Short? This was positively a one-sentence post, compared to some posts I've written!
Perhaps we have a choice in fandom in re exposing ourselves to broader discussions... but I think it's more a matter of extremes. In either academia or fandom, we can ask the question after class/in private. Asking a stupid question in class might get you the derision of your classmates, which granted can be hard to take (especially if their reaction is the first indication of the full extent of your ignorance). Asking a stupid question on the internets... and suddenly you have 400 vitriolic comments, with your name being dropped as Example of Stupid, in who know how many other journals, blog posts, and so on. It'd be like if every stupid question were rounded up and reprinted in the local university rag for the enjoyment of all, and then students were encouraged to seek you out and remind you, again and again, how stupid you were to ask that question in class.
My point is that damage control on the internets is... well, nearly impossible, really. Or more bluntly, internet discussions can end up being a lot of damage and zero control.
I'm aware of googling keywords, etc; my point behind the question was that if one's impression of a post is that it's a solitary incident, how this may impact our view of the question itself. Frex, if one is privileged and blind to that privilege, one might be more likely to write off the unlinked post's points as a single voice out in the wilderness, because obviously it's not important enough for anyone else to care -- or else there'd be links, some indication that the person is taking part in a larger discussion. Lacking that, the impression could be: this is just one journaler's personal opinion. It's much easier to write off, and privilege always looks for a way to rationalize ignoring someone.
no subject
Date: 23 Jan 2011 05:38 pm (UTC)Perhaps we have a choice in fandom in re exposing ourselves to broader discussions... but I think it's more a matter of extremes. In either academia or fandom, we can ask the question after class/in private. Asking a stupid question in class might get you the derision of your classmates, which granted can be hard to take (especially if their reaction is the first indication of the full extent of your ignorance). Asking a stupid question on the internets... and suddenly you have 400 vitriolic comments, with your name being dropped as Example of Stupid, in who know how many other journals, blog posts, and so on. It'd be like if every stupid question were rounded up and reprinted in the local university rag for the enjoyment of all, and then students were encouraged to seek you out and remind you, again and again, how stupid you were to ask that question in class.
My point is that damage control on the internets is... well, nearly impossible, really. Or more bluntly, internet discussions can end up being a lot of damage and zero control.
I'm aware of googling keywords, etc; my point behind the question was that if one's impression of a post is that it's a solitary incident, how this may impact our view of the question itself. Frex, if one is privileged and blind to that privilege, one might be more likely to write off the unlinked post's points as a single voice out in the wilderness, because obviously it's not important enough for anyone else to care -- or else there'd be links, some indication that the person is taking part in a larger discussion. Lacking that, the impression could be: this is just one journaler's personal opinion. It's much easier to write off, and privilege always looks for a way to rationalize ignoring someone.