Media Ethnography

I belong to a virtual community in the Yahoo groups. I joined this community last year, as soon as I applied to the U of MN. I have met a lot of people through this group. I learned about it because it was recomemnded to me by someonein the Graduate School. It's called Boricuas en Minnesota. For those of you who do not know Spanish= Puerto Ricans in Minnesota. Boricua is the word that we like to use to describe our ethnicity, since before the Spaniards came to the island and named it Puerto Rico, the Taino indians already lived there and called the island Boriquen.

I thought that interviewing some of the group's members could help me understand the ethnography and the responses to the group. I had to interview them- cybernetically-since it's a virtual community. Although, most of us already know each other personallly.

Anyway,media is media and here are the results.
I asked the members 10 questions.
My findings were not a surprise to me, although some of the answers were.

The main point that unifies us all is that we are all Puerto Ricans who live in Minnesota. Most of us in the Twin Cities.
Some of us are either graduate or professional students at the U,
and some are professionals who work outside, such as engineers, lawyers, teachers etc.

*When asked why they joined the group, almost all said that it was because they were far from home and wanted to communicate with people like them-from PR who spoke Spanish and understood them. ne said because of the convenience of the technology.


*When asked how often they read or post messages on the webpage, most said almost every day or once or twice a week.

* When asked What they posted, most said it was announcements of activities, calls for help or informantion. Two said they posted jokes and and one said jokes and pictures of the activities.

* Everyone said they felt good about receivingthe messages, although one said that she felt overwhelmed by the amount fo them, She feels personal messages should be kept personal and not everyone in the group needs to know.

*For the exception of one, all others hace recomended the group to other fellow Boricuas.

* The group has helped all who replied in personal ways. They ahev met people and made good friends, Most said that they found moral and psychological support. It helps them feel like they belong when they are so FAR AWAR from HOME.

* When asked who made the rules and does everyone agree with them. All said that teh Moderator makes the rules and teh rest agree.

*When asked who maintains order in the group, all replied the Moderator and the members who quickly get involved and send messages to each other when someone says something out of line.

* When asked who gets more recognition and who's most popular, Lexa got teh most votes, followed by Thomas and Marien and Erwin were mentioned also. One person refrained from answering.

I noticed that the people who replied to my request, the ones who helped me with this assignment, are the ones who are most active in the group and those are the ones who were metioned as being most popular. The moderator was also recognized as being respected by the cmmunity. Surprisingly enough, someone who said reads the messages on a daily basis, answered my request and said that this was the first time she ever participated in the discussions or posted a message.

I also noticed that the mayority of the more active group members are students at the U.

When it came to order and discipline in the group, everyone acts out and tries to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. I guess it's because they appreciate their community and what they have, and that eventhough they said teh Moderator has the final word, they don't wait for him to be the first to put down his foot. They all act.

I believe that the nostalgia for our caribbean island and families is what binds us together, as well as our social positions. Everyone is either a graduate or professional student or a working professional. So I can say there's a Puerto Rican /Prefessional /Upper/ Upper Middle class discourse being displayed here.

I had not seen this virtual community as I do now, before analyzing it as I did. It was great fun. I'm sure some other members will reply later on, and I will make the changes in the postings as I get more replies.