All right so I have been meaning to start writing a blog for some time now and today I finally felt up to it. Today's 'ramblings' are going to be about political/social hype going on right now. But I can assure you that will not be a recurring trend in my blog. Most will be random funny (or at least attempted funny) shizz. Mostly I will write about my feelings regarding new (at least for me) rock/metal songs, movies and yeah the few TV shows that I follow and try to be humorous in the process. So, disclaimer alert; this is for the most part not a serious blog. Its just some guy who thinks he can write well 'rambling on' about everyday stuff. Also I am really computer 'unsavvy' so the blog will not be very fancy and customized to look visually appealing. I apologize about the aforementioned and am open to suggestions on how to make it more 'blingy'. The views expressed will most often be ill researched and anyone is free to correct me and vehemently disagree with me and debate accordingly (I sincerely love debating but strictly online).
Anyways so getting to today's topic of ramble. Its a viral video that I bet all of you have seen by now and are probably still very charged about. Hey I am too. I am not gonna put up a link because the video is too easy to find and I do not wish to be one of those helping the video becoming a global pandemic; if it isn't that already. Its called Kony 2012; look it up on 'Facetube' (to quote James May). But anyways, being the troll bait that I am, I clicked on some spam-marked comments/links under the video. But this time it surprisingly didn't end in a rick-roll. One video led to another and finally I Googled around a bit and came to the conclusion that Kony, as terrible as he is, is not really capable of doing anything any more. The second link I will post at the end of this blog says that he is probably in a forest in Congo, "sick , starving and on his last legs". And this was written 5 years ago. I am not going to repeat what they have said for you can read it yourself. There are many more issues about the video, the people making it and the people who are labelled as 'good guys' in it. But I will leave it to you to find that out yourselves (DIY lazyass!). My point is when something goes viral and celebrities endorse it, we rush to donate and protest on the streets (This applies to people in America for people in India have other stuff to worry about). But maybe when you see something (especially on the 'internets') don't just believe and commit to it right away. Google around, look for a context read some opinions and criticisms. I am not being condescending here; I just realized this myself. Seriously, I was almost completely convinced to head down on April whatever (the video gives some date) 2012 on a Friday night and put up posters, but then I read some more from other sources and it got me thinking again. Now, I am just using this video as an example. Whatever little I say about my stand on the Kony 2012 campaign or about what should be done about him is not the point of this blog. I certainly DO NOT have any sympathies for Kony (I feel Seal team 6 should get him like they got Osama). I definitely feel he should be brought to justice (read: killed brutally). But forget all that. What I am saying is before you make up your mind about an issue, do some research. There's going to be many sides to it; know about them.
OK. Having thoroughly patronized the handful people who might read this, I will sign off. As I said before my first few blog entries will be themed 'confused' because I don't know yet what I can talk about best. But I do know that it will most likely be really light stuff. This may very well be my last slightly serious ramble.
Suggestions are welcome; no, required for those reading this and the feedback is highly appreciated. In the rare instance that you feel this has the potential to be a nice blog please spread the word.
Thanks.
The_Radioactive
PS: suggestions saying, "please find a lamer pseudonym than Radioactive." will be read but ignored. I feel this is as lame as it can be!
Oh and as promised here's the links:
http://ilto.wordpress.com/2006/11/02/the-visible-problem-with-invisible-children/
http://thedailywh.at/2012/03/07/on-kony-2012-2/
Anyways so getting to today's topic of ramble. Its a viral video that I bet all of you have seen by now and are probably still very charged about. Hey I am too. I am not gonna put up a link because the video is too easy to find and I do not wish to be one of those helping the video becoming a global pandemic; if it isn't that already. Its called Kony 2012; look it up on 'Facetube' (to quote James May). But anyways, being the troll bait that I am, I clicked on some spam-marked comments/links under the video. But this time it surprisingly didn't end in a rick-roll. One video led to another and finally I Googled around a bit and came to the conclusion that Kony, as terrible as he is, is not really capable of doing anything any more. The second link I will post at the end of this blog says that he is probably in a forest in Congo, "sick , starving and on his last legs". And this was written 5 years ago. I am not going to repeat what they have said for you can read it yourself. There are many more issues about the video, the people making it and the people who are labelled as 'good guys' in it. But I will leave it to you to find that out yourselves (DIY lazyass!). My point is when something goes viral and celebrities endorse it, we rush to donate and protest on the streets (This applies to people in America for people in India have other stuff to worry about). But maybe when you see something (especially on the 'internets') don't just believe and commit to it right away. Google around, look for a context read some opinions and criticisms. I am not being condescending here; I just realized this myself. Seriously, I was almost completely convinced to head down on April whatever (the video gives some date) 2012 on a Friday night and put up posters, but then I read some more from other sources and it got me thinking again. Now, I am just using this video as an example. Whatever little I say about my stand on the Kony 2012 campaign or about what should be done about him is not the point of this blog. I certainly DO NOT have any sympathies for Kony (I feel Seal team 6 should get him like they got Osama). I definitely feel he should be brought to justice (read: killed brutally). But forget all that. What I am saying is before you make up your mind about an issue, do some research. There's going to be many sides to it; know about them.
OK. Having thoroughly patronized the handful people who might read this, I will sign off. As I said before my first few blog entries will be themed 'confused' because I don't know yet what I can talk about best. But I do know that it will most likely be really light stuff. This may very well be my last slightly serious ramble.
Suggestions are welcome; no, required for those reading this and the feedback is highly appreciated. In the rare instance that you feel this has the potential to be a nice blog please spread the word.
Thanks.
The_Radioactive
PS: suggestions saying, "please find a lamer pseudonym than Radioactive." will be read but ignored. I feel this is as lame as it can be!
Oh and as promised here's the links:
http://ilto.wordpress.com/2006/11/02/the-visible-problem-with-invisible-children/
http://thedailywh.at/2012/03/07/on-kony-2012-2/
Nice post man. I agree with you that one must not blindly believe a viral video. More research needs to be done before committing to a cause. But as long as the intention is good, I don't think we should worry too much.
ReplyDeleteYes as I said I definitely believe the campaign is with good intentions and for a very noble cause but I just used it as an example for how viral vids/ media hype can easily pull you into something that might not be as noble this one.
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