Re(2): [Air-l] Research on identity communication in online communities

[Jonathan Robin]

Good Evening ...

IMHO although research into the use of pseudonyms online is doubtless
facilitated by the various online options available, I feel with respect
that this is not strictu sensu an online phenomenon.

In France, where the Minitel was flourishing over 15 years ago, virtual
communication was commonplace and fairly revealing.

What MAY BE worthy of attention is that, unlike anglo saxon common law
traditions, outside the arts and writers in the wide sense of the term,
the use of a pseudonym runs very much counter to established legal
tradition, notably that based upon the Napoleonic code.  

Thus the way in which the continental pseudos are evolving is interesting.

There is another point that may be worthy of attention.  In several cases
pseudonyms are used because the nominative email is not available or has
been taken by someone else so John Smith MUST resort to pseudonyms. This
shows as much the structural influence of current Internet environment as
any precise predeliction.

With IPv6 however, much may change, notably with the use of visuals rather
than a written sobriquet.

my 2 cents

regards Jonathan   

air-l at listserv.aoir.org,Internet a écrit:

>>Hello All,
>>
>>My advisors and I are conducting research on the identity management of
>>online community members. I find some posts in this list very interesting
>>and relevant. For example, last week or so, somebody posted a discussion
>>regarding how people pick their nicknames online. We are studying various
>>ways people manage (or negotiate) their identities and present themselves
>>as who they are in the cyberspace.