Invisible Children: The race to capture Joseph Kony
Discussion
There's not much to be constructive about.
Here, this is what they are saying at the sharp end: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaan...
Here, this is what they are saying at the sharp end: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaan...
StottyZr said:
I notice lots and lots of critisism on this thread. None of it constructive 
If IC themselves offered anything constructive beyond "stop Kony" then it might be easier to make that accusation. But as the article I linked to earlier says;article said:
The idea of “stopping Kony”, of course plays into the narrative created by the ‘Kony 2012′ campaign where what actually happens to Kony and the LRA is irrelevant. The unspecific aim of “stopping” him is sufficient. Who, after all, doesn’t want Kony “stopped”? But then what? If Kony is killed or captured, then what? What happens to the other members of the LRA? ‘Kony 2012′ offers no answers here.
Constructive in this context then, is to stop reducing the problem in this part of Africa (and by this part I mean Uganda, Sudan, DRC and others) to a mystic 'bogeyman' under the banner of 'raising awareness'. Constructive is to stop behaving like self-righteous, middle class college kids and understand that the world does not operate from your perspective.andy_s said:
There's not much to be constructive about.
Here, this is what they are saying at the sharp end: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaan...
What's this, actual journalism, with evidence and facts and stuff? Here, this is what they are saying at the sharp end: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaan...
How dare you bring such a thing to this cause.
joe_90 said:
All feel free to troll:
That would be better if they hadn't made it look like a polldurbster said:
What's this, actual journalism, with evidence and facts and stuff?
How dare you bring such a thing to this cause.
Reading that I still think this Kony 2012 video is viral marketing for Machine Gun Preacher. It's no secret that got a home release this week. This could be be the best internet trolling yet. How dare you bring such a thing to this cause.
Edited by Oakey on Friday 9th March 10:38
Mark Benson said:
StottyZr said:
I notice lots and lots of critisism on this thread. None of it constructive
If IC themselves offered anything constructive beyond "stop Kony" then it might be easier to make that accusation. But as the article I linked to earlier says;article said:
The idea of “stopping Kony”, of course plays into the narrative created by the ‘Kony 2012′ campaign where what actually happens to Kony and the LRA is irrelevant. The unspecific aim of “stopping” him is sufficient. Who, after all, doesn’t want Kony “stopped”? But then what? If Kony is killed or captured, then what? What happens to the other members of the LRA? ‘Kony 2012′ offers no answers here.
Constructive in this context then, is to stop reducing the problem in this part of Africa (and by this part I mean Uganda, Sudan, DRC and others) to a mystic 'bogeyman' under the banner of 'raising awareness'. Constructive is to stop behaving like self-righteous, middle class college kids and understand that the world does not operate from your perspective.Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a s
t load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.He's selling the idea of empowering people to do what they think is right.
It's far from perfect, but the ideology and sentiment is very good.
StottyZr said:
How is that constructive? Well done, you quoted an article... Whilst watching the video I did notice that there was no plans for the children that Kony has now turned into animals, this was pointed out to friends at the time.
Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a st load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.
He's selling the idea of empowering people to do what they think is right.
It's far from perfect, but the ideology and sentiment is very good.
I guess thats the thing, from what I understand most of their funding is funnelled in to the Ugandan Army rather than rehabilitation projects for the kids whose lives have been destroyed by this warlord. Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a s
t load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.He's selling the idea of empowering people to do what they think is right.
It's far from perfect, but the ideology and sentiment is very good.
StottyZr said:
How is that constructive? Well done, you quoted an article... Whilst watching the video I did notice that there was no plans for the children that Kony has now turned into animals, this was pointed out to friends at the time.
Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a st load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.
He's selling the idea of empowering people to do what they think is right.
It's far from perfect, but the ideology and sentiment is very good.
It's not new, it's not accurate, and (if you'd read the article you'd know this) the people on the ground in Uganda feel it's counter-productive.Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a s
t load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.He's selling the idea of empowering people to do what they think is right.
It's far from perfect, but the ideology and sentiment is very good.
StottyZr said:
Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a st load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.
That's because when people try to get involved in something they have absolutely no idea about, they usually make things a lot. A lot worse. And this goes tenfold in Africa.t load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.As a simple example, what harm could possibly be done by providing malaria nets to an African village?
1. Western charity supplies 1,000 malaria nets to village
2. Western donators feel wonderful - after all, they have saved hundreds of children's lives
3. Villagers realise these nets are bloody good for fishing
4. Fishermen dessimate fish stocks in river because the nets are so effective everything
5. Kids die of malaria anyway
It's not enough to have a good heart, do what you think is right etc. Not by a long shot. The world - and Africa in particular - doesn't work like that. This stuff can only be dealt with locally, and most importatntly, as far as the proper journalists are saying, it already has been dealt with!
durbster said:
StottyZr said:
Although I also pointed out this guy is trying to do something good. And I've also noticed there is a st load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.
That's because when people try to get involved in something they have absolutely no idea about, they usually make things a lot. A lot worse. And this goes tenfold in Africa.t load of negative critics always berating somebody for trying something new.As a simple example, what harm could possibly be done by providing malaria nets to an African village?
1. Western charity supplies 1,000 malaria nets to village
2. Western donators feel wonderful - after all, they have saved hundreds of children's lives
3. Villagers realise these nets are bloody good for fishing
4. Fishermen dessimate fish stocks in river because the nets are so effective everything
5. Kids die of malaria anyway
It's not enough to have a good heart, do what you think is right etc. Not by a long shot. The world - and Africa in particular - doesn't work like that. This stuff can only be dealt with locally, and most importatntly, as far as the proper journalists are saying, it already has been dealt with!
k is this already being delt with? It was being ignored until this guy had a bh fit.I understand your point that good intentions can cause more problems. This still doesn't take away from the fact that this thread is full of critisism, none of which being constructive.
