Information and Organization
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This paper argues for a detailed empirical investigation of newsgroup interaction. It presents a framework for analysis that emphasizes the machinic and human character of newsgroup activity with the concept of '(human) orientation to the (machinic) default'. By problematizing the notion of newsgroup, 'conversation' the paper reveals the 'sequential integrity' of newsgroup practices through the detailed investigation of participants' 'local management of interaction'. Newsgroup interaction is a-synchronous: participation does not occur in 'real time' and participants are geographically dispersed. Potentially, therefore, participation could be chaotic and disordered. Yet, observation reveals it a highly ordered activity. A fundamental question, then, is how this interactional order is achieved; and achieved as conversational. Newsgroup activity is characterized by sequential integrity. Messages are constructed in such a way as to exhibit both relational (between messages) and internal (in the text of messages) features that mimic and respect sequential ordering.