Globalization, according to Wikipedia, describes the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of political ideas through communication, transportation, and trade. In simpler terms, it is the linking of societies via a global medium. These media include networking through communication (Television, internet, etc.), the trade of international products, and international travel of people between regions. By allowing the travel between nations, globalization promotes the spread of cultures, language, and the progression of society [1]. Trade of currency (not just product) directly intertwines regional economies, from one end of the world to the other, meaning that a positive or negative effect on one nations economic standing, can have a huge impact on another’s. In fact, Noam Chomsky gives a solid explanation of some of the negative effects on the average person from an economic viewpoint of globalization with his “rational peasant” example [2]. However, not all effects of globalization are always negative.
With communication speed and efficiency increasing exponentially year after year, we find ourselves engulfed in a blending of cultures. Thanks to the internet, an easy example of this is social networking sites such as facebook and myspace, both of which allow direct, and instant communication with others around the world, a prime example of globalization. A less apparent, but more influential example is 4chan.org (not recommended for the faint of heart). Although crude, disgusting, and verging on illegal, 4chan exhibits globalization like no other. With everyone choosing to post on threads without identity, it does what facebook and myspace cannot: connect the world intimately through an opaque veil of anonymity. By eliminating identity, cultures mesh seamlessly online and eventually find their way out of cyberspace and into reality. An easy example of this is the protesting of of scientology by the online group “Anonymous”. Originating on 4chan, this Guy Fawkes-mask-wearing organization consists of all anonymous members who, regardless of nationality, race, gender, or religion (excluding scientology of course), who openly oppose the church of scientology. The ability of a group of strangers to organize for a common cause, I think, is one of the finer illustrations of globalization.
[1] Curran, James, and Myung-Jin Park. "Beyond Globalization Theory." De-Westernizing Media Studies. London: Routledge, 2000. Print.
[2] Chomsky, Noam. "What Is Globalization?" YouTube. 26 Mar. 2007. Web. 05 Jan. 2011
Alex - do you believe sites like 4chan should be censored or taken down? The net does make it easier to hide identity but it is possible for these people to be tracked and identified. Should some sort of punishment be inflicted? Who will determine this? I wonder where cyber-bullying will fall in regards to free speech.
ReplyDeleteAlex, at the end of your first paragraph you write that "not all effects of globalization are always negative." What are some ways the globalization are positive? You only point out the negative yet there are some great benefits to globalization, aren't there? Also, what exactly is 4chan and how did you find out about it? You say at one point that it is a social networking site but also that it is a "way out of cyberspace and into reality". What do you mean by saying that? I am very curious about this website because I have never heard a word about it before. Please fill me in with your knowledge!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Samantha
@ Cindy B:
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand your point in regards to the power that Anonymous holds. However, i invite you to read some of the finer moments of 4chan history here:
http://en.wikipedia.orG/wiki/4chan#Media_attention
Its important to realize that, while there those out there who mean to cause harm, like the real world, there are those who do their part in bringing "cyber-bullies" to justice. Keep in mind that Anonymous knows very few bounds. Some bad, some good, but its nearly limitless capabilities and ability to connect people worldwide are what allow posters to help track down threats like these. So to answer your question, No, i do not think sites like these should be taken down or censored. Lets be honest, if some sort of terrorist attack were to be posted on an identity based networking site such as facebook, would the poster really provide their real information? 4chans unique contribution to globalization does not allow one to separate themselves from another. Anonymous is one. Anonymous is Legion. Thus, providing the help from members all over the world without bound, which could not be done on facebook with its "friends" feature in effect.
@ Samantha:
4chan is nothing more than an online forum with some notorious reputation. Posters on the site are associated with internet memes such as LOLcats, rickrolling, etc. However, as anonymous posting IS allowed, it has been known to host controversial content, such as bomb threats, suicide notes, and child pornography. I take it this is why Cindy asked my opinion of it.
As far as positive effects, please visit the link i posted to Cindy. There you can read all about a positive effect of globalization, which is what i was trying to express in my original post, but i guess i was a bit unclear.
Lastly, by saying that 4chan was able to emerge from "cyberspace and into reality", i refer to Anonymous' ability to provide a viral infection of culture and motivation. Culture, being the spread of internet memes such as those mentioned above, showing how something as simple as a catch phrase can originate online, and soon almost become an integrated part of a society's language (thumbs up if you've ever used the phrase "FAIL", "epic win" or have ever told a Chuck Norris joke"). And for motivation, we can look at the protesting of the church of Scientology by online-originated group... Anonymous.
-Alex
(P.S. Samantha, as a quick note, i ask that, should your curiosity be piqued, approach 4chan.org with caution, it can be a bit overwhelming if you are new, and are not expecting some of the posts you may see. =] )
Alex, when I listened to Noam Chomsky's youtube link, I picked up on his description of globalization and agree he did focus on the negatives of it. After reading your post, and these comments, I understood the positives as well; especially after visiting the link you posted to Cindy above. I am also interested in checking out that site, 4chan. I will do so with caution and an open mind!
ReplyDeleteI found your post quite interesting. I never thought about the difference between Facebook/Twitter and sites like 4chan before. Although Facebook allows ANYONE to tell ANYONE something about ANYTHING, it does not allow one to do so without sharing their identity and/or knowing the general source of what is shared. However, on sites like 4chan, due to the anonymity, one can freely post any information they want to. Although I agree this kind of community definitely contributes to globalization, I feel like the credibility is diminished greatly by allowing anonymity. This is why people pay for subscriptions to credible news casts and other media.
ReplyDelete@ Nimit:
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I didn't think I'd get this many people reading my entry, but I'm very glad you and others decided to voice your opinion on it. As to your response, while i do agree that the credibility of this unique kind of cyber-community is indeed diminished, lets have a look at these subscription-worthy and "credible" forms of media.
The first few minutes of "Manufacturing Consent" tells us that the media is, more than anything, a form of control, than a source of actual (or at least, complete) information. With that in mind, we bring our thoughts back to 4chan, and its capable, and unbiased source of peer-to-peer information. With an open forum, and no censorship, there is plenty room for false information, but the what IS true in a forum, is nearly guaranteed to be more accurate and whole than the same news we would get on Fox or CNN. And herein lies the real question: How can we weed out the false?