[kajecounterhack]

> I dislike slacktivism like this. I feel that it's damaging because it wastes attention and effort that could be put to good use.

I don't think it's a waste of attention. This is also something you should share after you've done -- the hope is to raise awareness. In addition, they want to put faces to the constituents who are against privacy violations. Ethos is a valid appeal.

"Slacktivism" is a word that devalues small contributions on the part of constituents who might otherwise do nothing to express their voice. Behind every group of "slacktivists" is a passionate group whose goal is to make unheard voices apparent. To decry "slacktivisism" is to decry the work of those people, to say it doesn't matter when in reality it has a measurable effect. E.g online activism against SOPA/PIPA, Aaron's Law, these are outgrowths.

> become an informed and educated voter who actually votes... Encourage others to do the same. It's literally the only thing that will fix these problems.

The people running these campaigns are doing exactly that, encouraging people to vote if they can. Barring that, signing petitions is the next best thing. Anecdotally I've become better informed because of projects like these, and in doing so become a better voter.

[nhayden]

The issue is not a lack of awareness. The vast majority of the voting-capable population has heard, to at least some extent, that the NSA/others are surveilling communications. The issue is either they don't care, they agree with the surveillance, or they are too lazy to become informed and vote to change it.

There is literally nothing on this site about being involved in voting or the politicians supporting or fighting this type of activity. If they at the very least gave visitors some way to continue their participation and become informed, I would be fine with it. Right now it's just attention for the sake of attention. It needs to be channeled into something useful.

[kajecounterhack]

> The issue is not a lack of awareness. The vast majority of the voting-capable population has heard, to at least some extent, that the NSA/others are surveilling communications.

"at least to some extent" is quite a qualifier. Fact is awareness is always important, and projects like these do exactly that.

> The issue is either they don't care, they agree with the surveillance, or they are too lazy to become informed and vote to change it.

"Awareness" also involves grabbing the attention of otherwise "lazy" people who aren't incentivized to care.

> There is literally nothing on this site about being involved in voting or the politicians supporting or fighting this type of activity. If they at the very least gave visitors some way to continue their participation and become informed, I would be fine with it. Right now it's just attention for the sake of attention. It needs to be channeled into something useful.

This app is part of FightForTheFuture (https://www.fightforthefuture.org), it gives visitors a way to donate and the organization has lots of info. It is useful.

[sukilot]

The site is a showcase for the organizer to get attention to win a job at a big tech company. See also: the online self-appointed leaders of Occupy who went to work for Google on adtech.

[kajecounterhack]

This isn't true, and is an incredibly cynical sentiment.

https://www.fightforthefuture.org/aboutus

> See also: the online self-appointed leaders of Occupy who went to work for Google on adtech.

I don't know about the veracity of that but it doesn't seem relevant. Some people care / try to effect social change. These people are some of them. This is one of the main groups that helped bring SOPA / PIPA to light (see: Aaron Swartz)

[sukilot]

Most people share instead of taking action. That's why it is slacktivism

[kajecounterhack]

Sharing is taking action. Awareness is important.

If that's all the part someone is willing to do, fine. If a lot of people are like that, OK. But some decide to do more when they become aware, and that's why this is important.