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Paedantic Basterd · 03-10-2012, 09:01 AM

Re: People waiting to **** on these movements:

I don't think people take issue with activism or world needs. I think the problem with these kinds of events, be they raising awareness for Uganda or child abuse or anything else, is that the participants make a mockery of activism and change. I myself hold these events in high disregard, because for every one person who does something substantial about the issue, there are a hundred thousand more lazy, self-righteous infants who partake in a trend and believe that their status update is doing their part to make a difference.

I think that doing fuck all and believing you are a hero is even worse than apathy, and if this is the way activism is headed, society is just as fucked as if it didn't know or care. Watching a video is not activism. Posting a status is not activism. Formulating an opinion through second-hand information and social propaganda is not activism.

I respect the hell out of anyone who makes an informed effort towards positive change, but I have nothing but contempt for most of these piggybackers. That's why there is backlash over these issues. It's not because we skeptics are selfish or against change, it's because facebook-activism makes a travesty of humanitarian work.

If someone could show me that five million facebook updates made a real impact, not just a sanctimonious public scene, I would put both my feet in my mouth on the spot, but I see no reason to be optimistic about change based on a viral video.

03-10-2012, 09:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Re: People waiting to **** on these movements: I don't think people take issue with activism or world needs. I think the problem with these kinds of events, be they raising awareness for Uganda or child abuse or anything else, is that the participants make a mockery of activism and change. I myself hold these events in high disregard, because for every one person who does something substantial about the issue, there are a hundred thousand more lazy, self-righteous infants who partake in a trend and believe that their status update is doing their part to make a difference. I think that doing fuck all and believing you are a hero is even worse than apathy, and if this is the way activism is headed, society is just as fucked as if it didn't know or care. Watching a video is not activism. Posting a status is not activism. Formulating an opinion through second-hand information and social propaganda is not activism. I respect the hell out of anyone who makes an informed effort towards positive change, but I have nothing but contempt for most of these piggybackers. That's why there is backlash over these issues. It's not because we skeptics are selfish or against change, it's because facebook-activism makes a travesty of humanitarian work. If someone could show me that five million facebook updates made a real impact, not just a sanctimonious public scene, I would put both my feet in my mouth on the spot, but I see no reason to be optimistic about change based on a viral video.