I'm studying you. Is this ok?

[wulfie68]

This doesn't really apply to me, as I didn't post in the time periods in question however I'm in agreement with most other opinions thus far.

This all seems to be pretty much in the realm of public domain but you probably should contact the owner of the site/admin before directly quoting anything from the site (just to be absolutely safe). In your position I might also consider sending a PM to individuals you want to quote as well, but I see that as more of a courtesy than anything else.

 

[shadowshiv]

jeez.....I could have so much fun with this..... but I prefer to serve only one timeout at a time.

Serving another sabbatical over there, are you Gerry?;-):lol:

 

[Goober]

To say "I am studying you" may be an unintended assertion on your part. It may have been preferable to say, "I am exploring the cross-section of positions..." However, as you are certainly aware, these fora are not a random sampling of those positions. Embedded within positions presented are those of political operatives - self appointed or otherwise, cliques who use ad hominem attacks to discredit opposing ideas, and generally those who are more adamant in believing in the "correctness" of their posts! And, as is often the case, many here who would wish to comment on a particular thread avoid doing so because they do not wish to engage in a personalized debate. In any analysis, that disclaimer is a requisite,

Bang on Spade -Again you hit the nail full square on the head -

 

[jenn]

Is there a physical involved? Nobody's sticking a finger up my bum. I'll make that perfectly clear before I let this go any further.

oh you would probably like that!!!

 

[gerryh]

Serving another sabbatical over there, are you Gerry?;-):lol:

who me?????????????

 

[Liberalman]

I am a third-year undergraduate student of public policy at Carleton University

Is this all you can think of?

I guess the bartenders must know you by your first name.

I didn’t know Carleton lowered their standards.

Carleton University produces leaders, so I thought.

No it can’t be, you really must be attending York University?

York students do this because they lack real leadership.

 

[JLM]

When the results are in do I get to see a copy?

 

[Spade]

Hmmmm... Check the calendar!
Carleton University - Canada's Capital University
The research is done and the paper written?

 

[Goober]

Hello!

I am a third-year undergraduate student of public policy at Carleton University. As a term paper for my policy research class, I am conducting a content analysis of six Canadian political message boards, including this one.

A content analysis is a systematic assessment of the form and substance of a medium of communication. Ethical considerations play a very minor role in this type of research because researchers can imply consent from the fact that the material they are examining has been published. Also, there is no direct contact with the researcher and the authors of the content, so nothing that the researcher does can severely impact the authors’ well-being. University ethics codes contain rules that reflect these assumptions, and they consider anything that is freely available on the internet to be “published material”. For this reason, I began my study without asking for your consent.

My research looked only at messages that related to Afghanistan and were posted in September 2006 or December 2008. I looked for differing opinions about Canada’s mission, how these were articulated, how the debate progressed, and how the medium of communication affects the conversation.

Over the course of my research, I got the feeling that I was eavesdropping. I learned in class to trust my intuition when it comes to ethics; uncomfortable feelings are often an indication of ethical issues that need to be discussed.

This message is a part of what sociologists call “debriefing”. Once the observation phase of a study is complete, researchers conduct interviews with their subjects in order to better understand how the research affects the subjects personally. This helps to clarify ethical questions for future research.

I want to know what you think about my study, especially in regard to the following questions:

1)Do you consider your forum posts to be public information or a private conversation?
2)Do you feel that I violated your privacy in reading and/or studying your posts?
3)Should I have asked for permission first?
4)Would it violate your privacy if I quoted your post in my paper?
5)Would it violate your privacy if I referred to your username in my paper?
6)Would your opinion be different if my paper were to be published? (It won’t.)
7)Would your opinion be different if I were working for the government? (I’m not.)

Feel free to offer anything that you think will help me with these ethical questions, and my research in general. I am also curious about who you all are in real life (e.g. age, occupation, etc.), though I understand if you want to preserve your anonymity. I will check back in a couple of days to address any concerns you might have. I am also happy to post the final version of my paper, once I am finished writing it.


Thank you! :smile:



Grégoire Baribeau
3rd Year Public Affairs and Policy Management
Specializing in International Studies
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Bariboh – We are studying you. So please post your opinions and we shall see where they lead.

I hate to tell you this, not really but your study as you call it is based upon false interpretations and is useless – Totally useless – Poor planning or laziness – not sure which applies. But just as little green apples will give you the runs that is what your end product will be.

Point – 80 years ago people when someone had received an insult or perceived a slight would in most cases reply by mail – No type writers –lack of telephones - handwritten – so certain tangibles applied. Time to think – Something that has disappeared from our rush and rush on some more society – Yes you have demonstrated that fact -

1st – taking the time to write the letter

2nd – rewrites and pausing to collect your thoughts and write them again.

