Is Posting on Democratic Underground Actually Activism?

[MineralMan]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I'm a prolific poster here. I think carefully about what I post, and try to make my posts worthwhile. But, is it activism? I don't think so. Here are some things I think are activism:

1. Precinct walking and door-knocking.
2. Making campaign calls for candidates.
3. Writing carefully-constructed letters to elected officials.
4. Writing letters about political subjects to local newspapers and other publications.
5. Organizing campaign activities.
6. Working within a political organization to help it succeed.
7. Participating in caucuses and conventions within your jurisdiction.
8. Participating in, helping to organize and publicize political rallies and other activities.
9. Showing up at marches, protests, and other such events.
10. Blogging on regional political blogs.
11. Taking every opportunity available to meet with and talk to candidates and elected officials.
12. Voting in every election and encouraging others to do the same.
13. Donating, where possible, to campaigns.

Writing posts on DU? Not so much. In the first place, it's usually preaching to the choir. Most DUers will vote for the same candidates you support - Democratic candidates. Second, most of the people who read what you post do not live in your jurisdiction and cannot vote there. Third, most posts are read by only a small number of DUers. The Views counts on DU represent many situations where people return to the same thread again and again. A look at the GD page, for example, shows that most OPs only have a few hundred views, and many of those are by people who are replying to the OP and coming back to check for other replies.

This is not to say that DU is not an important forum. It is. We hash out all sorts of ideas, and can make arguments that change minds from time to time. But, I don't think it's activism. I don't think what is posted on DU actually influences anyone to do anything they would not otherwise do. I think DU is a good place to share ideas among people who generally have similar goals. I like DU very much, but I do not believe that anything I do here has any effect on any political issue.

I think it's very important not to let activity here on DU substitute for actual activism that truly helps get Democrats, and progressive Democrats in particular, elected to offices and influences those elected officials to do the right things. That's activism. DU is a place where we can discuss activism, but participation here is not activism in itself most of the time. Activism is personal, local, and reaches more than just people who are already politically involved. Activism actually promotes participation by those who might not participate. Activism tells those already elected how we feel and what we want them to do.

I'm for activism.

[stray cat]

1. No

[PeaceNikki]

2. No. It's Slacktivism.

[MineralMan]

4. Slacktivism...interesting.

A good neologism, I think. You should add it to Urban Dictionary.

[PeaceNikki]

5. lol, it's been there and in wiki for quite some time.

I did not coin the phrase.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacktivism
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slacktivism

[MineralMan]

9. Hah! I should have known.

[crazyjoe]

62. HA, I love it!!

[bemildred]

3. Hell no, it's "networking" sort of, but it's not even close to "activism". nt

[MineralMan]

6. To add: I'll be out door-knocking again today in my precinct.

That's my activism for the day.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. I agree that posting on DU is not activism

and that there is no substitute for 'feet on the ground.' Despite my appreciation for those who put time & energy into developing informative posts on DU, they're still read by a limited audience.

There are millions of people who would prefer to go about their lives without giving any thought to the political process or how the decisions of elected officials affect them, and no amount of inducement will get them to visit DU for our informative views. The only way to reach those people is either by phone or face-to-face visits - my personal favorite. It's too easy to 'zone-out' over the phone. An in-person encounter is more engaging and provides physical proof that some people are concerned enough to actually walk neighborhoods for what they believe.

[butterfly77]

35. But,information can be spread over ..

the internet and thus can be spread by people who read and pass it on. I talk about issues to people wherever I go. I have talked so much over the years that now my kids who are on face book are now spreading the word.

My daughter said the other day that she posted on her facebook page to her friends that if a female is raped she will have to carry her rapist's baby.

She has a very active page and I post on my sons pages a lot of information and videos I find on DU and they have a lot of friends on their pages..

[rug]

8. Is internet porn sex?

[MineralMan]

10. Depends on whether you can type with one hand, I guess.

[EFerrari]

11. Posting at DU can be many things and one of them is activism.

People come here to plan, recruit bodies for and fund their projects and to give or get information. And of course, that is activism. It happens less often now than it used to, for some reason, and that's too bad.

