[no2pencil]

hockey97, on 14 March 2012 - 01:23 PM, said:

You guys are retarded...

Is there any chance you can stop having diarrhea of the keyboard?

[hockey97]

macosxnerd101, on 12 March 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

I finally got a chance to compose my thoughts on Kony 2012. I posted this on Facebook this morning, but I thought I'd post it here as well. It's a wall of text. Consider yourselves warned.

Spoiler

About a week ago, videos about Kony 2012 began popping up on my newsfeed. I have yet to thoroughly respond to this fad, so I would like to do so now. Let’s start with the word I used to describe this- a fad. It is my belief that many of those that shared the video don’t fully understand the issue, but reacted emotionally to a story that draws many of our sympathies. When children are being brutalized, it is hard not to sympathize. Further adding to my belief of lack of education on the issue, I see many people joining Facebook events to start a movement to capture Kony. In my views, this shows an emotional need to play hero without considering the long-term consequences for military intervention. This is very similar in action to sharing photos of children with cancer to help pay for their treatments. Yes, it’s moving. However, does it really get anything done? Will you, my Facebook friend reading this post, be just as committed and passionate about this cause a month from now? A year from now? I doubt that many of you will be just as passionate and committed, and that Kony will all but disappear from our newsfeeds in a month, due to apathy not his lack of relevance (ie., arrest or death).

There is not a doubt in my mind that Kony deserves arrest and far worse. While Kony is a major part of the problem, there are numerous other issues to consider. The first are the children that need to be rescued. Government statistics show that 30% of children that are abused or neglected go on to continue the cycle of domestic abuse (cite: http://www.childhelp...#abuse-conseq). These children will also have to deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder. Are we prepared to supply the psychiatric specialists to help these children deal with these issues? What about reuniting the children with the families and placing the orphans into foster and adoptive care? There are significant logistical issues to deal with on the emotional front, the children, alone.

This brings me to another point- how to allocate your donation funds to best help these children affected by the LRA. Invisible Children focuses on one issue- raising awareness. While this is definitely important, so are the support services required for these children. Enable these charities, like the Red Cross, to help these children. And only 31% of their budget goes towards African programs by their own admissions (cite: c2052482.r82.cf0.rackcdn.com/images/737/original/FY11-Audited Financial Statements.pdf?1320205055). The majority of their money is spent in America on administrative and travel expenses, not any of the critical support services to help the children.

Next, let’s address the situation in which Kony is arrested or killed. Many of his lieutenants are still alive, and will likely vie for power within the LRA structure. This will involve more children still, and the continued efforts of cleaning up the remnants. These lieutenants may also be more violent towards neighboring towns in Africa. Consider this backlash and the power vacuum left by Kony’s death.


Another point I want to make is that abducting children and forcing them into war or slavery is a part of the African culture dating back to before the Age of Exploration and the triangle trade routes. If we tackle the issue of Kony and the LRA, why aren’t we allocating resources to tackle the other warlords abducting children as well? Obviously, we can only do but so much. However, it is easy to foresee a massive military and resource commitment to Africa. Remember that the war on terror costs billions of dollars per day in a region dwarfed in size when compared to Africa. What would it cost to place military advisers and provide resources to Africa? What would it cost to provide combatant military support in Africa? Just like Europe could not sustain colonization of Africa over the long haul, America cannot support what amounts to modernizing significant portions of the African culture. I argue as well that it isn’t our place to do so through the use of direct military intervention. Instead, we should provide through charitable and standard government humanitarian aid the support to the charities that strive to educate, feed, protect, clothe, shelter, and care for those in needy situations in Africa.

Bringing this back to Kony, I don’t fully support arresting Kony as Kony 2012 is proposing. I do support enabling the African governments to systematically neutralize the threat of the LRA through the following: arresting the LRA leadership; providing humanitarian and psychiatric support to the victims of the LRA (ie., the children soldiers); providing support to help the victims of the LRA (ie., the children soldiers) to help them integrate back into society over the long term.

