Sunday 29 March 2009

Slacktivism

Just in case some Wikipedia weasel decides this is like, too conservative, and orders it airbrushed out of history, I've poached it for posterity (ta Margo). I was going to say that this is so Gen Y, but unfortunately the idea seems to have percolated all levels of society.

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Slacktivism (sometimes slactivism) is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism. Sometimes considered a pejorative term that describes taking painless "feel-good" measures in support of an issue or social cause that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction, "slactivism" has been embraced by activists such as Todd Gitlin and Stephen Colbert as the new activism.

Examples of slacktivist activities include signing internet petitions, the wearing of wristbands ("awareness bracelets") with political messages, putting a ribbon magnet on a vehicle, joining a Facebook group, posting issue-oriented YouTube videos or taking part in short-term boycotts such as Buy Nothing Day or Earth Hour.

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