Comments on: Kony 2012

By: annegb

annegb — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:54:06 +0000

“you can’t count dead guys”

Can if I want.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:11:49 +0000

The world that doesn’t exist is the one where criticism is good news and leads to better solutions. That’s a world with bunnies and flowers and rainbows that I have yet to experience.

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:00:14 +0000

But you did say I seem to be talking about a world that doesn’t exist. It does. Again, if you’re talking about the Internet, unfounded, loud, forceful accusations are going to happen no matter what if you get anywhere near somewhat popular. If this message can be drowned out so easily by these thugs, how strong a message is it? If it IS stronger (and I think it very well can be) than all that backlash will wash away anyway and we can find out if it really stands up to the higher criticism I mentioned that does actually exist. If it makes it through that, wonderful! Then a true, useful, meaningful difference will be made.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:32:33 +0000

I never said it didn’t exist, Bret, but it was drowned out by all the lies and accusations. You’re talking about a tea party that was going on in the backyard while a bunch of thugs were busy blowing up the house. Forgive me for overlooking it.

By: Bret

Bret — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:57:55 +0000

I don’t know what criticism you’re reading. I’m not doubting it exists (especially with the existence of the Internet) but to say constructive criticism and expert opinion to the contrary of IC’s opinions doesn’t exist? Please. The ideas and theories on how to help all the varying problems in Africa are as numerous and diverse as the people who live there.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:49:41 +0000

Bret I agree with what you say here in theory, but you seem to be talking about a world that doesn’t actually exist.

In theory, yes, criticism is good news. Unless it’s happening to you. And of course, constructive criticism is fine and should be taken in stride but the kind of criticism levelled at IC was not, in many cases, constructive in any sense. It was false, malicious, mean, ugly and yes, evil. it was intended to take down the organization and the people associated with it and make sure no one ever listened to them again. The worst part of it was that the people who did this were not, as far as I can determine, deriving any gain from it. They just wanted to destroy the reputation of a company and its people. For no reason other than that they could.

This is not the kind of criticism that leads to new or better ideas and solutions. It leads to people saying that they will never again attempt to do anything like this in the future. That is not helpful. And the people at IC did not deserve it.

By: Bret

Bret — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:48:50 +0000

The part I find surprising is how surprised Invisible Children and their supporters are of the criticism. I’m sure that’s not true of all of them, but so many seem to be offended-ly surprised that anyone would be critical of something so seemingly good intentioned. “Why are you against this? Do you hate children? Do you love evil? Why do you hate African people? Don’t you see this will make it better? How can you possibly be against helping people?!” is the tone. In reality, criticism is good news. That means you’re popular enough to be noticed and your message is getting out there. If people challenge your method, great, prove them wrong or better yet, between all the extra analysis coming from such exposure, an even better solution arises.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:33:10 +0000

Idi Amin is dead. So is Saddam Hussein. So is Qaddafi. You can’t count dead guys and you also can’t count anyone who is simply a soldier. As far as murderous leaders go, Kony is alone among current leaders in the magnitude of his atrocities.

The reason I think there are not thousands of people like Kony is that he is responsible for the death or mutilation of thousands of people. It takes a very evil leader to accomplish something like that. He’s number one on the list of UN war criminals. He has no current peers when it comes to the numbers of his victims. There are not thousands of people alive today who have done anything like that. I challenge you to name even five. I bet you can’t do it.

By: MCQ

MCQ — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:22:07 +0000

So, now you’re counting the unborn as potential future evildoers?

By: annegb

annegb — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:58:05 +0000

How do you know that, Mcq? You’re probably too young to remember Idi Amin, but I do. Maybe—MAYBE thousands is an exaggeration, but I don’t think by much. Hundreds? Hundreds in embryo? Soldiers now, murderous leaders tomorrow.