This morning Claire Berlinski sent me a most insightful article by Malcom Gladwell.
Twitter, Facebook and social Activism
Gladwell has a knack for understanding how society fonctions, what makes us tick and take action, what defines our taste as society and, to me, most important, he has a deeply ingrained sense of social justice.
In recent weeks I have been reflecting upon a number of issues at the very heart of the Let’s Adopt! Community, I instinctively knew some of the answers but Gladwell sheds some light on the issue.
Here are some of the main points in Gladwell’s article:
– Fifty years after one of the most extraordinary episodes of social upheaval in American history (The Civil Rights Movement), we seem to have forgotten what activism is.
– High-risk activism, is a “strong-tie” phenomenon.
– The kind of activism associated with social media isn’t like this at all. The platforms of social media are built around weak ties…. but weak ties seldom lead to high-risk activism.
– Facebook activism succeeds not by motivating people to make a real sacrifice but by motivating them to do the things that people do when they are not motivated enough to make a real sacrifice.
– Facebook and the like are tools for building networks, which are the opposite, in structure and character, of hierarchies. Unlike hierarchies, with their rules and procedures, networks aren’t controlled by a single central authority….The drawbacks of networks scarcely matter if the network isn’t interested in systemic change or if it doesn’t need to think strategically. But if you’re taking on a powerful and organized establishment you need to have a hierarchy.
So, where does all of this leave animal activists? In essence it means that
1. Facebook is the ideal instrument to make noise, the kind of noise that will never really make a difference. A sad example of this is to witness the thousands of animal activists spreading animal cruelty videos online. Will they ever achieve anything? Not really. The animal is dead already, the majority will look away and the ones that look are already aware of animal cruelty anyway. To this you must add the risk of copycats popping out of everywhere.
By making easy the sharing of those videos under the pretext of “increasing awareness” Facebook is fulfilling the social buy 2mg xanax online not canadian activism “fix” of tens of thousands of people.
Same for petitions, a complete waste of time and energy that could instead be channelled into actions and organizations that really work.
2. Facebook is, a great way to raise attention or save ONE particular animal, and this is why we don’t have any problems finding solutions for even the most difficult of cases, but its falls short when it comes to handling large scale operations (like Let’s Adopt!) or rallying a community large enough to, let’s say, turn the U.S. into a No-Kill Nation.
3. In our last post we made a plea for developing stronger ties with our FB contacts, to get to know our lists. Most of the miracles you see us performing here on a daily basis take place because a group of us in Turkey and around the world built real ties, real friendships that extended past virtuality. In other words, we built real teams.
4. Within this year we will find a way to stop using Facebook as a virtual base.
5. If Let’s Adopt! is to survive and achieve its goals we are going to have to find a way for our members to TAKE responsibility, and by this I mean not only pointing us out to animals in distress , or leaving comments under our pictures and posts (don’t get me wrong, we really love that!). By responsibility I mean to actively seek solutions on behalf of the group and our animals, act as foster homes, final homes, flight volunteers, fund raise, put their skills at the disposal of the group and work within the framework of teams.
We need YOU to remember that there is no change without sacrifice, that activism is a sacred activity not a clicking game, that we deal with matters of life and death and that if animals mean anything to them it’s time to step forward and do something about it.
If we cannot find a way to get you all to move with us we will direct all our members to the best animal organizations we can find and Let’s Adopt! will close by the end of the year.
Viktor
More reflections on Let’s Adopt! and Sacred Activism to be found in this article by Diana Jaramillo.
I agree with what you are saying people on face book think they have done some
thing when they have made a comment on a dog or shared but to make a difference
you have to make a a acitive role as you say FOSTER TRANSPORT DONATION OR
GIVING A DOG A FOREVER HOME this is what I do at this time I am transporting
two dogs from London to Cumbria over 400 miles away my daughter is doing some
of the journey and another lady on face book is doing some then I going to get them
from her and it will cost me to neuter and transport and I will rehome one and keep
the other and yes I made that active choice to do something for two dogs due to be
P.T.S last friday if more people on face book would take a active role not just making
comments on different issue’s then the job for me would have been easier to transport
these two dogs if it was not for my daughter who has nothing to do with this on face
book the dogs would not have got any way so i could not get anyone to help on face book but yet there are all these concerned people or are they ?????????
