Accomplishing Reality Media: The Affective Lure of Online Crime Discussions

Abstract

Drawing from interviews with posters and an analysis of a dozen discussion threads on the Swedish online discussion forum Flashback, this article sets out to investigate the dramatization of crime news from the point of view of the participants themselves. Analyzing both the online discussions and the articulated motivations and activities of the posters, this article focuses on how participants in these crime discussion threads come together around an epistemic quest for the truth, but also how discussions are ritualized so as to give rise to a collective effervescence and unity when the epistemic drama is perceived to have been resolved, and the truth is revealed to the wider public. Accordingly, this article seeks to remedy a gap in the previous research on online crime discussions by focusing less on the investigative aspects of such work – for example, how participants collaborate to solve crimes – and more on the symbolic and affective aspects of the dramatization of these discussions of crime. What is at the forefront is thus how participants make sense of their engagement and experience of these online discussions, rather than the actual criminal case. To refer to this as an epistemic drama is to highlight how activities, ideals and identities are ordered and sequenced through a ritualization of collective online participation, but also how it involves the establishment of (1) a particular predicament, (2) a collective objective, and (3) ultimately some sort of perceived emotional climax related to solving this predicament through the collective objective.

Picking the Goodies When Sleuthing Online

“…Media content is not only remediated (Yardley et al, 2018) but also questioned and debunked on a regular basis. Today's posters can produce their own representations of crimes—as a citizen co-production (Chang et al, 2018)—and they can digitally assume all the relevant roles, as reporters and witnesses, detectives and police officers, prosecutors and retaliators, even though the mainstream media still serve as the essential fuel (Hannerz et al, 2022, p. 15).…”

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

“…With its roots in a punk fanzine from the 1980s, Flashback began its path in 2000 (Hannerz, Burcar Alm and Wästerfors 2022). It still carries characteristics of being edgy by providing a space for unfiltered discussions.…”

“…It still carries characteristics of being edgy by providing a space for unfiltered discussions. Flashback is open in many respects, first of all, anything can be discussed (crime, politics, cooking, gaming, parenting et cetera), second, the forum's main principle is freedom of speech and a lack of censorship (Uhnoo and Ekbrand 2017: 126-151), third, registration is free and, as long as one claims to be over 18, anyone with a computer can read and participate in the discussions (Hannerz, Burcar Alm and Wästerfors 2022).…”

Hard Work and Fun: Collective Online Interaction in a Case of Photo Fraud

“…33Within the project we have also conducted interviews with individuals who have engaged with online discussion, as posters, lurkers, podcasters, or media reporters (see Hannerz, Burcar Alm, and Wästerfors 2023; Wästerfors, Burcar Alm, and Hannerz 2023). …”

“…66We have previously pointed to the crucial role of “digging” in establishing not just an epistemic drama to be solved, but also setting the stage for possible solution to such a drama (Hannerz, Burcar Alm, and Wästerfors 2023). …”