The Power of The Roar

Sports do not build character, they reveal it.

There are different methods in which one can exert power. This is mostly what Focault talks about (Strawberry, 2013). Democratically, or autocratically, for instance (Kuttainen, 2017). However, one could forgive a pseudointellectual bleeding heart for failing to define the crux of power.

How does one gain power? In the end, it all boils down to a simple source, information. The adage ‘the pen is mightier’ is very apt indeed. Information ensures one will remain in full control of a situation, and will never be caught out. Knowing certain things can enhance your reputation, increase appeal, and bury enemies. Therefore, in order to control power, one must control information.

I have been writing casually for the sports centred opinion website, The Roar, since 2013. Championed as “Australia’s leading sports opinion website”, it uniquely combines articles written by experts, alongside ones written by fans. Members of the public can submit articles to the site, which can be read and discussed upon by both casual readers and experts.

 

The eternal debate rages. However, would a ‘Rookie’ be more inclined to believe that Lockyer was the greatest Rugby League player if a ‘Guru’ asserted he was? Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/967570619950202/.

The Roar feels like its own community. Certainly a place, rather than space (Tuan, 1979, pp. 3-4). Frequent contributors speak to one another as warmly as if they were greeting a friend. Many contributors begin their mornings by discussing who will win this year’s National Rugby League Premiership. Coherent and well respected contributors are admired by all, and wield much power within the group.

Several of Focault’s ‘modalities of power’ can be viewed on any of the pages a reader visits (Strawberry, 2013). Some morseo than others, concealed within the internal machinations of the hub. Sovereign power, for instance, is exercised by the websites editors, who have the power to censor certain posts that they deem to be “inappropriate” (Strawberry, 2013). Pastoral power, through a well-liked and respected expert writer, who has forged a cult of personality and will rarely receive negative feedback for their contributions (Strawberry, 2013).

Allen defines further modalities of power: authority, coercion, manipulation, seduction, domination, and inducement (Allen, 2003, p 2). A class system exists on The Roar. Fan writers earn ranks (starting off at 'Rookie', then graduating onto ‘Pro’ and ‘Guru’ levels). A contributor will attain a more prestigious title (and access to perks such as a personalised profile picture) depending on the amount of views their articles receive, and is also dependent on the amount of comments they write. Therefore, the opinions put forward in an article by a ‘Guru’ ranked contributor will hold more water than those written by a ‘Rookie’ ranked contributor. On the flipside, the work of a 'Guru' is held to a higher standard of quality, and because the bar is set higher, mistakes are forgiven less readily. Such is an example of the ‘authority’ modality (Allen, 2003, p 11).

Whilst higher ranked contributors certainly bear more prestige and repute within The Roar community, it is the professional game analysts who reign with undisputed power. Since they are the contributors with the most information, access to the greatest statistics, they have the best idea as to which team will likely win a match. They are not always correct, such is the nature of sport. Selection bias ensures that most punters only remember the times they are correct, rather than the handful of times they were not. At the end of the day, when they write, everyone reads.

 Reference List:

Strawberry. (2003). Michel Foucault: modalities of power. Retrieved from: https://educationmuseum.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/michel-foucault-modalities-of-power/

Kuttainen, V. (2017).  BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives, and the making of place, lecture 2: Power. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au

(2017). The Roar. Retrieved from: http://www.theroar.com.au/

Smith, T. (2017). Serious about rugby league: Who was the best in their time? Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/967570619950202/

Tuan, Y. (1979). Space and place: The perspective of experience, (pp. 3-4). London, England: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.

Allen, J. (2003). Lost geographies of power, (pp. 2, 11). Melbourne, Australia: Blackwell Publishers.