Sneak Geeks

For this assignment, I decided to do evaluate the asynchronous forum I brought up in class today, NikeTalk, dedicated to fans of Nike sneakers. Its heading declares itself as “The Ultimate Online Sneaker Community”, and I chose this forum because it is a very tight-knit community as far as online communities go, with a clear focus, unique and well-defined norms, and many sub-topics available for discussion within the site, including miscellaneous. My friend has been a longtime member (“regular”), and has recently gotten me to join the site. Although I’m not a sneaker-head like him, the general sub forum dedicated to miscellaneous discussion I find appealing, so I post in there often, and that will be the focus of my analysis. Over time, I have learned a lot through experience in this forum, and am not an outsider there due to my lack of interest in sneakers (sneaker-heads are just normal people after all, with a very unique interst).
Conformity on the forum is subtle, but certainly existent. The norms that are most prevalent on NT are what topics one can bring up and the slang used on the forum. In terms of topics, there are a number of threads that are clearly no-no’s, not in the view of the moderators or the rules, but the regulars who attempt to coerce them out of existence. Some examples include girl/boy-problem threads (everyone could post more than one of those, and they get old quickly), homework assignment help, and excessive rants. These threads, while technically “legal”, are immediately flamed by the regulars who have seen their type far too many times, and the poster knows not to do it again (learning the norms through experience). Additionally, NT has its own slang. In fact, I have subconsciously started using NT to refer to NikeTalk, as this is the most common shorthand notation for the site, and it is rare to find someone posting past day one that types out the full name. This is an excellent example of slang also learned through experience.
Additionally, there is a “sign on the door feature” on NT, namely a stick-ied (made permanently visible on front page) topic dedicated to the rules, which it says its members should “ignore at their own risk” of a ban. The rules are relatively general and consist solely of reminding users not to post offensive material or attack one another. The moderators, which are prevalent and active on NT, serve as the “Leviathan” in this case. If is save to assume that at any given time of day, there is at least one moderator active on each sub forum of NT, and it is highly unlikely that something you say will not come under review. Due to the younger, urban-culture that surrounds sneakers, flame wars and offensive posts are very commonplace, and as a means of being efficient, moderators regularly lock threads and ban members without much debate. However, as Wallace points out, the norms of the forum are primarily maintained by the conscientious effort of the people, who, by following the rules (which is sometimes very difficult given argumentative circumstances) form part of the Leviathan themselves.
The most outstanding themes discussed by Wallace that apply to NT are group polarization and finding others of like mind. As can be expected, finding others with an affinity for Nike sneakers would be near impossible in person, but this ability is afforded by the Internet. Such a niche culture and interest such as this can only really find its place on the Internet, where the few people who share it can actually connect. Additionally, since it is such a small, focused community, there is a great deal of group polarization, and NT members are quick to stick up for their lifestyle and favorite kicks (although disdain for the Jordan brand seems to be widespread). Overall, NT is a tremendous source of insight into an online-only group that focuses on a truly obscure, niche interest.