H20 Man has a link to a petition going now in GD. Please stop by if you haven't already.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9373996

[PeaceNikki]

13. Serious question about internet petitions...

Have they ever REALLY accomplished anything? At all? Ever?

[MineralMan]

16. I don't think they've ever influenced anything, frankly.

Same with voting in internet polls. Trying to skew polls is useless, IMO.

[Tippy]

29. I think you are wrong there are a lot of internet polls, valid ones

So why are you being so negative about things this morning? I get the impression you don't like many of us who post here.

[MineralMan]

33. Then you get the wrong impression.

The reason I posted this OP was to get people to check and see if they're substituting their activity on DU for actual activism. I'm not at all negative. Shortly, I'll be logging off and getting back to my weekend precinct walking and door-knocking. Folks are starting to be up and about. Time to do something to help win the election for Democrats.

[EFerrari]

25. They provide evidence of support and that can be valuable.

For example, when Professor Greg Grandin wrote a response to Human Rights Watch's incredibly skewed report on Venezuela, he recruited other Latin America scholars and journalists on line. That's a narrow example but the same principle applies. Our writing to Don Siegelman every week didn't get him out of jail but the flow of letters was noticed.

So, yes, I'd have to say that aggregating signatures on the intertubes can be valuable. Is every petition valuable? Maybe not in itself. But it is in developing the habit of engagement and in getting people in touch with each other.

[Radical Activist]

42. They've made it easier to ignore people.

Having 1/3 as many people actually make the effort to write or call has a bigger impact than one more petition that will be glanced at for .5 seconds before being thrown in the trash.

[PeaceNikki]

47. I fear that they also make people more likely to ignore issues

Yes, they are "aware", but they are under the seriously false impression that "signing" their name does a damn thing. If it, in fact, kicks them into REAL action, awesome, but I don't think that happens often.

[MineralMan]

14. OK, I looked at the GD list. On the first page of that list,

H2O Man's post is the only one that asks DUers to actually do something. Now, I don't think petitions like this have any value in getting anything done, but I'll give you your point in that single case. I'd also suggest that you review that list and see if you can find any other posts that represent activism. I couldn't.

[EFerrari]

22. Yes, H20 Man's OP asks for action which is why I gave you that link

and not another link.

[MineralMan]

24. I realize that. My point is that, of all the posts on the first

page of the GD list, that is the only one that calls for action and provides a means for that action. I don't consider online petitions to be of any use, but that's just me. That there is only one post on that list that even pretends to suggest an actual act sort of makes my point, I think.

[EFerrari]

26. No, it doesn't. As I said, posting at DU can be many things.

And in the six years I've been here, I've participated in many actions, some of them mine and some of them other DUer's.

[MineralMan]

41. You know, EFerrari, I'm not really talking about you in this OP.

You're an activist. I'm not addressing those who are already active outside of DU. Not at all. I'm addressing those who think their DU activities are a substitute for other kinds of activism. It's not about you.

[EFerrari]

53. Right. It isn't about me nor was I alone in all those actions.

And I wonder why you'd think that DUers need you to define activism for them or suggest to them that they really don't know what they're doing when they post to DU?

[MineralMan]

55. Hmm. My OP asks a question, and then includes my opinion.

I don't think anyone needs me to define anything. It was a question, with additional information as an opinion.

That you are participating in the discussion is evidence that it worked. It stimulated discussion. That's my goal. That's always my goal with OPs I write on DU: stimulating discussion.

I wonder why you're so angry at my asking the question and offering my opinion. We both apparently wonder things.

Thanks for contributing to the discussion.

[EFerrari]

70. Well, I don't think this is about me and I'm not angry.

It's good to have the opportunity to revisit the projects that we've worked on here. May there be many, many more.

[boston bean]

27. DU

certainly has helped me become more involved and informed about politics.

