It's time to form a new DU group "Virtual Activism"

[hertopos]

HI,

I double check DU Group list and I could not find one that fit what I am trying to start.

Think about current Dean for DNC. It is the result of local level revolt and Dem bloggers’s input!!
Think about vote fraud!! Without blog and forum like DU we never made it this far.
And we never forget original Dean Movement.

I think it is time to spend out time of R&D or 'virtual activism'.
Let me tell you about my background. I work as a consultant for a marketing department of a large corporation. (They are huge hotel chains, not something like Wal-Mart. I could have had a job at MBNA but I did not take it, then.)

For last several months, I am working on the impact of CGM...consumer generated media such as discussion forum, blogs, review sites, etc. Now corporate America is seriously looking at CGM, we really should start sharing our thoughts and experience, and possibly some methodology for virtual activism. Talent wise, we still have an upper hand over right wing. However, if we don't start coordinating our efforts and sharing knowledge and methods, they will catch up since they have money. (For example, one emerging cutting technology is tracking software-- this is roughly a combination of search engine and content mining. My employer is working with Software Company and one sale guy told me he was going to inauguration ball that day... Yuk...)

I will kick this post until we get enough people to get some approval.

Just remember. I am a working mother. Trust me on 'not having time'. This is why 'virtual activism' will have an enough impact on many concerned people who have limited time to participate grass roots activism. I currently co-moderate two different local activist's yahoo group sites and manage a parent support group yahoo group in the neighborhood. I do go to a few monthly meeting. But everything else, I have to do in front of my PC when I have some time. (Pretty much either before my baby wake up or after she went to bed.) I am rewriting my research paper for more generic use. Once I get a new group started, I can post my paper by bits.

So what do you say?

OH, please listen to me.

Hertopos from Baltimore, Maryland

[PDittie]

1. No offense intended

really...

...isn't this the sort of thing that the term 'slacktivism' refers to?

I know there are lots of people here that really cannot do (for health reasons or others) push-away-from-your-computer real world things, like going to meet like-minded people on a regular basis, phone-banking, handing out push cards at a polling place on election day and running for precinct chair, but I (for one) really bought into the illusion that we were making a difference in the last election cycle, and we didn't. (Not enough of a difference to make a difference, anyway. Let's please not debate the definition of 'difference'. The results speak for themselves.)

I always thought that's what we did better than the Pukes, and I was dead wrong. They got all the churches fired up this time, including, to my astonishment, many black churches -- not to mention Catholics. We are not going to overcome that without a mass mobilization over a potent issue. Something like, say, Social Security...

It's not really my intention to rain on your parade, Hertopos; it's just that maybe the right group(s) exist already, and it may be that many of us (I'm speaking of me and others, not you, since you've made your situation clear) ought to do something more than join another online group.

Just sayin'...

...the sensation of thinking you're doing something tends to devalue actually doing something...

[hertopos]

3. Actually, this is why I think we need a new group.

Actually, I read the 'real grass roots' activist complaints and criticism about 'slackers'.

Well, I am not a slacker. I am a working mother. I have a 35 hour job and a baby. (My employer doesn’t want me to become a full time so that they can cut down my hours when they want to.) I also do property management to make extra money. My husband just started his college education since his current field (computer job) is most likely a dead end.

I did not mean to manage the third 'big group'. I am only doing it for a while since people in the group needed my help. (I am no computer techie. I am originally a mathematician.) After I did some organizational stuff, the group site became more active and people started using them.

I am very new to off-line grass root activism. I am originally from Japan married to American guy. I am planning to become a citizen. (Yes, I really get this done before 2006.) Most of people from Baltimore based local activist group are no lazy slackers. In fact, they are more of 'traditional activist'. I am always amazed by how hard they work. Well, one thing I noticed right away. Most of people who came to the meetings are either much older than me or much younger than me.

I am not talking about slackers. I am talking about people like me. (My husband is a bit of slacker... I have to admit... however; even he can be part of virtual activism.) Working parents, no time and, gets this, no energy. (BTW, I just read a great self-help book since 'the flow'. It is called 'the power of full engagement'. It is intended for 'productivity gain'; however, it actually works in and out of work. I had a serious energy/time shortage problem to the point I even checked DU less. )

People on DU may think every one has a time and energy to check things on-line. Wrong. If you never tried it, even these things look overwhelming. So my intention is to reach these people.

Or, more precisely, how can we disperse 'real information' and 'the fact'. How to coordinate on-line and off-line activism. This is as tricky as when e-commerce was experimenting on the balance between brick and click!!

Then the next stage should be 'how to coordinate on-line efforts to strengthen the impact of the news-- real news'. It is interesting that 'Bush's box on the back' photo turned out to be a serious issue-- in other DU thread; it says NYT killed the real scoop.

Third thing is to educate and convert more 'on-line activists' to be a brick and click activists at least for certain degree. (Well, I just learned the power of letter writing on State level.)

The marketing approach is also very important here. I also think this is going to be a new war front.

So, I am not just thinking. I also hope the group to submit some action plan for DU and other blog sites eventually.

Well, I do talk a bit like consultant. But it is seriously worth it.

With new 'energy strategy'. I get-up early 7 days a week now. So, Saturday and Sunday morning is my time to do more in depth on-line research and information gathering.

I appreciate your constructive criticism. I hope I answered some of your doubt.

Hertopos

[PDittie]

5. Yes, I was afraid

the term 'slackers' (which I intentionally did not use, or wish to infer) might be taken as too harsh.

We all gotta do as much as we can. Personally, I need to start doing more than I can.

[moggie12]

6. PDittie, what are you talking about??

We need to do EXACTLY what this poster is suggesting: That's how the RW got so strong -- grassroots mobilization of regular average people. That Dobson jerk can get people to spit out 2,000+ e-mails to the media at the drop of a hat!! We need to be able to do the same! They've got the churches to work from, we need to find some other vehicle and it doesn't necessarily have to involve people leaving their house!

Face it, only a very small percentage of people are going to get active in the manner you suggest. Don't dismiss the potential power of those who can't or don't want to get extremely active. We should DO EVERYTHING WE CAN to try to harness the power of people willing to send e-mails, donate money, sign petitions, forward things to their freinds, etc. Local activism and involvement is essential, but it's only ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

I really don't understand why you don't see the value of what she's suggesting.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Already started. We need staff.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=288x67

[hertopos]

4. Thanks

I will participate to your new oranization. That sounds even better than DU group.

Hertopos

[marions ghost]

7. interesting...

Agree, hertopos. There is a lot of potential for online activism and it fits a lot of peoples lifestyles. Doesn't mean it takes the place of "actual" activism, but this kind of networking can help that. I can imagine many ways that it could. I see that your skills lie in organization and marketing research which would have some definite applications. My background is not in business but I have been associated with non-profit groups and know what ideas can be effective with certain groups. Anyway I am supportive.