Social media in general has done a lot to spread information, spur debate, and help (real) activists coordinate their efforts. I am not saying that it is all bad. I am saying that it is mostly bad.
Americans, by and large, are lazy, fat (in every sense of the word), procrastinators that have perfected the art of being lonely together. If one could ask us all at once what the definition of us was and what we stood for, the response would be a cacophony of blubbery sighs, stupid Family Guy jokes, and old movie quotes until it eventually died down and we settled on “whatever the last generation was but, you know, like, uh better, like philosophy two-point-oh but with more (faux) ironic sarcasm”.
It is no surprise that Social Media has allowed the Haves of America to perfect the art of Slacktivism. People click a button to somehow donate rice to some people in some other country SPONSORED BY CORPORATION and automatically display it prominently so everyone can see how “involved” they really are, or as if that wasn’t pathetic enough, change their profile pictures to show solidarity for whatever cause is trendy at the time because it is literally the least they could do while circle-jerking and trying to prove they have accomplished something.
What is worse? People going on a fucking vacation to “help” whatever tropical place had something recently terrible happen to it. Demanding that someone shelter them and feed them and acclimate them and waste enough time and resources as possible just before packing up, going home, and positing pictures all over the place talking about how it touched them and how it was just so sad.
None of this is activism.
Someday, I hope to become a real activist. You can fucking bet that it’s not going to involve retweets and hash tags.
Wow, this entry is all over the place: social media, fat-shaming, "the art of being lonely together." You say Americans are all fat, lazy prograstinators, and then say someday you hope to become a real activist. Why not now?
ReplyDeleteInstead of slamming the pathetic though good intentioned acts of the many, why not offer some constructive ideas for those so so easily brush aside as 'pathetic' activists. It IS much easier to be informed, and play internet activist than ever before, isn't it more productive to channel that good will and guide people towards more effective hands on forms of activism than dismiss their acknowledgment of social issues?
ReplyDeleteLane and Courtney, rather than go back and try to make myself look better by dressing up what I said, I'll just say this whole post is just terrible. When I wrote it, someone on Facebook was claiming to be an activist because they were playing some Timberland sponsored game or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI tried to write an angry, over the top rant that ended up being pointless, insulting, and generally a waste for anyone to read.
I should delete the entire post, but I won't because it will serve as a reminder that I still have a long way to go.