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OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:10 AM Apr 2013

Is anyone else overwhelmed with the plethora of online petitions?

Last edited Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:50 AM - Edit history (1)

EDIT TO ADD: I think most of us are disgusted by the number of political petitions we receive in the mail from progressive organizations, but I'm also speaking of petitions which target companies, not only politicians.

EDIT #2: It seems a lot of people have given up on petitions since these online petition platforms/groups are essentially selling our info when we sign.

Can you envision what the next generation of online petitioning might look like? I hate the idea of having free tools at our disposal yet not taking advantage of the ability to connect and raise our voices in unison in some way.





I happen to be one of those who has seen that petitions DO work, so I'm a fan of online activism in the form of petitions (as well as calling/writing Congress). It can be a gateway to much more direct and necessary activism. It's better than nothing, imho, so long as huge numbers can be gathered to support a petition.

I realize many here feel that's all a waste of time.

For those who don't feel it's a waste of time, do you agree with me that, given the many different petition sites available and being used now, it's like the petitions are being fragmented to the point of being less and less effective?

The idea is to gather as many names as possible to show support, but when those names are divided amongst about a dozen different petition sites, it loses it's impact, imho.

I keep trying to think of a way to deal with this and imagine the next level of online activism to raise our voices in unison.

Anyone else have any ideas or thoughts about this matter?

Regarding petitions, I've thought of essentially curating the top petition sites, searching for duplicate petitions, and posting them so people can choose the one they're most comfortable with, but show on one page the cumulative impact of the petitions about a given topic.

It's as though everything -- even really well-intentioned, necessary efforts like petitions and fundraisers -- is disappearing into the white noise.





38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Is anyone else overwhelmed with the plethora of online petitions? (Original Post) OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 OP
Yep, I think it's become really fragmented! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2013 #1
Nope. I ignore all of them. Buzz Clik Apr 2013 #2
I think I'm going to ignore them all also.....yikes, was getting way to many e-mails from them too. a kennedy Apr 2013 #6
After watching the most popular petitions be the subject of jokes by politicians I stopped caring Fumesucker Apr 2013 #3
Some politicians pay attention, but I see petitions as most effective re: companies... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #5
The ones sent to you via email frazzled Apr 2013 #4
Boy, do I hear you about that. OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #7
Yep, I get a ton of those. I used to respond, but now I just trash them ... becasue they are always RKP5637 Apr 2013 #13
I think they're an easy way to make people think they did something useful The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2013 #8
If there were less of them, I think they'd be more effective. OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #11
Too often they are merely a way of getting your email address The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2013 #16
Yeah, I agreed with that in a comment below... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #18
There are too many of them. HappyMe Apr 2013 #9
They aren't petitions. They are mailing lists for donations NightWatcher Apr 2013 #10
You're right. A lot of these petition sites are monetizing it... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #14
A clearinghouse, of sorts, might help. NYC_SKP Apr 2013 #12
What you said... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #17
Ha! So, I like thunderclap... NYC_SKP Apr 2013 #26
Others have brought home the point that... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #27
Excellent point, and one of those things, like pop-ups, that should lower a score NYC_SKP Apr 2013 #33
Most of the online petition sites are nothing more than MineralMan Apr 2013 #15
I agree. Sooooo........ OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #22
I'm not a big believer in petitions in general. MineralMan Apr 2013 #24
Understood. Thanks. :) n/t OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #25
I'll be seeing my Coingressman later tonite and will try to ask him... TreasonousBastard Apr 2013 #19
Thanks, TB. :) n/t OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #23
Well, I asked him... TreasonousBastard Apr 2013 #37
It definitely sucks a lot of the time. OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #38
better than doing nothing or being gejohnston Apr 2013 #20
I think their usefulness has peaked. In the Laurian Apr 2013 #21
Stopped signing them. MadrasT Apr 2013 #28
Have you ever looked at the White House petitions? undeterred Apr 2013 #29
Yeah, for political petitions, I definitely prefer their site. OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #30
Anyone familiar with Avaaz? OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #31
I like that they seem to partner well with other orgs. NYC_SKP Apr 2013 #35
I'm liking them the most right now. OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #36
Are you SURE it is a "Plethora"? stevenleser Apr 2013 #32
hahahaha..... OneGrassRoot Apr 2013 #34

a kennedy

(29,458 posts)
6. I think I'm going to ignore them all also.....yikes, was getting way to many e-mails from them too.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:21 AM
Apr 2013

just not going to respond to any of them.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
5. Some politicians pay attention, but I see petitions as most effective re: companies...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:20 AM
Apr 2013

Petitions to get companies to do (or stop doing) something can be a very effective way for consumers to get their attention, especially when the petitions themselves garner media coverage as a way to measure support for the issue.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
4. The ones sent to you via email
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:19 AM
Apr 2013

Whether from progressive organizations, senators, or the DSCC or DNCC I feel are all just covers for donations. As soon as you sign one, a donation page pops up. And you get the sense that they are more interested in your money than in your signature.

