Casey Anthony Trial

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I get your point, but if people don't know about a particular child, then why expect John Q. Public to become upset about it.

I presume we all understand that there are missing, abused and exploited kids out there. There have been similar cases in the Houston area that certainly received local attention, but for some reason did not make national attention. Maybe a local case that received some national attention is Andrea Yates. She is the NASA area mom who drowned her 5 kids.

Why the Anthony trial became so nationally sensational, I can't remember.

It is kind of funny/sad to me that the incidents PiKA2001 mentioned earlier in the thread I knew about, and knew more about than the Casey/Caylee trial. I remember years ago when she went missing, but I couldn't tell you anything else until yesterday and today, and it still isn't that much.

I don't have broadcast or table television and I think that really allows me to be less inundated and I using different sources. I listen to NPR on the radio or online and some BBC broadcasts through my Droid apps, and get the rest from reading actual printed papers we get at my office or online.

I know you get where I'm coming from so the rest of my post is just general grumping. I think slacktivist, which my sister agzg and Drolefille used is a good description of how I see this and all of the other momentary important causes that pop up due to instant access and well, social media like facebook. I'm much more of a doer and being involved than just signing an online petition or getting outraged and emotional, especially when I know the issues of power, privilege, race, class, and gender that fuel and drive these situations with girls and children.

I just don't see any genuine or lasting effects or change with an online petition or facebook rantings that have me turning on a porch light. Why not do something with either time, money, or advocacy, with community building where kids are involved in activities and schools, and connected with people who would notice if something happened and may not be family members. Granted in Caylee's situation that may not have mattered but for many others having their membership/dues covered at the Boys & Girls Club, Campfire, Boy & Girl Scout, and so on will do a lot more than any porch light or online petition. There's also CASA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, churches, and local programming that need volunteers and/or fundraising.

Not that I'm really a fan of those rubber bracelets or colored bracelets for every cause, but at least in many of those situations money is going to something that may make a difference, even if it is a paper heart in a business someone writes I.P. Freely in the donated name spot is a lot less "slacktivist" than what people are doing via facebook status messages.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I know you get where I'm coming from so the rest of my post is just general grumping. I think slacktivist, which my sister agzg and Drolefille used is a good description of how I see this and all of the other momentary important causes that pop up due to instant access and well, social media like facebook. I'm much more of a doer and being involved than just signing an online petition or getting outraged and emotional, especially when I know the issues of power, privilege, race, class, and gender that fuel and drive these situations with girls and children.

I just don't see any genuine or lasting effects or change with an online petition or facebook rantings that have me turning on a porch light. Why not do something with either time, money, or advocacy, with community building where kids are involved in activities and schools, and connected with people who would notice if something happened and may not be family members. Granted in Caylee's situation that may not have mattered but for many others having their membership/dues covered at the Boys & Girls Club, Campfire, Boy & Girl Scout, and so on will do a lot more than any porch light or online petition. There's also CASA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, churches, and local programming that need volunteers and/or fundraising.

Not that I'm really a fan of those rubber bracelets or colored bracelets for every cause, but at least in many of those situations money is going to something that may make a difference, even if it is a paper heart in a business someone writes I.P. Freely in the donated name spot is a lot less "slacktivist" than what people are doing via facebook status messages.

See, I think people commit to a cause to a level that they feel comfortable. That threshold of "real activist" vs. "slacktivist" is different for different people and we need to accept that.

Where one person may be a real activist for one cause, they may slack a bit on another.

There are so many strong emotional causes out there, how do you pick which one should deserve the most attention? In the span of a 30 min news program, they showed stories on the Anthony trial, an Iraqi vet who is a quadruple amputee getting a new home, and terrible fighting between Northern and Southern Sudan in Africa.

You can only spread yourself so far.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

See, I think people commit to a cause to a level that they feel comfortable. That threshold of "real activist" vs. "slacktivist" is different for different people and we need to accept that.

Where one person may be a real activist for one cause, they may slack a bit on another.

