As a user of online services such as facebook and instant messaging I could not help but notice the social norm of people letting anyone who is online know exactly where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing. The trend seems to be leaving it as part of their name or having it as their current status. Wallace describes the Leviathan is the power that enforces our adherence to conform to societies norms. I know that I am guilty of it as well and even when I read a friend's name that says "Kody-gone to the gym, then going out tonight...call the cell" I can not help but think "thanks for the update Kody I was wondering what your plans were for the day." At the same time I am thinking that his name or status is completely unnecessary I am writing in my name before I leave home for the day "Gally-classes until noon, library, practice...be home late." So although I am thinking about how most people really do not care about what I am going to be doing today I write it anyway.
Although most probably feel the same way I do about names and status, most people probably do the same thing that I do as well; which is read all of them and think about how pointless they are, yet we still waste our time reading them. According to Wallace we are willing to conform so easily that the Leviathan emerges without any difficulty. Not only is it the Leviathan but in some cases it almost becomes the right or wrong way to do something. For example, most voicemails now sound pretty similar. Society develops a norm or even a standard and people just conform to to it, not only because it is the norm, but probably because they feel it is the right way to do it. Once a norm such as voicemail or short hand writing in instant messaging or texting has emerged or developed, it is highly unlikely that it will change because society gets used to that norm which is why it is so popular.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Interesting post. I was having a conversation just the other day about what drives us to constantly check away messages or a person's facebook status. Is it just because we're curious about where they are, or is it just a social norm that was facilitated by the features we've grown used to? I think you make a good argument for the latter.
I definitely thought this post was interesting because I always wondered why the particular issues you mentioned have come to be social norms. I know that most of my friends conform to the facebook and AIM status norms because they feel like it's the "in" thing to do. Personally I haven't gotten into the whole status thing but in terms of a Leviathan I feel that maybe we serve as part of it because we judge people based on their degree of conforming to certain social norms. For example, there is some sort of Leviathan out there that sets standards as to what is cool or not cool to post on status messages.
Blake,
I totally agree. I forget the exact amount of time people spend on reading away messages, but Professor Hancock had mentioned in class that people will spend an abundant amount of time reading away messages. I feel like people are so curious that they will check to see what other people are doing or what they have to say, and many people will conform to this norm by posting their schedule as their away message or “status” on Facebook. But this too can be said regarding any kind of away message or status change depending on the kind of “norm” the person sees as ideal (in which they want to conform to). This example also applies to Wallace’s theory of the “Sign on the Door” where, for instance, people will go to a nice restaurant and see how other people are eating their food, their body positioning/language, talking, etc. and will try to mimick their actions. Which roles into the net where people (generally newbies) will see what other people have wirtten and conform to it.
I agree that the "society" of AIM users have created a social norm around what is an appropriate away message. But my question is, who is the Leviathan? Is it the everyday aim user, is the people on ones' budd list? Most importantly, how does the Leviathan enforce the social norms. If someone leaves a disturbing or out the "norm" away message, who will censor them to ensure that the status quo remains?
Post a Comment