How many activist sites do we encounter in a regular web surfing day? I have to admit, I'm a little out of my comfort zone here, because i have very little experience with these sites. i also have to admit, I get a little guarded when talking about activist sites. Sometimes I feel like these sites are a tad too paranoid, thriving on "Big Brother" conspiracy theories. That being said, there are plenty of great causes that many activists work toward. The question is, how effective are these sites really? Very similar to Social Justice sites, these are often less visited than commercialized sites. Why is that? What makes these sites generally less visited? How can these causes get more attention? Are the people who visit these sites any more likely to contribute to the cause than if the activist group just formed a Facebook Fanpage? Yes, these sites are meant to convince and inform, but how convincing are they really? How can such a site encourage and incite return visits? What makes people visit, and perhaps more importantly, what makes them return to activist websites?
The Electronic Frontier Foundation we were instructed to look at discusses the rights of internet blogger, privacy for readers and a number of other digital/web based legal issues. The internet age has opened this can of worms, but how can you judge, in a world of free information, which of these rights are ones you want to back? This site advocates for many ideas and ranges through a number of rights. A viewer of the site might have various opinions on the many issues. Do you think this is a wise choice, or will some opinions draw in revisits while discouraging others? Opinions go hand in hand with activist sites. Does introducing so many different issues is the site helping or hurting itself? What is effective here and what, if anything, is unsuccessful?
Like you said, it is not often that someone will encounter an activist site while surfing the web. I know that I do not visit them often if at all and I spend a lot of time on the internet. What I do know is that a lot of these sites bring up good and valid points that really make you think about your rights while using the web. To me, this is interesting because the internet makes it so easy for you to join websites, blog, surf the web, tweet and more that I never stop to think about my privacy and rights while on the web. The fact that I never heard of the site EFF is somewhat of an inclination that the site is not very popular or certainly not as popular as Facebook. Although, I do feel like it could become quite a popular buzz if it was advertised more.
ReplyDeleteEFF certainly has stirred up a few issues and continues to fight for our rights as American's, which often can get lost in the world wide web. Since it is a non-profit organization it does depend on donors for support so it is important that they continue to fight for what the public wants. I do not believe that the website is entirely opinion based because it is a collaboration between what is right and what the public wants. I do not believe the site is hurting itself by introducing so many problems either. It seems to be fairly organized and it does not discriminate against anyone who wants to join. I do believe that it is fairly successful but should proceed to grow and learn from the cases they have won before.
I agree with Caroline about not spending much time on activist sites on the internet. I can spend lots of time surfing Facebook, but don't normally seek out something like Social Justice Challenge, which was my site of choice. It's not that I'm against taking a stand on issues that I feel strongly about or anything like that, it's more that I never really thought about it. I check my email, read the news, work on assignments, chat with my friends, or go on Facebook. I never really thought about visiting an activist site.
ReplyDeleteNow that we did however, I think they're great and do play an important role in the internet as a whole. They may not be the most visited or popular, but they exist for a purpose. People who believe in a particular issue can seek out or even create these sites where they can unite with others who have the same views. They can also garner participation from others through these sites by getting people interested about the issue. Of course the more people who view it the better it is for the cause, but it's not all about that. It can be successful just by getting some people together about an issue, since that's what it's there for.
I don't think different opinions and information on the site will hurt it. Either way, if a person disagrees, they can choose not to associate with or view the website or content there. It's either going to help or hurt its cause, but information and opinions are absolutely necessary to get the point across.
I think activist sites are very effective, not only do they proide valuable information but they have different points of view offered. So if you are undecided about a certain topic you can research activist sites and find out more. I definitely think that activist sites, such as EFF will draw ack visitors. It's not that I don't look for activists sites but it's more that I don't realize that most exist. After finding out about these different activist sites I will now go back and visit them more often. It's just like Facebook, when I didn't really know anything about it or know how to use it, I ignored it. But now that I have knowledge of what Facebook is used for I use it more often.
ReplyDeleteI think both activist sites and social justice sites are definitely helpful tools, they just need to be used properly, just like any other webpage. I had never heard of EFF or Social Justice Journal. If I had learned learned of them I wouldn't have learned valuable information such as information of protesting, migrant labor, and ar from the Social Justice Journal website and information about your privacy online, or lack of privacy from EFF. I think these issues are much more important for web users because they are more informative on information you would not likely know about.
As I am on the internet, I don't really ever come across activists sites. I think coming across these types of sites are rare, unless that is was you are intentionally searching for. When I am on the computer, I'm usually doing homework, on facebook, checking my email etc. While being on these types of sites I don't really notice activists sites, if there are any.
ReplyDeleteI do although think these ares are very effective. They are similar to social justice sites. The authors of these pages believe in something very strongly and are trying to get their point across, maybe even find some common believers. The activist site I chose to concentrate on is the subject of Trafficking Women. It talks about human/women rights and states in the first sentence that it is a non-government organization. It preaches to people about trying to stop the trafficking of women and how harsh this is. After reading this website, i consider it to be very convincing to it's readers, by bring up the negatives.
Honestly I do not tend to go to activist sites. I go to PETA sometimes, but other than that I do not venture beyond that often. Activist sites tend to get less attention probably because this generation seems to be more apathetic than the others. We do not stand up for much. We give away our freedoms at the first emergency, preferring safety than individuality. Why should we keep our rights when there are “terrorists” at our door…funny thing though, we went to the wrong country for the war…I’m digressing though. I do believe that activist’s sites that are connected on facebook will get more people coming to them. Our generation is lazy as well as apathetic. Why should we venture away from our own social bubble, but if you come to us then maybe we will click that button that claims we are a fan of it. We may even visit that fanpage from time to time to feel like we are taking a part of something. I do not see the problem in the activist’s sites, but more in the individual that could care a less about other people’s problems. Honestly, if you have not actually experienced the same pain of the activist site you go to (if you go to one) then would you become interested in it? Or is it none of your business? Adam Smith, the author of Theory of Moral Sentiments, claims that one cannot feel sympathy or compassion for another person unless you put yourself in their shoes and feel their pain.
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