[Air-L] Change of default reply setting on air-l

[Jennifer Stromer-Galley]

There have been some requests for research that might help indicate
whether the change to the email list is beneficial/problematic for the
list.

The research that informs my concerns about the shift to the new
default-to-individual reply focuses on norms. Norms are shaped not only
by other people but by the technology that frames the interaction
(Martey and Stromer-Galley, 2007; Stromer-Galley and Martey,
forthcoming). 

If the old norm of the AoIR list was that a replied-to message went to
the entire list, then the expectation for the list was that interactions
on the list were, by default, public. The norm then for communication
through this list was that it was public communication.

If the new norm of the list is that a replied-to message goes to the
individual, then the norm for the list will shift to become the case
that most interaction is private. 

To put it another way, the structure of the technology establishes the
norm for interaction. 

Although I don't disagree that it takes but a moment to push the
necessary buttons to make a replied-to message go to the list, there is
more at play here than just pushing buttons. Individuals have to
cognitively engage the question of whether the message should be public
or private. The default setting suggests that the norm for interaction
is that replied-to messages should be private; hence, it requires a new
level of justification on the part of the sender to determine that the
message is appropriate for public consumption.  

The net result, I predict, is that there will be significantly less
traffic on the AoIR list over the following months as people adapt to
the new norm that's established by the technological shift. I personally
would find that disappointing, as I learn a great deal from the public
conversation, and would lose their insights as the conversation shifts
to private channels.

References:
Martey R. M., & Stromer-Galley, J. (2007). The digital dollhouse:
Context and social norms in 
The Sims Online. Games & Culture, 2, 314-344. 

Stromer-Galley, J., & Martey, R. M. (in press). Visual spaces, norm
governed places: The influence of spatial context online. New Media &
Society.


Regards,
~Jenny

Assistant Professor
Department of Communication, SS 340
University at Albany, SUNY
Albany, NY 12222
518-442-4873
jstromer at albany.edu
http://www.albany.edu/~jstromer