Fed up with ridiculous token sentiments

[iamadalek2]

Rant alert! AIBU to be fed up with the nonsense going on around me. First it was "Be Kind" on profiles, replaced by mad dashes to Tesco to grab every bog roll in sight (leaving the vulnerable without) to the 8pm clapping including tears, trombones and other ridiculous themes that actually do not help the nhs, to bending on one knee tonight in our homes. Again,nice sentiment but what will it actually achieve? Absolutely Nothing except flood social media with "proof" that we are nice people. Pics of people clapping for nhs and now lots of bending on knees. Surely there are more constructive ways of dealing with serious issues than this?

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/taking-a-knee-national-anthem-nfl-trump-why-meaning-origins-racism-us-colin-kaepernick-a8521741.html

Completely agree, hated the stupid black square thing on Instagram yesterday too. Reminds me of the Je Suis Charlie thing a few years ago, I also despised that. People just like to jump on literally any bandwagon that makes them feel included.

I've reported this thread.

Everyone has a right to opinion and debate but it is hurtful and offensive to post about taking the knee without even bothering to read up on it!

It is or was NOT about George Floyd, but his situation and murder made it horribly relevant.

i thought it was so movong wjen I saw the nypd cop take a knee on c4 news last night. dh welled up. pretty sure it wasnt just for media attention and must've taken some courage.

soz is this thread dead now?

@sixthtimelucky why are you reporting my post. I haven't said anything offensive?

I explained why.

@pinkprosecco completely agree. People out playing trombones and karaoke and crying and putting on a show. Then next day breaking all the rules.

yes it's ok not to know stuff surely? also for those who think it's empty gesturing on social media I kinda get it but some media campaigns have been huge eg #metoo

@sixthtimelucky if one person made a comment that offended you then report it. Not the entire thread!!

none of this makes any difference to anything, bending a knee, clapping, waving your knickers in the air, it is ususally done so some idiot can get their selfie for sm and nothing more.

@recycledteenager you're right! It makes no difference at all. It's just useless gestures for their own self promotion.

@Sugartitss

What’s the bended knee thing?

I have never even heard of it until this afternoon, and reading this thread has explained it. I avoid football wherever possible which explains my prior ignorance.

Then you're all ignorant, honestly. Been out there in international news stories for years. Your problem if you think it's all virtual signalling when taking the kneee is a long-term, serious protest that most vaguely aware people know about. Educate yourselves. Or don't. Up to you.

Agree OP, they're all empty gesture unless they are backed up by action to actually change the way we think, interact and respond to others. I'm NOT religious but if we took only the 10 commandments and enacted them the world would be a much nicer place for all.

@sixthtimelucky
But nobody knows something until they are told or taught it , instead of criticising «ignorance « see it as an opportunity to educate or enlighten people, or to share knowledge.
Lots of posters may know tons of important stuff that you are «ignorant « of, because you haven’t learned it/ read it/ been told of it yet.

No one really knows the motivation of others intent but posting on sm can mean that a movement develops momentum which can have an impact.
I'm hopeful that a spotlight will be on the police brutality (shown by some) will now remain for long enough to effect some change as something needs to happen.

Oh wind your patronising neck in @sixthtimelucky

How belittling you speak to people you disagree with . Instead of explaining you patronise.

Then you're all ignorant, honestly. Been out there in international news stories for years. Your problem if you think it's all virtual signalling when taking the kneee is a long-term, serious protest that most vaguely aware people know about. Educate yourselves. Or don't. Up to you.

I don't think it's blanket virtue signalling. But I do think it is virtue signalling when white people who have never previously expressed any kind of opinion or support for BLM are suddenly posting pictures of themselves on SM with a bended knee. I've explained my reasons for not doing it - which I have taken as a result of listening and trying to learn from the black women in my wider network. I apologise if my posts have come across as minimising the bended knee movement altogether - that was not my intention.

Taking the knee is a protest. Getting your trombone out for nurses and posting the visual equivalent of sentimental bric a brac on Facebook is virtue signalling that makes not one jot of difference to anything.

It’s been virtue signalling overload. Lots of FB friends (white middle class) asking for book recommendations so they can educate themselves about black struggles, normal people would just fucking google it, but then no one would know about their right on solidarity would they? Maybe if they stuck their head outside their echo chamber every now and then they might have a grasp of the real world.

No, honestly, you are all ignorant.

This (taking the knee) has not been some underground movement. It's been HUGE, headline, international news for years. Just Google.

I've explained.

But if you want to keep banging on about virtual signalling, Ok. Rather than thinking 'God maybe this is something important I've somehow missed and can read up about and understand.' If you don't think it's something important you've missed then, fair enough, that's a whole different matter.

And I'm talking specifically about taking the knee.

[quote iamadalek2]@recycledteenager you're right! It makes no difference at all. It's just useless gestures for their own self promotion. [/quote]
But maybe It will make a difference and change something, if everyone actually contributed in some way, through donation, signing petitions, writing to your MP, by educating themselves and not turning a blind eye, or even just engaging in social media so it has a drip drip effect.

You can’t just do nothing and then complain that it’s all useless anyway. That not how things get changed. Imagine if stonewall hadn’t happened, imagine if the feminist movement had stayed silent, imagine if the suffragists had all stayed home “because it’s just useless gesture”.

@sixthtimelucky what happened to being kind? Don't come on here insulting everyone. There's no need for it at all! Horrible!