I am currently working on the basis of a future thesis. The topic of the thesis will probably be something like “Taxonomy of Internet tools for prosumers”.
In case you are not familiar with the concept of prosumers, it was coined by Alvin Toffler in the 80s from pro(ducers) and (con)sumers. Therefore, it refers to consumers who get, to a certain extent, involved in the production of what they consume.
I reckon Internet, through tools such as this board, allowing readers (consumers) to interact (thus getting directly involved in the production) with their favorite authors is a good starting point to evaluate how pertinent these concepts are. So I decided to run an exploratory phase on this topic.
As a consequence, I am looking for people who visit and post on such boards to see what their motivations are, if they are conscious of the part they can play in influencing the author, etc…
So that you know what I’ll be asking you, the interviews will probably last about 30-40 minutes, via IRC or any instant messenger and will be semi-structured: only a few guidelines, you will only be oriented towards the topics I’d like you to discuss but you will remain free from talking of whatever you want to say on the topics.
As you might guess, I chose this board because I am also a fan of Orson Scott Card even though I have only read (yet!) most of the Ender/Shadow, Alvin series and the Homecoming series.
I kindly received authorization from Papa Janitor to post this request here.
If you are willing to be interviewed, please contact me by leaving a message on this thread or directly by an email or an ICQ message (everything is in my profile).
If you are available during the week-end, please choose the desired time you’d like to be interviewed and I will adapt.
During the week, I need to plan things and even though I have few time restrictive activities, there are some hours at which I cannot be available. Therefore, some preliminary talk might be needed to plan things so that I don’t waste your time.
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
Your email is not visible.
Posted by brenmacguire (Member # 7903) on :
Thank you for pointing this out. Now it seems to be ok.
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
Mmm, maybe. I'll see how I feel tomorrow.
I almost forgot, Welcome to Hatrack! Does the prosumption have to be of internet stuff or do you mean like granola and bread and Yodas and... whatever?
Okay, I reread your title and I don't know if I'm in the cohort of an internet tool prosumer. Unless you are thinking of Hatrack as being an internet tool that through some magical technology is a time bank that I can deposit into now and make withdrawals at the end of my life.
[ May 06, 2005, 01:38 AM: Message edited by: mothertree ]
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
You might try posting this in the "Discussions about Orson Scott Card" forum. They spend more time talking with him about his works over there, whereas we just sort of talk about everything over here.
Also, he hasn't been actually posting here very long. I think most of us joined without thinking about actually interacting with him.
You might try the Sheroes website I know Tamora Pierce (a fairly well known YA author) posts there often and I would assume Meg Cabot does as well, although I've never been to her portion of the forum. It's a little bit more inline with what you're looking for, if I understand it correctly.
[ May 06, 2005, 01:52 AM: Message edited by: blacwolve ]
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
You should post it in the "general discussion" area over at Terry Goodkind's forums put a note that Lupus said to put it there so people don't think you are spamming the board...you'll likely get a decent response there (and it will remind me to send you a message) While he doesn't post there directly (he is rather internet phobic) he has indirect contact through friends and admins who keep him in the loop.
[ May 06, 2005, 03:20 AM: Message edited by: Lupus ]
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Several authors post there regularly on their own part of the forum. Each Baen author has their own piece of forum where their fans post and the authors directly interact with the fans. Mercedes Lackey, Lois McMaster Bujold, Spider Robinson are often there, to name a few.
Posted by brenmacguire (Member # 7903) on :
All right. First thank you all for these answers which I believe show interest for my approach and your questions and suggestions help me putting into perspective some things I considered to be obvious.
To mothertree: Thanks for the welcome. I'm currently focused on the exploratory side of the ideas. I believe that a board such as Hatrack River can be a tool for prosumption. Since OSC is also a member of the board he can get ideas from the members, get feedback on some chapters put online or on books of a series. Therefore, it think the available interactions can help you (readers) to take quite an active part in producing books (although the main work remains OSC's). The idea came from seeing OSC thanking the Hatrack community for helping him in various aspects of his books as an introduction of some of these.
I hope I made myself clear on this point, don't hesitate to ask if there is something remains unclear. As for the title of the thesis, it refers to the various tools I could think of. For instance, I was also wondering if implementing an oekaki (a collection of tools for drawing and posting the results online) on the website of a comics drawer/mangaka could help the community to gather around the site and even bring the artist to pick up some ideas from the oekaki drawings or ask some of the best contributors to partake one of his publication. I haven't investigated this domain but I believe some interesting examples exist.
