Let's poke at the internet and see what happens!

[exsequar]

Hi flist! I have a favor to ask of you.

My roommate and bestest, Michelle, is an awesome anthropologist. She has an assignment for a class called "Language, Power, and Society" and after we tossed things back and forth, she decided to do her project on the power structures in online comments, particularly blogs. She's going to draw from blogs of famous people, "famous" people, people with a tenuous grasp on fame at best (i.e., niche genre authors), and some people who are "famous on the internet". So I want to ask your help in two ways. First, do you have any thoughts to contribute on this phenomenon? From what I gather, she'd like to look at things such as patterns of replies (as in - more fame means no replies to comments, or only replies in subsequent posts, while less famous people often interact more directly, and similar authority dynamics within purely internet communities) and volume. She's really interested in any perspectives you guys might have, as seasoned veterans of the blogosphere!

I'd also love if you'd recommend some blogs that you think might be useful. We're thinking of things ranging from Pete Wentz to Lynn Flewelling to Markos (DailyKos). Any recommendations you might have would be great!

Thanks guys! ♥

Comments

[why-me-why-not.livejournal.com]

Keltie's blog (I don't think she gets as many comments now as she used to since she's not with Ryan anymore, but she still has a decent following. although she doesn't reply to them.)

I think twitter has greatly changed the way we interact with some famous people -- look at the MCR boys and Tom Felton, who respond to their tweets, compared to other how mostly tweet just to entertain us or something.

If you're looking for people who are famous within fandom-type circles, there's always copperbadge.

[kashmir1.livejournal.com]

Try cleolinda - she's pretty "famous on the internet." ;)

[hebrew-hernia.livejournal.com]

David Hewlett's blog might be an interesting read.

Also, she might want to consider the fatosphere (a community of bloggers dedicated to promoting fat acceptance and the idea of health at every size) -- kateharding.net is a good place to start.

[gigglingkat]

David Hewlett and Wil Wheaton for blogs.

Wil Wheaton and Greg Grunberg for Twitter.

[bunnymcfoo.livejournal.com]

two words: Neil Gaiman. dude, he pretty much invented the concept of celebrity blogging in my world.

[snuffkin.livejournal.com]

iawtc! Neil Gaiman's blog is awesome!

[humdrumtown.livejournal.com]

I'm with both of these comments :-P