| Cars to knives, cool objects that represent the | | | | including tactical knives, such as and Company |
| latest in technical and industrial design often serve | | | | President Sal Glesser, for example, will comment |
| as the focus in socializing among men. Today, that | | | | on conversations in the forum, a meeting place |
| socializing around new gadgets, machines, etc. has | | | | sponsored by Spyderco. Forums like this generally |
| expanded exponentially, thanks to the internet. | | | | don't micromanage conversations; rather they |
| For example, let's say Spyderco comes out with | | | | provide a place to share knowledge and opinions |
| a new model of the Delica, a knife originally | | | | about not just products like the Spyderco Delica |
| introduced in 1990. First the knife is released by | | | | 4 but also about other knives and topics related |
| the company, and eventually it reaches sites that | | | | to knives. |
| sell discount knives. In any case, eventually, the | | | | There are many kinds or forums; all are made up |
| newest Spyderco (we'll just say the Delica 4, for | | | | mostly of user-generated content and require a |
| simplicity's sake) is soon in the hands of | | | | moderator or group of moderators who are |
| consumers. | | | | committed to monitoring what is said and who |
| These consumers-mostly men-may take some | | | | keep the forums clear of spam. Moderators can |
| time to use, test and otherwise enjoy their new | | | | delete, move, split, lock, rename, ban, suspend, |
| purchase. They read product lit on how its new | | | | warn, edit and remove threads, among their |
| "screw construction" makes it easier to clean, or | | | | many actions. "Netiquette," or online rules of |
| how an upgraded handle texture makes it better | | | | etiquette are referred to in order to help keep |
| for using. Or they find out about updates to the | | | | forum comments and posting practices respectful |
| locking system that makes this folding knife both | | | | and helpful to the forum. Netiquette is also |
| sturdier and lighter. | | | | enforced on blogs and other social media sites. |
| Eventually, the Spyderco Delica 4 is being | | | | Blogs are another place men can go to socialize |
| reviewed and discussed among groups of men. | | | | online around newly developed products. Twitter, |
| This may happen in a neighborhood garage, but | | | | Facebook, and other social media sites support |
| it's also happening at YouTube.com, on blogs and | | | | these conversations too. Participants can interact, |
| forums, and through other social media sites. A | | | | and as long as the exchange is respectful, benefit |
| quick search on the phrase "Spyderco Delica 4 | | | | from both the community and a free source of |
| review" on pulls up more than 20 results, some of | | | | information and ideas. |
| which have been viewed thousands of times. | | | | Expertise shared through forums, blogs and other |
| Another place where men can socialize around | | | | types of sites effectively broaden the sense of |
| new technology/design is forums, also referred to | | | | community among users. What was once |
| as message boards. In the US and some | | | | constricted by geographical limitations is easily |
| countries in Europe, most require registration | | | | made global. Men now have opportunities to forge |
| before being allowed to participate. In other | | | | social connections around new tools, inventions, |
| countries, anonymity is encouraged. | | | | gadgets and other activity-related objects in ways |
| Some forums are built around product categories, | | | | they could not just ten years ago. |