Looking at the way the board is today compared to what it once was, some may think I was radicalized in my former years here at DU.

edit to change my to me and add a the

[calimary]

46. It is absolutely activism.

People do come here to plan, and strategize. People come here, as I did in the beginning, looking for information, looking for truth, looking for talking points, looking for facts to debunk the nauseating avalanches of astroturfed letters-to-the-editor and obnoxious knuckle-dragger emails, looking for research and links and fuel for verbally wrestling idiot family members to the ground at Sunday dinner, for rebuttal material to use whenever some Pox Noise viewer, limbaugh lover, or low-information voter starts regurgitating crap. People come here for solidarity - to find SOMEONE who feels as they do, which is how I found my way here when I was so dispirited after Selection 2000. Does anybody remember how, if you trusted the media at all, you felt so isolated and alone - surely EVERYONE EVERYWHERE just LOVED the "new president" and got behind him without even questioning! I found a fast-growing community FILLED with people who shared my views, buttressed them, supported them (and me), and gave me ideas, inspiration, material for my own eventual blogging and column creation. Hell, I made it all the way to Huffington Post writing my columns based on the political/social/historical education I've received here. And in turn, I may have been able to give a few others some ideas to run with as well.

This place is like a seed-planting of activism. A nursery of activism. This is the kind of place where activism is born and activists are energized and well-armed. It turned me from thinking I was beaten before I ever started - to thinking I could actually make a difference. It made me a more effective liberal and far less apt to be intimidated by the bullies of the wrong-wing.

[EFerrari]

54. When our local media shut down all our coverage for Beach Impeach,

DU didn't. We got participants from DU and also sent participants to DU. It's a beautiful thing!



:hi:

[MineralMan]

57. Nice! I hadn't seen that before.

[bananas]

78. That's #8 and #9 in your OP

8. Participating in, helping to organize and publicize political rallies and other activities.
9. Showing up at marches, protests, and other such events.

[MineralMan]

81. Yes, I know.

I do remember what I write.

[bananas]

75. Agree completely. nt

[blondeatlast]

66. Many friends and acquaintances are amazed at the news I have that they aren't exposed to.

Of course, I get it here but I can almost always suggest less "controversial" sites from which they can get that same news. Many have come to rely on me for the "real" story--it really hit when AZ SB 1070 came around.

[EFerrari]

72. These days, having facts in hand for people is activism! n/t

[TBF]

12. Of the items you've listed I would say maybe 1 is activism -

9. Showing up at marches, protests, and other such events.


Electoral politics are the status quo activities. Pick a team and get to work. If you're actually out to change policy in a meaningful way it is done through movements (protests, marches - as you've listed in #9). Any major changes we've had in civil rights, suffrage, labor laws - all these have come from people organizing and getting in the streets. FDR's "new deal" was only passed in response to all the communist activity at the time (communists were actually making progress with labor, and that was very threatening to the status quo). And of course that little "problem" was dealt with in the 40s-50s via McCarthyism.

On edit, meant to also answer your original question, "yes" it can be activism. Communicating, especially in the case of getting folks together to protest, challenging them to question the "status quo" - yes that can be activism. It can be very powerful because talking is the way we find each other and bond together.

Margaret Mead is credited with the quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

[MineralMan]

15. There's more than one kind of activism. My definition is pretty

broad, I'll admit, but street activism is just one form of activism. It may be the only one that you think important, but not everyone agrees.

[TBF]

17. Agreed -

I was just stating my view. Those who think electoral politics are important would no doubt agree with your list. Setting that disagreement aside however, I would still argue that the communication itself is valuable. This website, for example, seemed to be quite an oasis for those who joined early on (right after the Bush election). I had pretty much ignored politics for many years - it was only Obama's candidacy that brought me back.

[MineralMan]

20. There's no doubt that DU can encourage activism.

I'm just saying that participation here is not activism in itself.

[Radical Activist]

36. I've organized many marches and protests.

I consider that very basic, entry-level activism. They have little impact. I consider them to be valuable mainly as an avenue to have fun and get people involved in doing something more productive.

Sorry, but a guy who can deliver votes in a large precinct (because he does the hard work of knocking on doors) gets a hell of a lot more attention and respect from office holders than another protest that's ignored by the local press.

[MineralMan]

48. I used to be very active in street activism. I think it has a

cumulative effect, even if a particular action doesn't do much. Now, my aching hips and ancientness keeps me off the streets most of the time.

