The Spiral of Silence

[rodo]

Note: This was prompted by the current Supernatural discussion, but it is something I have been thinking about a lot, even before now. It is mainly about my own behaviour online and an attempt at rationalising it. This is also not meant to be a generalisation of fandom interaction in general.

The spiral of silence is a much discussed theory. It might or might not exist online, but I think it describes my posting habits very well, so I might actually be the proof of it's existence.

"The theory asserts that a person is less likely to voice an opinion on a topic if one feels that one is in the minority for fear of reprisal or isolation from the majority (Anderson 1996: 214; Miller 2005: 277)."

This happened to me several times already: If I get the feeling that I am in the minority (though I might actually be part of the majority, the numbers are irrelevant to this theory, it's more about what I perceive to be reality), I probably won't tell you my opinions. I learnt the hard way that it is often the best alternative to keep my mouth shut and sit on my hands until it's over. This however, only the case if the issue is an issue of morality. Issues like that include, but are not limited to, race, feminism and sexuality.

So, in order to determine whether I am part of the majority or minority, I will generally start to read what other people post on the subject, and what the reactions are to people who disagree. If the disagreement is discussed in a polite, non-emotional manner, I will probably post something or comment without fear of being shunned should I voice an opinion other people disagree with. If, however, (as is the case with the current Supernatural discussion) I feel as if my side is portraited as being morally wrong/inferior/stupid/evil, I will probably watch from afar until I feel it's safe to say something again. I like discussions, but as soon as things start to develop into an issue of morality, I start to fear reprisals should I say anything different than the perceived majority does.

These reprisals might be dog-piling, flaming, or simply an unpleasant argument with someone whose opinion I generally agree with and whom I like personally. I fear that someone might not like me anymore, to be precise. The spiral of silence can probably only be applied to describe my behaviour because I take online interaction far to seriously, but I can't help that fandom is part of my social life. I'm not sure I want to either. It's the same in RL as well, I am just generally better at judging if I things will turn unpleasant or not.



Last but not least: This is meant to be descriptive. I don't want to get people to change their behaviour, I just want to explain mine. I understand that it is probably difficult to be calm about something if you feel rather passionately about it (even though I am not a very passionate person), and I think that this is very important, because otherwise, nobody would be able to overcome a spiral of silence like the one I am caught up in. So, in a way, I envy anyone who does not feel this way about discussions in fandom.

Comments

Re: Here vid metafandom

[rood.insanejournal.com]

The other thing that really got me, was that people don't seem to understand that fandom/the internet isn't American.

That got me too. There is racism in my country, but it's much more complex than just white vs. black. I am living in Germany, and the situation here is a very different one. I am also used to a different definition of racism, so that added to the difficulty.

I guess the diversity online/in fandom is one of the main causes of wank. We, as individuals, tend to assume other people who have the same interests think the same way we do. And that's just not the case. It might not be very obvious most of the time, but the people in fandom generally don't have much in common except for it. There are academics, high schoolers, stay-at-home mums, and so on, and we're all from different cultural backgrounds as well. It's probably a miracle things don't blow up more often.

Re: Here vid metafandom

[paraka]

Sorry for the late response (there was a nephew being born, and I had to rush to go see him :D).

There is racism in my country, but it's much more complex than just white vs. black.
*nods* The black population of America has a very vibrant history that still affects so many people today. But in a country where there isn't as big a presence of black people, it's hard to apply those same actions and thought processes. I mean, in Canada where I live, black people account for less than 17% of the visible minorities in the country, and only 2% of the total population. Much more of the racism in Canada is directed at the Native population, and is quite different from the racism felt by African Americans.

It might not be very obvious most of the time, but the people in fandom generally don't have much in common except for it.
I can't speak for fandom as a whole, but as a slasher in fandom, I have felt that it draws people with some similar ideas above and beyond just the fandom. Like we're far more likely to be liberally minded when it comes to outside issues. But since we're all so used to agreeing with each other against the big bad outside world, it shocks us when we disagree. Have you watched the American Democratic Primaries at all? I can't seem to be able to avoid it, but you see such fighting and mud slinging going on over which candidate is best, and it surprises people, because they are so used to standing together against a common hated Republican enemy.

Re: Here via metafandom

[rood.insanejournal.com]

(there was a nephew being born, and I had to rush to go see him :D)

Congratulations!

Have you watched the American Democratic Primaries at all?

I don't watch, but my flatmate did a U-Turn after she listened to one of Obama's speeches while she was in the USA. It's fascinating, tbh. I still don't get the mud slinging, though, but that might just be because I vote for a party and not a candidate (different system, over here).

I can't speak for fandom as a whole, but as a slasher in fandom, I have felt that it draws people with some similar ideas above and beyond just the fandom.

I suppose that's true as long as you stick to the slashers, but I spent a lot of time in German forums, and there's no way to keep slashers and non-slashers apart, because it's just too small. It's just impossible to hide in your own little corner for too long. Maybe that's why I spend most time reading English nowadays (well, that, and that there's almost no meta discussion in German).

Re: Here via metafandom

[paraka]

Congratulations!
Thank you! I'm very proud :D

I still don't get the mud slinging, though, but that might just be because I vote for a party and not a candidate (different system, over here).
Well the problem right now is, most people in the US vote based on parties too, and all the people who are fighting are strong Democrates. The Primaries are an internal election within the party for party leader. So all of a sudden people that had been on the same side before are suddenly being pitted against each other because they support a different member of the same party.

I suppose that's true as long as you stick to the slashers
Yeah, when I first wrote that bit up, I didn't include that I was a slasher, then I though of some of the discussions/arguments that I've observed in the few communities I'm in that aren't strictly slash, and I realized that it probably doesn't apply to all of fandom.