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The White House petition, along with this letter to Congress, exist to make the people signing them feel like they've done something about the situation. People
by rescripting 13y ago
The White House petition, along with this letter to Congress, exist to make the people signing them feel like they've done something about the situation. People are filled with outrage and clicking 'submit' allows them to vent some of it in a pretty futile way, but one that gives them some self satisfaction for standing up for themselves but without actually risking anything.
In some ways I think online petitions have done some societal harm because people will always take the path of least resistance. If it's between clicking a button or actually going out and banging on doors to rally support, the button wins every time.
- cnlwsu 13y agoPressing online buttons would do more good if it were a submit on a EFF donation button. Probably more then banging on doors too.
- bhauer 13y agoExactly. This is why my activism site experiments with combining the two: seeking positive change by making symbolic donations to charity. The dollar amount of the donations made in a task's favor might actually help convey the weight of support. For example: http://btf.io/382 http://btf.io/382 ("Pardon Edward Snowden")