tea ball…..
(In case)
Nowadays, online forum becomes one of the popular ways for people to communicate with others and more and more people are involved in their own online communities. My group is involved in an online forum, Instructables, which focuses on the instructions of do-it-yourself projects for created users. So, in this report I will trace this online community and conduct a brief study on how it works. I will give an introduction of Instructables first. Besides, I will study the features of Instructables in this report. In addition, I will analysis my result of the observation of this online forum.
Instructables is a special online forum for creative users to share their do-it-yourself projects with documentation. Users can post instructions to their projects and demonstrate in a step-by-step process exactly how to finish a task or create a project with visual aids. Users also can communicate with others in comment sections below each Instructable step to show their opinions or ask questions. “The concept of the Instructables website is inspired by a notion of creativity and innovation, as it is a place where individuals can share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others.”(CrunchBase, 2009) I followed a post which is about how to make cakes that look like 1UPs from Super Mario Bros. The author named Nachimir published this instruction in April, 2009 and there are 39,926 views now. The author posted 7 steps such as Collect, Melt, Mix, Bake, Dip and so on accomplished by visual aids, 7 photos, to share his process of producing projects (Nachimir, 2009). There are 101 comments followed this instruction and most comments show the favor of the instruction. A user named Kelseyrobin (2009), who commented this post, said, “these are amazing! i love your overly detailed pictures hahaha they helped out a ton!” “now thats nice AND cute… hehehehe.. i really liked the idea and its looks.. im pretty sure my friends would be happy when i gave them some of those.. thanks! :D,” another user named Capitansid (2008) commented. In addition, some users also show their productions which are made by following the steps demonstrated in the instruction. Therefore, I think Instructables is a good communication form for people to share thoughts and opinions with others.
I become involved in Instructables because I am interested in the features of this online forum, which is considered as a special platform to communicate for creative users. One of the features, I think, is the language. Instructables has some particular language, including DIY, Slideshow, Burning Questions, and Instructables Robot. For example, DIY is short for Do-It-Yourself, which mean making things by users’ selves and saving some money rather than buying expensive stuff. Besides, Instructables Robot means the Instructable’s mascot, whose main function is to greet new members and alert members when they receive comments or messages (Keith-Kid, 2008). Another example is Slideshow, which means showing something that people have made, but do not have enough documentation or material for a full instruction, is different from instructions (Keith-Kid, 2008). What’s more, Burning Question means “a regular event in Instructables, where the staff posts a list of Wanted Instructables that haven’t been made. Users submit their entries and the best instructable that answers a question on the list wins a prize.” (Keith-Kid, 2008) The other feature is the multimodal ways for users to show themselves. Members of Instructables can upload text, photos, diagrams and videos to write instructions. Besides Instructions, members can also ask questions, submit slideshows and submit groups on Instructables website (Instructables, 2009). So, users can not only show themselves and communicate with others by uploading text, photos and videos to create instructions, but also join various groups.
After observing Instructables, I found some helpful information of it and I can answer following questions by analysing the result of observation. The first question is who is allowed to speak. I found that only the members of Instructables can post in the forums and comment. Secondly, how to decide the turn-taking? I think that after a member submitting a new instruction, other users can comment on it. If any users do not understand some steps in the post, they can ask whey they reply. The length may be not limited. In addition, I also realize the treatment of ‘noobs’, which means the green hand of Instructables. Instructable website welcomes ‘noobs’ to join the community and encourages anyone of Instructables to help ‘noobs’. Instructables creates the FAQ Center to help ‘noobs’ to become familiar with how to use Instructables. Besides, the Instructables Robot is also designed to help ‘noobs’ (Instructables, 2009). “The helpful community and knowledgeable members will not hesitate to ask questions or share their own experiences with a project.”(Wikipedia, 2009) In other words, if users have problems and want to seek help from others, they can submit questions or accept help from comments directly because in this online community, everyone can be pleasure to help others. Moreover, I think it is not easy to answer who are power users, because there is no class in Instructables. But, I found that the staff of Instructables may be power users here because they have some special rights like posting a list of Wanted Instructables (Keith-Kid, 2008). Furthermore, who/what is a troll? The rules made by Instructables to distinguish offensive materials from other posts said that materials related to pornography, unlicked language, insults and flaming, and spam are considered offensive and should be avoided (Keith-Kid, 2008). Therefore, I think users who submitted offensive materials including pornography, insults and flaming and spam, can be considered as trolls.
In conclusion, although different online forums have different ways of operation and different features, online communities have become an important and popular way for people to communicate with others. In this report, I used the techniques in observation analysis, including ethnography and participant observation. Though I try combining the observation with conservation analysis, I cannot acquire more helpful information from other users on Instructables directly because the time is not enough for me to interview other users and do the interview analysis.
References:
Capitansid 2008, accessed 22/10/2009, http://www.instructables.com/id/1UP-Cakes/?comments=all
CrunchBase 2009, Instructables, accessed 21/10/2009, http://www.crunchbase.com/company/instructables
Instructables 2009, accessed 22/10/2009, http://www.instructables.com/
Keith-Kid 2008, FAQ Center (Under Construction!), accessed 22/10/2009, http://www.instructables.com/community/FAQ-Center/
Kelseyrobin 2009, accessed 22/10/2009, http://www.instructables.com/id/1UP-Cakes/?comments=all
Nachimir 2009, 1UP Cakes, accessed 22/10/2009, http://www.instructables.com/id/1UP-Cakes/?comments=all
Wikipedia 2009, Instructables, accessed 21/10/2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructables
GOOD POINTS:
1.Questions are around the theme.
