altercasting; computer-mediated communication; discourse community; face; facework; ingroup; online discussions; rapport management; relational work; verbal antagonism

Based on a corpus of internet discussions on medical topics, this study examines the social dimension of the genre, focusing particularly on the strategies through which a distinct ingroup community is created and maintained. Drawing on concepts of face and relational work, the analysis shows how participants typically position themselves as holders of shared ingroup values, altercast their opponents as members of an outgroup, and enact recurring patterns of interaction indicating the existence of a distinct and coherent community of practice. The study then examines the main relational work strategies through which ingroup members establish, maintain and strengthen social bonds within the online community.