Since our country operates on elections, I decided some years ago that would be my focus. Without those elections, all the rest is useless. So, that's where I work.

I'll leave the street activism to the younger set, and good on them!

[Lil Missy]

18. No. Nor does an opinion posted on DU mean it has any relation to reality.

[MineralMan]

21. That's true of any opinion anywhere.

We all need good filters, don't we?

[Tippy]

19. Posting on Democratic Underground Actually Activism?

It sure is. Take myself for example, for years I was out there pounding the pavement, working with the local party, phone banking, fund raising, I was the Secretary and Vice-Chair of the party for years I could go on and on, But due to my health I am no longer able to do what I once did. I still want to do my part, so now I use my computer and DU, and other good sites. I write letters to the editor, so research is important, I know I can trust what I find on DU. I carry information to others, especially to members of our county party and state party, that all those busy folks might miss. It's so difficult to type and it takes me so long I sometimes barrow sentences, not ideas just words, if you understand, and I hope you do. I tried making phone calls but because my fingers are so stiff even punching in the numbers became a problem. So please remember those of us who want to help and are not always able to do so in the traditional sense but still feel we have something of value to offer. You can call it what ever you like but I would call it activism.....

[MineralMan]

23. Thanks for your post.

I think DU can help promote activism and provide information, but it is your actions in sharing that information with people that are not DUers that is the actual activism. That's why I said that participation on DU is not activism in itself.

[Tippy]

32. Ok, I get where you are comming from.....

but I am still going to call what I am doing activism. If you have noticed my posts that are nothing more than K&R's, when I find something I feal is important to the cause or has info that needs to be shared that is the reason, I hope others might take the time to read it.

[WillyT]

28. If It Is, It's Writ Fairly Small, But...

and this IS important... it has the potential TO activate people.

Just this week we had Congressman Alan Grayson responding to questions here on DU, and that activated some to donate to his re-election campaign.

People here have read stories and opinions that caused them to write LTTE's in their local papers.

Many people here are about to activate themselves to D.C. this coming weekend to gather for a rally.

I've always thought of DU as a giant nationwide, in many cases worldwide, clearing house of information and opinion. Since we have people all over the country and the world, we find out about things we had no idea were happening, and get opinions that we may have never considered.

I don't know if that fact fits people's definition of activism, but I know for me and many, the activism I engage in is significantly informed and advanced right here at DU.

Hope that made sense, LOL.

:shrug:

:hi:

[EFerrari]

30. MineralMan's list centers on political campaigns and doesn't really take social justice

type activities into account. Sending flowers to Barbara Boxer was a type of activism. We materially showed her how much we cared about voters in Ohio and we showed that we appreciated her efforts on their behalf.

Activism takes many forms. I shared this link on another thread, two musicians in San Francisco who made an album out of Donald Rumsfeld's horrible bullshit. That's pushback, right there.

http://stuffedpenguin.com/rumsfeld/lyrics.htm

[MineralMan]

31. Right. DU does encourage activism and provides information, at

least sometimes even accurate information. But, the actual activism isn't on DU. That's exactly what I was saying. DU is important to all of us, but the activism happens elsewhere. DU, in itself, doesn't really equate to activism. It's more like the local Democratic Club or whatever. Folks meet there and then go out and actually do something...sometimes.

I'm asking people to check themselves and see if they're conflating their activity on DU with actual activism. That's all.

[WillyT]

40. Well Sure... Reading A Newspaper Isn't Activism Either, Yet...

in days of yore, it was the stories people read that lead them to take action.

The two (information and activism) are inextricably linked.

:shrug:

[Radical Activist]

34. No, it isn't activism.

DU can be an information source that might help people find opportunities to be active. That's valuable. But posting at DU by itself is not activism.

I would make the exception that if someone's goal is to peel off Democratic voters to a third party effort then posting on DU is activism, for them. They aren't preaching to their own choir. Spreading cynicism and discontent about the Democratic Party is a tactic designed to reach a goal for some people, so I understand why they would view posting here as activism.

[MineralMan]

37. You make a good point. There are a few who make every attempt

they can to suppress the vote and discourage people. I find that unconscionable. That kind of negative activism is not what I mean at all, for sure.

