A social network that I belong to is Facebook. A staple for many college students, Facebook has revolutionized the way strangers can meet, interact, and understand each other in a short amount of time. Within Facebook, I belong to a variety of groups, one entitled PRIDE, which is the team name of my camp’s Staff Softball Team. This online community consists of approximately fifteen people and it is a tightly knit group where everybody knows each other. This is unique compared to most, because many groups are global and can contain people who are unfamiliar with each other.
According to SNA or Social Network Analysis, this group contains a unique network structure; there are fifteen actors and ties which link all of the actors together. The overarching tie is the softball team itself, but within the team there are other ties (connections) such as position on the field, how many years each person knows each other, how many years we have been at camp, and other familiarities. During the summer (the season which camp takes place), the ties are strongest. Ties can be strong or weak due to the frequency of contact with each person. The more contact and familiarity with a specific actor, the greater the tie. One important aspect of SNA that is found within this online community is Social Capital. For this group, social capital provides information to and from members of the group, influences other groups, and builds a reputation which stimulations group growth and notoriety among other people. Those whom are the out-group and not a part of PRIDE, lack this social capital because they are not a part of the group, they do not understand its customs/traditions. These people lack ties with people who are a part of this unique social network.
Other ways that this group is unique is due to the common ground that each member shares. We all understand what pride means to the team; it is not just a word, it is a way of acting and carrying ourselves. We know what it means to wear the word pride across our chest in the navy and gold lettering; this is just one tie that brings us all together. Moreover, we share common ground on the surface level by being on the same team, wearing the same uniforms, going to the same camp, and holding similar values of sportsmanship, leadership, and a love for winning. The fact that we as a group all agree on similar values, and carry ourselves in similar manners means that our social network and ties are reciprocal. A group such as this on Facebook confirms our common ground and social capital as we have agreed to be a part of the group that is viewable to others.
I feel as though this group of people is so close online because we have such a strong relationship face-to-face (initially and predominately Gemeinschaft). Yet, having other people recognize how close we are (by having a group online and having to request to be in the group) in CMC, means that we are close in another medium. This group on Facebook allows others to see our closeness, the ties we have, and other want to be in the group because of this. Pictures displaying our four consecutive championship titles, jerseys, and personal connections between each individual on PRIDE are synergies and ties which will be strong within us forever. Again, CMC allows for us to communicate as a group in a different way, which only enhances our common ground and closeness as a group in another medium.
http://comm245yellow.blogspot.com/2007/10/community-that-i-am-active-in-is-big.html
http://comm245yellow.blogspot.com/2007/10/assignment-7-option-2.html
1 comment:
Really great job. You elaborated on every claim made, consequently making this a very strong post. I was particularly impressed by your discussion of common ground. By explaining what PRIDE meant to your team you demonstrated a common set of values. Additionally along the same lines, by speaking of the same uniforms worn and the similar jargon spoke, you evidenced shared appearance and similar speech among team members. By providing more than one example for common ground, you clearly demonstrated exactly what common ground is. Throughout the post it was evident that you knew your terms correctly and as a result you appeared very credible in the eyes of the reader. well done!
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