Report 2

Jon Ostrowski - Report 2 -
I have had some time to look at the postings, and will do this ongoing as we progress. In general I have found the first two questions fairly straight-forward and identifiable. Questions 3 and 4 require additional analysis. The last two questions are a bit of a challenge. I need to delve into the postings more and analyze selected posts in more depth. I am in the process of documenting my findings for the final report.
1. Identify who seems to be typical participants.
2. Figure out from their discourse why they are doing this.

I have been able to see much of the Jenkins reading tie-in in analyzing why these people participate in the group. There are several examples from the readings that I will incorporate into my final report on the group. The “why” question may be a bit subjective on my part, as I have not spoken directly to the people, but I can use the readings as a reference and tool to analyze the motives especially in an online context.

More people participate in something like a weight-loss network as opposed to the previous generations. For example I could never imagine my parents posting personal info and seeking advice on health on line, why, most likely they are not a “participatory culture”
According to Jenkins, “The term participatory culture contrasts with older notions of passive media sponsorship.” Page 3
“...some consumers have greater abilities to participate in this emerging culture mare than other.” Page 3

“Convergence occurs within the brains of individual consumers and through their cosial interactions with others.” Page 3
Why people participate in my network?
According to MIT scientist Ithiel de Sola Pool (Page 11) “Freedom is fostered when the means of communication are dispersed, decentralized, and easily available...”
People are not looking to “spoil” anything as on a Survivor spoiler site, put give and exchange info on weight-loss and dieting in general. While perhaps not part of any new media other than the ability to pos and reply messages, weight-loss sites are part of this trend:
“New forms of community are emerging, however: these new communities are defined through voluntary, temporary, and tactical, affiliations, reaffirmed through common intellectual enterprises and emotional investments.” Page 27 – Jenkins
The weight loss site “functions as a space where people can share struggles, ideas and rant about weight loss in general.”
First time posters – appear to be welcome, a sense of credibility if not really gained by being a long-term poster in this case.
“Because they are voluntary, people do not remain in communities that no longer meet their emotional or intellectual needs.” Jenkins P.57

For example:
In looking at the postings under forum for my chosen site. For example: I thought this would be safe Healthy Weight Forum : General, but the first post is for a new diet drug followed by another post indicating “we are not really about quick fixes and drugs on this forum”. The responder appears to take the site seriously, and is not going to put up with any “quick fix” for weight loss. So the questionable post on a diet drug was by an identified “newbie” followed by reprimands from so-called “Senior Members”. One problem with the posts in the topic, while interesting, many are several years old.

My analysis of multiple postings include some like this interesting one:
It is interesting to note some poster put age, height 25 years old, 5'5, and:
Starting weight: 265 lbs
Current weight: 221 lbs
Goal weight: 175 lbs
None of this information is requested or required, but what motivates some to post it and some to not post any details. Could it be the “if I write it down, goals etc, way of thinking?” Perhaps, maybe just positive reinforcement in a way for an accomplished weight loss and ongoing motivation for the person.


3. Typical words and expressions they use.

I am still trying to compile a list of words and terms used in a typical exchange. Overall, as expected there are terms related to weigh-loss, struggling, successes, diets, a number of areas.


4. Figure out how they "score points" among the community.
This is the area that I am challenged with the most. I am in the process of trying to figure out how they are trying, if they are trying to “score” points in the community. In some cases it may be by design, but in other cases, it is by default, based upon what the person said, not consciously trying to score points, but yet, based on follow-up postings by others, it looks like points were scored.