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On-Line Petitions increasingly ignored.
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It seems like everywhere you go, there's a sign for a cause directing you to get on-board by signing an on-line petition....from gas prices to affordable housing....everyone wants your signature.
Sure its the new trend in social mobilazation, but guess what? No ones listening.
Why you ask? Because on-line petitions lack credibility. Anyone can add their name hundreds of times by making up names, and adding names of friends or family members who may not even know they've been added.
Furthermore, no address is required, and no other identification methods are usually asked. Essentially, an on-line petition can make the petitioner anonymous...
That's why political forces, government and other officials usually don't even bother opening them once they're directed to the intended destination.
The on-line petition has also made many people "lazy" in actually doing something, or being passionate about their cause - because they feel they can simply sign their name to a webiste, and assume that's enough.
Im no activist, Im just a television news reporter, who's done a lot of stories, and interviewed a lot of people who have NEVER seen a postive change come out of an online petition submission. No matter how many names they managed to get.
Just some food for thought the next time you sign one of these, or ask someone else to. Know that the likelihood of it actually making a difference is slim to none. It's sad, but true.
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now that we've heard this from a credible source, will you children please stop with online petitions?
thank you Jodi!!!!!!
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i think they are pretty useless anyways because in most cases, the reciever of a petition already knows what needs to be done but refuses to do it or ignores it anyways. im sure they just laugh when they see a petition
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hippies have gone digital. thank god they're too busy seeing flying dragons and dancing in drum circles to figure it out.
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on the other hand, if thousands of people email a politician, or an organization, change can come of that.
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NOPE. That's Exactly what Im talking about. One story in particular...a womans daughter was struck and killed by a snowplow in Montreal. The woman is trying to have "sideguards" placed on all city trucks so that no one can slip and fall under them. They're on all trucks in Europe, but not in Canada. Anyway - she had over 100 thousand signatures, and sent it to the prime minister. That was a year ago. Still nothing. Not even a response. One example of many.
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They're complete bullshit. Thanks for the thread jodi.
Also, that whole deal with "No pump day" or "No one gas up" day is completely moronic and does absolutely nothing. There is absolutely no affect all. None. None at all.
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haha i enjoyed the fact that you referenced in people's petitions thread your own thread, well done lets make a petition to stop online petitions, NO
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Seriously petition people....WAKE UP!
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then how do you suggest people go about trying to make a difference?
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Are you serious? There are dozens of ways to have your voice heard. How do you think the world ran before the internet? On-line petitioning has made people So lazy about causes. Think up your own way to have your voice heard...instead of asking people to sign "wade boggs" and "marilyn monroe" on an illegitimate document anyway.
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haha, yes, i realize this. why not utilize as many of the ways as possible? i'm just curious since you say you're a television reporter, where are you hearing that these petitions are being ignored. i'm not denying it's not true, i just want some sources. and who do you work for?
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nope, what you're saying is totally different. you're talking about a petition, they're talking about if people individually send emails, which I imagine would be slightly more effective because the emails will all be unique and it will show that people have put in the time to at least write something about the cause. but i do appreciate this thread cuz online petitions are useless
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start a petition to stop petitions!
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Sweet post jodi. I couldn't agree more with ya
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ahh the crazy interweb...making everyone lazier
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wow. write you politician, news companies, public protest. there are plenty of ways to be heard. and if you do these with a credible petitions, you may be effective.
Jodi, I think the truth of the matter is that these people want to present a petition to argue about the issue.
what i don't get is: why are people so surprised about the rise in gas prices? we've been talking about this issue since it rose to $1/gal. now we are finally hitting a point where the developing countries of india and china really effect us through the global market. however, it was no shock to people when it was said in a future tense. now that it is a present tense problem people act as though we haven't had time to do something about the situation we are in. we fucked around and now we have to pay higher prices until we can thing of a solution. plain and simple.
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The petition to ban Yauch worked
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I feel embarrassed for my friends who show up on the minifeed for joining that group.
Then I make a mental note to talk to those friends extra slow next time.
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haha. and we cant forget about the ban yauch campaign. that petition worked nicely.
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i'm so glad that someone else realizes how stupid that group is. What corporation is going to look online and say "wow, 15,000,000 people? They are right, we should lower gas prices"
so you want lower gas prices, big fuckin deal, joining a facebook group won't do shit about it. And most people dont realize how cheap gas in the US is in comparison to other countries anyways
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no shit. i was asking her personal opinion on what she thinks would be the most effective way since she apparently has so much personal background on this topic. i didn't mean it to come across as a general and stupid question but apparently it did...
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