Foucault & the MOO

Here's an interesting little tidbit from an M.A. thesis on
communications formation at MOOs (multi-object environments):

 
 
-- from CULTURAL FORMATIONS IN TEXT-BASED VIRTUAL REALITIES -- 
                     By ELIZABETH REID 
                      emr@xxxxxxxxxxx 
                      emr@xxxxxxxxxxx 
                        emr@xxxxxxx 
 
As Foucault says, "every point in the exercise of power is at the 
same time a site where knowledge is formed.  And conversely every 
established piece of knowledge permits and assures the exercise of 
power.  Put otherwise, there is no opposition between what is done and 
what is said."  On MUDs, and especially social MUDs, where every 
player can create new game elements, what is said and what is done are 
one and the same thing.  Speaking and writing--transmitting knowledge- 
-encompass all virtual actions.  In the beginning of all MUD systems 
there is only the Word, and the progression of the system from its 
initial existence as a computer program into a virtual environment 
habituated by players is the progression of a series of linguistic 
acts.  It is the production of knowledge about the virtual environment 
which produces the environment itself.  This production of knowledge 
and virtuality powers the socially cohesive body found on social MUDs. 

* Well, how 'bout that?  What do you think of the power formations
  that are being described? Adventure MOOs are aggressive. Social/
  Edu MOOs are as described above. Interesting, is it not?   -Glo