A typology

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Three types of scholars in internet studies/digital sociology:

  • Locals: There all year around, grew up in town, possibly never left. Knows the secret histories and secret spots. Brings: Detailed, careful knowledge, expertise, long-term perspective. Cons: complacency, ‘but we’ve always…”

  • Holidaymaker: seasonal participant in the local communities, may stay for an entire summer or just a weekend. Some repeat visitors. Brings: money, fresh ideas, outside perspective, vibrancy. Cons: Hard to find a park, favourite café too busy, confuses seasonal knowledge with local understanding.

  • Drive By(ers): – Heading elsewhere, but they’ll get out of the car, stretch their legs, buy and sandwich and declare there’s nothing in this town anyway. Cons: Tweet on an almost weekly basis that isn’t it a shame that there’s no scholarship on the social implications of technology, what we really need a new field that examines that don’t you think? If only someone would!

Nothing wrong with some disciplinary holidaymaking, but there’s no substitute for local knowledge.