Policing Ourselves: Defining the Boundaries of Appropriate Discussion in Online Forums.

Examines one online forum conventionally defined as open, the discussion list TECHWR-L, and considers some positionings and restrictions that both validate and invalidate participants' conversational topics. Considers the question of democracy as it relates to electronic conversations. Suggests that a wide range of discursive conditions, not just software and hardware features, delimit the boundaries of appropriate discussion. (RS)