The influence of 2-Channel

   In Misbehavior in Cyber Places, Sternbeg says some troublesome online behaviors are flaming, spamming and virtual rape. With the rise of international computer-mediated communication (“CMC”), these behaviors are viewed as problems. These problems are caused due to the lack of familiarity with CMC environments (77). In addition, Sternbeg mentions that the Internet is besieged (85). In the article, although the author doesn’t express her position clearly, she shows some professional’s ideas about cyberspace (86). Cyberspace offers “both familiar territory and lawless frontiers”(86). I think that cyberspace can become the electronic frontier, but and some people believe we cannot allow cyberspace to become the Wild West have truth; keeping balance is important.

   2-Channel, the biggest bulletin board system in Japan, is a good example to explain why keeping balance is important. As you see in the article, 2-Channel Gives Japan’s Famously QuietPeople a Mighty Voice written by Lisa Katayama, 2-Channel has big influence in Japanese society and culture now and cannot be ignored easily. There are many bulletin boards dealing with society’s problems. These boards have a role as media, because anybody can become an originator and join arguments. At the same time, as you see in the article, some bulletin boards became the origins of occurrences. In short, 2-Channel has both good and bad influences on people.

   One of the characteristics of 2-Channel is that the speed of information is really fast. There are a lot of flaming occurrences in 2-Channel. These days, I often see flaming occurrences, because many people tend to post careless content on social networking sites, for example, Twitter and Facebook. Once someone post in 2-Channel, it is difficult to delete and stop the post. Most occurrences are caused by people don’t have “netiquette,” moral and media literacy. After someone finds such a post they spreads it by using 2-Channel. In this way, flaming occurs. When you use cyberspace, you should not forget that cyberspace includes danger and use it carefully. Speaking of Japan, lack of media education is one of the biggest causes of troublesome behavior. Even I, a native of the digital generation, had few opportunities to receive a lecture about media education. To improve people’s behavior on cyberspace, the Japanese government should advance media education.