Imagining the Reader

Abstract

As noted in Chapter 3, Thompson suggests that in mediated interpersonal interaction, if you are aware that your message is going to an indeterminate audience this might be a source of ‘uncertainty and trouble’ (J. B. Thompson, 1995, p. 97). A sense of the size, composition and attitude of the audience for what you write online would help you determine whether the online space in which they can be found should be considered ‘front stage’ or ‘backstage’, for example (Goffman, 1959) — of particular importance when communicating material about yourself that is potentially sensitive and therefore not normally delivered ‘front stage’. On the other hand, Goffman also suggests there are a number of ways in which the perception of ‘threat’ in an environment where inappropriate audiences may overhear conversations can be defused — either by the overhearers exercising ‘civil inattention’ (Goffman, 1963a, pp. 83–88) or by the overheard assuming that the overhearers will not use what they hear to cause harm (Goffman, 1971a). As this illustrates (and as was discussed in more detail in Chapter 3) the nature of interactions is not influenced directly by the nature of the communicative space but indirectly by the awareness of and attitude towards that space that communicators have. This can also be influenced by broader forms of what Feenberg terms either ‘constitutive’ (inherent) or ‘implementation’ (socially shaped) bias (2008) in the way a given social media site is used.