Misbehavior in Cyber Places The Regulation of Online Conduct in Virtual Communities on the Internet

Preface: The Internet at the Turn of the Century
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Athenians and Visigoths in Cyberspace

1 The Research Objective
Rationale for the Study
The Research Problem
Definitions
Delimitations
Method
Chapter Summary

2 The Context of the Study
Media Ecology: The Study of Media Environments
Media as Environments
Environments as Media
Space and Place
Situations, Rules, and Rule-Breaking
Mediated Interpersonal Communication
Computer-Mediated Communication in Online Environments
Virtual Communities

3 Trouble Brewing in Cyberspace
An Infamous Triad of Troublesome Online Behavior
Flaming: Digital Debates and Virtual Vitriol
Spamming: Electronic Junk Mail and Other Cyber Debris
Virtual Rape: Sexual Harassment in Online Gathering Places
A Frontier Mentality: The Internet Besieged
Two Approaches: External Laws Versus Internal Rules

4 Cybercrime: Law-Breaking on the Internet
The 1994 Denning and Lin Report
Cybercrime and Cyberlaw
Online Security, Attacks, and Viruses
Hackers and Other Denizens of the Cyberspace Underground
First Amendment Follies: Dissent, Free Speech, and Censorship Online
Definition Schizophrenia: Malevolent Criminal or Mischievous Prankster?
The Jurisdiction Circus: No Ringmaster in Cyberspace

5 Misbehavior: Rule-Breaking in Virtual Communities
The 1994 Bruckman Abstract
Misbehavior and its Aliases: Negligent, Naughty, Nasty, and Beyond
Rules and Norms in Virtual Gatherings
Netiquette and Other Codes of Civilized Cyber Conduct
Behavior Management and Social Control in Online Environments
The Status Quo: Theories and Analyses in Search of a Paradigm

6 The Regulation of Online Conduct in Cyber Places
Breaking, Making, and Enforcing Rules Online
Breaking the Rules: Varieties of Virtual Misbehavior
Rule-Breakers: Netiquette Newbies, Packet Pranksters, and Modem Miscreants
Making the Rules: Behavioral Standards for Online Gatherings
Rule-Makers: Netizens Against Digital Misconduct
Enforcing the Rules: Strategies and Techniques for Handling Online Troublemakers
Rule-Enforcers: Moderators, Sysops, Wizards, and Gods on Cyber Patrol

7 Conclusion: A New Sense of Place
From Physical to Behavioral Boundaries
Growing Interest in Local Regulatory Approaches
Misbehavior Offline: Athenians and Visigoths in Everyday Life

References
About the Author