Re: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
I think Jose might have failed to consider the possibility that social activists are not bound by any code of ethics. They are certainly not accountable to anybody. Even politicians have to run for elections every few years. Cheers, Santosh - Original Message - From: J. Colaco jc cola...@gmail.com To: SOTER so...@bsnl.in; goa...@goanet.org Cc: Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 2:21 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism' 1: Soter wrote: (There) are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise. 2: Santosh wrote: What is the ethical practice for social activists? Is there any kind of code of ethics for them? 3: U. G. Barad wrote: I was to ask almost the same question(s) which Dr. Santosh Helekar asked. Anyway, I hope Soter will respond to Dr. Santosh's questions. 4: Soter responded: Are you a social activist? Why should I waste even one second of my time on enlightening cowards who operate in cyber space? COMMENT: It is an Eat my Cake and Have It at the same time' scenario. Soter first posts his comment in cyberspace and then refuses to waste time in cyberspace. That is simultaneously Brilliant and Arrogant. Perhaps, in contrast, I would submit that Being Ethical would include being Reasonable and Fair in our dealings. Activist, Hacktivist or Not. jc
Re: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
Santosh Helekar wrote:I think Jose might have failed to consider the possibility that social activists are not bound by any code of ethics. They are certainly not accountable to anybody. Even politicians have to run for elections every few years. RESPONSE: Jose commented ONLY on what 'ethical PRACTICE for social activists' was or might be. The standard, I submit yet again, is similar to that expected of any ethical person in civil society i.e. to be fair and reasonable (not unlike the man on the proverbial Clapham omnibus). Santoshbab is right. I chose NOT to comment on any CODE of ethics for social activists. It is definitely true that the 'social activists' do not have to submit to the electorate. Hence, they could choose to do as they please. Some 'unfair and unreasonable' loose cannons even choose to continue to be Brilliant and Arrogant in the same breath. Could these type of activists actually be 'unethical antisocial activists' i.e. anarchists or hacktivists? I believe so! jc - Original Message - From: jc 1: Soter wrote: (There) are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise. 2: Santosh wrote: What is the ethical practice for social activists? Is there any kind of code of ethics for them? 3: U. G. Barad wrote: I was to ask almost the same question(s) which Dr. Santosh Helekar asked. Anyway, I hope Soter will respond to Dr. Santosh's questions. 4: Soter responded: Are you a social activist? Why should I waste even one second of my time on enlightening cowards who operate in cyber space? jc's COMMENT: It is an Eat my Cake and Have It at the same time' scenario. Soter first posts his comment in cyberspace and then refuses to waste time in cyberspace. That is simultaneously Brilliant and Arrogant. Perhaps, in contrast, I would submit that Being Ethical would include being Reasonable and Fair in our dealings. Activist, Hacktivist or Not
[Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
Are you a social activist? Why should I waste even one second of my time on enlightening cowards who operate in cyber space? - Soter D'souza
[Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
I was to ask almost the same question(s) which Dr. Santosh Helekar asked. Anyway, I hope Soter will respond to Dr. Santosh's questions. Best regards, U. G. Barad -Original Message --- Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 21:25:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Santosh Helekar chimbel...@yahoo.com To:goanet@lists.goanet.org Subject: Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism' Soter wrote: But there are?social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate?activism and observe to ethical practise. What is the ethical practice for social activists? Is there any kind of code of ethics for them? Cheers, Santosh - Original Message - From: SOTER so...@bsnl.in To: goa...@goanet.org Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 9:57 AM Subject: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism' This is nothing new. Reading the subject line I first thought it was UG Barad who quit activism. Which vocation does not have black sheep? But there are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise.? - Soter
Re: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
1: Soter wrote: (There) are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise. 2: Santosh wrote: What is the ethical practice for social activists? Is there any kind of code of ethics for them? 3: U. G. Barad wrote: I was to ask almost the same question(s) which Dr. Santosh Helekar asked. Anyway, I hope Soter will respond to Dr. Santosh's questions. 4: Soter responded: Are you a social activist? Why should I waste even one second of my time on enlightening cowards who operate in cyber space? COMMENT: It is an Eat my Cake and Have It at the same time' scenario. Soter first posts his comment in cyberspace and then refuses to waste time in cyberspace. That is simultaneously Brilliant and Arrogant. Perhaps, in contrast, I would submit that Being Ethical would include being Reasonable and Fair in our dealings. Activist, Hacktivist or Not. jc
[Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
Same response to you as given to Mr. Helekar, Mr. Barad. -Soter
[Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
