The transparency of knowledge production processes in online environments has instigateda shift in the traditional knowledge production and dissemination process. One substantial change is that sources can be referenced directly and checked instantaneously. Not surprisingly, all three super-users of the Brave Boards forum cited placing links to other websites on the forum as a common practice. Ilya stated that:
“Links to YouTube videos of the band will be posted so that you can [check them out] when discussing threads where people are seeking new music to listen to.”
By branching off of the site and making links to outside information, users are able to add to, as well as validate, existing information. Armen and Jenny both pointed out that, when presented with questionable information on Brave Boards, they would check another source, like Encyclopedia Metallum. Armen continued, “the post points to information to be checked and [outside sources] can either confirm the information or disprove it”.
A number of metal fans use blogs to keep in touch with the happenings and latest developments in the world of heavy metal. Participants such as Derek and Mark contribute to the ‘news-worthiness’ of blog entries, by rating them on sites like Blabbermouth. Mark talked in depth about Blabbermouth being one of the three sites he checks daily to keep abreast of heavy metal news. Mark noted that Blabbermouth added a way to rate news items and other users’ comments by clicking on either an icon of devil horns (like) or a thumbs-down (dislike):
“What I think is really neat, what they did recently, because I tend to get lazy sometimes, when I want to put a comment down if it is any hassle, like if I try to put it down and it is not going in I won’t bother ... but I am always logged in anyway ... but most of the time it works. But they did just start [...] doing for each comment ... they have two signs, a devil’s sign and a thumbs-down.”
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