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I've been mostly out of activism for a long old while now (trying to get over burnout and threats to my family, and working on something else).
But I think this year I'll start to get involved again.
So in a spirit of sharing some thoughts about what does and doesn't work...
But I think this year I'll start to get involved again.
So in a spirit of sharing some thoughts about what does and doesn't work...
[not pompous advice-giving! Just some possible seeds for conversations...]
Some things haven't changed at all in the last 20 years - others have changed beyond all recognition.
I think the two biggest problems have always been burnout and efficacy (connected, of course).
Some things haven't changed at all in the last 20 years - others have changed beyond all recognition.
I think the two biggest problems have always been burnout and efficacy (connected, of course).
Burnout used to be about volunteers being given more work because they volunteered last time, in a vicious circle which only ends when they collapse from exhaustion.
But at least they did a lot of work until they burned out.
These days, you can hit exhaustion just on social.
But at least they did a lot of work until they burned out.
These days, you can hit exhaustion just on social.
It's one of the reasons dezinformatsiya is so effective.
It's not just meant to fool you, it's meant to make the act of uncovering the truth as high cost as possible - so that many people stop making the effort, and those who do make the effort are increasingly exhausted by it.
It's not just meant to fool you, it's meant to make the act of uncovering the truth as high cost as possible - so that many people stop making the effort, and those who do make the effort are increasingly exhausted by it.
When we're exhausted, we're ineffective opposition. So clever baddies will always try to exhaust us.
How exhausting has it been to figure out the best ways to behave in a pandemic?! There's deliberate dezinformatsiya in that mix.
How exhausting has it been to figure out the best ways to behave in a pandemic?! There's deliberate dezinformatsiya in that mix.
So solving for burnout is increasingly high priority. I think we need to ration our time on social, and balance it with small but consistent practical efforts.
Maybe we should aim to spend 10 minutes being practical for every 10 minutes on social (while remembering to sleep!).
Maybe we should aim to spend 10 minutes being practical for every 10 minutes on social (while remembering to sleep!).
The problem with social, of course, is that it gives us a sense of being effective.
We're not just screaming into the void or shouting at the tv, we're 'taking part in the conversation'. Hmmm.
Valuable stuff can happen on social. But it's not usually from the arguing...
We're not just screaming into the void or shouting at the tv, we're 'taking part in the conversation'. Hmmm.
Valuable stuff can happen on social. But it's not usually from the arguing...
Being effective, I think, is the key.
Successful activism leads to more energy and more success.
It's the same in education, really.
Successful activism leads to more energy and more success.
It's the same in education, really.
Spending two or three hours in a pointless, waffling committee meeting can leave you drained and despairing.
I'm not going to be sitting on any committees as part of getting back into activism!
But 10 minutes setting up a fund-raising page or an event or even a petition...
I'm not going to be sitting on any committees as part of getting back into activism!
But 10 minutes setting up a fund-raising page or an event or even a petition...
When you get a good response, that stuff can really fire you up. It's an energy multiplier instead of a drain.
But how do we become effective? How do we choose the right things to do?
Far too many of us are stuck trying to reinvent the wheel.
But how do we become effective? How do we choose the right things to do?
Far too many of us are stuck trying to reinvent the wheel.
There are two keys, I think.
Training is one. Most activist and political organisations have at least some level of training for leadership groups...
But that's upside-down.
It's right at the beginning the training is needed most.
Training is one. Most activist and political organisations have at least some level of training for leadership groups...
But that's upside-down.
It's right at the beginning the training is needed most.
I'd love to see all good orgs emphasising training - how to make a difference, how to run a good revolution, 7 steps to an independent socialist country, 3 keys to rejoining the EU, a user's guide to dismantling patriarchies - as part of their outreach.
But the second key...
But the second key...
...might be more important.
We need to talk to each other about attention.
We need to remove our attention from things which are actively designed to eat up our time - like Twitter fights, political scandals, everything the far right tweet...
And we need to focus...
We need to talk to each other about attention.
We need to remove our attention from things which are actively designed to eat up our time - like Twitter fights, political scandals, everything the far right tweet...
And we need to focus...
We need to focus on What Moves The Needle.
Existing power structures usually do this very well (it's why they're the existing power structures). They have strong media control, they have strong stories about how they're protecting us from danger, all that stuff.
Existing power structures usually do this very well (it's why they're the existing power structures). They have strong media control, they have strong stories about how they're protecting us from danger, all that stuff.
Traditionally, they've been weak on being distributed - they centralise instead - so the great promise of the Arab Spring etc was that distribution can overwhelm centralisation.
But now the existing power structures have figured out that they can use distribution too...
But now the existing power structures have figured out that they can use distribution too...
They use it to amplify dezinformatsiya - with huge and damaging success.
We can't just copy this - 'let's get conspiracy theorists to believe a different conspiracy!' - but we can figure out our own ways to have a greater impact - to Move The Needle.
We can't just copy this - 'let's get conspiracy theorists to believe a different conspiracy!' - but we can figure out our own ways to have a greater impact - to Move The Needle.
We've got more tools than ever before - but of course that adds to the overwhelm as well.
So it can't just be 'figure it out yourself'.
We MUST have training, and we MUST spend more time talking to each other about what actually works.
So it can't just be 'figure it out yourself'.
We MUST have training, and we MUST spend more time talking to each other about what actually works.
How do we get started?
With simple, effective steps that we can build into consistent habits.
What would YOUR '5 key first steps' look like?
With simple, effective steps that we can build into consistent habits.
What would YOUR '5 key first steps' look like?
Off the top of my head, I'd go for:
1 - ration your time on social
2 - find ONE other person to talk to about What Actually Works
3 - talk to them for 10 minutes every week
4 - test 1 small thing each week to See If It Works
5 - spend 1 hour each week Being Kind To Yourself.
1 - ration your time on social
2 - find ONE other person to talk to about What Actually Works
3 - talk to them for 10 minutes every week
4 - test 1 small thing each week to See If It Works
5 - spend 1 hour each week Being Kind To Yourself.
But I would LOVE to see your 5.
Large groups solve stuff like this better than individuals.
And if we get some good working models, and spread them successfully, then we can solve the big stuff.
Large groups solve stuff like this better than individuals.
And if we get some good working models, and spread them successfully, then we can solve the big stuff.
We can build currency and support structures that look like a basic income for activists.
We can build high quality information networks that help more people make more of a difference.
We can solve for working together across policy differences.
We can build high quality information networks that help more people make more of a difference.
We can solve for working together across policy differences.
We don't have to destroy the old structures.
We just have to build stuff that works better.
There's nothing stopping us.
We just need to ration our attention, look after ourselves, create energy multipliers and focus consistently on What Actually Works.
We just have to build stuff that works better.
There's nothing stopping us.
We just need to ration our attention, look after ourselves, create energy multipliers and focus consistently on What Actually Works.
Blwyddyn newydd dda i chi!
Wishing you a happy, energetic, effective and constructive 2021
Wishing you a happy, energetic, effective and constructive 2021
Or in other words:
