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CHAPTER 3. TECHNOLOGY & THE PUBLIC SPHERE 52 Instead, users use a client-host architecture to access newsgroups. A user instructs her machine to connect to another computer, which has stored Usenet postings for a period of time (the amount of time varies from site to site, and even from newsgroup to newsgroup). Most users use newsreading software which organizes the postings by their “heading”, typically displaying the date and author of the post. The user then indicates that she would like to see the full text of a specific article, and the server then sends the file to the client. The user may then read, store, reply through electronic mail, post a follow-up article or start a new subject heading with a new posting. The fundamental unit of a newsgroup is the “post” or “article.” Figure 3.1 on the next page annotates portions of article. Each article is written by a single, identifiable user. Every newsgroup article has a “From” field in its header containing the email address of the sender or author. 5 The article is assigned a unique identification number (message ID), which can then be used by other authors as a point of reference. Every article also has a subject heading, which permits organization of the newsgroup by “thread” or subject. Articles contain both “included” text, taken from previous articles to maintain continuity, and “original text,” written by the author of the 2fpost. Usenet is extraordinarily large and diverse; for example, during the month of January, 1995, an estimated 11 million individuals from more than 300,000 sites 6 had access to an average of 125,000 new messages per day, distributed across about 7,500 different newsgroups. The range of topics addressed by Usenet newsgroups can be assessed by a brief look at the conventions for naming groups. Newsgroups always have a name that includes at least two words separated by a period. The first word indicates the classification, and the second and subsequent word further identifies the group. Currently, there are seven types of Usenet groups: (1) comp groups discuss computer science, software, hardware, systems and the computing profession; (2) sci groups include discussions of a technical nature related to a specific science or discipline; (3) news groups are concerned with Usenet news administrative issues; (4) soc groups are addressed to socializing and social issues; (5) rec groups are dedicated to recreational topics; (6) talk groups are, as their name implies, intended for people talk about various topics; and (7) misc groups include those which do not fit into other categories (Spafford 1994). In addition, 5 At least in theory. There are accusations of forged posting frequently in Usenet. 6 A “site” is a computer which is receiving a “newsfeed,” and could be a University, corporation, Internet Service Provider, Community v Computer Network or the like.
CHAPTER 3. TECHNOLOGY & THE PUBLIC SPHERE 53 Figure 3.1: Structure of a Newsgroup Post Portions from talk.abortionh1993Oct20.153735.18817@acd4.acd.comi Header information, telling us who the message is from, their email address, the subject as assigned by the author, a unique message identification number, the date of the message, and the number of lines of text (some header information has been deleted) The inclusion of a “Re:”in the subject line indicates that the author is responding to a previous message with the same subject. From: wdo@TEFS1.acd.com (Bill Overpeck) Subject: Re: The inconsistency of ”pro-life” Christians Message-ID: h1993Oct20.153735.18817@acd4.acd.comi Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1993 15:37:35 GMT Lines: 186 This text is usually generated by the newreader program. It sets up a series of “references” which the readers may choose to follow. From this material, we know that text beginning with a single i was written by “rocker” in the previous message h2a05jf$ovq@usenet.rpi.edui; text which begins with two ii symbols was written by Bill Overpeck in message h1993Oct18.181625.28043@acd4.acd.comi; text which begins with iii was written by Kevin Kelly in message h29rnm2$p6v@hermes.acs.ryerson.cai. In h2a05jf$ovq@usenet.rpi.edui rocker@acm.rpi.edu (rocker) writes: i In h1993Oct18.181625.28043@acd4.acd.comi wdo@TEFS1.acd.com (Bill Overpeck) writes: ii In h29rnm2$p6v@hermes.acs.ryerson.cai kkelly@acs.ryerson.c (Kevin Kelly) writes: iii Bill Overpeck (wdo@TEFS1.acd.com) wrote: iiii From the material above, we know that this text was originally written by Bill Overpeck (the author of this message). iiii I think there are a great many sociological implications for a society iiii that tacitly endorses abortion. My opinion. In a previous message, Kevin Kelly has included the above text from Overpeck’s original message, and added this comment. iiiI interested to know what these implications are. This was Overpeck’s response to Kelly’s question in a previous message. So far, none of this text has been typed specifically for this message by the author Overpeck. iiI believe (again, my opinion) that the legalization of iiabortion represents a cultural and political endorsement iiof the procedure. “Rocker” joined the coversation in the previous message, seeking clarification of Overpecks response to Kelly’s question. iDo you believe that the First Amendment represents a cultural and ipolitical endoresment of Nazi marches? This is the first original material in the message, written by Overpeck in response to Rocker’s question. The “included” material is kept by the author for readability and context. In this study, only original material is analyzed. No more than I believe the Second Amendment tacitly endorses shooting people.
Page 1 and 2: Expanding the Public Sphere through
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CHAPTER 7. THE EXPANDING PUBLIC SPH
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CHAPTER 7. THE EXPANDING PUBLIC SPH
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Appendix A The talk.abortion newsgr
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APPENDIX A. TALK.ABORTION: AUGUST 9
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Appendix B Density Scores Table B.1
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APPENDIX B. DENSITY SCORES 165 Tabl
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Appendix C Supplemental Analysis 16
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APPENDIX C. SUPPLEMENTAL ANALYSIS 1
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 177 Best, Michael L. 1
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 179 Fisher, Bonnie, Mi
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 181 Hiltz, Starr Roxan
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 183 Mansbridge, Jane.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 185 Pateman, Carole. 1
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 187 Savicki, Victor, D
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 189 U. S. Congress, Of
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