tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post4896991824971810798..comments2023-12-22T04:37:54.991+00:00Comments on Obama London: The Internet for ActivistsObama Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02652619223311941390noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-20921902431475645022009-03-18T23:49:00.000+00:002009-03-18T23:49:00.000+00:00Hey Kathy - fair enough!Hey Kathy - fair enough!Obama Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02652619223311941390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-15193344188447021072009-03-18T20:46:00.000+00:002009-03-18T20:46:00.000+00:00Wait a sec...we vegans aren't radicals! I live a p...Wait a sec...we vegans aren't radicals! I live a perfectly normal life, I just don't eat products that came from animals. No big deal at all, in fact, cooking is very easy when you don't have to decide which type of meat you're going to have!KathyFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03598851469033690710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-13612327158920687872009-03-18T10:33:00.000+00:002009-03-18T10:33:00.000+00:00Thanks brother-mine! Useful concept, and highly re...Thanks brother-mine! Useful concept, and highly relevant these days. It's too true that media consumption often becomes a substitute for action. Indeed, outrage and indignation often get channeled into mere self-expression rather than constructive action ("I'm so angry! I'm going to write about it on my blog/make a YouTube video/yell at the staffer who answers my congressman's phone").<BR/><BR/>Jim, I think you're right - cognitive dissonance is the word. E.g., "I believe scientists when they say global warming is now a crisis, and I am concerned about this. I also enjoy driving my big truck and will vote against politicians that impose a carbon tax."<BR/><BR/>The problem for organizers is that most people are exceptionally good at papering over these cracks - and for good reason. It makes life more livable. The sheer scale of inconsistency between belief and action is often unbearable, and really dealing with it would turn us all into wild eyed radicals (look at anyone who tries to live absolutely according to their beliefs - from vegans to orthodox Jews to terrorists - they become radicals in a way that most people shy away from). So we need to start with small, achieveable goals to shake people enough out of their complacency to act, but not so much that they are overwhelmed by the futility of their action.Obama Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02652619223311941390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-51129862555115668972009-03-17T17:19:00.000+00:002009-03-17T17:19:00.000+00:00Tim, that sounds like "cognitive dissonance" to me...Tim, that sounds like "cognitive dissonance" to me... (although my spelling's rubbish)Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-29816593805767050742009-03-17T17:05:00.000+00:002009-03-17T17:05:00.000+00:00Hey Sister!I read your blog for the first time and...Hey Sister!<BR/>I read your blog for the first time and I thought you may find this related concept relevent to you line of thinking. I find it to be a truth in many of the actions or lack there in with my friends that are passionate about there views.<BR/>The term narcotizing dysfunction was first identified in the book Mass Communication, Popular Taste and Organized Social Action, by Paul F. Lazarsfeld, and Robert K. Merton.<BR/><BR/>The term refers to a social consequence of mass media. It is termed "dysfunctional" as it assumed it is not in the best interests of a modern complex society to have masses of the society politically apathetic and inert. Lazarsfeld and Merton conducted studies to show that increasing numbers people within our society devote more and more of their time to mass media. They suppose that although there are more media and more people able to use media to keep on top of the news, the audience becomes apathetic and shows only superficial concern for the problems of society.<BR/><BR/>Lazarsfeld and Merton hypothesize that the constant flood of information and news has a narcotizing rather than an energizing effect on the audience. As society spends more and more time devoted to mass media, and especially television, there is equally less amount of time for society to act against the issues identified in the media.<BR/><BR/>Because the individual is assailed with information of issues and problems and they are knowledgeable about or discuss these issues, they believe they are helping in the solution. Society has confused knowing about an issue with doing something about it. Society’s conscience is clear as they think they have done something to remediate the issue. However, being informed and concerned is not a replacement for action. Because of the effects of mass media, people believe that doing nothing is good for society. This is why the effect is called narcotizing dysfunction.<BR/><BR/>Now if somebody can can a term for holding a belief or an ideal that one espouse but does not actually subscribe to personally. I mean a heady academic term that is similar to hypocrite but more precise.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15290690652016461015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-2685253481576524412009-03-17T11:48:00.000+00:002009-03-17T11:48:00.000+00:00Excellent article - thanks for forwarding it Kathy...Excellent article - thanks for forwarding it Kathy. <BR/><BR/>"Activism is the practice of preaching to the choir, rallying the already converted, and trying to convince other "activists" to do your work for you"<BR/><BR/>"Organizing is something completely different: It is based on attainable and quantifiable goals (be they small, as in, "put a stop sign in the neighborhood," or be they large, as occurred last year: elect an underdog as president of the United States)."<BR/><BR/>Very interesting. I'm definitely more interested in the Organising side of things, as he defines it. But I also don't think we should get too hung up on vocabulary. "Doing stuff to make change in the world". If you wanna call it activism, or organising, or knitting circles - fine by me. Just do it. Ya know?Obama Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02652619223311941390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-78449486585792698712009-03-17T11:35:00.000+00:002009-03-17T11:35:00.000+00:00There is a difference between activism and organiz...There is a difference between activism and organizing. Obama organized; the majority of bloggers are activists. <BR/><BR/>Here's a brilliant analysis: <BR/><BR/>http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/end-activism-and-renaissance-organizing<BR/><BR/>Al Giordano's been talking about this a lot, especially a few weeks ago when the left was up in arms about Obama's supposed move toward the center. He's always worth a read, imo.KathyFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03598851469033690710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-66978813801932013062009-03-16T20:25:00.000+00:002009-03-16T20:25:00.000+00:00Great post. I don't think there should be a value ...Great post. <BR/><BR/>I don't think there should be a value judgement attached to "activist-led" and "non-activist-led" campaigns. If you want to join someones campaign who happens to be a professional in his field - great ! If you want to create your own grass-roots campaign - great, too !<BR/><BR/>The important thing is to go out and campaign for what you believe in. Let's get out off our comfort zone and engage with people who are not already our mates...sara hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03032004837639295245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-5654021111358724152009-03-16T18:08:00.000+00:002009-03-16T18:08:00.000+00:00Thanks Jim! Agreed about it being good to meet in ...Thanks Jim! Agreed about it being good to meet in the real world and all.Obama Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02652619223311941390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3801227671293876432.post-24991213510564963392009-03-16T18:03:00.000+00:002009-03-16T18:03:00.000+00:00Hi - it was nice to meet you face to face and comp...Hi - it was nice to meet you face to face and completely agree with the points you make here.<BR/><BR/>It's a shame there wasn't more time to discuss the points you brought up (and less time for masked weirdos) in your session as I think they really raised the level of discussion.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.com