Online Petitions and Boycotts

Every so often I get little invites on Facebook or in my email inbox to join this or that petition. “Boycott buying gas on this day!” or “Stop this Presidential Nominee” or “Join the fight against Rabies!”

To me, this kind of stuff is just plain nonsense. What possible use could some random online petition have? There’s so many ways to manipulate online information that it would be extremely and unreasonably difficult, if not impossible to verify every name on an online petition. And in all honesty, what would then be done?

It’s my personal belief that these types of groups are nothing but a waste of time, and are only sent on by those who want to do something but aren’t strong enough to stand up and do it in real life, so they waste time and brainpower on these useless pursuits.

If you really want to go save the whales, join a registered and legitimate organization to do so. There are plenty to choose from. If you think that a candidate shouldn’t get the office, then vote against them, and encourage others to do so. If you think that gas prices are too high, then get up, and write to the offices, not to your buddies in an online chat room.

The things that I say online are a direct reflection of my personal feelings on an issue, and I’ve stated them as such. You’re free to hold me to them, because that’s what they’re there for. Here, I try not to have a personal crusade against anything except for boredom and possibly silliness, but otherwise I try to just post up my opinions.

But I’ll never join any online political or agenda-based groups, simply because I know they don’t work.

But then again, maybe I’ll sign a “Down with Online Petitions” petition. At least that’s something that I believe in.

- Kyle

~ by Karratti on Thursday, 22 November, 2007.