[WillyT]

63. Jeez... And What Number Would You Attach To That Voter Suppression Here At DU ???

10, 100, 1,000... spread over 50 states.

I think you over-estimate the power of posting and reading on DU.

Most people here are their own thinking person, and not much that is said or read here is going to cause people to give up and not vote.

And those that are, are probably not measurable, or are negligible.

:shrug:

[MineralMan]

73. Whatever number it might be, it's very small. DU itself doesn't

influence any elections very much. Individual DUers, however, who are activists off the site do have an influence.

I don't overestimate the power of DU. I don't actually think it has much, if any, real power at all. DU is just another political discussion forum out of very many on the web.

[Radical Activist]

82. The enthusiasm gap.

DU doesn't have much influence by itself. But taken as a whole, I think the network of netroots bloggers and liberal media pundits has some impact. I don't know what strategic purpose is served by always hyping the negative and never admitting the positive, but it seems to have had an impact.

[EFerrari]

98. I've yet to see anyone trying to suppress the vote here

as you have tried to devalue and discourage DU activism on this thread. What am I missing? Is there any substance behind this smear of DU posters?

[EFerrari]

50. Speaking of spreading cynicism and discontent

DU raised $50k for Andy, right here and in the process, we networked many people. We've raised smaller amounts many times. We've brainstormed and planned actions, right here, many times, everything from letter campaigns to protests to websites.

DU can be a very powerful place, a creative one and an effective one. It doesn't have to be only the locus of repetitive arguments and acrimony.

As far as peeling off voters to third parties, my experience is that it works or has worked very much the other way around. I came here with a Green registration and changed it back to Democrat in 2006. Of course, nobody browbeat me for being a Green in those days so I had the opportunity to rethink what I was doing. Today, who knows if it would work that way.

[bvar22]

107. A bundle of self-contradiction.

First, you posted a question.....
and then answered it in your own thread.
Why not be honest, and simply post YOUR opinion in the OP.

Second,
you state that posting on DU is NOT activism,
and then in the next paragraph you disagree with your own opinion by stating that posting on DU IS activism.
Pick one.
They cannot BOTH be true.

[Telly Savalas]

38. IT IS IF IT'S IN ALL CAPS!!!!!!1111

[MineralMan]

43. SAY IT LOUD, eh? LOL.

[JamesA1102]

39. No it is not! nt

[SmileyRose]

44. YES

Collectively we keep each other pumped for the real work that goes on away from the board. So in that respect, yes, it's activism.

[izzybeans]

45. It is a mistake to discount what happens here just because it isn't direct activism.

Activism, especially successful political actions, supposedly happens in waves, however the volume of those waves must be filled in the interim. DU is a form of discursive practice where we share and debate ideas and repertoires for action (e.g. this thread).

[kpete]

49. for me

DU is not activism.
But I think many DUers are activists.

I think of DU as a giant treasure trove of information - always growing, sputtering, spitting but full of gems and the occasional lump of coal.

peace, kp

[MineralMan]

51. You're right. I'm trying to raise the consciousness of those who

believe that posting on DU is an end in itself. If you read my entire OP, you'll see that.

[kpete]

60. I got that

and thank you for your post and your ?

Very important for us to get up off our asses and use the info to create change when and where we can.

again, peace, kp

[MineralMan]

61. Thanks very much, kpete.

[K8-EEE]

52. It helps us all be better activists because

whenever I'm faced with RW rhetoric I know I can look to the posts at DU for the true info.....right wingers don't even try to argue with me anymore because they are so sick of being shot down!

I don't know "activism" but I can say -- it helps!

Going to the Boxer/Brown "Rally in the Valley" today!

[MineralMan]

56. Yup, it's a great source for information and discussion about

that information.

Yell a cheer for me for Brown and Boxer at that rally. I lived in CA most of my life.

[Spazito]

58. No, I don't think it is...

at best, it can promote activism, encourage activism but simply posting on DU or any other site is not activism in itself. One exception to that is on your list and that is donating. OPs asking for donations to specific candidates has had results more than once.

