Post by fudgikillz on Mar 31, 2012 17:19:13 GMT -8
I need to get something off my chest. Austin's post about Kony 2012 really bothered me. Not because I didn't agree with his opinions but rather the way he presented them and the thoughtlessness of the post on the whole.
If you aren't going to present a logical and well informed opinion after calling people lazy, dishonest and superficial you are just making a fool out of yourself and proving yourself to be just as ignorant as those people you are insulting. If you want to attack people's ignorance you had best be well informed. If you can't defend your opinions with critical thinking you should keep them to yourself.
Anyway. On to the issue at hand. We all want to have an informed opinion about Invisible children and be able to talk about it, right? Lets give it a shot.
Here are some links:
www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12429 IC is lacking in transparency.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO_tSVSg0qc Imo, a very reasonable viewpoint. He also brings up kiva: www.kiva.org/ , a really cool and effective way to help people.
blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/07/guest_post_joseph_kony_is_not_in_uganda_and_other_complicated_things Solid criticism.
www.vice.com/en_uk/read/should-i-donate-money-to-kony-2012-or-not More criticism.
blogs.aljazeera.com/africa/2012/03/14/ugandans-react-anger-kony-video There is a disconnect between what Ugandans want and what invisible children wants.
visiblechildren.tumblr.com/ more criticism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdBcypx1DfE 6 year old interview with the man himself. He appears to be a heartless lying psychopath.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=piAkplO5leg&feature=related something to direct your hate at.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpyHZBDIIbw&feature=g-vrec&context=G2c0a087RVAAAAAAAABA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvqFi_HRPmk&feature=related commentary on IC's finances.
Some responses to criticism:
s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html
www.facebook.com/notes/john-rudolph-beaton/visible-children-viewed-critically/10150614970287933
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J2Pg1LL42k&feature=related laughable.
Edit: List of shit here: visiblechildren.tumblr.com/post/18954353409/not-alone
What to take out of all this:
1. Don't share your opinions unless you are willing to be informed and have a real discussion about them. Do your research and don't look at things in terms of black and white because it's never that simple. Be critical but don't be an stupid cynic. Cynicism does not equal critical thinking.
2. The internet is becoming a method for real change. Ideas spread like wildfire and this can be a good thing. Problems arise because of ignorance and misleading information. People are empathetic, but often too apathetic to really think things through. Invisible Children's financial statement is a little suspect, and I would not even think of donating at this point in time.
3. What is the value of awareness? Does the fact that eighty-six million people know who Joseph Kony is inspire real and positive change? Who can say? Is this even true awareness of the problems in central Africa? I don't feel informed after watching their video. I feel my emotions being manipulated by very skillful video editing. Anyway, Invisible Children definitely thinks awareness is important because they spend a full quarter of their budget on it.
4. later.
Note to self: Global community and responsibility, fallbacks of informational videos, remnants of colonialism, digital revolution
If you aren't going to present a logical and well informed opinion after calling people lazy, dishonest and superficial you are just making a fool out of yourself and proving yourself to be just as ignorant as those people you are insulting. If you want to attack people's ignorance you had best be well informed. If you can't defend your opinions with critical thinking you should keep them to yourself.
Anyway. On to the issue at hand. We all want to have an informed opinion about Invisible children and be able to talk about it, right? Lets give it a shot.
Here are some links:
www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12429 IC is lacking in transparency.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO_tSVSg0qc Imo, a very reasonable viewpoint. He also brings up kiva: www.kiva.org/ , a really cool and effective way to help people.
blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/07/guest_post_joseph_kony_is_not_in_uganda_and_other_complicated_things Solid criticism.
www.vice.com/en_uk/read/should-i-donate-money-to-kony-2012-or-not More criticism.
blogs.aljazeera.com/africa/2012/03/14/ugandans-react-anger-kony-video There is a disconnect between what Ugandans want and what invisible children wants.
visiblechildren.tumblr.com/ more criticism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdBcypx1DfE 6 year old interview with the man himself. He appears to be a heartless lying psychopath.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=piAkplO5leg&feature=related something to direct your hate at.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpyHZBDIIbw&feature=g-vrec&context=G2c0a087RVAAAAAAAABA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvqFi_HRPmk&feature=related commentary on IC's finances.
Some responses to criticism:
s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html
www.facebook.com/notes/john-rudolph-beaton/visible-children-viewed-critically/10150614970287933
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J2Pg1LL42k&feature=related laughable.
Edit: List of shit here: visiblechildren.tumblr.com/post/18954353409/not-alone
What to take out of all this:
1. Don't share your opinions unless you are willing to be informed and have a real discussion about them. Do your research and don't look at things in terms of black and white because it's never that simple. Be critical but don't be an stupid cynic. Cynicism does not equal critical thinking.
2. The internet is becoming a method for real change. Ideas spread like wildfire and this can be a good thing. Problems arise because of ignorance and misleading information. People are empathetic, but often too apathetic to really think things through. Invisible Children's financial statement is a little suspect, and I would not even think of donating at this point in time.
3. What is the value of awareness? Does the fact that eighty-six million people know who Joseph Kony is inspire real and positive change? Who can say? Is this even true awareness of the problems in central Africa? I don't feel informed after watching their video. I feel my emotions being manipulated by very skillful video editing. Anyway, Invisible Children definitely thinks awareness is important because they spend a full quarter of their budget on it.
4. later.
Note to self: Global community and responsibility, fallbacks of informational videos, remnants of colonialism, digital revolution