A master thesis from Aalborg University
Standalone complex: - the unbridled might of the internet
Author(s)
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2012
Submitted on
2012-01-19
Pages
106 pages
Abstract
In this master’s thesis I propose the theory of a standalone complex to describe a new type of emergent decentralized concurrent non-committal participation in a community, event or propagation of a popular internet phenomenon. I do this to explain specific types on internet phenomena which currently cannot be explained adequately. I base this on a combination of theoretical material focused on online behaviour, specifically the effects of anonymity and behaviour of anonymous online communities, along with social emergence theory on spontaneous order. I examine three online phenomena as examples of being standalone complex based communities, first the online phenomena known only as “Anonymous”, secondly that of the “Furry Fandom” and last the one known as “Bronies”. I equally examine a series of emergent online harassment incidents as standalone complexes under the name “Online raids”, and finally I describe series of examples of internet pop-culture phenomena known as “internet memes” as standalone complex. All of my investigations into these various internet phenomena and incidents show amble support for them being examples of standalone complexes. All of this goes to argue my case for the validity and usefulness of my theory.
Keywords
standalone complex ; internet ; emergence ; Anonymous ; furry fandom ; furry ; brony ; brony fandom ; bronies ; furries ; lulz ; 4chan ; disinhibition ; spontaneous order ; stand alone complex ; chanology
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