

Preface: The Internet at the Turn of the Century
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Athenians and Visigoths in Cyberspace

1 The Research Objective
Rationale for the Study
The Research Problem
Definitions
Delimitations
Method
Chapter Summary

2 The Context of the Study
Media Ecology: The Study of Media Environments
Media as Environments
Environments as Media
Space and Place
Situations, Rules, and Rule-Breaking
Mediated Interpersonal Communication
Computer-Mediated Communication in Online Environments
Virtual Communities

3 Trouble Brewing in Cyberspace
An Infamous Triad of Troublesome Online Behavior
Flaming: Digital Debates and Virtual Vitriol
Spamming: Electronic Junk Mail and Other Cyber Debris
Virtual Rape: Sexual Harassment in Online Gathering Places
A Frontier Mentality: The Internet Besieged
Two Approaches: External Laws Versus Internal Rules

4 Cybercrime: Law-Breaking on the Internet
The 1994 Denning and Lin Report
Cybercrime and Cyberlaw
Online Security, Attacks, and Viruses
Hackers and Other Denizens of the Cyberspace Underground
First Amendment Follies: Dissent, Free Speech, and Censorship Online
Definition Schizophrenia: Malevolent Criminal or Mischievous Prankster?
The Jurisdiction Circus: No Ringmaster in Cyberspace

5 Misbehavior: Rule-Breaking in Virtual Communities
The 1994 Bruckman Abstract
Misbehavior and its Aliases: Negligent, Naughty, Nasty, and Beyond
Rules and Norms in Virtual Gatherings
Netiquette and Other Codes of Civilized Cyber Conduct
Behavior Management and Social Control in Online Environments
The Status Quo: Theories and Analyses in Search of a Paradigm

6 The Regulation of Online Conduct in Cyber Places
Breaking, Making, and Enforcing Rules Online
Breaking the Rules: Varieties of Virtual Misbehavior
Rule-Breakers: Netiquette Newbies, Packet Pranksters, and Modem Miscreants
Making the Rules: Behavioral Standards for Online Gatherings
Rule-Makers: Netizens Against Digital Misconduct
Enforcing the Rules: Strategies and Techniques for Handling Online Troublemakers
Rule-Enforcers: Moderators, Sysops, Wizards, and Gods on Cyber Patrol

7 Conclusion: A New Sense of Place
From Physical to Behavioral Boundaries
Growing Interest in Local Regulatory Approaches
Misbehavior Offline: Athenians and Visigoths in Everyday Life

References
About the Author

This study represents an important contribution to the research on computer communication. Sternberg makes it clear that we cannot fully comprehend behavior online unless we first examine misbehavior, that rules and roles are most visible when they are violated. The media ecology approach that Sternberg employs, especially when incorporating symbolic interactional, relational, and situational perspectives, is essential to a comprehensive understanding of our new electronic environments.