Fiona.. I congratulate you… you have obviously broken past your comfort zone.
We need more like you.
I’ll get in touch.
xx
While I agree with you about actually doing something versus just sharing information around, you do have to realize that many of us are doing things on a local level. I think eliminating Facebook as a platform for communication is a mistake. It is a great way for everyone to keep abreast of what’s happening, without the hassle of individual emails. Many news articles here in the US have mentioned an animal’s life being spared because of public outrage and Facebook pages devoted to that particular animal. Do what is best for the organization, of course, but always remember the credo “Think globally- act locally” which is what many of us are doing.
I didn’t say eliminating Facebook, I said stop using it as a virtual base… there is a difference.
Don’t worry… we don’t take decisions lightly..
xx
I agree in large part with this article. BUT, there are times when a social network does, in fact, lead to active participation on the ground. For example, Nadia Donato from NY caused such an outcry globally about a mass killing of household pets in Puerto Rico that she literally changed their law as well as staff. She has also rallied folks globally to act on behalf of Mima, a severely brutalized dog from Bulgaria.
I also see many groups actively seeking adopters and fosters via social networks…and it works. There is much fundraising going on for all kinds of animal actions online, too. These things DO work and many animal lives are saved as a result. Yes, you may argue that these are specific actions, but some have global implications such as the Bulgarian one. That law is being decided upon now and our participation in letter writing, petition signing and calling will all make a real difference. That is where social networking CAN and DOES produce effects that resonate through the entire society.
We need ALL the tools at hand, both online and on the ground, to combat the apathy of all people, to make the changes in the laws that we need, to raise the funds we must have to operate, etc. Online activism IS sometimes an “easy” way to be involved, but it also can provide real pressure with real life outcomes.
Thanks for listening – and for caring!!
Thanks Rebecca, if you read Gladwell’s article and mine carefully you will see we are on the same page.
You will also agree that something radical has to be done to shake couch-activists out of their confort zone.
Revolutions are not won this way…
I disagree! I don’t think Facebook isn’t useful for animal welfare and is only making noise but cannot help !
In my case i learned so much about animal cruelty and animal welfare, which weren’t possible without facebook.
I think we are a strong community and all the rescued animals are a clear answer to that!
I agree, that we have to focus and don’t waste time in unneccessary actions.
Some cases are too big to handle.
But it’s still good to raise attention and bring to mind what is happening in a country.
I got so many emails from people who are thankful to learn about an incident by watching a video in my group which shows the misbehavior or acting of a company, government or a single person in animal welfare..
Facebook is a tool which can be used in different ways!
And – by the way – I wouldn’ have known about Let’sAdopt without Facebook 😉
(Sorry for a maybe bad grammar: I am German and English is my second language 🙂 )
I am really disappointed in you Viktor. Its kind of the feeling I get about our President of the US. A Person/s who could do so much but won’t even from the pleadings of the people. Our leader so to speak; I have come to the conclusion there is no such thing and thats why people have to take things into their own hands, like what certain organizations/individuals are doing about OUR wild mustangs.
First (my opinion) I feel that you are taking on too much to ask people to make the whole world no-kill. First (my opinion) I would be working in my own backyard, before moving on to other backyards.
Second (my opinion) why would you ask for us to adopt from Turkey, when we have millions of dogs and cats right here in the United States for people to adopt.
Third, for some reason I have more friends in Turkey, Colorado, 2 in Conneticut (who are not the least interested in forstering or adopting). Our county is very active in finding homes for cats and dogs. As far as fb friends here in California, I can count on my hand. That as of today is how its all shaped out to be.
If you want to give up Facebook because things are not moving fast enough for you, thats your business.
I found you purely by accident on FACEBOOK. Without facebook, I would not know you exist.
I’m not asking you to adopt from Turkey.
