Online discussion
Encyclopedia
Online discussion is a relatively new form of communication
, facilitated usually by computer network
s. The first such communications were on mainframe-based systems such as the PLATO and CONFER
systems in the early to mid 1970s. By the mid 1980's, dial-up bulletin board system
s or "BBS's" run by hobbyists on personal computers began to host online discussions, as well. As networks became more sophisticated, and access to said networks became easier (such as through universities and "dial-up" access), networks like USENET
hosted an immense range of discussions. In the early 1990s, Internet Relay Chat
became (and remains) popular. With the advent of the World wide web
(WWW), myriad web forums have become new forums for discussion.
Online discussion groups tend to have a social element to them similar to a clique
. There are generally established leaders (perhaps the owner of the medium the communication travels across), as well as more and less frequent communicators (or "posters"). Additionally, a discussion of the social properties of online discussion would not be complete without mention of the internet troll. These social networks can be very dynamic, can contain many thousands of members, and can even originate swarm
s such as the 1999 Seattle protests
.
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
, facilitated usually by computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
s. The first such communications were on mainframe-based systems such as the PLATO and CONFER
CONFER (software)
CONFER is one of the first and one of the most sophisticated computer conferencing systems. It was developed in 1975 at the University of Michigan by then graduate student Robert Parnes. The CONFER system continued to be a widely used communication tool until 1999...
systems in the early to mid 1970s. By the mid 1980's, dial-up bulletin board system
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
s or "BBS's" run by hobbyists on personal computers began to host online discussions, as well. As networks became more sophisticated, and access to said networks became easier (such as through universities and "dial-up" access), networks like USENET
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
hosted an immense range of discussions. In the early 1990s, Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...
became (and remains) popular. With the advent of the World wide web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
(WWW), myriad web forums have become new forums for discussion.
Online discussion groups tend to have a social element to them similar to a clique
Clique
A clique is an exclusive group of people who share common interests, views, purposes, patterns of behavior, or ethnicity. A clique as a reference group can be either normative or comparative. Membership in a clique is typically exclusive, and qualifications for membership may be social or...
. There are generally established leaders (perhaps the owner of the medium the communication travels across), as well as more and less frequent communicators (or "posters"). Additionally, a discussion of the social properties of online discussion would not be complete without mention of the internet troll. These social networks can be very dynamic, can contain many thousands of members, and can even originate swarm
Smart mob
A smart mob is a group that, contrary to the usual connotations of a mob, behaves intelligently or efficiently because of its exponentially increasing network links. This network enables people to connect to information and others, allowing a form of social coordination. Parallels are made to,...
s such as the 1999 Seattle protests
WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity
Protest activity surrounding the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, which was to be the launch of a new millennial round of trade negotiations, occurred on November 30, 1999 , when the World Trade Organization convened at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington,...
.