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We need to have a conversation about activism.
Not everyone can do it! That's totally OK. I personally spend a fair amount of my time on efforts towards SW law reform and community engagement, and I privately assist a lot of peers whenever they need help. 1/
Not everyone can do it! That's totally OK. I personally spend a fair amount of my time on efforts towards SW law reform and community engagement, and I privately assist a lot of peers whenever they need help. 1/
I donate to mutual aid funds and privately to those of my peers who need it. I also give time to volunteering outside the sphere of this industry. I feel like I could be doing more, and there are many people who do more than I do, but one thing I will never, ever do is 2/
shame people for doing LESS than I do. What I do takes a lot of energy and a lot of time, which are finite resources that others have in varying amounts. I do not expect other people to always be consciously and actively fighting for my cause, because I'm realistic. 3/
No one can care passionately and engage constantly with everything; they'll burn out. So it really gets under my skin when I see people saying that those with a bigger platform should be championing one thing or another instead of, say, making jokes. 4/
You have absolutely no idea what they do behind the scenes, and if they were to post about every donation or piece of assistance they've offered, they would look performative.
That's not to say that if you're passionate about a cause and you talk about it online, that you 5/
That's not to say that if you're passionate about a cause and you talk about it online, that you 5/
shouldn't make an effort to do more than talk if you can -- online activism (or complaining about the laws, clients 
) only goes so far; actually taking 20 minutes to write a letter to your MP goes further if you CAN do it. Never forget that even if someone is 6/
) only goes so far; actually taking 20 minutes to write a letter to your MP goes further if you CAN do it. Never forget that even if someone is 6/
financially privileged (or seems to be that way -- remember that you're looking at marketing and you shouldn't believe everything people post), they may not be mentally able to engage with activism or put themselves out there. 7/
They may have other jobs, illnesses and responsibilities that preclude them from participating -- we always bang on about SW with kids and those who are carers, as well as those who are chronically ill; remember that might be the person you're saying isn't "doing enough". 8/
There is a certain amount of brand sacrifice that will come with being publicly activist, which not everyone can afford to do. There's also the risk of being targeted by journalists and anti-SW third parties.
This is all to say: participate where you can. 9/
This is all to say: participate where you can. 9/
And definitely do more if you can manage to do more, but stop thinking that what is presented on social media is an accurate depiction of how much someone cares or participates.
Also, those Online Safety Bill submissions are due Sunday 14th 5pm AEDT
(FIN)
Also, those Online Safety Bill submissions are due Sunday 14th 5pm AEDT
(FIN)
MEANINGFUL participation is better than token participation.
