no, YOU go do something about it
Oct. 19th, 2011 04:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
potato_headA thing that makes me angry: the attitude I have heard from some people (primarily the irritated privileged, but also IRL activists) that online activists/social justice bloggers/etc. etc. are 'just complaining' and 'should go do something' about whatever particular injustice they're talking about.
First of all, and I don't understand why this even needs to be said, but blogging is not actually an activity that takes forever. One person is actually perfectly capable of both blogging about social justice and actually doing activist activities IRL. Most SJ bloggers/online activists and so on that I know ARE activists IRL, to various extents.
Of course, I consider my willingness to talk at every opportunity about issues I'm concerned about, as well as answer pretty much any rude question about my trans status to be a variety of solo social activism, so maybe I've got some sort of bias going on here. At what point am I considered to be 'doing something' and am therefor allowed to blog about my opinions? Would somebody lay out the rules for me, please?
Oh right, IDGAF about the privilegebutt rules for activists, never mind 6 u 9
Okay, back on track. My second point issss...
Blogging and online activism IS 'doing something'. It's actually really fucking important, from where I'm sitting. The concept that the internet is in no way connected to the real world, and has no impact on it, is really fucking outdated.
Yeah, that last link is to a 'freedom of speech' article. Communication is, and always has been, one of the most powerful weapons of the oppressed against the oppressors. Since I know many of you are in the USA, I'll just throw this out: we have freedom of speech in our constitution because communication was what allowed us to unite and revolt in the first place.
There is a reason China restricts freedom of speech within their country, including blocking social networking sites. It isn't because they're afraid of people writing fanfic and blogging about sports.
Voicing opinions and thoughts is an important, empowering thing, especially for disenfranchised people. Having a place to go and discuss things and know a privileged person can't find a way to take that away from you is important. Being able to find people like yourself, knowing you are not ALONE, is VERY important, and can be SO difficult for many minorities, especially GLBTQ people, disabled people and other minorities who aren't often born automatically into an accepting community or family, and may not even be able to find any support in their physical area. Just the opportunity to connect, discuss, and rant with people who share experiences is invaluable.
Even more important, maybe, is just getting information out there. Providing resources for people - others in your group looking for information about who they are, what they can do for themselves; that it's okay to need what they need and to feel the way they feel. Resources for allies who want to help, but don't know where to start. Resources for people who didn't know they were allies until they came across a blog that helped them understand concepts like privilege, and made them want to help.
In conclusion: Your words have power. I dare you to use them. Come on, I'll race you to equality. Ready, set...!
ETA: adding a quick shoutout to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ocelotofdoom for offering me examples and vetting my vocab words on demand, even if I never did use any of those examples, more the fool me for it. This post was so much more of a struggle than it should have been, guys, look how tiny it is.
First of all, and I don't understand why this even needs to be said, but blogging is not actually an activity that takes forever. One person is actually perfectly capable of both blogging about social justice and actually doing activist activities IRL. Most SJ bloggers/online activists and so on that I know ARE activists IRL, to various extents.
Of course, I consider my willingness to talk at every opportunity about issues I'm concerned about, as well as answer pretty much any rude question about my trans status to be a variety of solo social activism, so maybe I've got some sort of bias going on here. At what point am I considered to be 'doing something' and am therefor allowed to blog about my opinions? Would somebody lay out the rules for me, please?
Oh right, IDGAF about the privilegebutt rules for activists, never mind 6 u 9
Okay, back on track. My second point issss...
Blogging and online activism IS 'doing something'. It's actually really fucking important, from where I'm sitting. The concept that the internet is in no way connected to the real world, and has no impact on it, is really fucking outdated.
Yeah, that last link is to a 'freedom of speech' article. Communication is, and always has been, one of the most powerful weapons of the oppressed against the oppressors. Since I know many of you are in the USA, I'll just throw this out: we have freedom of speech in our constitution because communication was what allowed us to unite and revolt in the first place.
There is a reason China restricts freedom of speech within their country, including blocking social networking sites. It isn't because they're afraid of people writing fanfic and blogging about sports.
Voicing opinions and thoughts is an important, empowering thing, especially for disenfranchised people. Having a place to go and discuss things and know a privileged person can't find a way to take that away from you is important. Being able to find people like yourself, knowing you are not ALONE, is VERY important, and can be SO difficult for many minorities, especially GLBTQ people, disabled people and other minorities who aren't often born automatically into an accepting community or family, and may not even be able to find any support in their physical area. Just the opportunity to connect, discuss, and rant with people who share experiences is invaluable.
Even more important, maybe, is just getting information out there. Providing resources for people - others in your group looking for information about who they are, what they can do for themselves; that it's okay to need what they need and to feel the way they feel. Resources for allies who want to help, but don't know where to start. Resources for people who didn't know they were allies until they came across a blog that helped them understand concepts like privilege, and made them want to help.
In conclusion: Your words have power. I dare you to use them. Come on, I'll race you to equality. Ready, set...!
ETA: adding a quick shoutout to
ocelotofdoom for offering me examples and vetting my vocab words on demand, even if I never did use any of those examples, more the fool me for it. This post was so much more of a struggle than it should have been, guys, look how tiny it is.
