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322 Soraj Hongladarom

make up the Thai identity. The identity, however, is not something
static, but is constantly evolving so as to respond effectively to out-
side changes. Thus there is no contradiction in saying that the Thai
identity, for example, evolves in such a way that the Thai people ac-
cept ideals such as human rights, democracy, and the like as their
own, as integral parts of their culture. Cyberspace mirrors real
space, and vice versa.

Notes

Travel grant for the London Conference was supported in part by the
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. The author wishes to thank Dr.
M. R. Kalaya Tingsabadh, Dean of the Faculty, and Assoc. Prof. Thanom-
nuan O-charoen, Deputy Dean for Academic and Research Affairs, for their
generous help and support.
This chapter appeared originally in the Electronic Journal of Com-
munication/La revue electronique de communication, 8 (3 & 4), 1998 (see
<http://www.cios.org/www/ejcrec2.htm>), and in AI and Society (1999) 13:
389–401, and is reprinted by kind permission of the editors and publishers.
1. According to the soc.culture.thai General FAQ (available online at
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/ soc.culture.thai>), a survey in 1994 shows
that soc.culture.thai has an estimated readers of 39,000 worldwide; 66% of
all USENET sites carry this newsgroup; and total monthly traffic is 2035
messages or 4.4 MB. Thais form the majority of those who read and post in
the newsgroup, comprising 64% of the total.
2. Prapasri Rajatapiti, post to soc.culture.thai, message-ID:
<19971010230101.TAA17707@ladder02.news.aol.com>, October 10, 1997.
3. Tirachart, post to soc.culture.thai, message-ID: <61mk27$6s5$1@
excalibur.flash.net>, October 10, 1997.
4. Aitui, post to soc.culture.thai, message-ID: <34474ee0.8970100@
news>, October 17, 1997.
5. Anek Laothammatas (1993) argues that the urban middle class
were the key players in the demonstration, making it different from the pre-
vious ones which had been led by student activists. He points out that the
middle class would like to see a transparent government which is free from
corrupt practices and a more modern, more open political system. This wish
of the middle class is clearly reflected in the tones of most discussions on
Thailand on the Internet.
6. However, since the middle class have the economic and cultural
power, their voices in the affairs of the country is very loud indeed, and can-
not be fairly compared to that of the villagers. Moreover, since the number