Without online technologies, Barack Obama would never have gotten past the primaries. Had Facebook, YouTube, texting, a 13-million name email list and a website developed by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes been absent from his campaign, he would never have raised enough money, been seen and heard by enough people, or enlisted enough volunteers. Yet progressive hopes are faltering, not only because of Obama’s compromises and mistakes and Republican intransigence, but also because far too many of his supporters have come to believe they can act exclusively through these online technologies, to the exclusion of face-to-face politics.
Tag: online activism
Nov 29 2007
Zen and the Art of Online Activism
Way back when you all first stumbled onto a political blog or message board you may have felt overwhelmed with what you didn’t know. You may have felt it an almost impossible task to get up to date on important topics being discussed so that you too could have something of value to add. I know I did. I also felt frustrated because by the time I got up to date, everyone else had moved along to another topic. The frustration quickly left however when I realized that there were other people in the same situation and that we all needed help. So I made it my task to ask simple basic questions of the top posters so that the rest of us could understand the material as well.
When others were looking to emulate Wonk in all it’s glory, I saw that as elitist and adverse to the cause of including more voices.
Once comfortable in the community(ies), the facts and information begin to flow quicker, until you feel you are at the same wavelength as the information you are receiving and it is processed in real time.
Occasionally a spark will happen that will galvanize the community.
A mother of a dead soldier stands in a ditch waiting for a President to open his door.
A massive Hurricane strikes and your friends are on the ground there and need help.
Photos of flag draped coffins are deemed unpatriotic.
This is when it is possible to advance to another level. You go from responder, to actor in the world stage. People are looking around and wondering what to do, you step up to bat, you realize you must perform to the best of your ability. Everything you learned about communication skills come into play. All of your contacts become utilized and turned into resources. In one hour you can change the world. Why?