When Worlds Collide: Thoughts on the Rebirth of Bowienet
In which GeekGurl is REALLY happy to have been wrong and wants to thank the 'old guard' at Bowienet for being...well... kind to the influx of newbies.
'Fake/Real' Geek Girl Controversy Rears Its Head - Again
The 'Fake/Real' card has been thrown once more. I call a foul on the play!
Misogynists Rear Their Ugly Heads in the Geek-o-Verse
Misogynistic comments prove a Kickstarter projects underlying claim of sexism in video game culture.
Friday, March 15, 2013
The 'Next Day' of Entertainment Marketing Has Arrived
Sunday, March 3, 2013
When Worlds Collide: Thoughts on the rebirth of Bowienet
Wow. It isn't often that I am thrilled to be proved wrong, but in this case...yeah...I'm thrilled to bits.
Actually, if the truth be told, I squealed like the rabid fangirl I am, nearly dropped my laptop in my rush to confirm the news, and scared my husband so badly I'm sure the dear man thinks I have seriously lost the plot this time.
Bowienet, the first true musician/performer website/interaction site essentially 'died' in 2009. When it was alive, it was a delightful cross between a website, discussion board, chaotic chatroom and generally a fan's dream come true, with events, giveaways and the chance at pre-sale tickets. In short, it was a virtual Bowie-oriented 'theme park'.
After a good run from 1998 until roughly 2004 when the Reality tour was cut short due to health issues, Bowienet fell into a state of limbo -- afterall, part of the draw was interaction with Bowie, his collaborators, preview material, etc... with no new work on the horizon, fans simply faded away.
For the last 12 months, the 'voices' that speak for Bowie have been hinting at major changes to Bowienet. Fans and B'netters, were understandably skeptical, after all many promises of upgrades and changes had been made and broken. And I admit, I too was a member of the skeptical camp.
How glad I am to have been wrong!
And I'd like to end up today by saying again....I am SO GLAD to have been wrong about Bowienet 'never' coming back.
When the new album was announced via a social media viral campaign on Jan. 8 (Bowie's 66th birthday), it was accompanied by a new and fresh website with an active news page, which made since given the fact that all of a sudden there was news to post. But aside from the news page and links to the first video on the video page, there wasn't much content there. Yet, that didn't stop fans and former Bowienet users to hope that the discussion boards would eventually come back online.
In fact, a friend and I were so hoping Bowienet would be revived in some way that we were taking it in shifts to lurk on the site and keep 'refreshing'.
Something finally happened on Feb. 28th.
The site went live again!
Apparently the 'old guard' Bowienet users were invited in earlier to beta test the site, but on the 28th it went live and open to new users -- without much in the way of fanfare.
What I am seeing happening on the board now is intriguing to my inner 'net research geek, as well as the fangirl side.
Unlike the snarky, back-stabbing that prevails on most of the Bowie related discussion boards dotted around the Internet, the actual Bowienet crew has been REALLY welcoming of all the new members -- members who are generally quite 'young' comparatively. I know a bunch of girls from Tumblr (where it seems I am the 'Grand Old Dame' of the Bowie fangirls, being one of the two oldest, regular chatting fangirls over there) who have joined the new Bowienet and I am thrilled that they have been welcomed so warmly.
In over 20 years studying Internet groups and being actively involved (in a non-research way) in fandom communities online...I have NEVER seen this happen!
So... in short I'd like to take a moment and say a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Bowienet crew that is making the 'young ones' feel at home. Many of those who are finding the site now, found each other elsewhere on the Internet due to a need to feel included, to belong and to feel like someone cared. I'm so happy that they found this acceptance on Bowienet.
It is up and running and better than ever....
Actually, if the truth be told, I squealed like the rabid fangirl I am, nearly dropped my laptop in my rush to confirm the news, and scared my husband so badly I'm sure the dear man thinks I have seriously lost the plot this time.
Bowienet, the first true musician/performer website/interaction site essentially 'died' in 2009. When it was alive, it was a delightful cross between a website, discussion board, chaotic chatroom and generally a fan's dream come true, with events, giveaways and the chance at pre-sale tickets. In short, it was a virtual Bowie-oriented 'theme park'.
After a good run from 1998 until roughly 2004 when the Reality tour was cut short due to health issues, Bowienet fell into a state of limbo -- afterall, part of the draw was interaction with Bowie, his collaborators, preview material, etc... with no new work on the horizon, fans simply faded away.
