Two weeks ago I wrote a little opinion piece about changing the color of your Twitter avatar to show support for a cause. My wife and I don’t agree on everything, and when I spout off with something like this I try to keep her eyes from seeing this blog for a little while. For one reason or another she ran across it this evening and we had a little debate.
Now while she did somewhat agree with my stand, she still tried to inform me that there is some value in things like this. I thought she made some nice points so I asked her to write up a little of her view on this because I feel it’s important to present more than just one side to some situations.
An empty gesture is still a gesture.
While I agree that changing your avatar color produces no real change, I worry about discouraging small steps. In a world of such profound apathy I’m willing to forgive a few “bumper sticker” activists. A gesture like this can be likened to patting yourself on the back and most of the time I would agree. But who am I to set the charitable scale?
Out of all the people that did change their avatar, how many went further? Lets say out of 100 people, ten changed the color for the day; how many took the time to write a letter or donate time and money as you suggested? We all know it was far less. I say give your support to the causes that mean something to you no matter how small the gesture or charity. If we all walk the walk long enough it just might stick. It’s ok to practice.
I’m all for an open exchange of ideas, so if anyone else has something they would like to add, feel free to jump in to the comments section below.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m going to have to side with Rob on this one. For about the same amount of effort as trying to figure out how to turn your avatar green you could donate a can of food to the food bank. The difference in the world that a small amount of food goes further to solving society’s problems then the avatar thing. There are lots of people in homes near ours that are having trouble paying the natural gas bill. Lots of people who are choosing to pay for food over health care. I’m sure that what’s happening in Iran is horrible and inhumane but I think coloring you avatar is only slightly better then doing nothing. Maybe it’s a good way for people to remove their own guilt for not doing anything.
reminder to self, proofread before hitting submit.
I do that all the time