East African's Online Research: Forums and Politics

[Chuma Moto 213]

HI everyone, My name is Daniel (yes my Real Name) and I am currently a student of Pitzer College in California. I am originally Kenyan (Nairobi Hospital Baby!)and although I have been in the States for a few years my heart still lives in Africa. I am currently doing some research on how access to online forums is changing how we Africans talk about politics and was hoping that you all you find it in your hearts to answer a few question I have. Think of it as an interview of sorts. Your answers and my findings will be strictly confidential, if you so desire, and I will not be getting anything out of this project except a better understanding of how the internet is shaping the lives of my fellow Mashada forum users. The findings will not be published and only my professor and I will seen your answers... so don't be shy.

Well here it goes. Please try and answer to the best of your ability the following questions. Feel free to elaborate and use examples.

1) How long do you spend online in any given week?

2) If you had the chance to spend more time online would you take it?

3) Do you find it easier to discuss matters of ethnicity, politics, and religion on this forum rather than in regular conversation?

4) Do you think that being part of online discussions has helped or hurt your ability to have interesting discussions off-line?

5) What do you think about being able to write type something that the whole world may be able to see?

6) Do you think the internet will be able to change how Africans interact with each other in real life? If so how?

7) Do you think that the internet and being online is beneficial or detrimental to Africa's social and political development? If so how?

-Feel free to add any comments or questions for me.

[YB*]

Originally Posted by Chuma Moto 213

I am originally Kenyan (Nairobi Hospital Baby!)and although I have been in the States for a few years my heart still lives in Africa.

Your answers and my findings will be strictly confidential, if you so desire, and I will not be getting anything out of this project except a better understanding of how the internet is shaping the lives of my fellow Mashada forum users. The findings will not be published and only my professor and I will seen your answers... so don't be shy.

1. Dude, this is a public forum, how will you keep it confidential if I post answers here - Request guys to PM you - But going that these are faceless handles, we know many here have multiple handles and one person can pose as 5 different people

2. What does 'originally kenyan men'? What are you now? Coz I see somewhere else you speaking of 'us africans'.

What am saying is, your data will amount to naught, because you have an exponential margin of error. You really need to first engage yourself with mashada, before asking their opinions....just saying. Thats my contribution to your learning.

[Chuma Moto 213]

Well to answer your first question:

I don't expect someone to answer the same post under different handles.although if someone does that is fine. Part of the project is understanding the difficulty of doing this kind of research in the online environment. In terms of confidentiality, you are right this is a public forum, and because of the political nature of most of the threads and posts i will attempt to keep your identities private in the final paper by not referring to this forum by name and never quoting any one who answers directly.


Each handle can be understood as a different persona, otherwise you would be able to pick out everyone's different handles by how they type and what kind of attitude they have. The identity part is not important, i do not need to know who exactly you are in real life, just how you present yourself online.

your second question is a good one. My mother is American. I have dual citizenship. As of this point i don't even know what i am now (to much traveling i think). I identify strongly with my Kenyan heritage and consider myself African. But in today's world are we all not just humans from earth?

the data is supposed to be a tentative exploration of the attitudes prevalent on this particular forum. They are not quantitative and so the margin of error is of little concern. Check my other post history... I know i am new but please understand that i am not just wandering into this blindly. I am an avid reader of the threads on this forum and love seeing good conversations coming out of east Africa's online community.


Your point on the pm was great! everyone please private message me if you are concerned with your privacy!!!