To blacwolve: Thanks for the suggestions. Regarding the forum, Papa Janitor recommended me to post in the "Books, Film, Food and Culture" rather than the "Discussions about OSC" forum. Since I don't want to be too much of an intruder I think I should stick what is recommended to me.
I will investigate the Sheroes website. However, since I don't know these authors, I fear the interviews would be less interesting for the interviewees.
To Lupus and Theca: Thank you both for the suggestions. I will check the boards you mention. I know a bit of Goodkind and have read most of the Vorkosigan books by Bujold, therefore I believe I might conduct worthwhile interviews for the interviewees.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
I would consider volunteering. Prosumer is an interesting term.
Here's a thread musing about online forums. I decided they are neural nets.
Posted by Papa Janitor (Member # 7795) on :
I recommended this side because I thought he'd get a broader spectrum of input, especially since the "other" side is mostly (though not solely) people who haven't been here very long, tend to be younger, and might not have as accurate a feel for how their input might affect (or might have already affected) any of OSC's work. I could have been wrong -- it's happened before. There was that time.
Bren, perhaps you should consider posting this on the other side as well. Or if you'd like, I can move this one over there.
--Pop
Posted by brenmacguire (Member # 7903) on :
To Morbo:
Ok. I have checked the thread on neural networks. You indeed seem to have a very specific and settled opinion on the subject. This should give a very interesting turn to the interview. I'll send you an email to settle things on.
To Papa:
Reading your message I got the feeling you think I suggested you 'forced' me to post here. I only followed what I considered a good advice from a moderator, who, I assume, has the best knowledge of the board. Sorry if my answer to blacwolve made you think so.
Right now, things are going quite well for my preliminary work. Two members contacted me directly by email for the interview. One is already scheduled. Therefore, I think I'll wait a few days before considering posting in 'Discussions about Orson Scott Card' or asking you to move the thread. Anyway, thanks for following what is happening here.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
As far as examples of this type of thing, Papa Moose/Janitor is actually IN the Alvin Maker series because of a trivia contest at Endercon (I think), so that would be a direct example of how this board influenced the path of a whole series.
I think OSC said that he had intended Mooses appearence to be a cameo only, but that the character took hold and because a much larger character than he had originally intended. OSC still developed the character can story independently, but if it had not been for Papa's direct involvment, the story would have been different, no question about it.
Also, Several people here have either answered back story questions recently, one about Rackham for the Shadow books and one about Dink for a future book, here on this forum. OSC often posts a few chapters here at Hatrack, knowing that we read his material closely, and sometimes find things in a draft that raise a question....either time line problems of things that need clarification.
There are a few people here who have read advance copies or manuscripts for OSC as well, but I don't feel comfortable mentioning who they are...if they want to help, they can let you know themselves.
You also might want to try to interview the authors as well, as I know most of them are very careful on where they get their ideas for stories....I know that Papa's character was begun by the trivia contest, but other than that OSC was the person who made the story and the character up, not Papa, so while Papa's character changed the course of the story a bit OSC is still the author of those parts, without input from others.
A lot of authors won't even read other works while they are actively writing, for fear of cross-contamination for these very reasons...
Good luck!
Kwea
[ May 07, 2005, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Kwea ]
Posted by brenmacguire (Member # 7903) on :
Thank you for providing these examples Kwea.
Especially, the sort of 'proofreading' you, members, can provide when OSC posts a few chapters here is what I had in mind when supposing this board can help people participating in the 'production' of a book they will 'consume'.
As for interviewing the authors, this is something I'd really like to do one day.
However, I believe they are quite busy and are already giving a lot if time to their fans (at least OSC do).
Moreover, I don't feel ready (yet) to prepare a relevant interview. I will need some time to analyse the data I gather from the interviews and to think of potential questions.
Besides, regarding the situation here, I also have to check the interviews available in the research area so that, should OSC grant me an interview, I don't make him waste his time.
Thanks for wishing me luck.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
Hey, guys -- I think bren still needs a few more volunteers. You could be famous and everything.
--Pop
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
It's really not painful at all. Posted by brenmacguire (Member # 7903) on :
Well, if you want fame you'd better help Mr Card in making another wonderful book.
At least I try not to make you waste too much your time and seem to succeed as ketchupqueen testify (thx Anne btw).
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
While he doesn't post there directly (he is rather internet phobic) he has indirect contact through friends and admins who keep him in the loop.