I tend to ignore them, even when I strongly favor the cause.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
7. Boy, do I hear you about that.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:22 AM
Apr 2013

I tend to trash those, too. I've pretty much unsubscribed from all of them now though.

Citizen petitions -- especially targeted at companies -- are what I tend to pay most attention to, though I sign White House petitions, too.


RKP5637

(67,030 posts)
13. Yep, I get a ton of those. I used to respond, but now I just trash them ... becasue they are always
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:31 AM
Apr 2013

asking for donations ... and even if you give a donation they just keep coming, often even more. The other I am tired of is the DNC. I don't think I'm bothering to continue my membership. I'm always getting letters asking for money. I'll just donate to progressive candidates.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,267 posts)
8. I think they're an easy way to make people think they did something useful
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:25 AM
Apr 2013

but I doubt many of them have much if any effect, and they will probably become even less effective as they continue to proliferate.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
11. If there were less of them, I think they'd be more effective.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:30 AM
Apr 2013

But they are in danger of being less and less effective as they proliferate, as you said.

Frustrating.

We have so many tools are our disposal (online), but too often create more white noise in our attempt to use them.



The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,267 posts)
16. Too often they are merely a way of getting your email address
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:34 AM
Apr 2013

so whatever organization sponsored the petition can bug you for donations. People are catching on to this, and many might be less likely to sign a petition for that reason. I rarely sign online petitions any more because I get too much junk money-soliciting email already.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
18. Yeah, I agreed with that in a comment below...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:39 AM
Apr 2013

These petition sites are monetizing by selling to nonprofits. Not cool.

I completely agree.



HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
9. There are too many of them.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:28 AM
Apr 2013

Last edited Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:29 AM - Edit history (1)

Some of them are kind of goofy. I don't sign as many as I used too.


edit to add - I don't tend to sign petitions targeting corporations. The last one I signed was a Chic Fil A one.

NightWatcher

(39,343 posts)
10. They aren't petitions. They are mailing lists for donations
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:29 AM
Apr 2013

When you sign a petition that requires your email or physical address, you are really only signing up for a mailing list where you will be begged for money somewhere down the line.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
14. You're right. A lot of these petition sites are monetizing it...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:32 AM
Apr 2013

selling the names/addresses to nonprofits as a way to generate revenue.

I don't like that trend either.



 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
12. A clearinghouse, of sorts, might help.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:30 AM
Apr 2013

I think I know what you mean, the same thing with other causes like free-trade coffee or ending sweatshops: instead of one cohesive united movement, there are dozens or hundreds of organizations or websites trying to do the same thing but, really, competing with each other and weakening what would be a stronger message if united.

What if there was a website that posted top petitions and for each cause listed the top five, most responded to petitions.

Add to that some criteria, qualifications, maybe with symbols or scores, thumbs up or down or similar, about the petitioning body's credentials.

Good things: not associated with a political party, not associated with a corporation, no popups for donations, links to legitimate sources of information. (high score)

Bad things: Pop-ups, ties to parties or businesses, no links to information, push-polling and hyperbole.



Now, all of these things being equal, the top of the five listed for any single cause or movement would earn that spot for having the greatest number of signatures.

Thus, the objective would be that people sign that one first, or that one only, then move on to the next cause.

That's all I got.

I know what you mean, it would be good to find some way to make our petitions more impactful.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
17. What you said...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:38 AM
Apr 2013


Yes, a clearinghouse.

You wrote:

"I think I know what you mean, the same thing with other causes like free-trade coffee or ending sweatshops: instead of one cohesive united movement, there are dozens or hundreds of organizations or websites trying to do the same thing but, really, competing with each other and weakening what would be a stronger message if united."

Thank you! You expressed it much better than I. That's exactly what I was trying to say, that the fracturing/fragmentation of the effort is weakening the message.

I think I have the structure to create such a clearinghouse. That's the only thing I've come up with thus far, but it's certainly not ideal. It doesn't create the unified voice.

ALTHOUGH....I found a really cool new tool which does make use of FB and twitter to do just that: amplify our voices.

https://www.thunderclap.it/ (they may have negatives involved as well; not sure yet)


Maybe focusing on the top 10 or so petitions each week at a clearinghouse site, and creating a corresponding Thunderclap to go along with the page/issue to provide more visibility is a thought?

Hmmm..........

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
26. Ha! So, I like thunderclap...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:10 AM
Apr 2013

And it would, to be successful, need to use algorithms and thus "run itself", and be tied to facebook and twitter, etal.

I guess thunderclap manages to sort out less popular movements, what I envisioned would present (for example) the four or five petitions competing for the same purpose and allow viewers to vote up the most legitimate one and concentrate efforts there.