2.Questions are addressed in different ways.(How, what, Do you…,could you…some open questions)
BAD POINTS:
1. Most questions are too long and not easier for readers understanding. There are several questions with too many information in one question, which may make interviewee confused.
2. Some questions are unclear.
Questions for instructables participants
General
Demographics? (age, sex, location)
How often do you visit the website?
How long have you been using the site?
How did you first come across instructables?
Do you consider yourself an active user of instructables.com?
Use questions
Do you use instructables to find solutions to current problems?
Do you use instructables to view as a leisure activity?
Creation
What motivates you to share your creations?
What got you started in posting on instructables?
Is there a particular category you create for or use more than others? (eg sicence, tech,craft, home?)
How many instructables have you posted?
Do you feel that all, or some instructables have particular meaning or importance to you?
Have you ever tried to follow another users instructable?
What problems have you found when following an instructables project?
Have you worked collaboratively with another user to create and instructable?
Is there any particular experiences you have had when creating instruictables or following another users instructable?
Forum
Do you participate in the forums?
Do you feel comfortable giving advice to new users on the forums?
Have you had any bad advice from the forums?
Debrief
Would you suggest instructables to other users?
Online Forum: http://www.instructables.com/
What is Instructables?
Instructables is a web-based documentation platform where passionate people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others.
Language - Jargon/specialised language:
DIY: Do-It-Yourself
Instructable: showing detailed step-by step details on how to make or do something
Slideshow: showing something that people have made,but do not have enough documentation or material for a full Instructable.
Burning Questions: a regular event in Instructables, where the staff posts a list of Wanted Instructables that haven’t been made. Users submit their entries and the best instructable that answers a question on the list wins a prize.
Featured: Members who have shown to be very helpful inside our community are handpicked by the Instructables staff and are given the ability to feature an instructable is they consider it meets the criteria for Featuring.
Multimodal?
Members can upload text, photos, diagrams and videos to write Instructables. Besides Instructables, members can also ask questions, submit slideshows and submit groups on instructable website.
http://www.instructables.com/about/submit.jsp
Authority/order/social behaviour is constructed in conversation:
- Who is allowed to speak?
Only the members of instructable website can post in the forums and comment.
- turn-taking (frequency & length):
After a member submitting a new instructable, other users can comment on it. If any users do not understand some steps in the post, they can ask whey they reply. The length may be not limited.
- treatment of ‘noobs’:
The instructable website welcomes noobs to join the community and encourages anyone of instructable website to help noobs. The instructable website also builts the FAQ Center to help noobs to become familiar with how to use the instructable website.
-norms and enforcement of norms:
Pornography - Any and all pornographic material is considered offensive. Posting images or links that include pornography is strictly prohibited. This is a family friendly site, children often browse this site.
Language - If you wouldn’t show it or say it to your headteacher at school, don’t show or say it here.
Insults and flaming - We have a “be nice” policy here. Please be positive and constructive with your comments or risk being banned from our site.
Spam - Spamming, misleading links and site advertising on the forums, orangeboards, instructables, and Private Messaging are strictly prohibited. However, offers and advertising are allowed in the For Sale Section
http://www.instructables.com/tos.html
- “Power Users”:
The staff of instructable website.
- Definition of purpose:
Instructables is a web-based service owned and operated by Instructables, LLC for the purpose of allowing individuals around the world to show things they have made and learn how to make things from others (the “Purpose”).
http://www.instructables.com/tos.html
- Moderation:
By using the Instructables website, users warrant to Instructables that they will not use Instructables, or any of the content obtained from Instructables, for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms. If users violate any of these Terms, users’ permission to use the Instructables website automatically terminates.
http://www.instructables.com/tos.html
- Silenced?
In the Instructables Terms and Conditions of Use
http://www.instructables.com/tos.html
“Should any Content be reported to Instructables as being offensive or inappropriate, Instructables might call upon the poster to retract, modify, or protect (by means of private and friends only settings) the Content in question within a reasonable amount of time, as set forth by the Instructables staff. Should the poster fail to meet such a request from Instructables staff, Instructables has the full authority to terminate any such reported and verified account and associated inappropriate content. Instructables, however, is under no obligation to restrict or monitor Content in any way;”
“Instructables, in its sole and absolute discretion, may preserve Content and may also disclose Content if required to do so by law or judicial or governmental mandate or as reasonably determined useful by us to protect the rights, property or personal safety of Instructables, Instructables users and the public.”
- Decisions about what’s “on topic”
The content should be related to the projects made by users and the process of making. The range of projects can include arts and crafts, food, home, life, offbeat (first known as “not liable”) and recently knex, transportation and tech.
http://www.instructables.com/community/FAQ-Center/
- who/what is a troll?:
Users who submitted offensive materials includeing pornography, insults and flaming and spam.
-how/when/where is help offered, accepted or asked for?
People can ask for help by submitting questions or accept help from comments directly.
Language—jargon/specialised language
Multimodal?
Authority/ order/social behaviour is constructed in conversation.
-who is allowed to speak
- turn-taking (frequency & length)
-treatment of “noobs”
-norms and enforcement of norms
-“power users”
-definition of purpose
-moderation
-silenced?
-decisions about what’s “on topic”
-who/what is a troll?
-how/when/where is help offered, accepted or asked for?
I am involved in this online community which focuses on the fashion of lady. This website is a BBS, which includes more than four hundred thousands of members and millions of forums.
People, who register as members of this website, can submit posts related to particular themes in different boards of website and organize other members to discuss. They can also just submit comments of the posts which they are interested in.
Members can post textes, photos, musics and videos in their submitted posts.
Besides, members can also organize or participate in voting posts.
Post something on an online community you are involved in (not a social networking site - something that is publically accessible that does not involve logging in)