For the last 12 months, the 'voices' that speak for Bowie have been hinting at major changes to Bowienet. Fans and B'netters, were understandably skeptical, after all many promises of upgrades and changes had been made and broken. And I admit, I too was a member of the skeptical camp.
How glad I am to have been wrong!
And I'd like to end up today by saying again....I am SO GLAD to have been wrong about Bowienet 'never' coming back.When the new album was announced via a social media viral campaign on Jan. 8 (Bowie's 66th birthday), it was accompanied by a new and fresh website with an active news page, which made since given the fact that all of a sudden there was news to post. But aside from the news page and links to the first video on the video page, there wasn't much content there. Yet, that didn't stop fans and former Bowienet users to hope that the discussion boards would eventually come back online.
In fact, a friend and I were so hoping Bowienet would be revived in some way that we were taking it in shifts to lurk on the site and keep 'refreshing'.
Something finally happened on Feb. 28th.
The site went live again!
Apparently the 'old guard' Bowienet users were invited in earlier to beta test the site, but on the 28th it went live and open to new users -- without much in the way of fanfare.
What I am seeing happening on the board now is intriguing to my inner 'net research geek, as well as the fangirl side.
Unlike the snarky, back-stabbing that prevails on most of the Bowie related discussion boards dotted around the Internet, the actual Bowienet crew has been REALLY welcoming of all the new members -- members who are generally quite 'young' comparatively. I know a bunch of girls from Tumblr (where it seems I am the 'Grand Old Dame' of the Bowie fangirls, being one of the two oldest, regular chatting fangirls over there) who have joined the new Bowienet and I am thrilled that they have been welcomed so warmly.
I gravitated toward the Bowie-fangirls on a particular social media forum because they didn't have the same problems with flaming and nasty behaviour that many of the Bowie oriented discussion boards elsewhere exhibited. No fighting. No flames. No back-biting....just an overabundance of hormonal insanity and at my age, I can sympathize with them.
After studying online chat groups, discussion boards and chat rooms for nearly 20 years, being the mother-hen/big-sis/kindly auntie I am for them, I feared for my young friends (the youngest is 12!) when Bowienet started accepting new members and they rushed over here, a dream come true for some of them. I had expected snarky, nasty comments, flames and outright rejection along the lines of "You are too young to be a fan"...the sort of thing I've seen leveled at the 'new fans' time and again when there is an influx of new members to a formerly 'closed' group.
Instead my 'virtual little sisters' (yes, I have adopted them...they are mine and I am a honey badger where their feelings are concerned) they were welcomed with virtual cookies and silliness.They are being included in conversations and generally made to feel like one of the 'crew'.
In over 20 years studying Internet groups and being actively involved (in a non-research way) in fandom communities online...I have NEVER seen this happen!
So... in short I'd like to take a moment and say a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Bowienet crew that is making the 'young ones' feel at home. Many of those who are finding the site now, found each other elsewhere on the Internet due to a need to feel included, to belong and to feel like someone cared. I'm so happy that they found this acceptance on Bowienet.
It is up and running and better than ever....
Kind of like Bowie himself.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
I'm back...
Hi again all. Yes, I'm back and dusting off the blog. Life has been nuts since the summer thanks to a wild ride (and loads of pressure at work), a toddler at home and a cancer diagnosis.
But, this blog made me happy, so I decided I needed to set time aside to write about the things that make me happy, rather than the things I have to write about for work (the joys of the 'publish or perish' mentality in academia).
The posting frequency will drop a bit due to having 11 different major writing projects going (including a book on geek/nerd culture), but the topic matter will stay roughly the same -- geeky, fangirlie, me.
But, this blog made me happy, so I decided I needed to set time aside to write about the things that make me happy, rather than the things I have to write about for work (the joys of the 'publish or perish' mentality in academia).
The posting frequency will drop a bit due to having 11 different major writing projects going (including a book on geek/nerd culture), but the topic matter will stay roughly the same -- geeky, fangirlie, me.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Geektroversy of the Week: 'Fake Geek Girl' Accusations Surface Again
A Congressman finally 'smartens up' and seeks public help
Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia is trying an unusual tactic to gain input for creating a better mouse-trap -- um.... Internet Privacy Act.
