But let's approach it from a social media angle, given the nature of this blog. But I won't make this an obnoxiously long political post (first of all I don't know shit about politics), nor will I head deep into the social media jungle (which I'm more closely acquainted with). So let's instead scrape a bit off the top, like the icing, the best part of the cake.
You have probably seen events around such as the one below:
The point I'm trying to make is (headline give away!) is that people are happy to sit on their asses and show their "support". I wrote an essay last term dealing with online relationships versus offline relationships, concluding in stating that it is up to the users of technology to decide how valuable a relationship is.
Having mentioned that. This is something else - THIS is bullshit.
Virtual demonstrations will never be as powerful as actual physical ones. A "march" (honestly?) on Facebook would never have abolished slavery, given women the right to vote or more up to date freed Egypt.
So what I'm asking is what's the point of these virtual marches? Can you see any results? I sure didn't see any headlines in The Times saying "Facebook marchers force Mubarak to resign".
If you're truly planning on getting involved and showing your support get off your ass and steer clear of the "Attending" button.
So what did I do? Nothing.
Hypocrisy 101:
Is doing nothing better than attending a virtual march or overwhelming Twitter with hashtags? I'm not sure. But until I've made up my mind I'm playing this one like Switzerland.
Bah. Where's anonymous posting with only a "name"? You'll still know it's me duh. Why can't I post shit over 4 096 signs?
ReplyDeleteHere it goes. Be warned. It's long.
http://pastebin.com/fh7aUJXA
I think that is basically justifying my retweet-mania for myself.
ReplyDeleteHow can doing nothing be better? Sure, virtual protests don't really have an impact in and of themselves. They do, however, raise awareness (empty phrase though that may be) about an issue and give a faux sense of involvement to an attendant - even though I'm not actually doing anything xcept "liking", I'm immediately a part of something and more likely to take an interest in the subject outside of FB. Also, the virpos (I'm (TM)ing that!;)) serve to bring like-minded people together, facilitating organization of 'real' protests, campaigns, etc. (the way the Kairo protests were helped along, actually).
ReplyDeleteAlso, for most people, this is the only way they can get involved. Even if I had the time to organize protests in front of the Egyptian embassy or whatnot, I wouldn't know where to begin (quite apart from the fact that that even wouldn't have much of an effect).
The downside is, of course, that some day we may all become such apathetic virtual sheep, that instead of setting fire to trash cans, when such setting of fire is appropriate, of course, we rather sit on our ass and clickety-click, then go back to being oppressed. Though people are highly unlikely to refrain from taking to the streets when things get bad enough. Again, look at Egypt.
Whereas doing nothing is, well, doing nothing. And imho, intentionally avoiding participation in such virpos using the excuse that 'themz R lame', even though agreeing to their cause, is just being a smart-ass wankster (this is not directed at anyone specific).
Also, I think if I were campipng out in Tahrir Sq. and I knew that a million of random people all over the world were, at least in principle, there with me, I'd feel better about my situation.
Sam, you can hijack my blog posts anytime mate. I see your point but I'm sticking to my guns. I think we'd all like to see a free and more democratic Arab world but I'm not sure it's our battle. Spreading information is one thing, that's great, awareness - I'm all for it. But at the end of the day, they need to figure this one out among themselves, not having the Western World "come to the rescue". To me, I guess it's a "I'd rather die standing than live on my knees" kind of situation. Man, that was cheesy. You know what I mean though.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the "let's get drunk soon" (classy ending by the way), I'm saying hell to the yeeeesssshhh!
So "ofcar" then we have 865 565 Egyptian freedom supporters and 4 630 852 smart-ass wanksters.
ReplyDeleteThings are not looking good.
In addition, a remaining amount of 109 661 people not giving a flying ****.
Now, 'themz R lame'.
At least I wrote this blog post. BOOM, contribution.
Yeah, I don't know really what I'm doing. I can say that what differs me from the "attending virtual marches"-mass is that I don't feel as if what I'm doing is adequate nor that I really know what to do. However in this case, not doing anything felt wrong.
ReplyDeleteI share your belief on the fact that it's hard (if not impossible) to "export" democracy. However in this case, the uprising happened without western interference and the Libyans are still going on mainly by themselves without any real foreign intervention except "condemnations", which of course doesn't do shit.
However, I believe that there should be some kind of international force that can do something when something is completely fucked up. I.e. stuff like killing unarmed peaceful protsters, bombing your own country, tying soldiers that refuse to attack their own people up and burning them alive in barracks etcetc.
It's obvious who the bad guy is. It's obvious that he is doing horrendous things. Just think that someone should make him stop. Make peace and then let them sort their shit out together.
Libya is the highest ranked country in Africa on the Human Development Index scale. They're a quite secular country and I think they won't have any problems feeling unified after this bloody revolution.
So hmm. Plan is:
*Raise awareness
*Put pressure on politicians
*Intervene, remove the clown
*GTFO
Whaddayathink?