It is normal i'm sick of internet activists?

To explain: I mean people who tick "like" to every facebook post favouring radical change and who themselves post other people's radical public statements about for example, violence against women or the refugee crisis, but that's ALL they do.

Recently it's been making me quite angry with people I know. One bloke posted some great feminist stuff about rape culture, women murdered by partners (60 so far in Australia this year) and the refugee crisis. Wonderful you say .... except same person witnessed me being verbally attacked & accused of lying about being raped and did nothing, not even check later if I was ok, and has ignored requests to help organise a benefit for the refugees.

That's only one person who does it, just the most recent, there are plenty of other examples I could describe. I don't get it: do people really think they're effecting any real change when they do nothing practical about the issues?

I think it's a feelgood self-delusion and I'm sick and tired of it, to the point that I'm worried I'm going to start alienating people by replying along the lines of "Great post but what are you doing about it?"

I'm nearly 69, by the way, an activist since the 70's, very far from wealthy and in poor health, who keeps thinking she's retired as an activist but somehow never does.

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Based on 20 votes (19 yes)
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Comments ( 65 )
  • NeuroNeptunian

    Internet activism achieves awareness for issues that are often overlooked by the general media. It is also good for raising funding for said overlooked causes. I, personally, enjoy following pages of opposing viewpoints of Facebook mainly because I enjoy seeing both sides of the argument from the lay-man's perspective.

    I totally understand where you are coming from, though. I once had a roommate when I was 13 who relentlessly bullied me for the duration of her stay there who is now an "anti-bullying" activist. That said, I have a friend on FB who bullied me in High School who contacted me years ago, as an anti-bullying activist, and apologized for her behavior. She explained to me that, although it wasn't an excuse, she was dealing with hell at home and I explained to her that I was too and we mutually apologized for any pain we had caused each other and agreed to put it behind us.

    THAT is what activism is supposed to do, in my opinion. Point out where you are fucking up and you correct yourself. Obviously, the majority of it is talk but considering my own experiences, I am not so willing to dismiss it. If, for every 100 people who share it, it has this impact on at least 1 person than I feel like it is doing a hell of a lot more than nothing would accomplish.

    Even though I still kinda think it's a fucking joke lol.

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    • Ellenna

      I was talking about people who THINK they're changing the world by just ticking Like or hitting a button to forward someone else's radical views. The first annoys (sometimes enrages) me, the latter not so much unless I know it's being done by someone who doesn't do anything else about that particular issue.

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      • NeuroNeptunian

        But isn't it entertaining to see these people using the almighty internet to stroke their own fragile egos?

        I would have to agree with you, though, I am also sick of it. I'd hate to take the "holier than thou" tone but I rarely, if ever, "share" posts for any cause that I haven't personally put my money or manpower into.

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        • Ellenna

          Nup, I don't find it entertaining I find it hypocritical and pathetic

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  • Short4Words

    Everyone wants to stand for something but no one has the courage to get off their knees.

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    • anti-hero

      Which cereal box did I read that on?

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      • Short4Words

        Lucky Charms.

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    • Ellenna

      Can I give you a tip: using terms like "everyone" and "no one" makes it child's play to destroy your argument, because obviously your statements aren't true.

      Not everyone gives a stuff about standing for anything and I'm here to tell you that there ARE people with the courage to get off our knees. Which are you, by the way?

      My criticism is of the people who think they're changing the world by ticking "like" on facebook and that's ALL they do.

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      • billygoatgruff

        Can I give you a tip: taking a statement that literally makes it difficult for anyone to take you or anything you say seriously. Because obviously most people have the reading comprehension skills and common sense to understand that it does not literally mean every person on the planet. If someone told you that you look like a million bucks, would your respond "I do not believe I look like currency"?

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        • bucho's_butt

          I'm so tired of everyone getting pissed off because someone said the word everyone. It's a short hand way of speaking. It doesn't literally mean EVERYONE. Why is it that whenever someone doesn't like the other person's argument, instead of coming back with something sensible they just decide to take everything literally to dismantle the other person's argument?

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        • Ellenna

          Don't patronise me, I don't need your tips. I was pointing out a classic debating error: overstating your case with sweeping statements to the point that it's easily shot down by your opponent: eg ALL MEN ARE RAPISTS. All your opponent has to do is produce evidence of ONE man who's not a rapist and the first person's argument is lost and h/she has to back down to "some" to which the response is "how many? where are your stats?" and first person looks like the idiot s/he is.

          Your last question includes a classic figure of speech, not a debating point, and is not analagous to the use of ALL or NONE statements in a debate.

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          • billygoatgruff

            I was also pointing out a classic debating error. Purposefully taking a statement literally that is obviously not a literal statement. When someone says everyone does something, clearly meaning most or a lot and someone responds with something like "so you know what every person in the world does?"...

            They think this is a clever response. But it doesn't make them look clever, it makes them look like a foolish person who lacks the common sense to realize it is not a literal statement.

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            • Ellenna

              If people don't want to be taken literally they should learn to use the english language correctly and not say all when they mean most. It's lazy and pointless: what's so hard about saying what you mean?

