Fear and loathing in blue text: Intrasexual selection in an online environment

The Internet is becoming an increasingly more important place for communication. However, in the age of online social networking, some Internet users still choose to communicate with strangers via bulletin board communities. This research examines one such community which has been in existence for over ten years. The study is based on over a year of observation, as well as analysis of the board's archives and is meant to serve as ethnography of a longstanding Internet community. Topics examined include the board's history and demographics, as well as aggressive behavior. The study also implements an evolutionary perspective by examining how a pecking order is created through intrasexual competition, verbal abuse, and a user's presence, volume of posts, and length of time on the board.