By Yoginder Sikand; dated: 19 April, 2012 (4400 words) http://www.countercurrents.org/sikand190412.htm My Comments: This article is a must read for all the social activists, not just in India but all over the world. The really visible ones are those who have made social activism as a business for themselves, and a means of their livelihood. They are the ones who keep travelling all over the world, and the ones whom the media, the government, etc., often consult to get 'expert' views on the subject of their supposed specialization. What the author has said is as follows: * Social activists divide the world between the oppressors and the oppressed. * Social activism has actually become a profession and that it pays handsomely. They are actually living off the problems of the oppressed. * The professional social activists also come from within the oppressed groups. They too are paid handsomely, and are today living a life of reasonable luxury. * These professional social activists get invited all over the world to tell others the problems of the oppressed. * The professional social activists have, in blaming the problems on others, have acquired a negative set of mind. He says, (M)any 'progressives' and 'radicals' were horrifically negative as human beings, many of them being irritatingly obnoxious, judgemental, cantankerous, dour and sullen. * The problems identified by the professional social activists are not all real. Some are imaginary and some others are self-inflicted. * The professional social activists are not permitted to talk about the problems within the oppressed groups. And if anyone did, he will be accused of being an agent of the oppressors. * Also the social activists simply couldn't see or find anything worthy at all in 'upper' caste Hindus or in Americans, and, if you did, your sincerity and commitment were gravely suspect. * In mentioning about the money received by the professional social activists, the author has exposed the funding agencies, who seem to swallow the line taken by the activists in blaming others for the problems. * The professional social activists indulge in hollow rhetoric. In the recent past, in different parts of the world, the professional social activists have been confronted with a demand that they offer solutions and not just narrate problems. This is because those that the activists identified as oppressors were not viewed by the oppressed as being oppressors. As one of the comments, posted to the article, says: As someone who considers myself a progressive, I too have wondered at times how everyone we oppose - Hindus, Jews, Americans, capitalists - pursues positive actions and are the ones who build up the world while we seem to want to smash what they do without trying to understand them. I have wondered many times why every position I have is based in hatred for the other group and in negativity and not in constructing something new that adds value to the world.. I have sometimes wondered how the groups we hate live in peace and harmony for the most part while we permanently seem to plan a violent revolution although we blame them for all wars and riots. The social activists were so busy wallowing in their negativeness, and spewing hatred against the supposed oppressors, that they have no time to see what is happening at the ground level. Sadly, the article ends in a negative note. He has decided to cop out, rather than fight the professional activists with the same energy that he expended in fighting the 'oppressors'. Another comment to the article says: After your self-awareness moment - the least you could do is to try and remove the poison that you have spread all around the place. Interestingly, most of the comments on the article are supportive of what the author is saying, and that the commentators would not be classified as progressives. In fact, some of them would be classified as belonging to the oppressor groups. There are hardly three or four, out of some 40-odd comments, that are available that are made by those from the progressive group. Except for one, quoted above, the others have condemned the author for expressing his angst. Yet, the author has felt it necessary to offer an 'apology and clarification' of what he wrote. This is available at: http://www.countercurrents.org/sikand210412.htm In it, he has offered an apology to the members of the progressive group (namely, the professional social activists) for giving 'ammunition' to the oppressed so that the arguments of the professional social activists can be exposed. Little does he realize that what he has written is what those identified as oppressors is what the latter have been saying for many years. In his original article, the author has mentioned that speaking about the issues that he has done will mean a sort of ostracisation form the progressive group. This is an example of what can truly be
[Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
This is nothing new. Reading the subject line I first thought it was UG Barad who quit activism. Which vocation does not have black sheep? But there are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise. - Soter
Re: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism'
Soter wrote: But there are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise. What is the ethical practice for social activists? Is there any kind of code of ethics for them? Cheers, Santosh - Original Message - From: SOTER so...@bsnl.in To: goa...@goanet.org Cc: Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 9:57 AM Subject: [Goanet] Why I Gave Up On 'Social Activism' T his is nothing new. Reading the subject line I first thought it was UG Barad who quit activism. Which vocation does not have black sheep? But there are social activists who continue to keep away from professional or corporate activism and observe to ethical practise. - Soter
