Intrapersonal Groupthink and Online Disclosure: A Thematic Analysis of Reddit’s r/SuicideWatch

This paper examined the anonymous r/SuicideWatch subreddit, a part of the popular anonymous message board, Reddit, to better understand disclosure in anonymous online spaces. r/SuicideWatch takes an ambiguous stance on suicide, neither condoning nor condemning it, thus creating a space where users are often affirmed in pro-suicide beliefs. This study utilized a thematic analysis to consider the semantic, latent, and cultural themes of r/SuicideWatch to better understand what was taking place on the website as users processed ideas that are often culturally taboo. Analysis of dialogue that included phrases like “does anyone else” or “me too” suggests that users seek a shared human experience among other users to discuss suicide. However, the presence of groupthink (Janis, 1972) may indicate that users do not seek real dialogue but rather that they may utilize r/SuicideWatch as a safe space to explore these challenging ideas and engage in fantasy exploration where they will be validated. Also notable was the heavy presence of intrapersonal communication as posters failed to interact with one another even as they replied to posts; the dialogue they shared lacked interaction with other users and appeared to be primarily for their own benefit. This may suggest that users utilize r/SuicideWatch as a means to process their own experiences and ideas rather than to interact with the ideas of others. This in-depth look at r/SuicideWatch is an important part of a much larger conversation about anonymous online communication and the interaction that takes place there

Groupthink and Common Enemy Intimacy: A Thematic Analysis of Hyperpersonal Connection in Reddit’s r/theDonald

This paper offers a thematic analysis of the anonymous r/The_Donald subreddit, a part of the popular anonymous message board, Reddit, to better understand connection in anonymous hyperpersonal spaces and the relationship between disinhibition and connection. This study considered the semantic, latent, and cultural themes of r/The_Donald to analyze what was taking place in the conversations featured there. An analysis of subreddit activity over the course of one month indicated the presence of groupthink (Janis, 1972) but moreover, that these conversations lack a personal element and posters there appear to engage in “common enemy intimacy” (Brown, 2017). Not only do users often practice dehumanization in speaking about outgroups in derogatory and demeaning ways, but also fail to engage in connection of a personal nature with other posters. Instead, the content focuses around mutual dislike of specific groups and people which appears to be a barrier to authentic connection. This in-depth look at r/The_Donald is an important part of a much larger conversation about disinhibition and anonymous online communication that offers greater understanding of online communication, or more specifically, online political communication

Educating and Debating Social and Political Issues in the Naperville Lyceum

This historical research responds to a call from other scholars to allow thetopics discussed in the lyceum of the nineteenth century to shed light onthe social consciousness of the frontier settlements of the era. The recentdiscovery of the “Proceedings of the Naperville Lyceum” (1836-1843)provided the means to do this. Since political topics were clearly central tothe Naperville Lyceum members, this research focused on those items. Itis revealing that lyceum topics in this location were not self-absorbed. Thedebated topics included several global issues and did not simplychampion the American status quo. It suggests that the frontier settlers ofNaperville were concerned with concerns of justice as citizens of acosmopolitan world, one in which they valued self-governance. The studyfurther reveals how some topics have continued to be politically relevantfor more than 180 years since the Naperville Lyceum began. Many of thesame topics are prominent in modern political discussion and debate

Brené Brown, “Wholeheartedness” and the Hyperpersonal

Brené Brown is a researcher and author who has written several bestsellers and whose 2010TEDx talk has been consistently in the top five in the history of the organization, among many of her other accolades. Her research about vulnerability and authenticity is the foundation for all of these projects. In this paper, the author will examine Brown’s academic work, books, and also several speeches and podcasts to suggest some of her contributions to computer mediated communication. Specifically, this analysis focuses on communication in the “hyperpersonal” (Walther, 1996) and how connection or disconnection may occur as part of the cognitive dissonance (Festinger, 1957) that takes place in these interactions as users encounter challenging ideas. This research analyzes Brené Brown as a Christian communicator and makes a case for the invaluable contributions that she has made to a greater understanding of computer mediated communication