DU has been good as a place to go to for factual data to use when one is going to do the activities you have listed in your OP but that seems to have diminished as well which is unfortunate.

[MineralMan]

59. Thanks. DU is valuable, but is not the whole thing.

Taking what comes out of DU into our precincts, counties, districts, states, and more is the actual activism. DU is something else.

[donco6]

64. No. n/t

[nc4bo]

65. I think it could, doesn't necessarily mean in a political way.

So I started a garden 3 years ago, it started very small, just a few tomato and pepper plants - 2 rows to be exact. I noticed that I had a lot of produce from a few plants and gave some away to friends and neighbors after filling my freezer.

The following year, I expanded the plot and planted more crops - same thing but this time I had people stop by, admire the garden and ask for a little this or that. Here ya go.....

This year, I expanded yet again and planted even more crops except this year was lucky enough to snag a job with the Census. I don't have to tell any one that there's nothing more life changing than running into good people who are truly struggling and having a difficult time so, instead of waiting for folks to stop by my garden, I took some of the garden to them.

See, when you knock on some people's doors, you are not just going to get answers to those simple little questions, you'll get a life story from many of them. Grandma's raising their drug addicted children's kids, people who slip through our society's safety nets, those living in between; they make too much to qualify for help and make too little to buy food after paying their light bills, work part-time, etc. Hey the economy is bad for so many.

To those people I made a note to ask if they wanted some tomatoes, basil, rosemary, eggplants, peppers, melons, even tiny transplants I had no room to put in the ground or whatever else bountiful in my garden. Then I'd come back often times just leaving a bag of stuff on their porches.

By reading many posts on DU about poverty, food banks running short on supplies, lost jobs, etc., it made me pay MORE attention to what I saw on my travels and open my heart and give something.

So is posting on DU political activism? Gee, I honestly don't know but I know it can influence someone to do something more to change the life of another.

It has for me. I learn a lot about people here and am grateful for those who help keep my heart open and to give whatever I have at hand, no matter how insufficient it seems at the time.


Edit: I've been at this for 3 years not 2.

[MineralMan]

67. Thanks for your post. What you are doing away from DU is activism.

Thank you very much for it! I'm glad you were inspired by DU to do that activism.

[nc4bo]

71. I try MM. What else can you do when your heart feels broken?

What's a little extra sweat (could lose a few pounds anyway), a couple more dollars for some seeds, etc. It really isn't much and I feel guilty because growing stuff makes me so danged happy.

But, the giving part, that's all DU - it really is because of DU. It helps those of us introverted types come out of our shells.

[RadiationTherapy]

68. DU has informed and changed me in a multitude of ways.

So I think it is activism. Communication is an important activity.

[blondeatlast]

69. On a personal level, it has been for me. I have friends and acquaintances who are amazed at my

deeper knowledge of stories they've only heard on CNN and yes, FAUX. I've tipped a few away from favoring AZ SB 1070 by my abi9lity to quote why it's dangerous and unConstitutional.

It may not be as important as phone calls and doorknocking, but it does contribute at the water cooler, the poolside bbq, and the happy hour--and I bet my experiences are shared by many DUers.

[EFerrari]

79. Political literacy. At it's best, DU promotes it. n/t

[bvar22]

74. Education preceeds effective activism.

Up to the minute familiarity with current events, and current knowledge of the Right Wing (and Left Wing) talking points AND effective rebuttals are worth their weight in gold when knocking on doors or Phone Banking.
I really can't think of a better place to load the Info Tanks.
Nothing worse than an ill-informed Precinct Walker or Phone Banker....they can actually HURT the cause. DU is a great foundation for effective Activism.

DU is also a good place to network with other activists.
During the Dark Years when I was in Minnesota, we had meet-ups regularly.
Those were wonderful.
Face to Face meetings with those of Common Purpose recharged MY batteries, and gave me more energy to devote to Community Activism. Personal Contact with Human Beings is more energizing than a relationship with an inanimate computer screen.

The day Rush Limbaugh first mentioned DU On-the Air (2002?), we became a force in the political arena.
On that day, I knew that DU would never be the same.
I was correct.
It is arguable how much weight posting on DU has, but it has some.
Many Talking Heads read DU.
Some Washington Politicians read DU, or have their staff members read DU.
Other political bloggers read DU and re-transmit that info.

