A Virtual Ethnography Study on Relational Closeness Among Pencak silat Practitioners on Facebook

Abstract

The Internet has opened possibilities for new research from various disciplines and approaches. This research was aimed to explore a phenomenon such as a virtual closeness performed in social network sites. The research was planned to find out how communication on Facebook constructs emotional affinity and intimacy, and develop virtual relational closeness among pencak silat practitioners. There were five pencak silat on-line communities being selected for this study such as Miami Pencak silat, PAS, Garis Paksi and PPSI. This research was developed in qualitative research methodology with virtual ethnography approach and the data were obtained through observations and on line in-depth interviews. The observations were virtually conducted in Miami Pencak Silat, PAS, Garis Paksi and PPSI, then ten practitioners belonging to those communities were interviewed. The data analysis revealed the following things: 1) similarity of hobby, passion and profession built an emotional connection and intimacy among those practitioners 2) the relationship and communication also developed but the degree was apparently different. Virtual ethnography, virtual communities, virtual relational closeness, online social penetration, pencak silat online communities.