Identifying Attitudes Through Newsgroup Messages

Road Rage and Aggressive Driving burn brightly!

1. Introduction, Newsgroup communities.

After using DejaNews and searching under the topics of Road Rage and Aggressive Driving, I have read countless numbers of posts regarding these two very emotional topics. Some of the Newsgroups discussing these topics are rec.autos.driving, rec.autos.sport.f1, rec.motorcycles, alt.autos.camaro.firebird, alt.autos.sport.nhr, and even alt.general. Most of these groups have something to do with driving, as you would suspect from the topic of my search.
    From what I have experienced during my exploration of these groups is that there is a definite community which develops in Newsgroups. Webster's dictionary defines a community as a body of people who share a common organization or interest. Newsgroups certainly fit this definition perfectly. Although the primary goal of these groups is to exchange information on subjects of common interest, much more than that occurs. People will always create interaction rules, and punishments for not following those rules. Additionally, anytime people come together, emotional relationships develop as people interact with each other. Because those participating in the groups already share common interests, bonds develop rather quickly. What forms is a community based on information, devoid of any physical being, yet fully functional and emotionally evolving.

2. Newsgroup Descriptions in the Generational Curriculum, Generation 5 Psychology 409b

The students in Generation 5 all seemed to notice that in Newsgroups, people follow certain rules about how they should interact, most importantly how they should disagree with one another. When someone strongly disagrees with someone else, often people will flame each other. Flames are emotional outbursts which serve to convey feelings, and provide a kind of punishment for believed wrong doings.

Kendra Morgan writes

Flaming can also occur when people completely disagree with one another. Certain people seem to be more likely to post flame messages than others. I don't know what their true personality is like, but in misc.health.alternative, one guy likes to be very assertive and when he posts he often belittles others who are contributing to the thread.
    Disagreements take place in all areas of life, including the Internet and Newsgroups. Newsgroups provide some shelter because there are no face to face confrontations. You can "yell" at someone and not have to worry that they are going to hit you. Most of the discussions that I read were very mature and rarely got out of hand. Granted, there are the occasions where people just can't stop criticizing one another and they are constantly posting new messages. This gets old very quickly! Having a disagreement is healthy and it can be very productive, but sometimes people just don't know when a subject has been exhausted and should just be dropped.

Ryan Shintani has this to add

The types of post that I think elicit flaming are things that are controversial, negative and authoritarian. When I posted my post about Steve Young I got flamed because I was in a group that is devoted to the 49ers, and I posted something that did not follow that mind set of the group. When that happens I feel that the responses I received show me how people reacted when they read my post to the group.  I feel that some of the people felt anger or displeasure at my statements and these feelings were reflected in their posts.
    When someone breaks with the norm of the group, it throws the group off track. Then most of the people in the group start to respond to the person that has broken the norm. The person that breaks that norm isn't shut out of the group, it is just that the group tries to bring that person back to the central trend of that particular group. There are members of the group that will flame that person for there post, but that is to be expected like in any group there are people that feel a negative approach is the best way to deal with matters. I personally don't like to attack people for what they have posted, I will reply to the person and ask why they posted what they did. I rather find out what that persons motivation or thinking behind the post.

Finally Mae Rose Isnec says

I think that Newsgroups are a great way to make an "in yo' face!" remark to a person because you can record "what was said, to whom, and when". By having this file, you have the liberty of referring back to it whenever you want or need it.

So as you can see from these students statements,   all are aware of the fact that they may be flamed, but that certainly won't stop them from participating in newsgroups. In fact some, such as Mae Isnec enjoy it .  It is this ability to argue which keeps the newsgroups alive and constantly stimulating.   Additionally I believe that this verbal banter helps to bond participants as they continue to interact and discuss their different opinions.  Just as in "real" communities, the communities which form in cyberspace will also come together to fight against what they perceive as a common enemy.  Unfortunately, sometimes that enemy is you.  But, you can see that their use of flaming as a social control is very effective, because it plays on a participants sense of belonging to control their actions.
    I can certainly see myself as a life long participant in the newsgroups as I really enjoy the constant banter which goes on in them.  The ability to quickly exchange information and ideas with others without having to deal with the barriers imposed upon us in the "real" world makes cyberspace a very inviting place. So if you happen to be looking in on some of the newsgroups, don't be surprised if you catch me in a heated discussion with another member.

3.  Attitudes in Newsgroups, are easy to spot.

As you read through the newsgroups you will notice that people tend to fall into certain reoccurring categories. Most of the time these are very easy to identify, as those involved in the discussions are being very expressive in their choice of language. The first is the Emotional poster, this is probably the easiest group to spot as those posting don't try to hide it. Take a look at this.

Subject: Re: AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS?
From: Nsane@concentric.net
Date: 1997/09/02Message-Id: <5uhadc$134e$1@rtpnews.raleigh.ibm.com>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang

Then learn better "Time Management Skills" IDIOT! or go around, but don't you think for one minute that you have the right to force someone else to risk a ticket or higher insurance rates for anyone, especially you. Maybe you aren't aware of this, but not only will your insurance company pay (and you) for repairs but now it is possible for someone like me with ZERO TOLERANCE for tailgaters to press charges and push for prosecution for "Assault With A Deadly Weapon" if you do run into me because you think you are above the law and have the right to "Threaten" me and my family by tailgating because I won't be bullied into breaking the law with you. Disclaimer:I speak only for myself, and act only in my own interest. My employer is not responsible for my actions, or words.

