Kony 2012

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

At the risk of sounding like a d-bag (not that that ever stopped me before), I will say that I knew about the LRA before this video came out. I didn't remember Kony in particular, but I was aware of the LRA and their various activities/atrocities. It's not because I'm super up on current events in Africa or anything. I feel pretty sure that I read about the LRA in a Cracked article and was curious enough to go Wiki it. It just so happened that I Wiki-ed it a couple of months before it became popular to do so. *Shrug*

I hate everything about those stupid Facebook "raising awareness" campaigns that seem to congratulate people for passing things along to their friends without actually *doing* anything. Like, I know I was the one here jumping up and down about SOPA about six-ish weeks ago. But I at least knew what I could do about SOPA--writing Congresspeople, etc. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with the Kony information, though. It's like, ok, awareness has been raised. Now what? Send you money? No, thanks. And that kinda seems to be where the train ends.

I don't know. I'm probably just cynical.
 
I'm not sure how I feel about this.

At the risk of sounding like a d-bag (not that that ever stopped me before), I will say that I knew about the LRA before this video came out. I didn't remember Kony in particular, but I was aware of the LRA and their various activities/atrocities. It's not because I'm super up on current events in Africa or anything. I feel pretty sure that I read about the LRA in a Cracked article and was curious enough to go Wiki it. It just so happened that I Wiki-ed it a couple of months before it became popular to do so. *Shrug*

I hate everything about those stupid Facebook "raising awareness" campaigns that seem to congratulate people for passing things along to their friends without actually *doing* anything. Like, I know I was the one here jumping up and down about SOPA about six-ish weeks ago. But I at least knew what I could do about SOPA--writing Congresspeople, etc. I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with the Kony information, though. It's like, ok, awareness has been raised. Now what? Send you money? No, thanks. And that kinda seems to be where the train ends.

I don't know. I'm probably just cynical.

Politicians do stuff when they think it will get them support, or when not doing it will cause a loss of support. I bet lots want to use the Kony bandwagon.
 
The notion that the US government has been just standing around doing nothing is one of the many distortions in that video.

You're being lied to and manipulated, man. Wake the hell up.

Fact - Kony has caused thousands of children grievous suffering.

That's all I need to know. I want him dead.
 
Fact - Kony has caused thousands of children grievous suffering.

That's all I need to know. I want him dead.
I appreciate you proving my point, I really do. Even so, I find you depressing.



You're welcome. If all Klein does is retweet without commentary, you'd have to decide whether his recommendations are worth the time and space. Sounds like it's not. Most people don't do solely retweets, so yeah, you're right, unfollow him. It is interesting how people use Twitter in different ways. It's trial and error. It's the right idea, though, to find people you like from other media, and see how their tweets are.
No, he had some interesting blurts in the midst of his retweeting. But after he tweeted that he was outside a movie theater waiting to see John Carter [seriously, dude? who cares?] I learned how to unfollow.

This has changed my view of Klein, adding a narcissistic and bizarre layer to his personality that I never knew existed.

On a brighter note, I do appreciate the feed from Fareed Zakaria and Nate Silver. As ITW would say, they seem to give good tweet.

Stewart and Colbert must be off for the weekend, which seems healthy.
 
I wonder, when my friends and I donated money to the victims of Katrina, and when my government sent aid south, was that just rich white people coming to the rescue?

Should we not have bothered?
 
I wonder, when my friends and I donated money to the victims of Katrina, and when my government sent aid south, was that just rich white people coming to the rescue?

Should we not have bothered?

I don't think the beef is about who gives money, but about the misinformation being slickly marketed and then passed along without reflection. By contrast, Katrina was fairly well covered by the press, although I would say misuse of charitable funds is always an issue in any post-disaster situation.

I understand the importance and just plain reality of marketing in this day and age, but this did turn my stomach.

It's almost enough to make me get off Twitter! :eek: Nah, just kidding.
 
I don't think the beef is about who gives money, but about the misinformation being slickly marketed and then passed along without reflection. By contrast, Katrina was fairly well covered by the press, although I would say misuse of charitable funds is always an issue in any post-disaster situation.

I understand the importance and just plain reality of marketing in this day and age, but this did turn my stomach.

It's almost enough to make me get off Twitter! :eek: Nah, just kidding.

Just responding to the idea that this is all "white people running to the rescue again", as many are putting forth. I can't speak for others but my decisions to help others is never based on the colour of their, or my, skin.

There was no outcry over white people rushing in to rescue the victims of Katrina, in fact just the opposite it would seem. Most were poor, the majority were black (at least from what I saw on the news I received), and all, for me, were from a foreign country, but it's socially acceptable for me to help them but not others. I blogged about that cause and solicited help from friends - but none of us were accused of "hipster bullshit".

(I don't even know what a hipster is, to be honest).

