Social Network Analysis Project

[CRGreathouse]

Your wish, my command:

scr_meta=<><![CDATA[
// ==UserScript==
// @name           Mersenne cleanmouth
// @description    Censor a certain bad word from the Mersenne forums.
// @include        http://www.mersenneforum.org/*
// ==/UserScript==
]]></>.toString();

badWord = new RegExp('\\bparadigms?\\b', 'gi');
var posts = document.evaluate("//td[@class='alt1']", document, null, XPathResult.UNORDERED_NODE_SNAPSHOT_TYPE, null);
for (var i = 0; i < posts.snapshotLength; i++) {
    var par = posts.snapshotItem(i);
    var txt = par.innerHTML;
    if (txt.match(badWord))
	    par.innerHTML = txt.replace(badWord, '<img src="data:image/png;base64,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" alt="****">');
}

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by CRGreathouse

Your wish, my command. But that's a big image to put inline!

The paradigm.png should really be shrunk to something like a 64(wide) x 32(high) bitmap first - perhaps the fact that's it's essentially a grayscale image could be used to further reduce the required bandwidth. For something as clearly important as this, no optimization expense should be spared.

Once we've got suitable image-downsizing and compression, then all we need is click/drag/drop capability, so users can effect their own "paradigm shift". Then just license the technology to Google (or the highest non-evil bidder) and we can all retire rich and live out our days in a state of indolence, dissipation and decadent whimsy.

[CRGreathouse]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

The paradigm.png should really be shrunk to something like a 64(wide) x 32(high) bitmap first - perhaps the fact that's it's essentially a grayscale image could be used to further reduce the required bandwidth. For something as clearly important as this, no optimization expense should be spared.

You caught me between edits. I shrank it to 50 x 25 and inlined it.

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by CRGreathouse

You caught me between edits. I shrank it to 50 x 25 and inlined it.

Yudaman, Charles! Xyzzy, any chance of getting this crucial anti-pop-metaphor-abuse patch applied to the forum soon? We will know it is active when the following offensive term is replaced by a soothing, reassuring stereographic image of FDR:

paradigm

[CRGreathouse]

If you're using Firefox, you can download Greasemonkey
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/748
(click "Add to Firefox") and install it yourself:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/review/50130
(click "Install").

[Xyzzy]

[johnmcauley]

Understood, leave paradigms to Kuhn. What do you think of the project though, is it something that might be of interest or benefit to the group?

[CRGreathouse]

Originally Posted by johnmcauley

What do you think of the project though, is it something that might be of interest or benefit to the group?

All joking aside (hope you took no offense!), I think it's a great project. I'm very interested to see how it turns out. But I can't say I really understand what it will say (or what you hope it will say) on completion.

[johnmcauley]

Originally Posted by CRGreathouse

All joking aside (hope you took no offense!), I think it's a great project. I'm very interested to see how it turns out. But I can't say I really understand what it will say (or what you hope it will say) on completion.

That's a good point. There has been some work carried out in this sort of area before. Judith Donath in MIT and Fernanda B. Viégas (http://www.research.ibm.com/visual/publications.html) who is now in IBM have both developed visualisations of community based content. The first is on community discussion forums and the second is on Wikipedia. At the same time there has been some work done on improving the communication model of CMC (if you think, that is, it needs improving). Social translucent systems have attempted to recreate the effects of physical face-to-face communication by increasing awareness and accountability (http://www.pliant.org/personal/Tom_E...tructures.html). Microsoft labs have also used social network analysis to develop a more thorough understanding of Usenet group structure. However, this information is not presented back to the community (http://www.hicss.hawaii.edu/HICSS39/...M/03-03-08.pdf). I think it is more interesting to develop interfaces that allow the group, community or even a particular discussion thread to reflect collectively on the community process. I think there are two ways to approach this initially. The first is based on social network analysis but provides more recent data back to the users. Naturally this approach is restricted by the speed at which the algorithms can churn through the data and by the fact that the visualisation process must be automated. The second is to draw some correlation between activity and content, and to produce visualisations that expose this correlation to the community at large.

[Orgasmic Troll]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

...and we can all retire rich and live out our days in a state of indolence, dissipation and decadent whimsy.

I was with you until I realized that the last word did not say whisky (or whiskey)

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by Orgasmic Troll

I was with you until I realized that the last word did not say whisky (or whiskey)

Fear not - That falls under the "dissipation" heading.

In any event, I'll be interested to see what comes of the project. I fear I'm rather out of touch with modern social-networking/twitter/text-messaging culture - I distinctly recall my shock last week when I heard a statistic from a reputable study to the effect that the average American teenager now sends 80 text messages PER DAY. My fear is that with all that chatter, there may be less and less meaningful communication going on.

Heck, most of my friends (including the ones over 30) think I'm "way out" for using my browser in text-only mode.