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This comment crystalizes the paradox of activism in a community of contrarians: after months of build up, we are spending our last organizing hours convincing o

by hsod 9y ago

This comment crystalizes the paradox of activism in a community of contrarians: after months of build up, we are spending our last organizing hours convincing ourselves (and each other) of something we already know.

DoreenMichele 9y ago
I'm not a contrarian. I'm a freelance writer who is less tech savvy than a lot of people here. I am not comfortable with taking action without understanding what I am supporting. I am also not comfortable sitting idly by on the excuse that I don't really understand it. It is a completely sincere question and I very much appreciate all good faith efforts to answer it, from either side.
- hsod 9y ago
  I'm not questioning your sincerity (or talking about you at all, really). I'm observing that the HN community is a poor fit for activism. It's crunch time (activism-wise) and the top comment chain is a relitigation of the whole issue from scratch, even though we've been talking about it for months (and years).
  - DoreenMichele 9y ago
    Or maybe people are willing to go the extra mile to get a neutral party on board who might otherwise do nothing because I am not comfortable taking action on an issue I don't really understand. I don't see it being relitigated. Most stuff here seems pro net neutrality, but with good explanations instead of the political sniping I was seeing before I asked.
    - jancsika 9y ago
      > Or maybe people are willing to go the extra mile to get a neutral party on board who might otherwise do nothing because I am not comfortable taking action on an issue I don't really understand. So... did they succeed? Do the pro net-neutrality explanations make sense and persuade you? And if so, what do you plan to do in this critical moment before the impending FCC vote?
      - DoreenMichele 9y ago
        Yes, they succeeded. I did tweet a few things recommended on the break the internet article and I am debating what else I might do. I recently moved, so I have not yet registered to vote and I am not a phone person. I also recently started over on Twitter, FB and other things. I am not sure my efforts make any real difference. I also have only voted twice in my life. Politics is kind of a foreign land for me. But I do feel I understand it better and it does matter.

by hsod 9y ago

DoreenMichele 9y ago

I'm not a contrarian. I'm a freelance writer who is less tech savvy than a lot of people here. I am not comfortable with taking action without understanding what I am supporting. I am also not comfortable sitting idly by on the excuse that I don't really understand it. It is a completely sincere question and I very much appreciate all good faith efforts to answer it, from either side.

hsod 9y ago
I'm not questioning your sincerity (or talking about you at all, really). I'm observing that the HN community is a poor fit for activism. It's crunch time (activism-wise) and the top comment chain is a relitigation of the whole issue from scratch, even though we've been talking about it for months (and years).
- DoreenMichele 9y ago
  Or maybe people are willing to go the extra mile to get a neutral party on board who might otherwise do nothing because I am not comfortable taking action on an issue I don't really understand. I don't see it being relitigated. Most stuff here seems pro net neutrality, but with good explanations instead of the political sniping I was seeing before I asked.
  - jancsika 9y ago
    > Or maybe people are willing to go the extra mile to get a neutral party on board who might otherwise do nothing because I am not comfortable taking action on an issue I don't really understand. So... did they succeed? Do the pro net-neutrality explanations make sense and persuade you? And if so, what do you plan to do in this critical moment before the impending FCC vote?
    - DoreenMichele 9y ago
      Yes, they succeeded. I did tweet a few things recommended on the break the internet article and I am debating what else I might do. I recently moved, so I have not yet registered to vote and I am not a phone person. I also recently started over on Twitter, FB and other things. I am not sure my efforts make any real difference. I also have only voted twice in my life. Politics is kind of a foreign land for me. But I do feel I understand it better and it does matter.