a note on feeling appreciated within ON

[xsteffix]

Hey guys.  I wanted to write to express some concern (probably a result of my own insecurity, so excuse me haha)

I greatly admire the people who stood up for ON and were willing to get arrested last weekend.  However, while the phrase, "I am ___ of the 29," was catchy and inspiring at first, I think we need to be careful.  Firstly, we should remember that other people not in the original group were also arrested on the second night.  Secondly, It's almost starting to sound like we have people who stand out, people who are more important, than others.  I would really prefer if people would stop to referring to The 29.  I respect them and admire them, but I think the best approach would be to emphasize that it was a sizable *group* of people who got arrested.  Actually two groups (with some overlap).

Sometimes, it's easy to feel like you're not doing enough.  Should I have been willing to get arrested?  Am I a coward because I didn't stand up to the state of TN?  Are the people who stayed out their just as late to make sure the police didn't do anything shady also not important?  And even though I'm not out there occupying 24/7, sleeping in the cold, dealing with the homeless every day and night, am I not helping?  People keep saying they've been out there for days and weeks, and they've got more experience being out there than I do, that's true.  But should you keep emphasizing that fact?  Making people feel bad for not occupying with you? Am I a cowardly, weak person for preferring to keep working during the day and helping by giving money, food, and time for outreach?  I think it's crucial that we really emphasize all types of support.  Marches, nonviolent political disobedience, etc. are obviously a big part of our movement.  However, I'm getting the since that ON is becoming kind of cliquey, with some people seeming more important than others.  I think we should avoid such rhetoric and should get back to emphasizing that everyone is equal and is equally important and plays an equally crucial role in the movement.  I want to help.  I love this movement, the people in it, and the goals.  Sometimes, I just feel like I'm not doing enough, even though I feel like I'm doing what I can within reason.

/rant

[Green]

I feel you and just witnessed some guy on the livestream basically tell everyone chatting to STFU if we're not out there right now, because we disagreed with his idea, which was to STAIN THE GRANITE at Legislative Plaza.  I've been told several times that I'm not "actually" occupying, though I am one of MANY who cannot go who called and called and emailed and emailed and spread the word everywhere and spent money sending them food, and I'm NOT the only one in this situation. 

[newjk]

I appreciate everyone able to actually "occupy".  I also appreciate everyone who does anything =  if you do what you can, feel good about it.  it's not about comparisons ; it's about supporting the revolution as best you can.

[Autumn Dennis]

hear hear! i have felt that same insecurity being someone who was arrested the second night as if my contribution was overlooked because i wasn't one of the 29, and i have heard many people who were there for support say "well, i wasn't a big deal, i wasn't arrested like others were", which is absolutely not true, the supporters are just as crucial as those who were arrested.

i have heard a song sung in my church that goes "You are important to me; i need you to survive". it represents a community is nothing if we do not have each other and support each other. everyone is occupying and we are all equal!

[Green]

I know it's not about comparisons, but it's just an awful feeling when you feel like you're doing your best and are proud of it, and part of a team, and then someone who is supposed to be on your team dismisses what you've done by treating you as 'less than.'  But it's a problem I've seen in pretty much every activist group I've been in, so I reckon it's a human thing, and that's what we are, so...

I stand 100% behind/beside ON, but I found a different way that my skills can be used.  I'll still hang out in chat, of course, cuz I have met some fantastic people and love chatting with you guys and sharing info/experiences/excitement/all the rest of the etcs.  And I hope there's a day soon that I can go down and meet people in person and be on the ground, even if it's just for a little bit.

[MmmBeefy]

Yeah, I'd suggest that we move away from the idea that "occupy" applies only to the physical presence; the physical presence is very important, so are all the support systems for that presence, including donations, outreach, etc.  One doesn't happen without the other, everything is essential to our movement.  Attempting, either consciously or subconsciously, to institute a class system in which there are "greater than" and "lesser than" is precisely the kind of thinking that leads to inequality in the first place, which is pretty much the whole point to us getting together to combat against. 

[Shire]

Similarly, with Green, I want to question the idea that those who are actively spending the night at the plaza are worth more than those who are not, or that their ideas and beliefs are the only ones that really matter when it comes to making decisions. I've been told several times that because they're the ones on the ground, they are the ones who get to make decisions, or that if they disagree with a group consensus, their disagreement is the only one that matters because their standing in the group is more important or they believe that they contribute "more" than everyone else.

I agree with Green that this is just a human issue and is found in every group. But the Occupy movement as a whole needs every part -- the ones staying at the plazas and parks, the ones working behind the scenes with media and outreach, the ones rooting at home, the ones who donate money, and even the ones who secretly support us. It has always been a wheel with all of those spokes, and even though the occupiers are the most visible, they are not the whole .

