andyh wrote:
What did I say earlier about the lesson here being about change.org and avaaz and other such petition sites?
Why the petition now on this particular subject and not something that isn't hypocritical and would actually be of some real benefit?
It is absolutely 'relevant' to point out the stupidity of a petition
Its how you spot these things and learn how the world works.
(This is hard work, 'cause my laptop keeps disconnecting from the internet for some reason! )
Well you said...
andyh wrote:
The important lesson to be learned here is not about the whales or the dolphins or even the petition itself tbh, but more about change.org and its principles, its like avaaz too, I also believed in them at first but quickly learned the hard way that they're basically full of shit.
There's more truth to be found on this forum here than change.org or avaaz put together. Its pointless to ignore it or pretend about these things.
...but I'm being slow-witted re what you mean exactly (not argumentative, just not sure).
You complain of these petitions never being about anything that would be of real benefit.
So do you think that the signatures on a petition can make a difference then? Because if not, then it's of no consequence.
And if that's the case, is your disliking confined to subject matter - you think more important issues should be being addressed? Or you think it's a spiteful ulterior motive (against the Japanese in this case) that leads ones like this to be set up? Or do you think it's data mining, or what?
Mr Wolf, I've signed countless petitions over the years, and I've never felt the need to look over my shoulder.
I don't see it as a double standard myself really, because if anyone had raised a petition against us hosting the Olympics on the grounds of our government's antics, we'd be cheering them on for raising awareness and taking a stand, wouldn't we? I would.
Lesley, re, "Gilly, you and anyone else is free to sign whatever you like.
" - let's be clear that I wasn't suggesting that you have to sign it (or anyone else who doesn't wish to), but rather, arguing a case against the point raised that it perhaps shouldn't be signed on the grounds of
hypocrisy specifically.
Petitions are only useful in the sense that they collect names of dissidents lol.
As for 'if' someone raised a petition to prevent the UK olympic bid the whole point is they did NOT
Its called controlled opposition, it serves dual purpose, to track and manage the disgruntled crowd and at the same time supply the flase impression that democracy works. It doesn't. To paraphrase Carlin...they don't give a shit about you.
If the rest of the world had a 'democracy' of the type Switzerland has then I might consider signing a petition...any petition.