I’m asking you, and whomever reads our messages to adopt, and to act
beyond your levels of comfort. Simply that.
Adopt, foster, go to your shelter next door and do what is right.
I’m sorry you are dissapointed in me. This is the ultimate price
people like me have to pay. Being told we are not doing enough right?
At least nobody will ever be able to say I’m not preaching by example.
Do your little bit, and then get truly involved, with us, with whoemer
you wish, but get involved at a level when is not comfortable, where
it becomes high risk.
By the way, did you read Gladwell’s article?
The Civil Rights fight wasn’t won by sharing on a wall but by getting
involved at a much deeper level.
mon anglais n’est pas assez bon que pour saisir toutes les nuances de cet articles même si je pense en comprendre à peu près le sens. Je m’abstiens donc de dire quelque chose (une connerie ?) à son sujet
i really hope you change your mind about closing down this face book support as I do my best to publicize lets adopt amongst all my contacts around the world in order to try to drum up foster homes adopters and flight volunteers and I want to continue to support you how ever I can by spreading the word on a daily basis I give you my time energy and commitment
Don’t worry… well find the best way to get everyone involved at a deeper level..
My tweet (please re-tweet): Reflections on animal activism http://ow.ly/2LNGf Note word activism has ACT in it. Are you taking ACTION? #foster #adopt #donate
By the way, some people are taking action, but you just don’t know about it. It takes time to build up a group of people large enough to make a real noticeable change. Yes, most people will take the easy route — that is just the way humans are. Clicking is easier than fostering so you will always have more people willing to click a button than foster, adopt, or rescue. No matter where you look you will find only a small percentage of the people willing to take ACTION that requires real effort, time, and expense.
I agree Viktor, ACTIVism needs to be something in MOTION….something in action. But to think that facebook is useless you are so wrong. It’s NOT JUST virtual. Through FB I HAVE become involved in transportation of dogs to forever homes throughout the past year. THERE ARE actual groups of persons on here that are beyond the virtual world… I have people on my page that I would have NEVER known without FB and without becoming INVOLVED with these dog transports! it’s sad to think of YOU leaving our community… I have enjoyed reading your thoughts and have learned a great deal from you! Choose you decisions wisely, Viktor….. it’s a BIG world!
Facebook is not useless… but it is good to achieve some goals, not others.
Barbara,
Sometimes some strategic decisions make sense only in the long run.
Trust me, well do what is best for the animals.
xx
Totally shell-shocked by your comments Viktor!!! Need some time for this to sink in before I reply in full!!
Linda, read the text carefully, read Gladwell’s article too, slowly, digest it, and then, reflect and then yes… write to me.
xx
Everyone should read the ENTIRE article, including the one by Malcom Gladwell.
What “V” is saying is simple.
BE The Change. Each of YOU, myself, my community, yours.
We ALL need to change our thinking, how we act.
Facebook is a great networking tool, but we need to get beyond that.
We want change. That can’t be done alone. We need each and everyone of you to reach out to us, offer a foster home, talk to your friends and family about fostering, saving an animal from the pound TODAY. THOUSANDS die today in the US…THOUSANDS..every single day – 365 days a year. This needs to stop.
No-Kill is the only way to stop this.
Low kill is a joke. Why not aim high?
Why ask for a bandage on a dirty wound, when an antibiotic is needed?
We need YOU!
Let’s Adopt! is a global movement. No one asks you to adopt from Turkey. I ask you to adopt/rescue from your local pound TODAY. A cat, a couple of kittens, a dog. What keeps you from doing that?
Seriously. What prevents you from fostering?
Unless you have a serious health issue or are not allowed animals, in which case there are other things that are needed.
Action is the keyword. We all have a talent that might benefit this group or the animals.
Each of us can do SOMETHING – today.
Instead of shunning Viktor for calling out the 800lb Gorilla farting in the room, why not see how we can PROGRESS….
Think about it.