So, YES.
Posting on DU is Political Activism.

There are many people here who insist that criticizing Obama on DU will hurt the Democratic Party in the coming election. In fact, they are already blaming those who post criticisms of Obama for losses in 2010. Those people can NOT claim that posting on DU is not Political Activism.
According to them, posting on DU is a powerful form of Activism.

[blondeatlast]

76. +1. Very thoughtful reply.

:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

77. Do you remember this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5384392#5433406

That was fun. :evilgrin:

[county worker]

80. No, it's preaching to the crowd. Only if you convince someone to vote who otherwise wouldn't

do I think it is activism.

I rarely see anyone's opinion change here. It's all agreement or food fights with no real change in anything.

[EFerrari]

83. You and MineralMan registered at DU at about the same time.

It's probably true that we've haven't been as active in the last two years.

[county worker]

85. I first registered in 2001. I left and came back with a new name.

I have been on a couple of Democratic boards since before the 2000 election.

[EFerrari]

87. Okay, gotcha. n/t

[bobbolink]

117. Narrow definition of activism makes it easy to judge others, and feel superior.

Doesn't reflect the true picture, but then, that isn't what matters, is it?

[Iggo]

84. Nope.

[jillan]

86. Thank you for writing this, I've been meaning to do the same type of post.

Huge K & R!!

[MineralMan]

100. Thanks. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and

assessing the amount of time I'm spending here. I'm still very involved in local activism, but I wonder sometimes if I let my DU activity take the place of more I could be doing. At 65, I'm less physically active than I used to be, but, I wonder.

I appreciate the reply.

[kgnu_fan]

88. DU can be a place where activists can energize each other by sharing successful strategies...

But citizen's activism belongs to the community where we physically live and pay tax. Activism can cover many areas --- local agriculture and consumption, school board, city council, local community media (radio, newspapers, magazine, I don't care so much about tv...but if you have time to work on them, good for you), local medical politics, your HOA.... so get busy....

[bobbolink]

118. So, the only activism you recognize is local. Ok, then, gotcha.

All else is discounted. Check.

[Cha]

89. Take this opportunity to

thank you for your activism, Mineral Man, which I think is way more important..your encouraging OPs aren't bad, either. :P

[MineralMan]

101. Thanks, Cha. I really appreciate that.

[Scurrilous]

120. ..

:thumbsup:

[progressoid]

90. Both.

One can both post on DU and do many of the "activist" things listed. I do.

[Kaleva]

91. I think DU can be a very useful tool for activism

My activism is pretty much limited to voting, writing e-mails to my various reps at the state and federal level and also writing to journalists and pundits about a article they authored.

A certain topic or subject catches my eye every once in awhile here at DU and I look for further info via google searching. Thus prepared, I then compose and send off an e-mail to the appropriate rep or pundit. DU is my starting point.

[MineralMan]

103. Yes. At its best, DU is valuable for pointing out resources and

information we can use away from it. I see that as its biggest benefit. When misinformation appears here, someone is always able to point out what's wrong with the information. That's also very useful.

Thanks for replying and for your efforts.

[DevonRex]

92. No it isn't. I hope someone will take my place now in my state.

I'm exhausted. Totally exhausted. And it's still a tie.

[Cha]

108. Thanks for trying..

how's it going there?

[DevonRex]

110. Well...

Today's Post put out the results of their poll, saying it's a tie between Buck and Bennet. And I swear to God I've talked to the stupidest people on the face of the earth the past 2 months working the phones. But Colorado is a young state. Most people who actually answer their phones are older white conservatives. That's what I found with my phone banking and I assume the Post got pretty much the same results.

One nice thing is that the candidate for Congress in my district is a really nice guy. Doesn't have a chance in hell, though. Marine Corps fighter pilot, like my father was. We had some really good conversations over the campaign office buffet table. He will do better than most Dem candidates in my district, though, simply because of his resume. So maybe he'll be the beginning of some change around here.

