The Rise of the Opinion

Where ever there is a news story, there are always multiple opinions on the issues raised from the article. Individuals often forge judgment on beliefs and knowledge they have previously obtained, however numerous opinions are unheard, due to the lack of connection between others and traditional media usually presenting the majority view to the public. If minority opinions wish to have their beliefs voiced, there is a long process of publishing and distributing it to the mass audiences, which still may not help their message be well received. The online environment however, has changed these inconveniences to accommodate for multiple views to be posted easily and not be marginalised. This can be seen in the online community DeviantART, where art related events can cause a huge stir and cause members express their opinions on the subject.

A recent example of this was the communities’ reaction to a new law that may be implemented this year. The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008 makes two significant changes for the online art environment. Firstly, individuals who locate an artwork online but are unable to find the artist’s signature or an author on the website it originates from are permitted to use it because it is considered an ‘orphaned work’. Secondly, the bill considers a database of electronic artworks that artists must register for to have their works copyrighted with a fee, unlike the current system where art is automatically covered by copyright as soon as it is created online. In the DeviantART community, this caused many artists to post News articles or express their opinions in their individual journals. Multiple opinions emerged from this outcry, most being against this bill because it allowed persons to use their artworks without permission if they did not register their artworks to be copyrighted. Others viewed this concern over the bill as unneeded because there were no official sources that could be confirm the bill existing as the current time. There is also another opinion that artists would benefit from such a law if it was passed. This event demonstrates how the online environment permits self-expression of particular views, inhibiting no perspectives on topics, allowing others to form their opinions on the issue as they please.

A similar incident on DeviantART occurred when a co-founder of the community, jark , was removed from the main administration team in the community. Many members of the website were shocked at the sudden termination, due to his large involvement with the community on a daily basis. Both sides submitted articles on the events that occurred and an outcry was heard from the community being unhappy with the results of these events. Many posted in their journals to support jark, which were heard by the administration team. Members also expressed their views in other ways, not only writing about their discontent with jark’s departure from the team, but many also changed their avatars to include yellow bands or an alien symbol (jark’s avatar being a yellow alien). This visually represented their beliefs to other artists, who were encouraged to submit yellow artworks or no art on the 5^th Birthday of the online community to present their unhappiness to the DeviantART team. This incident presents how the community was able to convey their opinions, and demonstrates how opinions were not silenced by those who would wish their views were not heard.

The online environment allows opinions and perspectives to be heard where they would otherwise be marginalised to suit those who publish media traditionally. From this, multiple opinions can arise and show the diversity of views within a community on a particular topic. Contributors are also consented to communicate their dislikes to others even though that may not be in the favour of others who moderate community activities. The internet is a medium where voices are heard and treated equally, providing new insight into the true range of feelings that people have about particular issues affecting their society.