US members – join me at Let’s Adopt! USA if you haven’t yet
http://facebook.com/LetsadoptUSA
-misha
it is really frustrating to manage group behavior – and to not see results of change quickly enough. every day when i look at the animals on death row, i just want to put the people on death row that are responsible for them being there. change is happening but not quickly enough. why the heinous atrocities are allowed to continue at some of these places is incomprehensible. animal cruelty IS illegal & allowing it at government shelters in unacceptable. i write my legislators all the time about this & not seeing results. i attend meetings of animal organizations for change & still am not seeing enough results. i volunteer at a no kill shelter, have 10 animals at home, have placed many more animals with people i know well & feel comfortable with. i teach pet first aid to many people that love their animals & can’t even comprehend the way some animals are treated. facebook is an excellent tool. for networking. i have seen it work many times to get animals placed by getting the information out to the people that are looking for direction for what to do to get them. and like the starfish tale, it makes a difference to THOSE animals. it isn’t completely fair to criticize everyone without knowing the whole picture of what people are doing outside of their profile. it certainly is important to motivate people to act. it is so frustrating that the actions take so long to get results. there’s absolutely NO reason that holocausts are allowed to continue at some of these municipal shelters. they need to be stopped NOW and it IS so frustrating that thousands of people or more aren’t able to get it done NOW. one more day of it is just not acceptable.
I agree we need every tool out there to get the word out. I had one person tell me that signing petitions on line does nothing. How wrong this person is. Years ago before computers I did this work by hand and foot. We changed the law for our horses without computers. Having the tool makes it easier and does help.
Lynn – I think a lot of people are ignorant or in denial about the things happening in their own communities. I am not talking about our members. I’m talking about so-called animal lovers, who do absolutely nothing. They “oohhh” and “aaah” about death row animals posted on FB – offer some prayers – and that is IT! That’s what some do ALL day.
I appreciate prayers, good thoughts, juju, energy – I believe in it. However – we are beings of free will ( these animals are not – thanks to US!), and the responsibility lies with US to save the animals, change their circumstance, stop breeders, stop puppy mills, rally our own communities. No matter how small your county is – there’s always room for a good rally.
The South has huge problems. People don’t fix their animals, they keep breeding, there’s also that whole, “miracle of life”- (pardon my French) BS dynamic.
People don’t care. It’s JUST dogs – it’s JUST cats… they don’t see animals like part of their family – they are property, an accessory. By law, pets are property, not family members.
We have a lot of work to do – ALL of us who are serious about being an activist.
ACTIVISM: a doctrine or practice that emphasizes DIRECT VIGOROUS ACTION especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue….
About online petitions. There are two kinds. One are just a collection of signatures, that really don’t go anywhere with no goal. They are just to express someone’s opinion, support of the issue.
Then there are the petitions that are actually delivered to authorities with the goal (and follow-up) for social/political change, whatever the issue is..
I personally sign them, as they represent my voice, and I know for sure that they are aimed to bring an issue on a ballot or presented to lawmakers, etc.
Diane – my admiration for the foot work! I remember the computer less era ;))
Keep the discussion going guys…
-misha
It is the combination of being active and being social. I have been involved of transports to save an animal because of alerts I only knew about through facebook. I have rescued a number of animals and found homes through facebook, animals I’d never have known were on death row in out of state pounds had I not seen a crossposting. Most recently I was able to raise money for Farm Sanctuary through a posting on FB and am now involved in a march I’d never know about if it wasn’t for a FB post.
But yes, you are correct and it is true, if you don’t remain physically active then change will not happen. With this said, I feel strongly that facebook is a great tool to help lead others where they are most needed and it helps to alert me to needs I’d otherwise have no knowledge of. Thank you.