Another attitude that you will commonly find is that of the Thinker, this is someone who puts some thought into what they write and thus when they do post, are logical and lucid in their writing. They tend to be less emotional and more objective in their reactions to other members postings. These are the members which I think contribute the most to the group, although they may not be the most prolific in their writing.

Subject: Re: Road Rage, The Final Chapter
From: Bill Pratt <bilden@erols.com>
Date: 1997/09/13
Message-Id: <341B3525.2173@erols.com>

Hi Steph -
A exceptionally thoughtful and lucid post. It's too bad your words are probably wasted on your intended audience. It's tough when folks realize that the best they've got isn't good enough. They start to do wacky things, like trying to obstruct those who zoom past them. This happens on the road just as it does in life. To me, the road is a microcosm of life. There are those who break away from the pack and excel, and there are those who chug along. Some do so happily and contentedly, and others, jealous of the 'speeders' but unwilling to commit the same level of effort or risk, instead resort to obstruction. This, of course, is but a feeble attempt to 'level the playing field' at their level of mediocrity. It disheartens me to realize what a weak, spiteful, pathetic little monkey man can be.

Then you will find the Peacekeeper, these are the one's who try to keep some kind of order in the constant turmoil of cyberspace.  They probably have the most difficult job, as the Emotional posters are easy to rile.

Subject: Re: Chinese can't drive.
From: ARC <archong@netvigator.com>
Date: 1997/10/03
Message-Id: <343540A6.6DBE@netvigator.com>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china,soc.culture.australian,soc.culture.taiwan,soc.culture.singapore

It's not that I particularly wish to defend Phil, but I've been engaged with him in some fairly heavy postings in the last few days. I'm Chinese, and nowhere have I seen any racist comments in his postings. Of course I may have missed something or alternatively some of you are making mountains out of mole hills. ARC

So as you can see, in cyberspace you will find the same kind of people as you would find in any other community.  In essence cyberspace mirrors the communities which form in the "real" world, the only difference being is that here in cyberspace people come together because of shared interests and ideas instead of shared geography.  Although I have singled out these three groups of individuals, you will find that there are many others, just as there are in the "real" world.  What I find most interesting though is that even with the physical element removed, individuals are still motivated to form bonds with one another. It is this affective and cognitive bonding of individuals through their posting which gives participants in newsgroups a sense of community.  Thus with this sense of interrelation,and belonging to a group participants feel a sense of ownership in the newsgroup.  When the participants feel accountable to the group they are much more motivated to keep it alive and growing.  It is this ownership which I believe is most important in maintaining the newsgroup. This mirrors what occurs in communities in the "real" world.   When people feel a sense of belonging, they are much more determined in protecting their interests.

4.  Is There a Moral Crisis in Driving Attitudes? Or, My Parents Made Me Do It.

Dr. Driving, or Dr. Leon James, of the University of Hawaii, has recently given congressional testimony on his findings into the ever-growing problem of road rage.  Dr. James has been doing intensive research into the psychological basis of road rage for the last 15 years and he has many interesting insights into what he thinks causes this problem. Some important points that he makes are

1.  We are all capable of road rage.
2.  We learn it at a very early age (childhood) through observation of our parents.
3.  Defensive driving techniques sometimes backfire when used with aggressive drivers.

More importantly though, not only has Dr. James identified what he thinks are some of the causes of road rage, but he also has come up with some interesting solutions. First is a reevaluation of drivers education, which he dubs "New Driver's Ed."  This is a program that begins in Kindergarten and runs through adolescence. This program teaches "focusing on appropriate attitudes and behavior on actual roads, streets, parking lots, and in cars as passengers.", so children will learn to be "emotionally intelligent" drivers.  Along with his new drivers ed, Dr. James has also come up with CARR or Children Against Road Rage. This will be a national organization to promote the education of children,ensuring that they will be able to grow up free from road rage.  Finally he promotes QDC's or Quality Driving Circles in which people will form small community based groups in which participants will be able to provide support for one another and help each other deal with road rage.
    Through a multi-faceted attack, Dr. James is promoting a system which theoretically should work as it teaches people to modify their behaviors through intelligent choices, and allows members of the community to support one another in their common fight against road rage. I believe that it is his focus on the community through the QDC's and the CARR program that will be most effective in deterring road rage. Dr. James' approach in using the community to police one another is a very effective way at dealing with this problem.   Similar to many twelve step programs, his QDC's use the power of peer interaction to deter inappropriate behaviors. 
    I do believe that there is a problem of road rage developing and I think that it will take some extreme measures to get it under control.  Dr. James ideas into controlling this problem seem to be very good, for it will take a complete overhaul of drivers attitudes for there to be any kind of solution.

5. Conclusion.  Newsgroups are real communities.

Newsgroups serve to foster the exchange of information among interested parties, but instead of being boring forums they are vibrant, living communities of people.  In newsgroups you will see a mirroring of communities that form in the "real" world.  Just as what occurs outside, in cyberspace you will find people coming together and facing similar problems and dealing with them with some of the same solutions.  Because people are people no matter where they are, you will find the same attitudes in cyberspace as in life.  Some of these attitudes such as prejudice, and stereo-typing can be negative, and communities must have some way to control/deter these behaviors.  The most common way in cyberspace is flaming.   This relies on the effect of group dynamics as members being flamed feel a sense of not belonging, and thus either alter their behavior or they may be ostracized from the group.
    In newsgroups, you will also find that new members to the group will go through a period of socialization.  During this period, members learn the rules of etiquette for the group through observation of participants and occasional flaming if they happen to step out of bounds.
    In the future, perhaps other generations will be able to further examine the way virtual communities interact and grow and then apply some of their findings to problems being faced in communities outside of cyberspace.

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