Slacktivists vs. Activists

What can online activism achieve? Awareness is one of the greatest assets of the new age and online activism is king of just that. But after the awareness has been risen, what comes next? In this episode of The Coalition the strengths and weaknesses of online activism are outlined.

The Coalition - Slacktivists vs Activists
by Tomás Whitmore & Julianne Waters

[DarthVadent]

This whole divide between Activism and Slacktivism is a tenuous one. It's essentially grounded in fallacious argumentation. "Activists take risks that endanger their livelihoods, therefore their activities and protestations surmount those who aren't personally involved." Just because "Slacktivists" take "minimal action" than those who are marching out in the streets, being arrested and/or assaulted doesn't invalidate their actions.

This video commits the lesser known Fallacy of Relative of Privation. Which states that something isn't as good or bad as something else. I could very well argue that Activists in first world, developed nations aren't really activists because they don't visit countries with tyrannical government regimes that subvert the civil liberties of an oppressed minority group.

This line of reasoning leads to an infinite regress of absurdity. How about we just acknowledge that there are problems in the world, and that we should what we can to eliminate them.

[Crissangelfan]

i wish they wouldn't have stopped making videos, because this is literally one of my favorite channels.

[GrungerLuke]

I think alot of slacktivists simply do not have enough money to go out to places to get involved and donate and such. Then theres fear of being arrested or attacked. Guess I fall into the slacltivist category seeing as I dont have alot of money but its worth signing petitions and sharing videos. As many as possible.

[Musiciaproductions]

These things should be done along with real activism; social websites are good advertising tools for rallies, campaigns and other activist events coming up, as well as sharing articles and links so that interested people can have a starting point to educate themselves before campaigning for an issue. Thanks for the video :) 

[alexandertrotter]

A real question that i have is how do we stop a missile from our desks, or a bulldozer from our home?
Destruction and death dont stop if we wont sacrifice to stop it.
This entire world needs to change and it requires at this point a high level of social disobedience and reform.

[TonyPirog]

The fact that you don't care, doesn't mean no one else does. I am not a musician, but every citizen has a right to express their opinion and put it on Youtube, regardless of your negativity. Musicians are people too!

[monicatorres]

I am a slacktivist and I dont wanna be. I want to become an activist !

[niharupadhaya]

I believe doing a bit of both can really help, but if you are not in a position to be an activist; at least being a Slacktivist is also ok.

[laneperk]

Speaking as an activist for mental health awareness, it is difficult to give up more of yourself if you are already really invested in one cause. Even if you care about more than one thing, you can only spread your efforts so far. Slacktivism can be a way to show you care and support those activists who have made [insert cause here] their number one cause and vice versa.

[TheSubtleamuzement]

From experience and example: In Haiti, TOMS shoes are not given out for free but rather sold on the street.

I would like to hear from a person who started an online petition, received signatures and then had a positive outcome.

[JediKnightish]

Online activism isn't just raising awareness necessarily. There have been successful online campaigns, for example, when people tweeted to companies to hold them responsible about inappropriate/unjust products or tactics.

[omacronalpha]

My thing 'slacktivism' is that I don't like the narrative that online activism antimatter talking place in negative space. That if you know nothing - 0 points, if you know something and do nothing - 0 points, but if you raise awareness you're airballing a jumpshot, and counterproductively *losing* points. When you raise awareness, you can raise funds directly for relief efforts, and political posture for a foundation that can spearhead the movement. And that can make a world of difference.

[TonyPirog]

These young people provide a not-so-subtle prod to those who might be on the cusp of taking action. Regardless of the cynicism I read in the comments here, this video does no harm and may actually be of benefit. However, awareness is the very most important thing we can spread. The Plutocrats take advantage of ignorance wherever they find it, or create it. Awareness is step one in defending our rights.

[pandaplural]

I actually wrote a paper on this. You have to remember how social media has produced indie go go and fundly, websites that allow charities or movements to be funded by people worldwide and allowing a dollar to make a difference. Giving young people a more tangible form of giving. It also brought pages like Vlogbrothers which put together the Project for Awesome encourage their young demographic to donate and get involved. Online Activists exist.

[ArtSchoolHeretic]

I do have a problem with the definition shown in this video. Perhaps instead of "Anyone who does something in support of an issue or cause that requires minimal personal effort", we add "only". "Anyone who only..." Otherwise someone who hits the bricks every day and takes to the streets, travels the world, risks his/her @ss, etc in defense of a cause--then goes home at night and shares a video--can then be called a Slactivist.

[jaredDMI]

“In obliging us to commit to others the care of our affairs, does [government] not create the most terrible vice of societies—indifference to public matters?”

~ Peter Kropotkin, “The Place of Anarchism in Socialistic Evolution"

[wedgelarity]

Slacktivists unite!  Share this video with all your friends, because its only got not even 9k views, chya!

[georgechristiansen]

These ease of slacktivism's real ugly side is the false sense of knowledge that people think they have. People impulsively promote a "cause" without knowing whether it is a good one or if the little they do helps harms it.

Skin in the game makes you cautious in a good way.

[ajlow]

How come no construction workers in this video? All wardrobe stylist and people with trendy glasses.

[mattma]

You don't have to be an activism expert to contribute an intelligent and well-put opinion. Whether or not they are experts, they gave great points of view and brought up thought provoking points. There is a purpose and message behind this video that people like you are missing.