Computer Mediated Communication: Mailing List as Modern Meeting Place

ABSTRACT Purpose: The paper uses as ease study a discussion mailing list created in April 1998 (and still exists) by a group of the Somali diaspora The mailing list, known as Puntland'Jubhaland mailing list, was formed to give its members an interactive online The purpose of Puntland & Jubhaland mailing list is to, but not limited to, facilitate privately the discussion of Northeastern and Lower Juba social, economic and political affairs and to solidify the views of Puntland Soma lis in the Somali Diaspora. The interaction of the group is meant to create a feeling similar to the intimacy characteristic of primary groups:. Since social ties deepen in time, primary groups are relatively permanent, as relationships involve an identity of ends. In primary groups, the relationship is in itself an etui and only secondarily or incidentally a means to an end. Des ig n /;)/ etho d o logy/A p p roach: M e m b e rs in the Puntland/Jubbaland mailing list organised themselves into helping and contributing to home development, helping the newly elected Puntland administration, pooling skills of professionals, and promoting the interests of Puntland and Jubhaland regions. The list had its tips and downs. At its height of existence, it created and helpedMailing environment became the arena where the Somali factional Diaspora has been taking place enabling the groups to organise and communicate, [n a way the mailing list medium has facilitated the some groups to take the Somali conflict outside the country. On the other hand, it is also where groups aiming as the supra-national level to meet and get together to help their folks at home. W'haievei the objectives of ihc mailing groups, what influenced their discussions are mainly events at home (Issa-Salwe vtal, 2008), The crisis of 1991 in Somali led to the collapse of the state institutions and the creation an international Somali Diaspora. Somali mailing lists have been created mainly by the Somali Diaspora for different purposes. There are different types of mailing lists: (a) national level where groups of national interest meet virtually, (b) professional types where professional people communicate and (c) lists where groups meet below the national level. DESIGN/METNODOLOGY7APPROACTI This paper focuses on the use of computer-mediated communication by a group Somali Diaspora around the world. The text addresses here will be used as case study. Rhetorically, CMC as an inherently liberating and democratising medium, this case study demonstrates its use as in both peaceful as well in conflict situation, Puntland/Jubbaland mailing list was established on T April 1998 by the Somali Diaspora. The mailing list is known as the Puntland/Jubbaland mailing list and was intended to help this community to pool skills of professionals, and promote the interests of PuntlandandJubbaland regions. Rql: For which purpose does the Diaspora use mailing lists.'many useful projects for the people of Punt/and (on autonomous region of Somalia). Findings: The results of the research shows that despite mailing list technology can he used as modern meeting place and tools to enable people to work for a purpose. Nevertheless, the mailing medium has also environment become the arena where the Somali factional Diaspora has been taking place enabling the groups to organise and communicate. In a way it has facilitated the some groups to take the home conflict outside the country. On the other hand, it is also where groups aiming as the supra-national level to meet and get together to help their folks at home. Whatever the objectives of the mailing groups, what influencedtheir discussions are mainly events at home. Originality/Value: The paper dlu.strates how mailing technology enable members of one Diaspora community to use it as the modern meeting place and at the same time keep in touch with a political situation at home that is exceptional, and to involve themselves in its development and its controversies, should thev wish to do so h also shows how the discussion techmdogy has facilitated the groups in a new dimension to traditional methods of meeting.