They could, of course, sign all the petitions but the objective would be to force the best to rise to the top and, hopefully, the other competitors might somehow follow suit and put their strength behind the top one.

And the clearinghouse, at first, might do this with just the top five or ten causes.

But what I'm describing is pretty linear and old-school and the truth is that today things are far more sophisticated with the Internet so somebody out there will be able to do a "thunderclap" type thing that would be really powerful.

I'd love to see something come of this and I'll bet you'll help make it happen.

If I can help, let me know!


OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
27. Others have brought home the point that...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:18 AM
Apr 2013

many of these petition sites are selling data to nonprofit partners as a way to monetize their platforms.

That's not good. I'm going to research who ISN'T selling data and go from there.

Thanks, NYC_SKP!




 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
33. Excellent point, and one of those things, like pop-ups, that should lower a score
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 12:07 PM
Apr 2013

Or put them out of the running entirely.

Excellent consideration.

Good luck!

MineralMan

(146,189 posts)
15. Most of the online petition sites are nothing more than
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:33 AM
Apr 2013

personal data collection systems. I simply refuse to use them.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
22. I agree. Sooooo........
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:41 AM
Apr 2013

if there were a petition site which did NOT monetize by selling users' info, I wonder if people would be more inclined to use them...especially private sector-related petitions?

Maybe I should focus on finding a petition platform that has no strings attached (i.e., they aren't selling our info and they aren't owned by monied interests)?


MineralMan

(146,189 posts)
24. I'm not a big believer in petitions in general.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:47 AM
Apr 2013

Those that get signed by numbers of people in the six figures are probably worthwhile, but they're very rare. The White House petition site is not commercial, but most of the petitions there are misdirected and deal with issues that the Executive Branch cannot change without congressional action. So, those are really wasted.

Frankly, I feel that if everyone who signs multiple petitions would actively encourage people who are Democrats to go and vote, that would be far more effective. The danger with petitions is that people confuse signing them with activism. Petition signing isn't activism. It's far more passive in nature.

"There, I signed these petitions. My work is done."

So, except for petitions to recall elected officials, petitions that get candidates on primary ballots, and petitions to put initiatives on the ballot, I'm not really excited about them. They're too easy to ignore.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
19. I'll be seeing my Coingressman later tonite and will try to ask him...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:39 AM
Apr 2013

if anyone down there cares.

Right now, I'm thinking that if a recognized organization does a petition drive it might be noticed, but the internet petitions would be taken no more seriously than mass emails.

For Congress, the best way I know of is to use the message function on their websites.

(Or write them a big check.)

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
37. Well, I asked him...
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 09:56 PM
Apr 2013

(Tim Bishop NY1) and he said the plethora of internet petitions is pretty well useless and ignored down there.

Best way is to pick up the phone and leave a message, or write a letter/use the message box on the website. You know, something that involves some small amount of... effort.

Or, meet him at local meetings and ask the questions.

Tonight's local meeting, btw, was about the pending sale of Plum Island and moving the animal disease research to Kansas. Seems it was one asshole in the Bush administration who pushed this and it then gained a life of its own. Imagine the genius of moving hoof and mouth disease research from an island off Connecticut to the center of cow country. And tornadoes.

Yeah, nobody around here thought it was a good idea either and the good congressman has been fighting it to no avail, even though the locals in Kansas also think the idea sucks. No amount of jobs is worth that amount of danger, but the local pols (both parties) are looking at the raw numbers and campaign contributions from construction firms and the Farm Bureau.

Politics can really suck sometimes.



Laurian

(2,593 posts)
21. I think their usefulness has peaked. In the
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 10:40 AM
Apr 2013

beginning, I think they might have been useful in reflecting people's interests and concerns. Now, there are so many that none are given much credence.

I rarely respond anymore.

MadrasT

(7,237 posts)
28. Stopped signing them.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:45 AM
Apr 2013

I rarely did it anyway, because I think they are basically a form of armchair "activism" that is nearly useless.

On top of that, I was endlessly spammed by those sites after the fact.

undeterred

(34,658 posts)
29. Have you ever looked at the White House petitions?
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:50 AM
Apr 2013

There are a few really good, serious ones and tons of completely ridiculous petitions - but people sign them.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
30. Yeah, for political petitions, I definitely prefer their site.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:53 AM
Apr 2013

Brilliant idea, imho.

But, as with everything, there are so many ridiculous, frivolous ones as well.

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
31. Anyone familiar with Avaaz?
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 11:55 AM
Apr 2013

I like that they, as a community, select the petitions and thus can put a lot of energy behind the ones selected, rather than allowing petitions to be created by anyone and everyone.

Yet I do think they, like so many others, sell data to their partners. Then again, maybe they don't. You can read their TOS and see what you think.

Avaaz is HUGE...mainly international efforts rather than US-based petitions.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/about.php

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