The Listserv Phenomenon
Many listservs and Forums are cybercommunities of distinct personalities rubbing digital elbows. Just as a small town might have its old money patriach, its moral guardian or even a town drunk, standard characters emerge within the virtual space of a listserv.
The early months of a listserv/forum’s existence resemble an empty stage where Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author stand around as nervously as 12-year olds at a dance. The roar of dead silence often follows formal introductions. Cautiously, a few brave and extroverted souls venture forth, introducing themselves shakily. As a listserv matures, the dramatis personae develop.
The solon of cyberspace, Howard Rheingold, characterized virtual communities as "a conversation in which 16 percent of the people contribute 80 percent of the words." Every listserv, moderated or not, has its leading posters.
Two or three posters take on the leading roles as the list’s Prima Donnas or Leading Men. Sincerely interested in the subject, they often initiate discussions, dominate then, and are seldom at a loss for words. Often posts become a jousting match between the list darlings, or one will solicitously ask the opinion of the other.
The Contrarian cannot pass up an opportunity to create conflict, often under the guise of honest debate. Viewing himself as the conscience of the lurking silent majority, the Contrarian likewise is rarely without an opinion.
Often confused with the Contrarian is the Crusader, who seldom misses an opportunity to weave her whine into any thread. The determined Crusader injects her plaint whenever possible; she can create a nexus between domestic violence and laser printers. Anonymous, often cloaked in the chador of an indistinct e-mail address such as B52@aol.com, uses disguise as a sword to attack others. Pleas to unmask go unheeded, as Anonymous insists that the truth trumps identity.
The Seconder never has anything important to add, but always chimes in with an "I agree" or "Me too." Adding comic relief, lightening up tense situations, the Court Jester sometimes falls flat but is irrepressible. The Seconder and the Court Jester often have the greatest longevity among the list subscribers, are the informal historians of the list, and are valued by the other leading players.
The List Cop identifies himself by opening "I’m new to the list, but no one on this list knows how to properly use e-mail, to insert the correct subject, or to word wrap." The active core will generally attack the ListCop, flail him unmercifully until the ListCop returns to lurking, atones for his petulance, or moves on to another list.
Then there’s the Good Ol’ Boy who generally takes a noncontroversial stance, but he or she’s the buddy of all on the list. Straddling the mid-ground, while adopting an "Aw shucks, I’m just a rube" attitude, the Good Ol’ Boy, may wisely be more in control of the list than its stars.
By jennifer j. rose
This article is gleaned from jennifer's significant experience as both moderator and participant in a number of listservs and forums (including Mexico Connect's General Forum).
This article first appeared in the July 1997 issue of Internet Law Researcher.
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