I will not sign online e-petitions. Not for anything. Never.

[bluestateguy]

Because it's slacktivism, a meaningless gesture that never gets the attention of people in power. E-petitions give signatories a false sense of feeling like they are doing something, when in fact they are doing nothing productive at all. I don't care how good the cause is, I won't be a part of pretend activist exercises.

I will sign hard copy petitions, on real paper only.

[slackmaster]

1. Same here

And I won't donate money to anyone who doesn't make readily available, verifiable information about who they really are and what the money will be used for.

[liberaldemocrat7]

14. Without boycotts yes it appears useless

but my petitions threaten boycotts on GOP contributors. Look at my website and you will see.

Go to http://www.dmocrats.org

My organization threatens boycotts.

[lonestarnot]

2. Well alrightie then.

And you make a good point. They're mainly just a feel good exercise.

[raccoon]

3. Second that emotion. nt

[ClintonTyree]

4. And your name is added to dozens of e-mail lists.........

and your in-box in clogged with requests to sign MORE on-line petitions. :eyes: I'm with you, never again. I'll hit the streets, man the phone banks......whatever, but no more on-line petitions for me either.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. There is this thing called a spam button

I click on it and never hear from that email sender again.

Just sayin . . .

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. Yeah, but clicking is HARD...

I mean, think about all the hundreds of clicks you make on the mouse/trackpad daily and now you expect people to click on the spam button. Christ...

[William769]

10. That spam button can be a tricky thing.

[ellenfl]

5. nice sentiments but the value of online petitions is speed. eom

[rurallib]

8. OK - well I have put a couple petitions online concerning local

issues. They have been invaluable in creating interest and showing a level of concern by people in the area. Since the area we cover is huge, getting paper petitions around is almost impossible, so we do that in large areas and supplement with an online petition. Plus I have little time to to spend on street corners or in malls.
I totally agree that online national petitions are pretty bogus. But I believe they can be valuable locally.

[redqueen]

9. Pretend?

How is it pretend?

What, you can't do *both*?

Whatever... do what you like.

[Jo March]

11. You know - "pretend" like the ones that Boxer or Clark or Kerry

or those folks send to us and then print out and deliver to the White House. Like the one that Conyers did and then hand-delivered with all of our pretend signatures on reams of paper.

Pretend. :eyes:

[redqueen]

12. Is it wrong that I'm ... um... suspicious of the motives of this thread?

Cause I am.

[Jo March]

13. I can't really understand the purpose of the thread, either

I sign online petitions all of the time. Many Dem leaders use them to reach the largest amount of people in the shortest amount of time. They have fields for information that can be used to verify the signatories later, if need be. Plus, they do deliver the petitions.

Now, there are some goofy ones out there, sure, but the majority of online petitions are valid and an easy way to show support.

But to say that it's "pretend" activism and vowing never to sign one again? That is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

[babylonsister]

20. Those fake DNC petitions RE: the fake movie about 9/11, were also

delivered and if anyone cares, there were pics posted on DU. But they're fake, so why bother. :eyes:

[redqueen]

21. Oh yes, that huge stack of fake petitions... I remember those.

It was about five feet high, that stack of pretend activism.

[havocmom]

17. Agree wit ya

If all one does is sign online petitions, then, yeah, lame and lazy. BUT many people are motivated BY online petitions to make their voices heard in other ways. Am amazed at the people who send me links to online petitions. A year or two ago, most were still apolitical and working very hard to not hear the rumblings of truth. Now, wow, one would think they invented activism themselves! It's great. Several I know have really dug in and gotten busy in the REAL world, not just the virtual world.

Many of the petitions raise awareness out in the public and they sure as hell can raise awareness among the policy makers!

Just so we all do plenty more than sign online petitions... But they are good gateways for many to become more politically aware AND ACTIVE.

[redqueen]

19. Exactly... for many, they're the 'gateway' activism.

For us, they're just extras... tiny itty bitty things we do without breaking stride... but for those we share them with, it may be the issue that makes them start to consider really getting involved.

Whatever else they may be, they're certainly not pretend or useless as a whole. Some? Sure. All? No way.

[Jo March]

22. Exactly - and they do let people know what is going on

They let folks know who is working on a particular cause and then people can contact the organization that started the online petition and volunteer for that organization.

Me likey the online petitions. They are the gateway. ;)

[npincus]

15. some people, elderly or handicapped or

otherwise not out-and-about in the world, may not have access to sign a hard copy. It's unfair to label them slackers.

My 73 year-old mom uses the Internet, but doesn't get out much due to back problems. She's a hardcore Lib-Democrat! Go, Mom!

[babylonsister]

16. Aren't you just something. When was the last time you signed

a hard copy petition.
Nevermind, it's not worth it.

[bluestateguy]

18. Two months ago

nt