Thread Mini-Analysis
So this week in David's class I have been pondering over his question posted, "What are the economics underlying voluntary online collaboration and support?" I have struggled quite a bit with this question, reading other students posts and thinking some more. The biggest problem I have had is with the word economics. The word alturistic came up in the questions, and students have wondered if that even exists. But I want to know what voluntary communication and collaboration has to do with economics? Mabey I just have the wrong definition of economics, Dictonary.com says economics is, "The social science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services and with the theory and management of economies or economic systems." I guess I view this having mostly to do with money, monetary gain, etc. I had been searching for a word that might work better than economics, but I haven't found one yet. Anyway, I posted my question and since I waited till Sunday I probably won't get feedback on it (I just went back to the class site and found a direct response to my question-it was helpful-thanks!). Oh well. I probably just have a really narrow view of online communication/collaboration (which is one reason I am taking Wiley's class, to gain more knowledge and broaden my horizons in this area), but I suppose I WANT to believe that people communicate online because they want to better themselves and they want to help people. After reading John Dehlin's blog though, I am finding that a lot of people have other factors motiviting them. Check out his blog, it was great! John Dehlin's blog.
Now to my assignment...below is the url to the thread I looked over at Google Groups.
ADHD Therapy-Newsgroup thread.
This is in misc.education.home-school.misc newsgroup. The question asked was ADHD Therapy - no drugs/Experience anyone?
The woman posting this question had found out that her son has ADHD and is asking what others have done to treat it? Medications? Therapy? Both? What worked? What about school-should she consider homeschooling? She was concerned over losing her son through side affects of medication and possibly not treating him properly if she didn't use it. The people who responded to her inquiry were great at creating a discussion on the topic. They warned her of websites with false information, there was concern over pharmaceutical companies involved too much with alternative help, someone posted these ideas to try before medication:
1) regular exercise
2) consistent sleep schedule
3) tracking foods eaten and behavior, and doing an elimination test on
anything which seemed to be problematic (for him, it was anything
artificially colored).
4) consistent responses to behaviors by the parents and teachers (hard!),
Links to websites for more information were given, there were posts made to just add support, some people added information about the research they had been doing on ADHD and other diseases that are similar as well as ideas to try (like cutting out gluten), one woman suggested some books to read, the main topic branched into areas like schooling, activities, feeding, and parenting, and finally the woman who made the initial question was actively involved in responding. She took the time and effort to thank people for the information they gave to her. It was a very interesting thread. This thread does what Kollock and Smith say makes a good group, good cooperation and no flaming (well at least not too much). Although there were only 48 posts to this question, the substance found in them was great!
So why did these people respond to the question posed? Is there any gain for them in posting? In thinking on this, I ask myself, why would I post a response or give information to someone who has asked a question? If I don't know anything about what they are asking I'll just be a peripheral learner (lurkers or free-riders) and read what others say. But like Eric Raymond said in The Cathedral and the Bazaar "To solve an interesting problem, start by finding a problem that interests you." I think that applies here. If I were not interested in the situation, I wouldn't take the time to add to the discussion. Why waste my time and energy on something that is boring or dull to me? My motivation behind communicating and collaborating online begins with my interests and selfish learning. I want to see what others have to say, I want opinions and thoughts beyond my own so I can learn and grow. But when I find people who are asking questions or commenting on something I know about and I can share information with them in hope that what I share will be enlightening, helpful, useful, etc. I will switch out of me-mode and give my thoughts.
Ok, so back to the Google Groups posting. These people appear to participate in this thread for a few reasons:
1. To provide correct and reputable information/Squash misinformation (Teach & Inform).
Many of the posts included websites, book titles, and personal information about ADHD and people who are already dealing with it. These posts provided correct information to answer the questions posed by the initial question. Since many of them are personally dealing with the disease (either themselves or through watching others) they want to make sure that when someone else starts out with coping and treatment that they don't go blindly into it.
2. Support (Help Others).
No one should believe they are the only one dealing with a disease. Many posts included personal accounts as well the reassurance that what the parent was dealing with is truly a disease and did not come about because of bad parenting. Like what teacherDeb said, "...please PLEASE do not fall into the trap that people like
Catherine Woodgold and others will try to set for you, in trying to
make you think it is your fault your child behaves the way he or she
does...". This also falls into correct and reputable information. People who deal with the disease daily have a different perspective than those who just study it.