I read through all this last night and waited until this morning before I commented as I had gotten in late after a parade with some of my students and adoptable pets. We had marched the entire route and I was so proud as my students mingled with the crowd introducing the puppies and dogs to the people along the way. They were tell how each needed a home and how they could be adopted. They are a great group of kids, not a large group but still have the calling as animal activitists. And I think that is where the rubber meets the road. I understand what Viktor is saying as I will read the posts he has and then see little one line notes of condolences that follow. If I am correct, he is concern that no one is really stepping up to the bat so to speak and offering to help. Facebook has become just a place to share sad and good stories alike, not a place to get people moving, saying ok I will take in that puppy or here is my donation to help. At the same time, most of us are in the trenches doing something, whatever it may be and those stories do not always get posted. I know many of you are stretched beyond what most can imagine while others feel they have done their best with a dog or a cat. I hear that all along the parade route last night. For Let’s Adopt, we need more committment than the social interaction that we are now seeing on Facebook. Maybe we need different threads to meet the different needs such as adopting, fostering, contributing, and emergency help. If you feel you can not manage another pet in your home, how about becoming a foster parent? If you can’t do that, how about a regular financial committment, even $10 or $15 a month can make a difference. And can you drive somewhere to help in an emergency and pick up an animal? Can you volunteer some time cleaning out a local shelter? Maybe we could have seperate threads posting needs in each of these areas? Let’s move out of the social interaction into the physical action area. Just some ideas…
i do agree about the comments cluttering up & possibly botching the rescue. facebook changed something around again so when you write anything when you hit share, it ends up in a list of what everyone else said when they hit share. i don’t like that, so i refrain from adding anything there since the relevant info is on the original post. . there have been some really upsetting situations where those comments cluttered up the feed & comments from someone asking about adoption were missed because they were buried in people’s comments about how they hope the animal gets a good home, how it looks like their animal, etc.. we ALL hope the animal gets a good home & it doesn’t matter who it looks like. not to be disrespectful to people who care about the animal, but a rescue post is not the appropriate place for that. they really have to stop clogging up the comments section with irrelevancies that sabotage a rescue.
we seriously need to bombard out legislators with requests to ban inhumane methods for killing shelter animals. i don’t want them killed AT ALL, but till that happens, there certainly is NO excuse for using gas chambers & heartsticks & having cruel idiots administering the procedures. people that work in govt. shelters should be mandated to have prior animal experience & proven references that they care for & know how to handle animals. these idiotic methods must be stopped. and backyard breeding, which accounts for almost 1/3 of the animals killed must be banned. i personally think we have to go after the federal representatives because some areas just don’t care about “just dogs or cats”, we have to MAKE them care with federal mandates. fighting the same battle 50 times in each state is simply ridiculous & inefficient, not to mention how many lives are lost every hour while time is wasted & nothing changes. it think pressuring the federal legislators is key to changing this part. it’s not like they’re doing much else to fix the problems of our country. this costs nothing to no one & has no valid opposition.
as far as the idiots who dump their animals, the standard education, affordable spay neuter, etc are still good recommendations. shelters should not release animals that are not spayed or neutered. if people are looking at moving to a place that doesn’t take animals, they should not move there. end of story. it is so unfortunate when people die or become terminally ill & the animals end up on death row, amidst their grief of losing their caretaker. people really should be encouraged to think about what will happen to their pets in event of untimely death. when people surrender their animal thinking “it will find a good home” they should be MADE to be present when their “innocent, loving companion” is killed so they see how ridiculous that perception is. these are some of my ideas to change people’s attitudes.
You are of right on the money. I personally would love to do more than sit and cross post, even though I would love to do more I am perty much at a loss. These might come across a cop outs, but in earnest they are true. I am pushing 61, do not have a vehicle, to assist in rescue, transport or even hands on. I might walk but at this point I’m not sure I would make it very far.My landlady won’t let me have a dog, so I can’t foster, but since I live in a one bedroom apartment with my grandson and 5 babies( 4 wre strays) there wouldn’t be enough room for another baby to keep its sanity. I would be more than willing to try ,straight from the heart. And I don’t have any close ties that would be willing to include me in any activist operations. So here I sit Ready and willing so my only other option is the net and hope and pray that one thing that I do might save a life.. Also funds are extremely low as I was getting next to nothing in work hours and had to suppliment with partial unemployment. But I thank God that these little things aren’t dependant on the little bit I can do.I like millions of others have cried a million tears of dispair and grief.If anyone is in the Great Falls area nad need help please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am ready at any time to assist, and I am especially great with animals re.bm.evon@hotmail.com
I agree with some of the things you have said, but not all. I created the Dogs Across Australia webpage four years ago. It’s effective, but so is Facebook. In fact I tend to see Facebook as a useful plug-in. I can communicate to rescue people world-wide and in a second. I can also communicate with friends and friends of friends of friends; in this way friends get to learn about animal welfare, no kill rescue groups etc. They wouldn’t otherwise…and they vote.
