I am writing part of my thesis on the topic of online forums and I want to pull from some substantial strands of thought such as nationalism and varying concepts of "culture". I am within anthropology.

I was hoping for some of your views on the current capabilities of online forums -specifically- (rather than blogs or other arguably more 'static' forms of shared communication) in the creation/maintenance of human cooperative ends. I am hoping to discuss, tangably, the elements of a particular forum that I have been a member of for some years (ie: not this one!) and am resolute in avoiding a 'cultural studies' type of essay.

Any thoughts on the matter will provide new ideas for me and will be much appreciated.

Interesting topic LT. I'm an antho without portfolio.

I think China is a start - their censorship of the web could only mean that the web is effective in ways that form of a threat to centralised governments. The whole of the Falun Gong crackdown was not necessarily over their 'religious' practice, but over their ability to organise themselves via the web.

The information originating from the UK authorities after their recent 'terrorist' episode was exposed for a whole series of lies - that there had been no threat.

But I don't think any of this information is contained in any one web site - in fact that is the strenght of the web - it is everywhere yet nowhere - and I suspect that governments are trying their best to crack it.

Just some thoughts - good luck with the study - but keep low - you might get info that puts you in breach of the various 'terrorism' laws which now pervade society.

Leafy
good on you....

I'd start with our flag... the meaning of the Union Jack in terms of ethnicity and history, then, the southern cross for geography, and have a read of 'The Geebung Polo Club' to get an inkling into the emerging Australian-ness symolized by the GeeBungs team as opposed to the imported clung to squatocracy symbolized by 'The Cuff and Collar team'.

Then, goto the end of WWII, taking particular note of the content of Arthur Callwells great speech about 'populate or perish'.
Have a peek at the idea behind the White Australia policy. It's intent was noble and far sighted, but the implementation left a bad taste in many mouths. (P.S. I'm Anglo Scot married to an Asian)

We need a new version of the 'WAP' which imphasizes VALUES compatability rather than skin color or race, which was indeed the goal of that WAP anyway.

Regarding the impact of forums like this, I can only guess, but looking at the contributors, it is clear that many are plugged into mainstream politics.

What I've found interesting, is that most of the major themes I (and others) are advancing, are being relfected in current statements about policy. This means either we who are saying these things are either in tune with the mood of the population as shown by party polling, or .. maybe Mr Howard and Mr Beasely read OLO :)

They have yet to catch on to the repulsive nature of unrestrained economic rationalism, but we are working on that one :)

I'll float one idea and lets see if it gets legs in the media soon ?

THE LEFT OF THE COALITION SHOULD MARRY THE RIGHT OF LABOR, AND FORM A CENTRIST POLITICAL BODY WHICH MORE REPRESENTS ALL AUSSIES.

and they can throw in a decent public health system as well !

Goodness me Boaz D ! A regurgitated version of the WAP? Doesn't Jay Dubblya have a handle on this one already?

We should be endeavouring to have a better system of protecting 'rights' than our 'tired dinosaur' of a constitution - but enough of that, I think you know my stance on this and similar issues.

As for the impact of blogs/forums/onliners etc I don't know that our sweat & tears actually achieves as much as we would like it to -unfortunately.

From what feedback is available from media outlets (in the main the Packer/Fox/Murdoch camps) I get the strong feeling that the TV call lines/polls seem to have a greater impact on opinion forming - "propaganda" perhaps? Media manipulation in varying degrees? Shudder the thought.

Mark Twain had said something like : " In religion & politics, people's beliefs & convictions are in almost every case, gotten at 2nd hand, and without examination."

Then to a lesser degree, the radio jocks e.g Lawsy/Jonesy, and their regional counterparts hold sway. To sound cynical, as I'm often accused of, the pollsters would not be likely to be 'truthful' when giving you their info either, especially if it runs counter to their own spin doctoring.

Some independent audit of the polling lines (done electronically) may be a solution to gaining impartial statistics from which to analyse the impact as such. Yet again, the marketing people to whom a fair percentage of the tolls collected from the actual phone calls goes, may be another source of this statistical breakdown of the responses, if that in itself could be used as an accurate gauge.

Albie... Please "read" my post :)

VALUES based.....NOT skin color or race based..... grrr...

Did you go into a tail spin as soon as you read the WAP bit ? :)

I'm saying a 'policy' which is deliberately designed to filter out would be social/cultural/security "white ants" is needed.

You know what happens to a Trout population if European Carp enter a water way...right ? But then, I suppose those xenophobic, racist trout just need to be more tolerant and inclusive eh

Anyway, I think that a well written opinion piece can change the direction of political thought if it has truth on its side.

"The pen is mightier than the sword".

Though sometimes I wonder if 'opinion polls' are more powerful in spite of what Politicians say.

Thanks everyone for your input, its really helpful to hear the points of view of others (especially if its from such learned people)!