Mission StatementAs digital rhetoric scholars and teachers, we are dedicated to inclusive digital spaces that promote democratic participation of all users. The lofty goal of studying aggression in digital spaces is to reduce its occurrences across the web. However, digital aggression studies is fraught with risks and complications that can put a variety of people in precarious positions. As such, we recognize commitments to a variety of stakeholders and communities. |
To ourselvesWe recognize the precarious position studying digital aggression puts researchers in and actively work to protect ourselves. Currently, we are developing a toolkit and repository of resources available for researchers that will help us protect our digital identities during research and after publication as well as respond to doxxing or other attacks. In addition, we are developing specific research methods, methodologies, and theories that account for the danger of this research at the beginning of the process and allow researchers to design more ethically secure research plans. |
To our communitiesWe recognize that researching digital aggression can be an exhausting and dispiriting experience. As such, we provide an inclusive brave space where researchers can discuss their experiences and work through them together as allies invested in this research. We also recognize that many of our members are in precarious positions as NTT faculty and graduate students, and so those of us in more privileged TT or tenured positions are dedicated using our power and voices to protect the others when necessary.
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To our institutionsWe recognize that as members of an academic community, we are also professionally tied to our institutions, each of which may respond differently to any threats against researchers. Simultaneously, we recognize that many journals and other avenues for publication do not have the infrastructure or expertise to support publications on digital aggression. We are currently constructing template press releases and letters of support for members who are under threat from digital communities and require support from their institutions. We are also developing guidelines for effective digital aggression peer review and publication that we can disseminate to journal and other publications in the field. |
To the publicWe recognize that none of our research on digital aggression matters if we do not share it with the public. As such, we are developing pedagogical tools we can circulate to help everyday users respond to, mitigate, and prevent aggression in their digital spaces. In addition, when possible without high risk to the authors, we will disseminate our work in open access spaces.
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