So it shows your falling for this crap too??? I thought you have a PHD in computer science... that includes security... I thought you supposed to know about hackers methods... aka social engineering!!!... LMAO!!!!

[Kilorn]

Also, I'd like to congratulate hockey97 on successfully avoiding reading any of the previous material in this thread and reciting the exact sentiment that has already been expressed ad nauseam.

[no2pencil]

[hockey97]

Kilorn, on 14 March 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:

Also, I'd like to congratulate hockey97 on successfully avoiding reading any of the previous material in this thread and reciting the exact sentiment that has already been expressed ad nauseam.

Yes, I did read the crap before hand.... many pictures from 4chan...shows that this thread is full of LQ posts.

No one had the same sources I have. I provided more reasons not to donate to them. Yet, everyone here just posted their opinion without any sources.

My response was to OP... HINT HINT..

[dorknexus]

So you choose what to do with your money, and others will choose what to do with theirs. In the mean time please do us all a favor, and shut the fuck up.

[nK0de]

hockey97, on 14 March 2012 - 11:05 PM, said:

So it shows your falling for this crap too??? I thought you have a PHD in computer science... that includes security... I thought you supposed to know about hackers methods... aka social engineering!!!... LMAO!!!!

[WolfCoder]

Here's a question, does Joesph Kony actually exist?

This post has been edited by WolfCoder: 14 March 2012 - 11:41 PM

[modi123_1]

I heard Joseph Kony is going back to school for computer science and totally needs just a little direction for this bubble sort project codes his friend gave him, but said friend moved away and cannot help him now! He's is totally new to this and his teacher is really bad - so help him get started and perhaps show him some examples would be a much appreciated. Also he is looking for project ideas for his thesis, and also if anyone wants to join his super 1337 game programming team he has a great idea to make the next best MMO and facebook hybrid! For some reason the other kids at school are reluctant to join him on this awesome ground floor opportunity.

[Kilorn]

WOW! Sounds like an awesome spokesperson for a "charity".

[creativecoding]

Quote

Russell, 33, "was taken into custody after he was found masturbating in public, vandalizing cars and possibly under the influence of something," NBC's San Diego affiliate reported, citing San Diego Police Department spokeswoman Lt. Andra Brown.

Sounds like the usual Friday.

[negligible]

This video they released sums them up pretty well.

[WolfCoder]

I like how impulsive people are. Immediately after this drunken arrest, Twitter's #Kony2012 topic became completly filled with masturbation in public jokes and everyone's forgotten about what the words even mean anymore.

[Ntwiles]

If what is talked about in the Kony 2012 video is true, it's incredibly sad. And it's also none of our business. One would think the American people would have learned that lesson after the events of the last ten years.

[modi123_1]

@Ntwiles - wait, what? Are you saying there is no moral obligation to help your fellow man in need? For my future reference - how far can I "otherize" people so I am absolved of the guilt for not helping someone when I could?

Clearly brown kids in that savage continent. Check.
Okay what about those uppity Brits? Running around with their BBC shows and rubbing their Kate Middletons in the press's face.
How about those on the North American continent? I would rather not assist those ice eating, syrup slurping Canukes. They give me the willies.
How about people from other states? Mississippi folk are dirty and really not worth saving like Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoon, amirite?
A person from another street over? Stupid Jones Circle people with their late night parties and over the top firework displays!
How about a random stranger I just pass on the street? Where's the line?

Interesting side story I was just brought up to speed on. My buddy's cousin is a Scott. A few days ago he got off the train and saw ten or so people standing around watching two guys wail on some bum. The people were muttering "someone should phone the authorities to stop this". Being the good Samaritan he pushed past the people and peeled these two idiots off the bum. Some words were exchanged and the two slinked off. His facebook posts were peppered with "Why would you intervene for a bum? I mean you could have been seriously hurt over some thankless gutter trash!".