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  • mystery7

    There's a lot of hypocrites out there.

    I know a couple of people who work in fairly high places in gov organisations in the climate change area (and they're on corresponding high salaries). They'll rave on and on about Global warming /climate change to the point where you think the sky is going to fall in if it isn't addressed.

    But surprise surprise, when I have visited their house you'd be forgiven for thinking it was an energy free for all under their roof, with lights, heaters, air cons, gas guzzling vehicles and generally gross wastage all around (think Al Gore and his massive energy guzzling home)

    I learnt something a while ago now: rather than pay too close attention to what people are saying, look more closely at what they actually do.

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    • Ellenna

      That's really outrageous, but I suspect quite common, although as far as I've seen not for people working on climate change in community organisations. Certainly as far as I know no Greens MP here has been exposed as a hypocrite: they do seem to walk their talk.

      Yeah, that last sentence is spot on: my problem is that I'm hooked on communication and often assume people actually mean what they say, just because I do.

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      • mystery7

        It would be great if people mean what they actually say. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I've been disappointed too many times, to the point where I've become cynical about most people.

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        • Ellenna

          I keep trying to be more cynical and I am about people I don't know well and politicians and bureaucrats and religious leaders, but am inclined to be far too trusting of people I know and like. Keep waiting to grow out of it, but doesn't look as if it's ever going to happen

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  • modernism

    I understand your point, but at the same time, not everyone is capable of being a Ghandi or a MLK. Just the same, not everyone WANTS to be that. Yes, if someone expects that just liking a post will change the world, then they are mistaken. But that doesn't make their "like" or appreciation for the post any less valid.

    Even if they aren't willing to go out and do something, it doesn't make it a crime to repost something and then just sit there. People have, can, and will always do that. Is it a problem? Not exactly, but it also isn't necessarily the soultion.

    There are a select few who ACTUALLY make a major difference - and honestly, I doubt you're one of them. Not many people are. Activists are obviously doing more than internet "activists" - complete respect to them, including you - but we also can't expect everyone who agrees with a certain movement to legitametly be part of it. Sadly, thing's just don't tend to work out that way.

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  • ThingOne

    You are a believer. You have no sense of traction. All you can do to make the world better is believe it can happen. So lame. You have a delusional sense of self worth.

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    • Ellenna

      No sense of WHAT? Newage (rhymes with sewage) bullshit. That's only the first step, meaningless unless it's followed by action to bring about the change. How have you changed the world for the better by just believing it can happen?

      It's not delusional to acknowledge my own worth - don't you acknowledge yours?

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      • ThingOne

        I take action. I have read a recent comment that you made that indicates that you do too. So, I was wrong. You are not the type of person that thinks she is making the world better by clicking "like" on Facebook.

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  • Flaze

    A lot of people are the same way for me on Facebook, all I do is go to their profile and click 'unfollow', that way we can still be friends, but I don't have to see all of the junk they post.

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    • Ellenna

      You misunderstand: I don't read the junk, I agree with most of the posts I'm referring to: what annoys me is people thinking that ticking "Like" or posting stuff means they don't have to do anything else to bring about change.

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      • RoseIsabella

        So you're annoyed with complacency?

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  • victorygin

    Nearly everything on facebook is phony and done to promote someone's image. This is just another example of that, as far as I'm concerned.

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  • RoseIsabella

    I personally think that person just might be looking for the proverbial pat on the back. Perhaps this person craves attention, and positive reinforcement?

    I'm a moderate who's liberal on some things and conservative on others, but regardless it's shitty victim blaming to accuse a rape victim/survivor of lying. I'm truly sorry this initial person wasn't there for you, but, and I hope you don't mind if I say this, I certainly hope you unfriended the person who accused you of lying!

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    • Ellenna

      What person?

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      • RoseIsabella

        I would certainly unfriend and possibly block the person on social media who falsely accused me of lying about a traumatic rape.

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    • Ellenna

      Who is "that person"?

      The accusation wasn't made on facebook but in person in a group of people in public; the irony is that he WAS there for me after I was raped nearly 5 years ago and was my main support person but something weird has happened in his brain to accuse me of lying so many years later. If he'd been a facebook friend I certainly would've unfriended him.

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      • RoseIsabella

        That is quite strange.

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        • Ellenna

          You bet, and now when he sees me he pretends nothing has happened. This is the person I asked about a few weeks back as possibly drug affected, but he seems ok now, as I said, as if nothing happened.

          I was intending to go to the same venue tonight but decided not to because I don't trust myself to confront him and/or mutual friends & acquaintances who may also be able to pretend nothing happened - I just cannot pretend like that

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          • RoseIsabella

            I can relate. I can be pretty impulsive about confronting people myself. I think acting all nonchalant about everything would be what would set me off.

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  • NeofelisNebulosa

    You can't control what others choose to post on social media. If it bothers you, get off social media or delete the people that annoy you. I like to share articles about wildlife conservation on Facebook because I enjoy the articles and I would like others to be able to read them. Sometimes raising awareness is a good first start.

