Do online petitions do any good?

[East Coast Pirate]

Do the people they're directed at even care?

[LisaLynne]

1. It depends, which I know is a crappy answer.

Actually, I have seen some that I know helped, but those were directed to very specific, more "local" (meaning, say, a Sheriff's Office or a city council) issue. Usually, there was other pressure, too, but oftentimes just from the group that was sponsoring the petition. In other words, they used the petition as one of many tools to press for action.

So, I think it depends on the issue, on the person being petitioned, and also what else is being done on the issue. I do think, though, that if some cause is able to get 200k+ signatures, it does turn some heads/open some eyes.

What comes of that, I can't say.

[brooklynite]

4. Online petitions were describe to me by a Senior Political lobbyist as "butterfly nets"...

...they're intended to collect your email address for future communication (which might involve more direct advocacy for issues); the petition itself is worthless.

[LisaLynne]

6. Yeah, i think in general that's true, but ...

as I said, I've seen where either they caught enough butterflies that they were able to put pressure on small departments to do something. YMMV.

To me, the more "dangerous" part of it is that it makes you feel like you're doing something so you're possibly less likely to feel you need to take other action.

[idwiyo]

2. No and No.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. ++++++

[idwiyo]

7. I believe online petitions are a great way to divert public from doing something more direct like

proper protests.

'Thank you for participating! We had a look at your petition and we don't give a fuck, BUT you should feel all empowered and stuff because you told us, and we read it, AND answered! YAY!'

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. Eggzactly. n/t

[greytdemocrat]

5. No.

Especially when it's so easy to vote multiple times.

I stopped looking at these years ago.

[datasuspect]

8. masturbating is more effective

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. Moreover... Masturbation accomplishes something if you do it right. n/t

[CK_John]

9. I doubt it.

[MineralMan]

10. They definitely do good for the companies

who collect your personal information and sell it to others.

Beyond that, they're pretty useless.

[The Straight Story]

11. In one way, yes

It helps to see how many others feel the same on an issue.

[Separation]

12. I say most definately

I couldn't imagine the cost of this thing if it had gone through. Thankfully it was addressed by the White House and shot down. https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking

Edited to add some quotes from the response.

"We don't have a Death Star, but we do have floating robot assistants on the Space Station, a President who knows his way around a light saber and advanced (marshmallow) cannon, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is supporting research on building Luke's arm, floating droids, and quadruped walkers."

"We are living in the future! Enjoy it. Or better yet, help build it by pursuing a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field. The President has held the first-ever White House science fairs and Astronomy Night on the South Lawn because he knows these domains are critical to our country's future, and to ensuring the United States continues leading the world in doing big things"

[Generic Other]

13. Zimmerman had "no prowess" as a fighter

Pretty much easy to see that.

on edit: Wrong thread? Sorry.

[Eleanors38]

16. Random posting of a Zimmy in GD? The odds are in your favor.

[Generic Other]

17. Funny!

[geek tragedy]

18. They're email/contact info harvesting vehicles. Nothing more, nt

[olddots]

19. they do good for data miners

n.t.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. They definitely can, though I fear they're becoming less effective...

The concerns noted above regarding petition platforms being used to harvest and sell email addresses is valid.

And, there are so many petition platforms now that I fear they essentially work against one another since the idea of a petition is to gather as many names IN ONE PLACE as possible to show support for an issue.

My petition regarding FEMA first responders last year was successful mainly because it was timely and got media attention.

I keep pondering what the next evolution of online petitions may look like, because the growing fragmentation is really bothersome to me.

I also realize many feel it's lazy activism (slacktivism), but it can also be a gateway to more direct, sustained awareness AND engagement, imho.