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How does an online discourse work?
This document describes how an online discourse works. For information about the theme of this particular discourse, please see this introduction text . If you need help using particular functions, see the help page. For some parts of the website, you will find links to specific help on the pages themselves. If you cannot resolve your problem by referring to the help section, please contact heaven@tutech.de.
This discourse is the second of three discourses undertaken by the Pan-European Participation Network, PEP-NET. It will result in a position paper that will be presented to the European Commission to inform eParticipation policy.
Anybody can participate in the discourse, so don’t be shy! The general public, members of the eParticipation community, members of NGOs in the new Member States, and people who are active in politics and the media are invited to participate.
The discourse, conducted according to the so-called “DEMOS” method developed by TuTech Innovation GmbH, is:
- multimedia
- time-delimited (starting on 12th April and finishing on 23rd April)
- phased (split into three phases)
- moderated (by a team of moderators based in Hamburg, Germany)
- public (anyone can read what is posted on the site)
- anonymous (you must register using a valid email address, but can post under a nickname instead of your real name)
Multimedia
Users of the discourse platform can engage in discussion using the forums, the ideas page, the library, and wiki documents.
The forums page allows users to discuss a particular issue by reading comments that other users read and submitting their own comments that relate to the topic being discussed and the comments that others have made.
On the ideas page, you can enter ideas that relate to the theme of the discourse. You can also vote on the ideas that other people have submitted.
Wiki pages are usually used in the second phase of the discourse. They work on the same principle as Wikipedia: anyone can add to or modify a document, and every version of the document is saved. This means that changes can be reversed by other users.
Time-delimited
The online discourse will run from 12th to 23rd April 2010. Nobody can participate in the discussion before 12th April or after 23rd April.
Phased
The discourse is separated into three phases. The process of the online Consultation and what the different phases mean is shown in a graphic located in the right column below the “search” function. The graphic shows you the phase the Consultation is currently in (indicated in dark blue) and further information about the different phases of the Consultation.
There is a broadening phase, a deepening phase, and a consolidating phase. In the broadening phase the discussion is initiated and information about the topic under discussion and different viewpoints, interests, positions and ideas of the various stakeholders are gathered from as many sources as possible. In the deepening phase the selected issues are addressed in more depth. The moderators help the participants break up into sub-groups, conduct online surveys and collaborate on the formulation of joint position statements. In the consolidating phase, the results from the subgroups are consolidated into a document summarising and visualising the main points in the discussion.
Moderated
The site is moderated. Moderators are impartial and will remove postings that are inappropriate or not in the spirit of the discussion topic. They facilitate the discussion, write regular summaries, enforce the rules and organise the discourse in a result-oriented way.
Tasks of the moderators:
- Regular summing-up of the ideas presented in the discussions, confrontation of the different positions, as well as working towards the final results on the basis of the participants’ contributions
- Keeping the participants updated about anything new, the changing phases, etc
- Updating the background information / library as and when new information is presented
- Ensuring users adhere to the rules of the site, ie. they inform users when they run the risk of violating the rules, filter/edit inadequate contributions or issue warnings to anyone who violates the rules badly
- Mediating in case of conflicts
- Initiating and monitoring outcome of surveys
- General assistance
There are also administrators for the site, who are responsible for all technical aspects.
Public
Anybody can view what is written on internet-discourse.eu, including people who haven’t registered for the site. However, you can choose a nickname that will be shown when you post comments, so you can remain anonymous if you wish.
Anonymous
You have to register to participate in the discourse, and anybody can see what is written. However, you can choose to remain anonymous by posting comments under a nickname rather than your real name.
Anyone new registering on the DEMOS platform only has to give the following mandatory data: valid email address, username and password. Any other personal data is voluntary.
Since the discussion takes place on DEMOS anonymously, all personal data are protected by a password and treated absolutely confidentially. These are not visible to other users.
The anonymous contributions might be evaluated for research purposes and scientific results might be published. But also in this case the anonymity of the participants remains definitely protected.
To register, click here.
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