Comments on: Signaling and Solidarity

By: WesternStandard.ca » What a twit

WesternStandard.ca » What a twit — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:05:17 +0000

[...] Wilkinson is opposed to all of the twitterers who are sporting green in solidarity with the Iranian people. Why you ask? Because it plays into the hands of the evil neo-cons! No, really. Don't believe me, here's the money quote: [...]

By: kevlaw

kevlaw — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:32:20 +0000

Read “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” (most excellent book) to understand how a small public commitment can turn into a big public commitment.

By: kevlaw

kevlaw — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:41:15 +0000

So it's officially sanctioned signalling?

By: marianne

marianne — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:58:21 +0000

Voting is a civic act, in and through which we become citizens. It is exactly the sort of “buying in” that sets the stage for costlier acts of citizenship.

By: Green Avatar No More? « Blog Name Here

Green Avatar No More? « Blog Name Here — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:23:15 +0000

[...] one person that specifically admonished against this was Will Wilkinson. I disagree with his logic but was happy for the dissenting voice. His distilled [...]

By: patrick stephens at psjs.net » Taking sides

patrick stephens at psjs.net » Taking sides — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:48:55 +0000

[...] Wilkinson has argued that showing support for the dissidents in Iran only aids and abets warmongering neocons, and since [...]

By: One never expects the hangover, despite all the evidence « The Edge of the American West

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:39:32 +0000

[...] would not look as favorable to the West. Will Wilkinson’s latest posts on the “vanity dressed up as elevated moral consciousness” of Twitter avatars strike me as extremely perceptive. Exiled Iranian filmmaker Lila [...]

By: Iran « Wintry Smile

Iran « Wintry Smile — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:37:20 +0000

[...] while I understand Will Wilkinson’s hesitation, I have to disagree with him about our investment in the welfare of the Iranian people. He [...]

By: Joe Blow

Joe Blow — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:48:54 +0000

Will gets it so right here. If we show any support for these protestors, we're really just buying into Bill Kristol's war plans. It would make war basically inevitable.

So tomorrow I'm burning my lawn. I wouldn't want anybody to think all the greenery in front of my house was supporting Bill Kristol or the nefarious neocons. In fact Ireland, the so-called “Emerald Isle” practically reeks of being a neocon conspiracy. Nevermind the Boston Celtics… the warmongering fools.

By: Will Wilkinson gets his wish « Greg’s Weblog

Will Wilkinson gets his wish « Greg’s Weblog — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:26:37 +0000

[...] Will Wilkinson on why he won’t color his Twitter avatar green in solidarity with the opposition: …Here’s what I do worry about. When people feel pressure to signal, and it’s free, they’ll signal. But sending the signal creates a small emotional investment in the overt message of the signal — solidarity with opponents of the ruling Iranian regime. As every salesman knows, getting someone to make a big, costly commitment is best achieved by getting them to first make a tiny, costless commitment. The tiny, costless commitment of turning Twitter avatars green is thin edge of the persuasive edge for the neocons who would like to sell the public a war in Iran. Since I would rather not be Bill Kristol’s useful idiot, I will conspicuously leave my avatar as is, and continue hoping for the best. [...]

By: Greg Q

Greg Q — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:55:41 +0000

Well, congratulations. You're not the slightest bit useful.

By: mr. voluptuous

mr. voluptuous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:35:57 +0000

So you won't show solidarity with Iranian protesters because of some imaginary linkage to an imaginary policy preference held by someone you don't like?

What a small mind.

By: Someone

Someone — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:45:22 +0000

Funny you should use the term “Useful Idiots” since that was the term Stalin used to describe those who were helpful to him in promoting his tyranny. Useful idiots are the tools of the violent despots, not those who urge people to stand in solidarity with the oppressed.

By: Mike G

Mike G — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:28:13 +0000

So you think there's some possibility that the regime that held American hostages for over a year, killed hundreds of thousands in one of the bloodiest relative to population, and certainly most pointless wars of the 20th century, blew up the Khobar towers, sponsors Hezbollah in its activities trying to wreck democracy in Lebanon, hangs rape victims and gays, etc. etc. might be the good guys?

No, of course you're not saying that. You're merely saying that the possibility of lending support to Bill Kristol's position outweighs all that!

By: Ms Baroque

Ms Baroque — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:07:37 +0000

You do realise that people all over the world are turning their avatars green? It's not like the entire response to the Iran uprising belongs to Americans.

I for example have felt quite engaged with the evetns unfolding even though I am in London, and people here - who are definitely not likely to be under the sway of American neo-cons! - are turning their avatars green. It is a gesture of support when you feel there isn't much you can do.

I'm sure Iranians interacting with people elsewhere on Twitter so feel and appreciate the gestures of support, in a similar way to how many hostages and political prisoners have said they were kept going by messages that got through to them, whether because of media campaigns of orchestrateed by Amnesty etc.

Your advertising-based take on it is interesting, but I'd say that's just something Americans might have to watch out for. The rest of the world can just get on with supporting the protesters.