StottyZr said:
A couple of points. How the fk is this already being delt with? It was being ignored until this guy had a bh fit.
I understand your point that good intentions can cause more problems. This still doesn't take away from the fact that this thread is full of critisism, none of which being constructive.
How about some criticism from someone who was actually involved?k is this already being delt with? It was being ignored until this guy had a bh fit.I understand your point that good intentions can cause more problems. This still doesn't take away from the fact that this thread is full of critisism, none of which being constructive.
http://www.stand-news.co.uk/kony-2012-the-worst-ca...
Oakey said:
StottyZr said:
A couple of points. How the fk is this already being delt with? It was being ignored until this guy had a bh fit.
I understand your point that good intentions can cause more problems. This still doesn't take away from the fact that this thread is full of critisism, none of which being constructive.
How about some criticism from someone who was actually involved?k is this already being delt with? It was being ignored until this guy had a bh fit.I understand your point that good intentions can cause more problems. This still doesn't take away from the fact that this thread is full of critisism, none of which being constructive.
http://www.stand-news.co.uk/kony-2012-the-worst-ca...
response said:
Maybe I'm just a THUPER-POSITIVE person, but I actually feel quite insulted. I'm not an idiot. I know reposting something isn't going to change the world, and I think that taking MORE guns into Africa is the worst idea in the history of ideas. But I also think that this article reads as though someone is just pissing on the bonfire. I don't see anyone criticising AIDS campaigns. Lots of people run marathons for Macmillan and Cancer Research; would you stop them and politely say "Excuse me, you know that RUNNING won't actually CURE the disease, right?" Some cancer charities borderline bully recovering patients via phone for more money; the sentiment is a noble one, even if the method is fked up. So, I appreciate the fact that you are balancing out the argument (you wouldn't be a good journalist if you didn't), but I don't appreciate the inference that I am ignorant. I did watch the video, and I did feel more clued-up afterwards. But I have family in South Africa and go there a lot, so yes, I know that there are more important problems than a few rebels with a penchant for murder and rape. But don't categorise all re-posters of Kony in such black-and-white terms, and give them some fking credit. Being for Kony 2012 may not and probably won't fix things, but being against it makes you a bit heart-hearted, to be honest. And that never solved anything.
ked up. So, I appreciate the fact that you are balancing out the argument (you wouldn't be a good journalist if you didn't), but I don't appreciate the inference that I am ignorant. I did watch the video, and I did feel more clued-up afterwards. But I have family in South Africa and go there a lot, so yes, I know that there are more important problems than a few rebels with a penchant for murder and rape. But don't categorise all re-posters of Kony in such black-and-white terms, and give them some fking credit. Being for Kony 2012 may not and probably won't fix things, but being against it makes you a bit heart-hearted, to be honest. And that never solved anything.I'm not sure what you're agreeing with, if running to raise money for cancer research meant that the money would go to funding a different fascist dictator in some tinpot country I'm sure less people would do it.
There's nothing stopping you becoming the next Sam Childers if you feel so strongly about it though.
There's nothing stopping you becoming the next Sam Childers if you feel so strongly about it though.
Oakey said:
I'm not sure what you're agreeing with, if running to raise money for cancer research meant that the money would go to funding a different fascist dictator in some tinpot country I'm sure less people would do it.
There's nothing stopping you becoming the next Sam Childers if you feel so strongly about it though.
Whaaaa? :facepalm: I really don't think you'll ever understand what I'm getting at. So we'll just leave it here There's nothing stopping you becoming the next Sam Childers if you feel so strongly about it though.
The issue I have with this campaign (and others like it) is the notion that if you're not for it, you're against it. That if you refuse to be bullied into supporting this, you somehow endorse the activities of the LRA, even though you'd probably never heard of them until being sent the link. I don't suppose many of the Facebook classes were ever this agitated about finding Milosevic, Mladic or Radovan Karadzic, but then African problems are trendier. They must be, Bono says so. May sound heartless, but as someone who grew up with Live Aid, I just have total Africa fatigue.
It has been fascinating watching all the outraged simpletons on facebook thinking they can make a difference by clicking share on a video. Awareness is nothing without action, and the social media generation who are inherently lazy are happy to make a stand if it requires very little time, commitment or cost to themselves.
Sometimes being a grumpy old cynic is useful. Yes, I watched the video, but it struck me as an over emotive piece of propaganda, and my first thought was "who is really going to benefit from this?" And then the stories of the finances come out, then the stories of what is actually happening, and the underlying political agenda, the militarisation of africa etc...
So I agree, W A L O S.
And this is worth a read too http://www.stand-news.co.uk/kony-2012-the-worst-ca...
Sometimes being a grumpy old cynic is useful. Yes, I watched the video, but it struck me as an over emotive piece of propaganda, and my first thought was "who is really going to benefit from this?" And then the stories of the finances come out, then the stories of what is actually happening, and the underlying political agenda, the militarisation of africa etc...
So I agree, W A L O S.
And this is worth a read too http://www.stand-news.co.uk/kony-2012-the-worst-ca...
Steve in Stoke said:
And this is worth a read too http://www.stand-news.co.uk/kony-2012-the-worst-ca...
Really? You' posting this link? The one we are discussing at this very moment? 
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