Slacktivism

(Can I just say that slacktivism is one of my favorite made-up terms from the past decade?)

I read a lot of blogs. I’ve already admitted that perhaps more time than necessary is spent with my Google Reader. Of course, the blog world – as well as the internet in general and the real world – has been afire since the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. We are devastated. We are heartbroken. We want to help. (I’m assuming most of us are decent people who feel such things – though there are sure to be some who are heartless and therefore cannot be heartbroken, and who think Japan deserved this disaster. Hmm. For the rest of us, what happened is a big deal.)

Back to the point – a majority of the blogs I read are participating in a Blogger’s Day of Silence today. The point is to “raise awareness” and to make an effort to “respect and acknowledge” the situation. Bloggers posted about the Day of Silence earlier in the week and encouraged readers to participate, as well as to donate.

I am really not trying to offend anyone here, but…

SLACKTIVISM!

Signing up for this day of silence does nothing more than make you feel like you’re part of a cause. Or rather, a Cause. You have nobly, selflessly, put others’ needs ahead of your own. Also, your blog was linked on the main Day of Silence page.

Why not make this a donation-focused day? Why not organize a day where everyone blogs about their favorite charity that is currently helping Japan? It’s because we don’t want to ask readers for money, we don’t want to ask ourselves for money.

Well, slacktivism aside, I did donate through the link on the Blogger’s Day of Silence page. I usually go through LDS Philanthropies, but this is specifically created to help Japan. (The Red Cross allows you to donate for Japan as well, but they have a $10 minimum and I’m poor.) So. I refuse to be silent, mainly on principle.

But I will help!

And you should too.