[Air-l] Re: first post (An Internet Without Space)

[Nancy Baym]

Seems to me that the usefulness of the space metaphor depends a lot 
on what aspect of the internet you're talking about. If you're 
looking at Everquest, for example. it doesn't seem to make much sense 
to exclude the concept of space since the program is designed to 
simulate spaces.

On the other hand, if you're studying personal communication in 
relationships as I have been, the concept of "cyberspace" doesn't 
make much sense (e.g. in my interviews people talk about using IM to 
contact a roomate in the same building -- sometimes even the same 
room). Space, however, remains critically important to understanding 
how and why people use the internet in personal relationships -- long 
distance relationships use email and IM much more than local ones, 
and norms about when internet use is and isn't appropriate in 
personal relationships depend a lot on geographical proximity. Those 
norms seem to be very much in flex as there is tremendous variation 
amongst people regarding the appropriateness of online communication 
with local partners.

The problem I have had with the 'cyberspace' metaphor is that it too 
often led to an assumption that we are dealing with different worlds 
-- the "real" one vs. and the "cyber" one. As the last decade of 
internet research has demonstrated clearly, this is a false dichotomy 
for many many reasons (not least of which is the fact that most 
online communication occurs between people who also communicate face 
to face at times).

It is great to see this list so actively engaged in stimulating discussion.

Nancy