deepwithfuture: bradicalmang: thedrivingsnow: stephenheleker: donaldwaltz: “Even in protest, few realize they are showing their dependence. What happened to the Buddhists who set themselves on fire? That was a protest. Until we change consumer mindset, material dependence, and “freedom” being I can get whatever I want, these protests will do no good.” I think this is an overstatement, and a poor assumption on the commenter’s part, to the point of being ridiculous. Here’s the basic structure of the argument, in the context of reality: 1) People use things 2) In our society almost all accessible artifacts are made by corporations  Therefore: These protesters are pointless consumeristic hypocrites. Wrong. What is the suggestion here, really? That in order to protest unethical capitalism we should not use anything? Sure, we could buy used or steal, but in the end does that make us any less dependent? We can make our own clothes, sure, but not well, and the end result is less time and energy to do things that matter. And what of cameras? This is important stuff, and I can’t believe that the photo editor/commenter is seriously mocking people for documenting events with the best available equipment. Not to mention the stupidity of suggesting that in order to be true to a cause we should discard our computers, our paper and pens. I’m not saying the world wouldn’t be a better place if we didn’t all expect the picket fence and new car, but that is not what the photo editor/commenter is getting at.  Using artifacts to create is a defining attribute of being human. I hope the day will come when we don’t have to look to irresponsible corporations to get what we need to do the things that make our world good. Isn’t that part of what all this noise is about in the first place? But for now we work with what we have on hand, because we are only humans and we need tools. And clothes. And soap. Humans simply are dependent on material things. There’s a song I could quote here, but I won’t.  Instead I’ll quote this: “What happened to the Buddhists who set themselves on fire? That was a protest.” This is your alternative to using things, everyone. According to whoever-the-hell, suicide constitutes real protest. That’s how we change the world. Throw away your camera, light yourself on fire. Most importantly, to quote Stephen Heleker at the end of this beautifully stated “rant”, “Throw away your camera, light yourself on fire.” The workers being exploited by corporations produced everything in this photo, the ruling class has nothing to offer society.  Reblogging mostly for the last comment but really for the others as well.

deepwithfuture:

bradicalmang:

thedrivingsnow:

stephenheleker:

donaldwaltz:

“Even in protest, few realize they are showing their dependence. What happened to the Buddhists who set themselves on fire? That was a protest. Until we change consumer mindset, material dependence, and “freedom” being I can get whatever I want, these protests will do no good.”

I think this is an overstatement, and a poor assumption on the commenter’s part, to the point of being ridiculous. Here’s the basic structure of the argument, in the context of reality:

1) People use things

2) In our society almost all accessible artifacts are made by corporations 

Therefore: These protesters are pointless consumeristic hypocrites.

Wrong. What is the suggestion here, really? That in order to protest unethical capitalism we should not use anything? Sure, we could buy used or steal, but in the end does that make us any less dependent? We can make our own clothes, sure, but not well, and the end result is less time and energy to do things that matter. And what of cameras? This is important stuff, and I can’t believe that the photo editor/commenter is seriously mocking people for documenting events with the best available equipment. Not to mention the stupidity of suggesting that in order to be true to a cause we should discard our computers, our paper and pens. I’m not saying the world wouldn’t be a better place if we didn’t all expect the picket fence and new car, but that is not what the photo editor/commenter is getting at. 

Using artifacts to create is a defining attribute of being human. I hope the day will come when we don’t have to look to irresponsible corporations to get what we need to do the things that make our world good. Isn’t that part of what all this noise is about in the first place? But for now we work with what we have on hand, because we are only humans and we need tools. And clothes. And soap. Humans simply are dependent on material things. There’s a song I could quote here, but I won’t. 

Instead I’ll quote this: “What happened to the Buddhists who set themselves on fire? That was a protest.”

This is your alternative to using things, everyone. According to whoever-the-hell, suicide constitutes real protest. That’s how we change the world. Throw away your camera, light yourself on fire.

Most importantly, to quote Stephen Heleker at the end of this beautifully stated “rant”, “Throw away your camera, light yourself on fire.”

The workers being exploited by corporations produced everything in this photo, the ruling class has nothing to offer society. 

Reblogging mostly for the last comment but really for the others as well.


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