And there are a number of reasons we shouldn't have helped. Foremost being that the US government was fully capable of doing the job itself. But we helped anyway because 1) People were suffering and 2) We could.

I understand what you're saying ITW, I was responding to a different sentiment that's making the rounds.

So, question: What are the parameters in which it is socially acceptable/ethical for me as a white, educated, western woman to help other people around the globe? What may I do or not do, where and under what circumstances?
 
I wonder, when my friends and I donated money to the victims of Katrina, and when my government sent aid south, was that just rich white people coming to the rescue?

Should we not have bothered?
Was that just rich white people coming to the rescue? Well, if you folks are rich & white & actually did some "rescuing," then that's what it was.



Should you not have bothered? That depends.

To whom did you donate the money? Not which cause, but which specific organization?

Was that an organization with sufficient knowledge of the logistical, cultural, political, and humanitarian needs of the local populace to dispense funds in a truly helpful manner? Or would a different organization, with better local knowledge, have been more likely to produce sustainable improvements on the ground?

How did the organization to which you donated spend your money? How much went to overhead, and how much to the actual relief of victims?

And to which victims, specifically? And what type of relief was provided? Here's a link to an article highlighting the point that all "relief" is not equal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122895484289496453.html


My questions here are all rhetorical. Hopefully they explain my answer.
 
So, question: What are the parameters in which it is socially acceptable/ethical for me as a white, educated, western woman to help other people around the globe? What may I do or not do, where and under what circumstances?
You seem to be assuming that whatever you do would, of course, be helping. The arrogance of that assumption is part of what's being mocked here.
 
Just responding to the idea that this is all "white people running to the rescue again", as many are putting forth. I can't speak for others but my decisions to help others is never based on the colour of their, or my, skin.

There was no outcry over white people rushing in to rescue the victims of Katrina, in fact just the opposite it would seem. Most were poor, the majority were black (at least from what I saw on the news I received), and all, for me, were from a foreign country, but it's socially acceptable for me to help them but not others. I blogged about that cause and solicited help from friends - but none of us were accused of "hipster bullshit".

(I don't even know what a hipster is, to be honest).

And there are a number of reasons we shouldn't have helped. Foremost being that the US government was fully capable of doing the job itself. But we helped anyway because 1) People were suffering and 2) We could.

I understand what you're saying ITW, I was responding to a different sentiment that's making the rounds.

So, question: What are the parameters in which it is socially acceptable/ethical for me as a white, educated, western woman to help other people around the globe? What may I do or not do, where and under what circumstances?

I hear you but I think the hipster charge is being leveled here in part because there is a paternalistic westerner thing going on, but also because of the blind group thinking.

I tend to go with #1 from urban dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster

ETA: This issue aside (I still contend if anyone is to be blamed here it is millenials, clearly the worst people in the world ever! In fact, if anyone needs to be exposed...), I mock hipsters because you can't be nonconformist if you look and sound like every other hipster. Although I give you a pass if you're 20. The worst demographic ever is the hipster parent. Putting your baby in a punk rock onesie...just no.
 
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I appreciate you proving my point, I really do. Even so, I find you depressing.




No, he had some interesting blurts in the midst of his retweeting. But after he tweeted that he was outside a movie theater waiting to see John Carter [seriously, dude? who cares?] I learned how to unfollow.

This has changed my view of Klein, adding a narcissistic and bizarre layer to his personality that I never knew existed.

On a brighter note, I do appreciate the feed from Fareed Zakaria and Nate Silver. As ITW would say, they seem to give good tweet.

Stewart and Colbert must be off for the weekend, which seems healthy.

Isn't that the buzz on Ezra Klein? That's he's totally full of himself?
 
You seem to be assuming that whatever you do would, of course, be helping. The arrogance of that assumption is part of what's being mocked here.

So...I should never try to help anyone unless I am absolutely certain it will in fact help? This assumes that we can always know the outcomes of our actions.
 
Isn't that the buzz on Ezra Klein? That's he's totally full of himself?
I hadn't heard! He does write a highly informative blog, though.


So...I should never try to help anyone unless I am absolutely certain it will in fact help? This assumes that we can always know the outcomes of our actions.
At the very least, you should make a reasonable attempt to insure that your efforts will not cause harm.

And yeah, that can be tough to know. Especially if you're trying to help people caught in the middle of a complex political environment or armed conflict, with atrocities committed by both sides, and historical, cultural, logistical & environmental factors in play that you can't even begin to understand.

But if (as in the Kony case), there are reputable folks on the ground giving clear & compelling reasons why a particular mode of "helping" would in fact be harmful, then it seems to me you have your answer.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-deibert/how-invisible-childrens-k_b_1334410.html?ref=impact
 
Just responding to the idea that this is all "white people running to the rescue again", as many are putting forth. I can't speak for others but my decisions to help others is never based on the colour of their, or my, skin.