I almost think websites are less effective and am about to create a new one using WordPress – which allows instant communication like Facebook.
I also see that in the future, direct democracy will probably replace representative democracy simply because a new generation is becoming used to interaction and Facebook style communication.
I don’t disagree with the fact we need to do more and to become more involved in local government and politics in general and yes, we still need more foster carers and people who offer day to day care. But Facebook has it’s uses – for the time being.
Hi…
Facebook has uses, of course, we have rehomed close to 3.000 animals in the last three years by using FB and our blog together.
BUT that is not what the article is all about… I’m asking reflections at a deeper level. Read Gladwell’s article too… it will add a new perspective to it.
And yes… Blogs are a much better option than a website… I suggest you attach it to your domain, something like: blog.dogsacrossaustralia.com and then you incorporate sharing widgets.
A website alone will not bring enough to make change… you need to build trust.
xx
I started contributing with $’s first to Cenk75@e-kllay.net paypal 2/24/2010 for the Bolluca Forest dogs. And, every month since then. I am not talking $1 or $2. Then you changed how the money was spent and all money goes to the Simba Fund, and you decide how money or where it goes. I still specify and certain amount be given to the Bolluca Forest dogs. This happens to be one of my favorite places to contribute.
I didn’t give last month because I am told I am not going beyond my comfort zone, and that when I am ready to go beyond my comfort zone I could join you!! This really makes me angry. That report you keep talking about has no bearing here. It is not conclusive.
I would not have known about the Bolluca Forest dogs if it weren’t for facebook. I enjoy the pictures that are shared about the forest dogs. The pictures are taken by Levent. He follows a man around by the name of Gurbuz. I admire him alot and would like to contribute to him, but not sure if he would get the money. Levent tells a story through his pictures. There are a lot of people out there doing what I consider great things for the dogs.
So whoever decides where the money goes you let me know if Gurbuz would get the money if I request it.
Jean
Dear Jean,
You’re support to Bolluca Dogs saved so many lives, we thank you so much… Above all, you and the few supporters of Bolluca forest helps us to struggle. Not only the hunger/dissease, municipality but also the so-called “animal lovers” keeps attacking as we find perfect homes for the weak-sick and handycapped ones abroad. Most of this people hate us because of ultra-nationalistic reasons, or big fat EGO’s. In Turkey Facebook is also used as a tool of spreading lies & gossip.
We feed the dogs dumped by the municipality every week at the forest as much as we can. In best times we deliver 900 kg of raw food and medicine, nowadays we can only deliver 400-500 kg food every week, sometimes we feed 2 times a week.Simba Fund is helping us when we need the most. Nowadays both Simba Fund and we (a group of people paying for the food) are having hard days… But these days will pass. We are hoping to make another protest against the municipality of Istanbul. We need to stop them dumping these poor creatures to death in the forest.
Jean you are an angel, your support and care for the dogs in the forests of Istanbul mean so much to us…. You’ve done so much, thank you
Best
Cenk
Dear Victor,
Even though I do agree that activism is not a clicking game and that it requires some sacrifice, I think that Facebook is nevertheless very helpful in terms of creating awareness. There are still a lot lof young people who are not aware of animal rights issues and facebook is a convenient tool for them to gain some perspective (my cousins for instance). Facebook also enabled me to get into contact with people with whom I am now building a support systems for the stray animals in my city district.
Hello,
We are interested in adopting an Istanbuli dog. Can anyone help us do that? I expected this site to have some information, and I am a little confused by the layout, as it lists dogs located in Canada…
Please, if you can help (pictures, ages, where to go, who to contact, so on), let me know.
Best,
Nora