There are so many strong emotional causes out there, how do you pick which one should deserve the most attention? In the span of a 30 min news program, they showed stories on the Anthony trial, an Iraqi vet who is a quadruple amputee getting a new home, and terrible fighting between Northern and Southern Sudan in Africa.

You can only spread yourself so far.

The issue isn't "spreading yourself too thin" - people who put in actual effort anywhere are awesome, and it's incredible they give their limited time and resources to the greater good.

The issue is people who click a Facebook link instead of doing something 'for real' because that satisfies their own personal desire to be a good person (or look like a good person). Lazy people have an escape hatch that really didn't exist before.

Of course, these people may have 9 kids and have absolutely zero time - in that case, of course a petition or similar might be all they can pitch in. That's fine. It just looks suspiciously like cause-jumping to say "I AM A GOOD PERSON, I AM A PART OF THIS" for so many people. It looks like clicking a link to impress friends and neighbors, or to create an image. I reserve the right to judge these people as assholes, even though that makes me an asshole in turn. I'm fine with that.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

The issue isn't "spreading yourself too thin" - people who put in actual effort anywhere are awesome, and it's incredible they give their limited time and resources to the greater good.

My point, which I did not explicitly make, is that there are tons of causes out there to which one can participate. How can one judge that one cause needs more attention than another?

The issue is people who click a Facebook link instead of doing something 'for real' because that satisfies their own personal desire to be a good person (or look like a good person). Lazy people have an escape hatch that really didn't exist before.

For them, clicking a face-book page is their reality. That is about the level that they want to participate.

Of course, these people may have 9 kids and have absolutely zero time - in that case, of course a petition or similar might be all they can pitch in. That's fine. It just looks suspiciously like cause-jumping to say "I AM A GOOD PERSON, I AM A PART OF THIS" for so many people. It looks like clicking a link to impress friends and neighbors, or to create an image.

And not unless you ask each and every person their real reason for just clicking a link, you will never really know their situation.

Take me as an example. I am active with a dachshund rescue org. The org is always asking for people to foster dogs which I would love to do, but I don't have the time and space to accommodate another dog. So, I just donate money and prizes for raffles they have to raise money. I consider myself active, but my level may not be as much as others in the org. Do I care about the cause any less? I don't think so. Right now I just can't commit the time I'd like, maybe one day I can.

I reserve the right to judge these people as assholes, even though that makes me an asshole in turn. I'm fine with that.

cool

[Optimus Prime]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

For them, clicking a face-book page is their reality. That is about the level that they want to participate.



And not unless you ask each and every person their real reason for just clicking a link, you will never really know their situation.

The point is clicking on a facebook page (in this certain situation and case) is downright lazy. You can't really use yourself as an example because you are obviously trying to make a difference. Online petitions, cutting porch lights on, and changing profile pictures to Caylee is not going to do a damn thing to change or help anyone's community. No matter the situation, most people can donate an hour of their time a week to volunteer somewhere in someway. I doubt many of these people that are so angered by all of this will step away from their computer screens to actually get out in their communities and put forth a real effort.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by Optimus Prime

The point is clicking on a facebook page (in this certain situation and case) is downright lazy. You can't really use yourself as an example because you are obviously trying to make a difference.

You are right. But in *their* minds they are doing sooooooo much!!!!!!

These are people who are probably so self obsessed that for them to give the smallest amount of their attention to any cause, they'll see as a "real commitment".

Online petitions, cutting porch lights on, and changing profile pictures to Caylee is not going to do a damn thing to change or help anyone's community.

It may help only in the sense that it will bring attention to the issue. It may cause people to stop for a moment and think about what happened. And maybe in time, it will cause a few to become active.

No matter the situation, most people can donate an hour of their time a week to volunteer somewhere in someway. I doubt many of these people that are so angered by all of this will step away from their computer screens to actually get out in their communities and put forth a real effort.

