The dynamics of mass interaction

Abstract

Usenet may be regarded as the worl$s largest conversatioti appficatioq with over 17,000 newsgronps and 3 fion users. Despite its ubiquity and poptiari~, however, we know Etie about the natore of the interactions it suppo~. ~s empirical paper investigates mass interaction in UseneL We anrdyse over 2.15 Mon messages from 659,450 posters, co~ected from 500 newsgoups over 6 months. We fit characterise mass interactio~presenting basic data about demographics, conversational strategies and interactivity-Using predictions tiom the common ground [3] model of interactio~we next conduct causal modetig to determine relations bemeen demographics, conversational strategim and interactiv~.