And thank you for asking, Cha! :hi: and :hug:

[the redcoat]

93. No, but t provides the resources for activism

This is a great place to talk with knowledgeable people, gain information, and gain reasonable opinions and perspectives.

Not exactly activism, but hey, it could be worse.

[Old Troop]

94. No

[struggle4progress]

95. Providing info, debunking disinfo, providing analysis -- all can contribute usefully to activism

A lot of posts here are useless -- but some are very very helpful

[kgnu_fan]

96. yes!

[andym]

97. No, it probably is even counterproductive at times, especially near elections

when one's time is better spent directly helping convince people to vote for Democratic/progressive candidates.

Posts asking us to sign petitions or lobby Congress can be constructive.

However, most posts on DU do not ask for any action, nor do they engage in any planning.
Most just seem to offer an opinion on the state of the nation or on how the major political actors are doing.

[MineralMan]

104. Thanks very much for participating in the discussion.

I tend to agree with your assessment. That's part of what prompted this post.

[leftstreet]

99. You've convinced me. We should all log out and not come here!

:eyes:

unRec
Enough with the lecturing already

[MineralMan]

102. That was hardly my goal, nor did I ever say such a thing.

I asked a question, gave an opinion, and started a discussion. I'm not lecturing anyone.

Your unrec is wasted. I don't care a whit about that. Many people have joined in the discussion. I care a lot about that. Seeya.

[TexasObserver]

105. Yes, if you do it right.

[H2O Man]

106. It depends.

Is going door-to-door with a petition "activism"? Is posting or signing an online petition?

Is calling a politician's office "activism"? Organizing others to call? Is doing it on DU?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

109. Lol

No

[bobbolink]

111. And your list is the only things you consider "actions".

Agenda?

[MineralMan]

112. You may have noticed that I said "some of the things..."

Perhaps you'd like to list some others to help complete the list.

[bobbolink]

114. It shows a definite bias, and leaves out the fact that many of us feel like the party has turned its

back on us.

I realize you don't want to think about that, or recognize it.

There are many things we can do to put forth progressive values besides working for a party that has clearly said it doesn't need us.

[MineralMan]

115. You may feel that way. In fact, it's pretty clear that you do.

I do think about it, and I certainly recognize it. It's made clear on DU on a daily basis.

I hope you'll be happy with your choice. Seeya.

[bobbolink]

116. I'm quite happy with the choice that is left to me, given that the party has decided that people

like me are disposable.

[hay rick]

113. Activism is not a goal in itself.

I live in the Jersey shore. My practical "activism" options are working for Frank Pallone or John Adler. Pallone is my congressman and currently has a 10 point lead in the polls. I continue to monitor the race, but I am more busy than I like already without volunteering for a campaign that doesn't appear to need my help. Adler, on the other hand, is in a real battle. My problem is, Adler has recently made a name for himself as a leader of House Democrats who are breaking with the President (and common decency) and supporting the continuation of all the "Bush tax cuts." This puts him in the worse-than-useless category as far as I am concerned and I can not contribute time, money, or effort to support him.

I did some work for Adler in his inaugural campaign (2008), but that was part of working for the Obama ticket. I would hold my nose and vote for him over his even worse Republican opponent if I lived in his district...but, fortunately, I am spared that predicament.

I am contributing to at least one out-of-state race, but that's it for me this year.

[fishwax]

119. Obviously it can be. Obviously it isn't inherently.

Of the items on your list, some (like knocking on doors) have little or no real potential for overlap on DU. Other forms of activism (raising money, publicizing, directing energy and attention to various causes) can be engaged in directly on DU. With some of the other items on your list, posting on DU may not directly engage the activity, but it can contribute indirectly--for instance, help crafting or revising letters to editors, officials, etc. (Making someone else's LTTE a bit more effective isn't the same as sending one yourself, of course, but the one doesn't preclude the other.)

It seems clear to me that the majority of DU posts aren't actually activism. And, yes, people should not post on DU to the exclusion of outside activities. But even so, posting on DU can, quite clearly, be activism--people can (and have) used DU to engage in various forms of activism (raising money and awareness of various issues, organizing and publicizing various actions, and so on).