[SonicBebs]

Someone who i have a lot of respect for has recently asked me to sign an online petition.

Generally i refuse to sign any online petitions because they are pretty much a waste of time. We didn't Stop The War. We didn't Stop The Chinese Government Eating Dogs. We didn't Stop Paedophile Terrorists. (although we did Save 6Music).
Governments dont tend to listen to real people let alone a load of names on the Internet

But should i sign to show support for my friend regardless? The issue is something worthwhile, but signing an Online Petetion wont change anything. I dont want to patronise her by signing to avoid hurting her feelings, but i dont want to bring up a rather pointless argument with her either

[floatingslowly]

I'd say it depends upon whether you have to register with an email or not.

No friend is worth ceaseless spam.

Besides, petition or no petition, the world burns soon.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by SonicBebs

Someone who i have a lot of respect for has recently asked me to sign an online petition.

Generally i refuse to sign any online petitions because they are pretty much a waste of time. We didn't Stop The War. We didn't Stop The Chinese Government Eating Dogs. We didn't Stop Paedophile Terrorists. (although we did Save 6Music).
Governments dont tend to listen to real people let alone a load of names on the Internet

But should i sign to show support for my friend regardless? The issue is something worthwhile, but signing an Online Petetion wont change anything. I dont want to patronise her by signing to avoid hurting her feelings, but i dont want to bring up a rather pointless argument with her either

if you have respect for her then you can tell her what you think of the idea, no?

[SonicBebs]

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

if you have respect for her then you can tell her what you think of the idea, no?

yeah, i guess...

[stu666]

I don't see the problem here, if you agree with the cause then sign it.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by stu666

I don't see the problem here, if you agree with the cause then sign it.

it's because the petition does nothing for the cause itself, it's just a tool for email harvesting.

e.g., read this:

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/polit...useless/19146/

if you care about a cause you can actually participate actively. sending emails is an empty gesture.

[stu666]

what are they gonna do with my email address?

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by stu666

what are they gonna do with my email address?

sell it to pornbots.

no, they just hit you up for money. even the good guys sell and trade information for potential marks.

you give 5 bucks to a single cause and then 50 other causes start begging and sending you pictures of hungry children. furrealz. it's not funny.

[stu666]

well I've signed lots of online pettions and haven't had that problem yet... (I've not donated any money though)

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by stu666

well I've signed lots of online pettions and haven't had that problem yet... (I've not donated any money though)

luckeeeeee....

i used to be registered w/ the obamabots and they would write me every other day with some shit or another: "the republicans want another katrina. would you give us $15?" "send 5 bucks! win a dinner with the president!" "we're in it to win it. donate $50 and fight for labor rights". i got tired of the panhandling and unsubscribed.

my past attempts to help the helpless (lol@angel) also landed me in countless spam lists.

anyway, online petitions are useless because they are so easy to join. they require no effort or commitment and those who receive them know all about it. out of the 1,000,000 people who sign any given online petition, there are probably 10 or 20 individuals who are willing to do something about it besides signing a petition.

organizations like moveon.org harnessed the online petition trend into a sort of political movement, but ultimately it's just a way to collect money from members. it's all about the money, in the end

[stu666]

you haven't convinced me... I'll still keep on signing if I agree with them.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by stu666

you haven't convinced me... I'll still keep on signing if I agree with them.

ha ha, okay.

[rocky]

Oh! I think online petitions can be signed with just about any email address, if that helps.

[SONIC GAIL]

Just say no

[SonicBebs]

I dont think anyone takes online petitions serioisly anyway. The government do not base their policies on what online petitions demand. It does no good and is a waste of time.

would you eat 10 apples to save the whales from working in sweatshops? I hate whale sweatshops as much as the next man but eating apples aint gonna help

[SONIC GAIL]

At first read that made sense. I don't want cows to have to work in sweatshops either.

[Pookie]

Sign it if you agree with it. It's a small step in raising awareness and often that's the best thing you can do. If the government (for example) receive a petition by a significant number of people then you at least know that they are aware of your and other people's feelings.

It would be good if other action is also taken (direct action particularly) but a petition is a good start.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Pookie

Sign it if you agree with it. It's a small step in raising awareness and often that's the best thing you can do. If the government (for example) receive a petition by a significant number of people then you at least know that they are aware of your and other people's feelings.

It would be good if other action is also taken (direct action particularly) but a petition is a good start.

nah, the online petition is a good ending because it deludes people into thinking that by signing it they have actually accomplished something, which keeps them from actual civic engagement.

and actual civic engagement might use petitions, but those petitions actually require you to go door to door and gather real signatures. and because of this they will work better in school systems, municipalities and institutions, unlike addressing vague global needs on the internet. then again there are ballot initiatives and referendums, which are petitions of sorts.

[the ikara cult]

Originally Posted by SonicBebs

Someone who i have a lot of respect for has recently asked me to sign an online petition.

Generally i refuse to sign any online petitions because they are pretty much a waste of time. We didn't Stop The War. We didn't Stop The Chinese Government Eating Dogs. We didn't Stop Paedophile Terrorists. (although we did Save 6Music).
Governments dont tend to listen to real people let alone a load of names on the Internet

But should i sign to show support for my friend regardless? The issue is something worthwhile, but signing an Online Petetion wont change anything. I dont want to patronise her by signing to avoid hurting her feelings, but i dont want to bring up a rather pointless argument with her either

Come on man, youre signing a petition, youre not doing a stretch in Robben Island. If it has no effect, then hey ho, what have you lost beyond a couple of minutes of your time? In fact, by the time you've read this you could have pledged your support to the movement for democracy in Iran, to support crisis centres for abused women in your local area, or a campaign to keep a local music venue open.

So, whats a better use of your time, doing that or reading what ive just written? If your answer is the second of those youre giving me a credit i neither deserve nor desire.

and people call me cynical...

[Pookie]

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

nah, the online petition is a good ending because it deludes people into thinking that by signing it they have actually accomplished something, which keeps them from actual civic engagement.

and actual civic engagement might use petitions, but those petitions actually require you to go door to door and gather real signatures. and because of this they will work better in school systems, municipalities and institutions, unlike addressing vague global needs on the internet. then again there are ballot initiatives and referendums, which are petitions of sorts.

People who are going to engage, will. Those who will never engage will sign a petition and do nothing else. But at least now they will do that small thing. I don't think there are a whole load of people thinking "I was going to fuck shit up but I've signed a petition now so I won't bother".