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On 17 Apr 2008 at 11:49, MARKKU LONKILA (SOSIO) wrote:
> I want to stir the pot of social network definitions with a question
> about the notion of `social´ in social networks. Can a five-year-old
> German shepherd belong to one´s social network? How about a one-month-
> old baby?

A few more rounds with the spoon:
 - Is the question of whether something really belongs to (*the*)
social network or whether something really is a network important?
Should we not ask more humbly whether a social network perspective is
fruitfull in viewing certain phenomena?
 - Aren't most cases, where social network perspective is fruitfull,
cases of some kinds of carrier-networks containing transitive ties?
Dogs' howling and babies' crying can be transitive, both can be
parts of epidemiological networks (can dogs?) etc, but when talking
about *social* networks, wouldn't it usually be better to model them
as external causes for bonding rather than as parts of the networks
(thanks Dimitris for the distinction)?
 -Timo

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