2nd and most importantly – the walk to the mailbox – That time gave a person the ability to review what they had written and possibly rewrite the letter again or even decide to let the insult real or not to be ignored

Internet – Discussion forums have lowered many persons ability to pause and think – humans are impulse creatures - impulse reactions are part of our personality – the responses are then written, posted and often but not always without the time for sober second thought. Clarity is often overlooked as emotions can govern.

Recommendation – Pick another topic to write on.

 

[Said1]

Hmmmm... Check the calendar!
Carleton University - Canada's Capital University
The research is done and the paper written?

Why? I handed a paper in last Friday. My last exam is on the 22. Students aren't done yet - it could be part of a take home exam.

 

[Curiosity]

Hmmmmm another study could be done on suspicion and paranoia.

Every time you shop and pick up a brand name you become a statistic of a marketing study, or when you write a letter to a local publication or on the internet, you become part of another information gathering source.

We are all donors to the great scheme of trying to figure out our preferences
and the originator of this thread at least asked us.... rather than taking our personal inventory which we make part of the public domain and using it anyway.

Google makes millions from this barter of exchange of information and we use Google or its variations.

 

[L Gilbert]

"I'm studying you. Is this ok?" Suit yourself. I hope you turn out good and accurate research results.

 

[bariboh]

Thank you all for your enthusiastic and (sometimes) insightful replies.

Liberalman can rest assured that my first name is at the bottom of my initial post; he knows it just as well as my favourite bartender. I'm sorry that the introduction to my letter did not include more foreplay; I kept things simple so as to make it easier to translate the letter into French.

Exams have already begun, but due to a mix-up in the course outline the paper is not yet due. I am finished with the research however, and have written a good ten pages so far. I hope to finish the paper this weekend as my first exam is on Tuesday. This is not a major assignment, despite its moderate length.

The observations about laziness and intimidation on message boards do reflect my own in some cases, though I was able to witness some very interesting discussions between individuals who would be unlikely to ever talk politics together in real life. Despite the "catty" nature of many of the conversations, I thought that a qualitative study of the content was interesting, owing in part to the fact that it hasn't been done before. A null result is still a result; if I conclude that message boards are a waste of time, that isn't necessarily a bad conclusion. In any event, the core of my paper will talk about the lack of established methodology and ethical guidelines when it comes to this type of media.

I hope this clears up some questions. I will post my final copy in late April, once exams are finished and I have time to format it for online viewing.

Cheers.

 

[Cannuck]

if I conclude that message boards are a waste of time, that isn't necessarily a bad conclusion.

It would depend on what you consider the purpose of message boards to be. Since I see them as nothing more than an entertaining diversion, all they really need to be is an entertaining diversion in order not to be a waste of time. Since that is exactly what this forum is, it could hardly be described (by me anyway) as a waste of time.

 

[Curiosity]

Cannuck

Good thought! I also see forums as an outlet which can give another dimension to someone wrestling with a problem which isn't likely to surface in real life for a number of reasons, but allows the individual to work on and through in the safety of anonymous exchange.

Trying it on for size if you will... Gives people an opportunity to put into words
something which is eating at them... Gives feedback especially from those who have 'been there'.

I have seen some people getting enormous help for an issue from people on forums when they would never in reality ask for or recognize the need to seek help.

 

[JLM]

Cannuck

Good thought! I also see forums as an outlet which can give another dimension to someone wrestling with a problem which isn't likely to surface in real life for a number of reasons, but allows the individual to work on and through in the safety of anonymous exchange.

Trying it on for size if you will... Gives people an opportunity to put into words
something which is eating at them... Gives feedback especially from those who have 'been there'.

I have seen some people getting enormous help for an issue from people on forums when they would never in reality ask for or recognize the need to seek help.

Maybe that's why I come on here- I need help- now if I could just figure out for what!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol::lol::lol:

 

[Curiosity]

JLM

You are free to borrow some of the issues I have - but leave some for me to whine with pliz.... !

 

[JLM]

JLM

You are free to borrow some of the issues I have - but leave some for me to whine with pliz.... !

I'm sure there's enough for the two of us......:lol::lol: Happy Easter

 

[Curiosity]

JLM

Back at ya - Happy Easter!

 

[mabudon]

Late to the party as usual- fully agreed with EAO and JTF as well, if the stuff I posted on here is useful to ANYONE then do with it as you wish, I don't ever worry about posting whatever is on my mind regardless of who's reading it