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    • Ellenna

      Did I say I wanted to control anybody else? Do you do anything about wildlife conservation other than posting articles you enjoy on facebook?

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  • mypenisinyourmouth

    Don't worry. It will all be over soon.

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  • Smelly_Niggers

    Yes, this post clearly illustrates what liberal thinking actually entails.

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    • Ellenna

      Which post? If you mean mine, I'm certainly not a liberal, I'm an Anarcha-Feminist/Women's Liberationist and have no time for liberals. They're in power in Australia and are right wing reactionaries to the bone, even though we recently got a prettier and more polite pm

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      • nobody13

        I think he's more or less talking about American liberals; it sounds funny, but here, 'liberal' is a term used to refer to people who are left of center (though not far enough to be socialists/Marxists/anarchists). In fact, in America if you call yourself an 'anarchist,' or a 'libertarian,' there's a very good chance people will still think you're a capitalist, due to right-wing reactionaries having adopted the terms in America.

        In America, if you want to see a right-winger experience bewilderment, just tell him that liberals are generally conservative in other countries.

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        • NeofelisNebulosa

          Do the terms left-wing and right-wing still convey the same meaning in countries other than America? Like the same political affiliation?

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          • nobody13

            More or less.

            America is more skewed to the right, however; even though Obama is here considered to be somewhat left-of-center, by most other developed countries' standards, he can be considered moderately conservative.

            No matter where you go, however, the right is associated with conservativism and traditional values.

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          • Ellenna

            Yep, although in Australia the two main political parties - liberal and labor - aren't much different on most issues. We do have Greens, but not enough of them ... yet ....

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        • Ellenna

          I did realise that, I was deliberately trying to counter USA centrism and I do know the term libertarian has been co-opted by the right wing.

          No-one has yet tried to co-opt Anarcha Feminist or Women's Liberation, although the term feminism is fairly meaningless because of misuse

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  • The_zoo_keeper

    You act like a zealot that changes the world thru phone sex. Assisting pathetic men with fantasies so they can shoot their sperm. Actually, you're so damn insignificant that they hang up on you. Nobody has had less impact on the world than you have.

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    • Ellenna

      I've only been doing phone sex for about 5 years and don't delude myself that it's changing the world: it does however keep a roof over my head which I couldn't afford otherwise, which is the only reason I do it. They don't all hang up on me by the way, I also have regular callers who've been calling me for years and never hang up without thanking me. The behavior of the rude ones is a reflection on them, not on me.

      I have however been an activist since the early 70's, I have contributed to positive change in the world and continue to do so. What's your contribution to positive social change?

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      • The_zoo_keeper

        I promote international peace through balanced military power. The weapon systems I have created are hard to preemptively destroy which assures destruction of anyone that takes the first shot.

        I am also active with "Bed nets for Africa". Malaria kills more people each year than most wars.

        The world is a better place because of my efforts. How about you?

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        • Ellenna

          YOU have created weapons systems which guarantee world peace? Really? obviously not in use yet ....

          Bed nets sounds like a great idea: what does "active" mean in your case?

          I helped establish the first two women's refuges in my state; helped establish an independent refuge referral service to enable women in danger to call only one phone number for help; I've worked on campaigns for women's reproduction rights; for lesbian mothers to have equal custody rights with heterosexuals; for changes to the family law act; for funding for community legal centres; for Aboriginal Land Rights; against the expansion of uranium mining and against the destruction of old growth forests. I also worked (unpaid) for a few years in a remote Aboriginal community, including making my own home available as a refuge for women & children fleeing violence; advocating for Aboriginal people with local white bureaucracy, social security etc. There's probably more but I can't be bothered trying to remember ... I'm old and tired and not well BUT still an activist, just a slower one

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          • The_zoo_keeper

            Sorry. I misjudged you.

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      • snarkygirl

        I've always wanted to be a phone sex operator. Seriously. Do you make enough cash to support yourself?

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    • mystery7

      That's harsh criticism and sounds judgemental. She is just doing a job to earn a living and keep a roof over head. So what if she works on a phone sex line?

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      • The_zoo_keeper

        She gave us more info, so I am exempting her.

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  • snarkygirl

    Clicktivism

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  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk

    i just came here to remind my peersa the dangera eatin stuff off the sidewalk

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  • kradmelder

    Activism ever since the 1960s has been nothing but a Jew run cabal to destroy white society. Feminism, gay and lesbian movement, porn, anti-apartheid, communism, pro-abortion, end conscription campaign, civil rights, etc. It is easy to google and see the leaders of these movements were largely jews. The primary objective was turmoil in white society to weaken the hegemony of the white man.

    FaceJew is yet just another movement to undermine normal social interaction, and of course behind it are jews.

    Im not just sick of liberal activism, Im sick of the jews behind it.

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    • Ellenna

      I'm not a liberal or a jew but you are blatantly anti-semitic. Oooh that vulnerable male hegemony .... Porn is activism?

      You make no sense at all

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