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juushikaI won't be posting or commenting tomorrow (technically for me, tonight starting at 5p my time) because I'm participating in the LiveJournal content strike.
Yes, I am aware of:
The fact that LJ references weekly, not daily, statistics.
Coincidental antisemitic protest against SUP.
Apologies issued for some of the most recent offenses.
The argument that this protest will be unnoticed or ineffective.
However:
I do not believe that you can judge a cause based on its radical factions. Nosik, of SUP, is Jewish. So am I. I don't like, dislike, or in any way form my opinion of him based on this fact. I base my protest and opinions on his and his companies actions and policies concerning LiveJournal. The fact that this coincides with antisemitic sentiment is regrettable, and obviously I don't support them or their reasoning. However, that does not change what I believe or, in this case, how I act—for the same reason that extreme animal rights activist haven't made me start eating meat again, extreme environmentalist activists haven't made me go out and harpoon whales, and other radical actions with coincidental tenants, names, or select behaviors change my opinion.
I do not believe in forgoing all protest because of the possible of failure. I do not believe in staying silent just in case my voice is not heard. I doubt corralling LJ users into a more effective protest—such as a week's absence, or leaving LJ until things are changed—will happen, and I know that it is not happening right now. This protest, however, is happening. And I would rather be a little blind and a little optimistic, and sacrifice a day of posting and commenting in hopes that it means something, rather than allow my cynicism to convince me to say nothing at all.
I do not believe that some partial and after the fact apologies excuse previous behavior, or are reason to call off a protest. It's a matter of following through—we said we would do this, and so we will. Perhaps LiveJournal, in return, will do the same.
For all of my explanation, I don't actually believe this protest is that big of a deal. I believe a corporation, as a private entity, has the right to make changes to its structure and operation. What bothers me is how those changes come about, and why; what bothers me is that explanations are late, unapologetic, or absent. But there are bigger causes out there, more just and more meaningful, and I would rather spend my energy championing those. As such, I haven't mentioned the strike except here, and won't mention it again. You may not even notice me in the day that I'm gone—but I hope you do. I don't need reminders of why this probably won't work, why it's probably meaningless. I know. And my time is more valuable than those conversations, especially since they've already been had all over LJ.
But I just couldn't let pass the implication that we are "standing side by side with antisemites." Concurrent practices and one similar shared belief does not equate two disparate groups, especially when the two groups are average LiveJournal users and antisemites. Yes, it is good to be informed, to acknowledge and to disavow. But radical and fringe groups within a larger group are not indicative of that larger group. I don't blow up research institutions because I'm pro animal rights, I don't sabotage oil liners because I want to preserve the environment, and likewise I am not an antisemite just because I disagree with and stand in opposition to SUP's recent behavior. And that clearly stated (again: I iz not antisemite! I iz Jew! I iz not even self-hating Jew!), I feel comfortable going about my day of silence in peace.
Yes, I am aware of:
The fact that LJ references weekly, not daily, statistics.
Coincidental antisemitic protest against SUP.
Apologies issued for some of the most recent offenses.
The argument that this protest will be unnoticed or ineffective.
However:
I do not believe that you can judge a cause based on its radical factions. Nosik, of SUP, is Jewish. So am I. I don't like, dislike, or in any way form my opinion of him based on this fact. I base my protest and opinions on his and his companies actions and policies concerning LiveJournal. The fact that this coincides with antisemitic sentiment is regrettable, and obviously I don't support them or their reasoning. However, that does not change what I believe or, in this case, how I act—for the same reason that extreme animal rights activist haven't made me start eating meat again, extreme environmentalist activists haven't made me go out and harpoon whales, and other radical actions with coincidental tenants, names, or select behaviors change my opinion.
I do not believe in forgoing all protest because of the possible of failure. I do not believe in staying silent just in case my voice is not heard. I doubt corralling LJ users into a more effective protest—such as a week's absence, or leaving LJ until things are changed—will happen, and I know that it is not happening right now. This protest, however, is happening. And I would rather be a little blind and a little optimistic, and sacrifice a day of posting and commenting in hopes that it means something, rather than allow my cynicism to convince me to say nothing at all.
I do not believe that some partial and after the fact apologies excuse previous behavior, or are reason to call off a protest. It's a matter of following through—we said we would do this, and so we will. Perhaps LiveJournal, in return, will do the same.
For all of my explanation, I don't actually believe this protest is that big of a deal. I believe a corporation, as a private entity, has the right to make changes to its structure and operation. What bothers me is how those changes come about, and why; what bothers me is that explanations are late, unapologetic, or absent. But there are bigger causes out there, more just and more meaningful, and I would rather spend my energy championing those. As such, I haven't mentioned the strike except here, and won't mention it again. You may not even notice me in the day that I'm gone—but I hope you do. I don't need reminders of why this probably won't work, why it's probably meaningless. I know. And my time is more valuable than those conversations, especially since they've already been had all over LJ.
But I just couldn't let pass the implication that we are "standing side by side with antisemites." Concurrent practices and one similar shared belief does not equate two disparate groups, especially when the two groups are average LiveJournal users and antisemites. Yes, it is good to be informed, to acknowledge and to disavow. But radical and fringe groups within a larger group are not indicative of that larger group. I don't blow up research institutions because I'm pro animal rights, I don't sabotage oil liners because I want to preserve the environment, and likewise I am not an antisemite just because I disagree with and stand in opposition to SUP's recent behavior. And that clearly stated (again: I iz not antisemite! I iz Jew! I iz not even self-hating Jew!), I feel comfortable going about my day of silence in peace.