There was no outcry over white people rushing in to rescue the victims of Katrina, in fact just the opposite it would seem. Most were poor, the majority were black (at least from what I saw on the news I received), and all, for me, were from a foreign country, but it's socially acceptable for me to help them but not others. I blogged about that cause and solicited help from friends - but none of us were accused of "hipster bullshit".

(I don't even know what a hipster is, to be honest).

And there are a number of reasons we shouldn't have helped. Foremost being that the US government was fully capable of doing the job itself. But we helped anyway because 1) People were suffering and 2) We could.

I understand what you're saying ITW, I was responding to a different sentiment that's making the rounds.

So, question: What are the parameters in which it is socially acceptable/ethical for me as a white, educated, western woman to help other people around the globe? What may I do or not do, where and under what circumstances?

You seem to have a moot point detector. But that's just your ego grasping for a lifeline. Nobody ever likes to admit that they were wrong...much easier to scratch around for a silver lining: but but, what about the part where I was well meaning and my heart was in the right place and at least we get to kill one bad guy, don't we?? etc.

In your case this is a kind of abashed logic. But how similar it sounds to the U-turn on Iraq's WMD...Oops, well at least we got to kill a bad guy...one million dead civilians along the way but our heart was in the right place.

I wish I could identify the Pentagon's exact motives for the Kony campaign. It may well be a test run for the kind of thing they intend to wage on Iran. It may well be an attempt to beef up military presence in a place where China has vested interests.

What is certain is that one dead Kony won't make a jot of difference to the lives of Ugandan children. There are a million evil fuckers who can fill his spot. If you want to help the kids, then start by understanding that foreign entities always back the bad guy who best serves their interests....Let's get some John Pilger documentaries to go viral ...how do we make that happen???
 
I wish I could identify the Pentagon's exact motives for the Kony campaign.

Conspiracy theories...good gravy.

I will happily engage JM in debate because at least he stays in the realm of facts and tangible proof. Sorry but I can't say the same for you.
 
Conspiracy theories...good gravy.

I will happily engage JM in debate because at least he stays in the realm of facts and tangible proof. Sorry but I can't say the same for you.

Ok so you're one those people who protects her ignorant ass with the "Conspiracy" slander.. I have the foresight to smell bullshit and the stench of corruption in all of this but the only concrete theory I've put forward so far is that you are as dumb as dog shit...
 
No, he had some interesting blurts in the midst of his retweeting. But after he tweeted that he was outside a movie theater waiting to see John Carter [seriously, dude? who cares?] I learned how to unfollow.

This has changed my view of Klein, adding a narcissistic and bizarre layer to his personality that I never knew existed.

On a brighter note, I do appreciate the feed from Fareed Zakaria and Nate Silver. As ITW would say, they seem to give good tweet.

Stewart and Colbert must be off for the weekend, which seems healthy.

Well, the very idea that someone would want a play by play of your thoughts is pretty narcissistic in the first place, I guess. [Hmm... I need to go tweet that.]

Good suggestions on Fareed and Nate Silver. There's a whole discussion, too, in the comedy community, on Twitter as honer of craft. So there are a lot of comedians doing very funny stuff.

So...I should never try to help anyone unless I am absolutely certain it will in fact help? This assumes that we can always know the outcomes of our actions.

No. Never ever do anything ever. Wait. No man is a (Kony) island.

It is an interesting topic, isn't it? People are very busy, but they have an inclination to help. We no longer have the common national experience of the network news or general interest newspapers to plop these stories down in front of us all in finished, edited chunks (whatever the drawbacks of that model, news was at least vetted in some kind of process). The rumorblast is harder to pin down.

I still love the empowering potential of social media, it's just messier. I suppose this is why we need a daily news snopes, to make it less messy.

I like and respect your energetic inclination to make the world better, Keroin. I think the greater danger to the world is not rashness, but indifference or defeatism. (If you're wrong 25 percent of the time and end up selling puppies into slavery, well then, I'm very sorry, puppies, but no one's perfect. ;) )
 
Ok so you're one those people who protects her ignorant ass with the "Conspiracy" slander.. I have the foresight to smell bullshit and the stench of corruption in all of this but the only concrete theory I've put forward so far is that you are as dumb as dog shit...

Wow~
I’m curious~ what are you trying to protect with all that anger?

That is wretched behavior but admittedly, you are not dumb as dog shit! Congrats.:rolleyes:
 
Well, the very idea that someone would want a play by play of your thoughts is pretty narcissistic in the first place, I guess. [Hmm... I need to go tweet that.]

Good suggestions on Fareed and Nate Silver. There's a whole discussion, too, in the comedy community, on Twitter as honer of craft. So there are a lot of comedians doing very funny stuff.
Narcissistic indeed. And also a really odd substitute for actual human conversation.

It does seem useful for breaking news feed (e.g., Reuters), succinct & timely analysis (Silver) and comedy blurts.
 
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