Posts by Cefr@beige.party
 (DIR) Post #AXjovh5juthjRIzO08 by Cefr@beige.party
       2023-07-01T01:01:15Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Pinned, revisions always welcome, reply below.————————1 – For those who want recognition: please don’t. Ever.Starting off strongly, oppressed people need action, not performative statements from influencers, reply-bros, and self-described pundits who do little more than head-nodding. If that’s all you got, consider reading up on the problems and “lurk” more than you speak.  However, if you can contribute to actual work (not just opinions, replies, and corporate-backed activism-by-donation), go do it. Then consider: “will promoting that I did (X) boost my image and perception in any way?” If it even remotely looks like it will, keep it to yourself.  Just do the work.White Guilt needs to stop being used as a marketing tool. The 80s and 90s crap of “Look at me, helping people who have less privilege than me” isn’t a justification anymore. Using the suffering of others to self-promote your profile, business, or group is just as bad as taking no action in the first place.  If who you’re helping is promoting your presence instead of focusing on those who need help, that’s a good sign to leave.2 – Boost oppressed people and any call to actions from others WITH CARE.Especially BIPOC, Queer, Women and Indigenous voices.  Spread the word and spread ONLY their word.  Don’t abridge or editorialize what is happening to them for others to read.  (In a quote toot/reblog situation, if it’s not already in the post always link back to the original author and avoid the appearance that you are writing it.  If you can’t, don’t boost it.)Celebrities?  Vet their agencies first.  This takes work, so prepare to do it if you really care to act at their behest.Some examples: look at the leadership carefully before you boost or give them any of your energy.  If that public figure is sitting on the board of the supposed group, you’re boosting their reach, not necessarily those who need to be heard.  Check the donor lists: Any big corporations? Disreputable CEOs? Could be AstroTurf activism that doesn’t help people but only lines billionaire tax breaks.  How long has the group existed?  The longer they have been around, the more likely you can find controversies they went through and decide for yourself if they handled it right.  Any of that seems sketchy, trust your gut and pass on it. Finally, consider answering “celebrity calls to action” by seeking local alternatives over national agencies. You can always get better accountability out of people you can visit in person if you must. 3 – Know your energy, but real allies don’t duck and run. There are a lot of causes to take up these days. Can you pick one issue you feel strongly about and show support for others? Yes. Absolutely.  But can one person be an effective ally against all wrongs?  Not likely without spreading yourself too thin or risking burnout so you aren’t able to help anyone. But that also comes with a balance.  As stated eloquently, an ally doesn’t stand behind you while others throw bricks your way.  An ally is besides you or in front of you facing at least the same danger.  Consider the risk you’re taking before daring to call yourself anything to someone else, because…4 - There are no badges. And there’s no way you’ll knock anything out of the park so stop acting like you will. Being an ally isn’t permanent.  Your past work and actions to a cause mean NOTHING to people if you’re not taking on risk NOW.  Being an ally is a commitment, not an achievement.  And not all people are going to see you as one, which could be anywhere from normal (real allies don’t self promote), or a sign that others see that you’re not as invested in it as you think you are.You are going to falter at times. Accept it. Your privilege will blind you to issues that BIPOC people see clearer. If you’re cis-het, you’re going to mangle a pronoun or misgender someone. If you’re not a woman, you’ll need to listen more than talk which isn’t typical for most men.People aren’t telling you that you’re wrong in the Fediverse to slam dunk on you, or convince you to give up, but to do better. Don’t blow up over it and don’t cause a scene.  Apologize quickly and get it right. If you can’t, get it together in private if you have to, but come back.If someone does become vile, block/mute is fine, no need to play airport and post in the Global timeline about it or share a record of transgressions with your followers.  Block isn’t as severe, damning or dramatic here. "Nobody cares” goes both ways: just disconnect from folks who clearly don’t like you and go about your day.  Even if it’s someone you’re trying to help or you intend good faith, if it’s not mutual don’t force your replies.  Let it go.5 – Don’t ever impose on minorities.  They don’t have time for it. Keep your opinions and replies out of BIPOC/Queer/Women’s conversations discussing harms and pain (unless you identify with it: white men generally do NOT). Don’t post with hashtags that do not align with your identity. BlackMastodon has enough crap to deal with. Oppressed people do not have an obligation to teach the experience of their suffering to you, so please don’t demand others to “do your homework” if you don’t understand what they’re talking about.  Even if you’re innocuous, it comes off as disagreeing with the pain of others.  Trauma is trauma.Instead, go read up on White Privilege yourself.  Books and essays about it have been online for decades.  Critical Race Theory is a summation of a lot of minds discussing White Oppression over a long time, and it does gloss over a lot of nuance that you can explore further. Some people will suggest topics, reading lists, or links to important voices if you ask respectfully and see who answers back. (Important: I am NOT that expert, as I am a recovering white person myself unlearning an entire childhood of “melting pot” and “multiculturalism” nonsense as well.  Sharing my last six months on Mastodon that I spent elsewhere, nothing more.  Key takeaway of CRT: don’t ask White People about anything other than White People.  They’ll never really know.)I know there’s a lot of white oppression mentioned, but the overlap over all Civil Rights is unmistakable.  Black Lives Matter, Trans Rights, Pro-Life movements, and Christian Nationalism are all topics that did not spring up overnight, in fact, what is happening today has not changed in motive or method from the 50s/60s.  It has only changed in tactics and scale.  It all has happened before and it has all reemerged because of nothing more than opportunity.——That’s it.  These aren’t rules, just advice.  Subject to change, as the basis of exchanges with any social network should be an ever improving mix of:— Inclusion: you can’t grow in a vacuum.  And while echo chambers aren’t vacuums, they can suck all the oxygen out of a room, anyway.— Respect: nobody owes you anything, and vice versa.  So starting from respect, how should you forge new relationships?  How do you provide equity for those who cannot access the Fediverse like you can?  (Disabled users also deserve respect.  Alt Text is a start.)— Agency (as a concept, not as a org. unit): take responsibility for this community being the place you want it to be.  Tone policing, dogpile replies, and snap-takes (good or bad) make this place a lot like centralized media.  Without them, what should the Fediverse look like?  How do you make that happen with your followers and how you engage in the bigger timelines?  (Answer all of that, and you know more about Agency than I do.)
       
 (DIR) Post #Ab5SzVj3kktrD7S0ga by Cefr@beige.party
       2023-10-21T19:08:51Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       "Love locks" nearly destroyed a footbridge in France after decades of tourists adding to it, so now folks are leaving "love locks" on mountain paths and at national parks instead.  Fastening it to a railing, locking it and throwing the key into the chasm as a symbol of their commitment.  Other couples latch on and repeat.Park rangers are cutting them off now.  The keys being the worst part: endangered bird species who scavenge canyons are finding the keys and getting injured. So stop it. Yes, we are impermanent people seeking to make something permanent that outlives us. Find a better way to do it if you must, but the best physical option that doesn't harm the environment is doing nothing at all.https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/love-locks-grand-canyon-california-condors/