log off and get out
I had the privilege of attending the Utah Valley University Animal Ethics Conference last week. A topic that came up in these conversations several times was the role of Facebook in activism. While Facebook and other social media is good for disseminating information, a prevailing notion was that perhaps it deterred some activism as the time spent chatting and reading others posts could be spent fighting for the animals.
Facebook can be both a blessing and a curse. In the words of one activist, known on Facebook as John Brown:
The dual aspect of FB is clear. It has an amazing capacity for subversive organizing; the creation of a greater union of activists; and the world-wide sharing of information…However, its pacifying aspect is also apparent. One becomes lost in the labyrinth of petitions, meetups, and friend requests. Time ticks by. Hours pass. And nothing substantial has happened. Virtual ‘activism’ replaces actual activism. FB should be used as a tool for organization and mobilization, not decadent stupification.
- “John Brown”
The conference concluded with a wonderful but sobering conversation between the audience members and a powerhouse panel of some prominent defenders of effective activism: Steven Best, Jerry Vlasak and Peter Young. All three of them pondered the role of online activism:
What is it about today’s culture that allows people to pass off their activism as spending 8 hours a day on Facebook and handing out Facebook petitions? And how do we reach people who are interested in helping animals? And how do we get them to realize the revolution is not going to be on Facebook?
–Jerry Vlasak
Why is it that today, in 2010 we probably have so many more people who “care” about the issue but there is so much less being done? We have to ask ourselves, what’s pacifying us? What are these things that come to us as saviors…but are actually pacifiers instead? I would say the internet is one of those things. This has to be one of the greatest myths of the modern day, that the more information you have the more that gets done.
-Peter Young
Steven Best suggested a three day moratorium on Facebook. I think it is a brilliant idea and I am ready to act on it. Are you??
As Dylan Powell from the Vegan Police is fond of saying “Talk – Action = Nothing”
As the tattoo’s on Greg Kelly’s arms say “Words mean nothing. Action is everything.”
So let’s stop socializing and let’s get busy!
I am inspired by their words and hope to use social media to advance a campaign in which we ditch social media for a week and devote that time to the animals. World Week for Laboratory Animal Liberation is almost here. I propose that we spend this week or next figuring out how much time we spend each day online. Then, let’s take 3 days during Laboratory Week for Animal Liberation to devote this amount of time to the animals (or any other social justice movement in which you are involved).
Let’s use Facebook for it’s good for and promote this event! Please see the Facebook invitation and invite others!!!
April 6, 2010 at 11:55 pm
I agree with all of this of course. We really do waste much time behind a screen when we could be out there. I do all of my facebooking while on the clock at work, which makes it a little better. I’m getting paid to push petitions and I believe that petitions have their place in this movement. I will take those three days off FB when I attend the long beach forum. I will recruit activists via FB though for anti-scripps physical protesting which will happen April 24 in La Jolla. I will have flyers ready to distribute at the forum. I hope some people make it down to SD to help join forces.
Anna
April 7, 2010 at 12:53 am
Such a great idea! Thank you! I’ll have my eyes open for possible events and ways to get involved. But at the very least, I’ll spend these days trying to convince my family the importance of going animal-friendly. (A difficult task. My parents are, for some reason, bothered by my stance on animal rights. But they are also hardcore mormon, so after some of the events featuring Chris Foster at the Animal Ethics week, I have wonderful new arguments.) If we could all change the minds of our closest, the effects would go exponential. Cheers!
April 7, 2010 at 3:19 pm
What a smart idea!
I for one plan to continue promoting the veggie lifestyle on my blog!
And I agree that this is a powerful plan of action to helping with other social justice movements as well
April 12, 2010 at 1:57 am
FB is good for networking. But I also think too many people spend too much time socializing and not working for the animals. We’re going to be planning some upcoming protests for the next few weeks, that time will be great! Oh yeah, I really aren’t on FB very much, so this will be reallllly easy! Thanks for this brilliant idea. I’d love to see what happens during those three days!
January 14, 2011 at 1:09 am
I wish Brenda *would* get off of Facebook. She’s sent me several abusive messages. Fine. Then she starts insulting my girlfriend’s looks. Like she’s a 6th grader or something. Very mean-spirited. It was unreal. When I blocked her, somebody using her husband’s account continued with the same swill. So I blocked him too.
One’s fellow vegans can be nuts too. Sad to day.