They probably could, but they don't. See, where I think the problem is is that having to do community service is used as punishment when someone has done something bad. If community service was used in a more positive way, then the idea of volunteering time for any cause would seem reasonable.

Maybe we as GLO members understand the need and power behind donating our time because we do it as part of our membership in our orgs. For people who have never been exposed to the idea of volunteering, they don't really understand what it means and what is involved. So for them, just to click a link is like "WOW!! I did some good". They just don't know any better.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

The issue isn't "spreading yourself too thin" - people who put in actual effort anywhere are awesome, and it's incredible they give their limited time and resources to the greater good.

The issue is people who click a Facebook link instead of doing something 'for real' because that satisfies their own personal desire to be a good person (or look like a good person). Lazy people have an escape hatch that really didn't exist before.

Of course, these people may have 9 kids and have absolutely zero time - in that case, of course a petition or similar might be all they can pitch in. That's fine. It just looks suspiciously like cause-jumping to say "I AM A GOOD PERSON, I AM A PART OF THIS" for so many people. It looks like clicking a link to impress friends and neighbors, or to create an image. I reserve the right to judge these people as assholes, even though that makes me an asshole in turn. I'm fine with that.

I'm an asshole too, but I've been quite lucky that my facebook feed has been intelligent and thoughtful commentary on how the law works and explaining the outcome or on how victims/children are handled and looked upon by the media and the public. There's also been offshoots about matricide and how people view it in frames of gender and society. I know those people are letter writers, researchers who publish, serve on boards, do probono work, and so on, and if it ends up on facebook it doesn't get to that point, thank God.

Originally Posted by Optimus Prime

The point is clicking on a facebook page (in this certain situation and case) is downright lazy. You can't really use yourself as an example because you are obviously trying to make a difference. Online petitions, cutting porch lights on, and changing profile pictures to Caylee is not going to do a damn thing to change or help anyone's community. No matter the situation, most people can donate an hour of their time a week to volunteer somewhere in someway. I doubt many of these people that are so angered by all of this will step away from their computer screens to actually get out in their communities and put forth a real effort.

Hell they could set up their internet searching with Good Search and every time they need something it contributes to a charity.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

You are right. But in *their* minds they are doing sooooooo much!!!!!!

These are people who are probably so self obsessed that for them to give the smallest amount of their attention to any cause, they'll see as a "real commitment".



It may help only in the sense that it will bring attention to the issue. It may cause people to stop for a moment and think about what happened. And maybe in time, it will cause a few to become active.




They probably could, but they don't. See, where I think the problem is is that having to do community service is used as punishment when someone has done something bad. If community service was used in a more positive way, then the idea of volunteering time for any cause would seem reasonable.

Maybe we as GLO members understand the need and power behind donating our time because we do it as part of our membership in our orgs. For people who have never been exposed to the idea of volunteering, they don't really understand what it means and what is involved. So for them, just to click a link is like "WOW!! I did some good". They just don't know any better.

What I wasn't as clear about is that an online petition or facebook porch light movements are less effective than say, shooting off a quick email or making a phone call to one's elected but take the same amount of time. Also a national petition isn't appropriate, but I won't knock them for their ignorance about not knowing that nuance, so if someone made their status "Hey people on Sesame Street, our representative is Guy Smiley and I just wrote to him about working on a law because of what happened to Caylee Anthony." Same thing regarding a donation to an event or charity, especially with the text donations that have cropped up after every natural disaster. "I'm upset about the Caylee Anthony case, so I made a donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 93% of revenue goes to finding children and victim assistance and you can donate online at www.morethanafacebookslacktivist.com"

I don't care if someone wants attention or acknowledgment if they actually did something positive toward whatever cause it is at the moment and may entice others to the bandwagon. It's the attention and bandwagon with no chance of attempting or affecting real change that engages my righteous indignation. If someone doesn't have money a simple call or email to an elected official who gets paid to do those things may take a whole ten minutes, and if they have money and not time they could probably complete an online donation in five minutes.