{"id":553,"date":"2018-02-12T19:30:31","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T03:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/?p=553"},"modified":"2018-02-19T17:28:57","modified_gmt":"2018-02-20T01:28:57","slug":"hi-my-name-is-debra-and-im-a-slacktivist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/hi-my-name-is-debra-and-im-a-slacktivist\/","title":{"rendered":"Hi. My name is Debra, and I’m a slacktivist…"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The world needs us. Photo cred: DLM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There, I said it. I’m a slacktivist.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Now, let me explain.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A much-maligned form of activism,\u00a0“slacktivism”<\/span>has had its share of bad press, with some going so far as to say it\u2019s \u201c<\/span>feel-good online activism that has zero political or social impact<\/a>\u201d. But I promised myself a positive post this week – some good medicine for my hurting heart after the last few weeks of deeply critical thinking – so, we’re not going to go down that path. No, instead I’m going to substantiate\u00a0<\/span>Clay Shirky\u2019s belief<\/a> that even small actions count, while at the same time challenging some of Malcolm Gladwell\u2019s thoughts, articulated in\u00a0<\/span>Small Change<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Elijah van der Giessen (https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/evdg\/14393883018)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But first, what is slacktivism? It\u2019s a not-nice label (feel the shame?) for something viewed as a bit of a brain hack. Theoretically, it makes us feel like we\u2019re doing something meaningful to support a cause, when we actually aren’t. Wait, really? Yes, there are those, Gladwell included, who argue Facebook likes and retweets are superficial \u201cflavour of the day\u201d support, offered from a desire to fit in versus desire to make a meaningful difference. But there are also studies pointing to the\u00a0symbiotic relationship between “armchair activists” and those on the front lines<\/a>.\u00a0And, in my humble opinion, there are a lot of social network users out there who are just like me.<\/p>\n

<\/a>“<\/span>‘Slacktivism’ has been\u00a0cast\u00a0as a threat to more traditional forms of activism. But it\u2019s not. It\u2019s a spur, a reminder of how those around you are feeling, and a kick in the pants to get involved in other ways.<\/strong>” – Jamie Hodari, The Washington Post<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/div><\/a>I think carefully about what I share or like, because I know it may show up in others\u2019 feeds. Is this a cause I know enough about, want to support and be associated with? Do I want those behind the cause to feel my support? Do I want others in my network to know more about causes I believe in, potentially encouraging their support as well? And could some of those individuals in my network, or even a network or two removed, be in a position to do more, whether its \u201cboots on the ground\u201d or financially?\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Absolutely.<\/em><\/p>\n
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Twitter: Bell Let’s Talk<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When I do my slacktivist thing, as <\/span>Seth Godin shares<\/a>, there are two important outcomes: I’ve helped to spread the word and to normalize charitable behaviour. This “normalizing” can include “de-stigmafying”.\u00a0 A perfect example: #BellLetsTalk<\/a>.\u00a0 Every time someone shares or retweets, others see it’s okay to ask for help, to talk about it, to reach out…that no one is alone (p.s. 2018’s one-day event raised almost $7 million for mental health initiatives as a result of all that “unmeaningful” sharing and retweeting).\u00a0 In contrast to last week’s post<\/a>, this<\/em><\/span>\u00a0kind of normalizing I can get behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike Gladwell’s assertion that “real” activism must be high-risk, requiring deep, strong ties amongst those involved<\/a>, I would argue that is only one (albeit essential) form of real activism.\u00a0 In an example of “weak ties” bridging and supporting “strong ties”<\/a>, I am not in a position to fly over to Myanmar to offer aid to the Rohingya people<\/a>, but I can<\/em> sign a petition<\/a>. I volunteer with non-profit organizations on a frequent basis, and financially our family supports a myriad of local, provincial and national causes near and dear to our hearts. True to Shirky’s concept of cognitive surplus<\/a>, I know that adding social media “slacktivist” activities into the mix actually lets me do more<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0good, not less.<\/p>\n

Who knows, maybe being a “boots on the ground” activist is in my future, as I learn more on my research journey.\u00a0 If I invite you to march with me, I hope you come.\u00a0 But if not, can you please share with your social networks?\u00a0 Thanks.<\/p>\n

‘Til next week,<\/p>\n

DLM<\/p>\n

P.S.\u00a0 This week’s musical reflection<\/a> is the heart-tugging result of a Canadian father\/young daughter initiative, wrapped up in a national campaign for love.\u00a0 Check out what #WeVow is about here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Source: Elijah van der Giessen (https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/evdg\/14577158681\/in\/photostream\/)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There, I said it. I’m a slacktivist.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Now, let me explain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":406,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[56,43,58,57,20,59],"class_list":["post-553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-activism","tag-cognitive-surplus","tag-normalizing","tag-slacktivism","tag-social-media","tag-social-networks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/406"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=553"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":604,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553\/revisions\/604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/d1moffatt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}