Standalone complex: - the unbridled might of the internet
Author
Lüthje, Alexander
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2012
Submitted on
2012-01-19
Pages
106
Abstract
Denne afhandling foreslår idéen om et "standalone-kompleks": når mange mennesker uafhængigt vælger at handle på lignende måder samtidig online, uden central styring eller langvarig forpligtelse. Set udefra kan det ligne en samlet gruppe eller kampagne, selv om der ikke er en leder eller fast medlemskab. Formålet er at forklare typer af internetfænomener, som nuværende teorier ikke beskriver tilstrækkeligt. Afhandlingen bygger på forskning i onlineadfærd – især anonymitet og anonyme onlinefællesskaber – samt teorier om social emergens og spontan orden (hvordan organiserede mønstre opstår uden en overordnet plan). Som eksempler undersøges tre onlinefællesskaber: "Anonymous", "Furry Fandom" og "Bronies". Derudover behandles fremvoksende onlinechikane i form af "online raids" (pludselige bølger af chikane fra mange deltagere) og udbredelsen af internetpopkultur i form af "internet memes". På tværs af disse cases peger observationerne på, at de kan forstås som standalone-komplekser. Det understøtter relevansen og anvendeligheden af den foreslåede teori til at forstå lederløs, decentral online deltagelse.
This thesis proposes the idea of a "standalone complex": when many people independently choose to act in similar ways online at the same time, without central coordination or long-term commitment. From the outside, this can look like a unified group or campaign, even though there is no leader or formal membership. The goal is to explain types of internet phenomena that current theories do not adequately address. The work draws on research on online behavior—especially anonymity and anonymous communities—and on social emergence theory about spontaneous order (how organized patterns arise without a master plan). As examples, it examines three online communities: "Anonymous," the "Furry Fandom," and "Bronies." It also analyzes emergent online harassment incidents known as "online raids" (sudden waves of harassment by many participants) and the spread of internet pop culture items known as "internet memes." Across these cases, the observations support treating them as standalone complexes. This strengthens the case for the validity and usefulness of the proposed theory in understanding leaderless, decentralized online participation.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Keywords
standalone complex ; internet ; emergence ; Anonymous ; furry fandom ; furry ; brony ; brony fandom ; bronies ; furries ; lulz ; 4chan ; disinhibition ; spontaneous order ; stand alone complex ; chanology