I have nothing against activists, really. I may disagree with them more than half the time, but I do acknowledge that they're important, and that they do have important stuff to say. That's why I'd like to give this bit of advice to anyone willing to listen.
As far as qualifications go, I'm just a random engineering student with an observation. Not much of a resume, but you never know, right?
***** I'm pretty sure all of you know the story of The Boy Who Cried "Wolf", so I won't waste any time detailing it. This, my friends, is the point of my idea.
To put it bluntly, if you want people to listen to you, shut up. Just a little. Now don't go storming off offended, pressing the x button and smashing your monitor with a sledgehammer—I'll explain myself shortly.
People have a tendency to generalize: I'm guilty of it, you're guilty of it, and most important of all, the student body is guilty of it. If you keep railing off at every little issue at hand, you'll quickly wear out the patience of the UP populace, and within a few years or even sooner, the student body will generalize and the value of your words will be zilch. I don't mean this as a threat. I mean this as a warning. In fact, this is the very thing I don't want to happen. I don't want your words to mean nothing. I don't want people to stop listening to you.
Why? Because when the time comes that you have something very very important to say, people won't listen. You end up as white noise. The sound of the TV as one falls asleep. The voice of an irate mother ranting endlessly. So I'm telling you this so you don't end up as white noise. So people won't ignore you when it counts.
I'm not saying that you should stop rallying and demonstrating. I'm saying you should choose what to rally and demonstrate about. I'm sure all those issues you want to tackle are important—why else would you want to address them? But there are some issues that are more pressing and more relevant, and those are the issues you should press. By doing so, you give more weight to the few objections you forward, and more strength to your cause.
Don't be like the boy who cried "wolf". Be the boy who people will listen to when there actually is a wolf.
--Addendum: Avoid racist comments.
 | "You end up as white noise. The sound of the TV as one falls asleep"
Ah. Yes. O.o Though I guess they'd ask.. What can you do about the issues at hand? Will we take them sitting down? :p |
 | Better have some issues addressed than none at all, right? |
 | As sound as your advice is, it's not gonna get through, which is pretty unfortunate |
| =)) for me it'd be either Biel or Alba. :-? |
| It might, if Pascual reposts it. :)) |
 | god no, i still want to be popular on the ~~~internet~~~. :O |
 | yeah yeah, all we hear now are "kzzzt kzzzztt" XP |
 | pusablanca wrote on Jan 26, '09, edited on Jan 26, '09 Hear, hear.
Personally very suspicious of the motives of any group that chooses misinformation (aka LIES) as their method of persuasion. =\ |
 | that's a no brainer, jessica alba is by far the hottest of them all, overall package
if u prefer blondes, simpson is alright, just don't expect a good stimulating intelligent conversation after
and if you're not into petite girls, then you go for biel, alot taller than alba but not as dumb as simpson |
 | blasphemy! it was a trick question, a real man wouldn't 'choose' between the three he'd have them dress up and play his favorite sexual fantasy - wonder woman, princess leia, & catholic school girl! |
 | :) well written piece Levi :) |
 | ill repost this. thanks.
terry |
 | this is a really good entry. may i repost? |
 | andreavenge wrote on Jan 27, '09, edited on Jan 29, '09 Got here from Feanne's blog.
As someone with activist friends, this rings true to me. I understand them, and we all know that we should work for the common good. Pero they can be stubborn sometimes - OK, most of the time - that different opinions get absorbed as negative, personal criticisms. |
| levi88 wrote on Jan 28, '09, edited on Jan 28, '09 |
 | haha AMEN LEVI! hahaha :p |
 | I can only smile after reading this. :] |
 | hear hear. :) may i repost? |
| levi, you should make sure to check the "quote original message". i cant quite follow your replies sometimes :)) |
 | well said...
can i link this? |
| You should also switch the comment view to Threaded mode. It'll organize replies. :) |
 | magaling.. magaling.. magaling.. |
 | Points well taken... thanks for the advice...
Do you have any suggested Issue to tackle? |
| Nope, issues are at your discretion. (assuming you're a member of an activist organization) |
| levi88 wrote on Feb 7, '09, edited on Feb 7, '09 I wouldn't know until you put them up. :)
Also, this isn't about "people like me". This is about people in general. |
| I think it's kind of unfair for you to ask of him what particular issues he wants you to address. :| All he's saying is that if something happens constantly, that something will be written off and won't be given importance when it counts.
|
|  I really wanted to know what kind of issues would people in general would listen to... and would even support activist like me in putting that issue forward... give me just a few example...  Normally, I wouldn't do this, but since you're so nice about it... Talk about things on a more practical, grassroots level. Campus violence. The kids going around campus begging for money. The guys offering to watch your car and asking you money for it.
And I must admit my message was a little incomplete. Aside from choosing what to talk about, you gotta talk about real, practical solutions. You can't just go "greater state subsidy" and expect change. Talk about getting specific funding for schools and social centers to keep those begging kids in check. Get them back into school. That sort of thing.
Try reading "Dreams from My Father" by Barack Obama. You'll find a very good role model for activism there. But in case you don't have the time to read it, I'll give you an anecdote. (simplified for brevity)
There was a time during his youth when Pres. Obama went to a small Chicago town named Altgeld. He went around asking the folks for issues, and he found there was concern about recently discovered asbestos piping in a local school. The locals did not only worry about the school, they worried about their own homes. So Obama rallied people up, made phone calls, met officials, and cornered them to do something. And while there was a lot of resistance along the way, he eventually got the reluctant support of some officials, and the buildings were inspected for asbestos and accordingly repaired.
I still strongly suggest you read the book itself, as my anecdote lacks the details to paint a clearer image in the mind, but as far as points go, I think this is sufficient. |
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