3. Suggestions (Discussion).
There was a lot of discussion about areas related to the the topic of ADHD, from schooling a child with ADHD to medication, anger, discipline, ways to treat without medication, websites to go to, and personal opinions. Some of them even metioned that the information in the posts were good suggestions. There was a tangent on homeschooling and suggestions with it, but the question was asked if homeschooling was a good choice for a child with ADHD. These posts were a little inflamed, but provided good suggestions on doing research about homeschooling. Mostly the responders suggested keeping the idea open and not being close minded about the idea.
This was a great thread to read and analyze.
Now to my assignment...below is the url to the thread I looked over at Google Groups.
ADHD Therapy-Newsgroup thread.
This is in misc.education.home-school.misc newsgroup. The question asked was ADHD Therapy - no drugs/Experience anyone?
The woman posting this question had found out that her son has ADHD and is asking what others have done to treat it? Medications? Therapy? Both? What worked? What about school-should she consider homeschooling? She was concerned over losing her son through side affects of medication and possibly not treating him properly if she didn't use it. The people who responded to her inquiry were great at creating a discussion on the topic. They warned her of websites with false information, there was concern over pharmaceutical companies involved too much with alternative help, someone posted these ideas to try before medication:
1) regular exercise
2) consistent sleep schedule
3) tracking foods eaten and behavior, and doing an elimination test on
anything which seemed to be problematic (for him, it was anything
artificially colored).
4) consistent responses to behaviors by the parents and teachers (hard!),
Links to websites for more information were given, there were posts made to just add support, some people added information about the research they had been doing on ADHD and other diseases that are similar as well as ideas to try (like cutting out gluten), one woman suggested some books to read, the main topic branched into areas like schooling, activities, feeding, and parenting, and finally the woman who made the initial question was actively involved in responding. She took the time and effort to thank people for the information they gave to her. It was a very interesting thread. This thread does what Kollock and Smith say makes a good group, good cooperation and no flaming (well at least not too much). Although there were only 48 posts to this question, the substance found in them was great!
So why did these people respond to the question posed? Is there any gain for them in posting? In thinking on this, I ask myself, why would I post a response or give information to someone who has asked a question? If I don't know anything about what they are asking I'll just be a peripheral learner (lurkers or free-riders) and read what others say. But like Eric Raymond said in The Cathedral and the Bazaar "To solve an interesting problem, start by finding a problem that interests you." I think that applies here. If I were not interested in the situation, I wouldn't take the time to add to the discussion. Why waste my time and energy on something that is boring or dull to me? My motivation behind communicating and collaborating online begins with my interests and selfish learning. I want to see what others have to say, I want opinions and thoughts beyond my own so I can learn and grow. But when I find people who are asking questions or commenting on something I know about and I can share information with them in hope that what I share will be enlightening, helpful, useful, etc. I will switch out of me-mode and give my thoughts.
Ok, so back to the Google Groups posting. These people appear to participate in this thread for a few reasons:
1. To provide correct and reputable information/Squash misinformation (Teach & Inform).
Many of the posts included websites, book titles, and personal information about ADHD and people who are already dealing with it. These posts provided correct information to answer the questions posed by the initial question. Since many of them are personally dealing with the disease (either themselves or through watching others) they want to make sure that when someone else starts out with coping and treatment that they don't go blindly into it.
2. Support (Help Others).
No one should believe they are the only one dealing with a disease. Many posts included personal accounts as well the reassurance that what the parent was dealing with is truly a disease and did not come about because of bad parenting. Like what teacherDeb said, "...please PLEASE do not fall into the trap that people like
Catherine Woodgold and others will try to set for you, in trying to
make you think it is your fault your child behaves the way he or she
does...". This also falls into correct and reputable information. People who deal with the disease daily have a different perspective than those who just study it.
3. Suggestions (Discussion).
There was a lot of discussion about areas related to the the topic of ADHD, from schooling a child with ADHD to medication, anger, discipline, ways to treat without medication, websites to go to, and personal opinions. Some of them even metioned that the information in the posts were good suggestions. There was a tangent on homeschooling and suggestions with it, but the question was asked if homeschooling was a good choice for a child with ADHD. These posts were a little inflamed, but provided good suggestions on doing research about homeschooling. Mostly the responders suggested keeping the idea open and not being close minded about the idea.
This was a great thread to read and analyze.
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