6 option 1

"Hunting" or identifying the leviathan online refers to identifying what behaviors are, and are not acceptable. Obviously there are is a continuum of acceptability, ranging from illegal, to socially frowned upon. In the online community there are certain standards to which chat room participants must adhere to. In my brief encounter with the chat room community, i quickly learned that a majority of chat rooms have a predominantly sexual undertone. Therefore, conversation with someone you were meeting for the first time was generally much more inappropriate than it would be in a face to face conversation with a stranger. However, it was also my impression that there were unspoken guidelines in order to maintain the social harmony of the chat. Making other people feel uncomfortable was not the name of the game, and albeit not illegal, most definitely frowned upon. For example, criticizing, or asking extremely personal questions prematurely, violates the leviathan.

People come to recognize this norm, mainly from the reactions of others when it is violated. Nobody wants to disrupt the harmony of a conversation, because they will get the so called "raised eyebrow" from others. Violating norms may lead to being ostrasized from the group, and that is typically something to be avoided. Fitting in, and being accepted by peers is a natural need, therefore this leviathan facilitates that innate desire.

These ideas directly relate to Wallace's theories on conformity. The standards for conforming to this particular leviathan are not written down, but learned through experience. The advantages of conforming to these unspoken agreements include the general acceptance from the other members of the chat, and possibly even forming a group identity, if you frequent the same chat room often. Wallace also details the effects virtual communities have on group polarization, stating that since conversation is all that exists in online spaces, (no visual or social cues) individuals are more likely to have an extreme view point from the other members of the group, than if the argument took place in an actual setting (instead of a virtual one.) The leviathan discussed above may aid in keeping the peace during a heated discussion in a chat room. Since according to Wallace, the tendancy online is for group polarization to occur, then this unwritten code of conduct may encourage people to express their views honestly, with out being rude or disrespectful. Just as these invisible guidelines exist in face to face communication, they are just as prevelant and essential in the virtual world.