I also want to make it clear that I very much admire those who are staying at the plaza. They're working hard and sacrificing a lot.

[xsteffix]

It's nice to know it wasn't just me though I'm sorry to hear this is an issue.  Should we maybe bring it up on the soapbox (in a nice way) at a GA?  Or is that too controversial/  I guess the soapbox is for anyone and you can say anything you want, but I don't want create tension.

[AvgJane2]

@ xsteffix: Thanks for having the courage to bring this up.

I'm sure it's unintentional, but all the focus seems to end up on the campers, as if camping on the plaza is the only goal. They are sacrificing a lot, but so are the people who've spent hundreds of dollars of their own money, and countless hours of their valuable time, to support those campers. Many of the great people I've met in ON do show their appreciation, one to one. But the broader perception is that the "group" only supports those who camp out. 

Maybe it's just their desire to get more folks out there. And maybe inadvertent favoritism is human nature. But so is greed. Does that mean we let that nature dominate? Social evolution includes overcoming crony-ism as well as greed. I think the group has to be real careful about how it's being perceived, not just in media and to the public, but among its own members and supporters.

[AvgJane2]

I appreciate everyone able to actually "occupy".  I also appreciate everyone who does anything =  if you do what you can, feel good about it.  it's not about comparisons ; it's about supporting the revolution as best you can.

@ newjk: Thanks for your individual appreciation; it's most welcome. Also, I think it goes without saying that every off-site supporter has enormous appreciation for the plaza occupiers! But, while I'm sure you have no intention of making comparisons, that's how it's ending up. Intentional or not, unless you're at a plaza GA in person, you have no voice, no matter how many dollars, hours, days, weeks, you've spent supporting the Occupy movement.

Idea:  Maybe Livestreamers can figure out a way to integrate Virtual Attendance at GA's (dealing with inappropriate responses in much the same way as they would in person).

Do those of you at the plaza (day or night) realize HOW much support you have from those who can't get there?  Many people can't, for many reasons. But that just seems to unwittingly translate into "just send us money and stuff and then shut up." In all this time, there's been no effort to include or organize the voices of all those off-site supporters in discussions and decisions, particularly those made at GA's. Off-site people might get to see a report on what was decided for everyone, after the fact. But that just sends an unintended message that if you ain't there in person, you don't count.

Forums vs. Livestream: These forums are an outlet, but don't actually seem to accomplish much. They're too scatter-shot, with no consolidation of ideas, goals, or feedback. Each voice often gets drowned out by so many other virtual voices talking about so many different things. Maybe that's why Livestream chat gets so swamped; off-site supporters searching for a way to be included in the broader discussions. I'm well aware that IT and moderators have tons of important stuff to deal with, and I think they're pretty amazing. But I wonder if this oversight could really be hurting support for the movement.

[xsteffix]

Hmm yeah Livestream is great except when I've tried to connect with people on there to get an idea of what is going on or get my voice heard, I feel like I'm just being ignored.  Maybe we should brainstorm about ways to get non-occupiers' voices heard.  It sucks that you apparently have no voice unless you can come to the GA.  While I do like coming to the GAs, I can't always make it, even though I want to stay involved in this movement.

[BobT]

I agree whole heartedly with the last post about not having your voice heard unless you come to GA.
people who are invested in the physical occupation are completely sold on the idea of pure Democracy...BUT on a cold weeknight, there might be only 30 people at GA representing how many over all of Nashville in support? It is a problem we need to figure out. 

I winder if people would be into a large indoor GA for non-occupiers?

[tnjeb]

"Do your work and I shall know you" RW Emerson
Personally, I believe in a distribution of labor and reward (pretty glad the guy who did my brain surgery had the economic incentive to spend all those extra years in school and residency while so many others were partying like it was 1999), but that's for another discussion. I've certainly told a number of nonoccupiers to not speak about things they dont know about. As far as our personal security goes, it will be a cold day in hell when someone tells me from the confines of their warm home or during an hour long visit onsite that we cant remove violent repeat offenders or that they should be welcome back the next day after they are sorry! I've been swung on myself, after my girl endured some truly ugly insults! Do I take armchair quarterback, keyboard commando, clicktivist comments personally in this regard? YOU BET!

[tnjeb]

regarding the comment on staining the plaza. i was on livestream reading off our needs list and talking about winterizing when dude chimed in w/ the compost under tents idea. i was also the one who later remarked on that sort of stuff being the reason certain gatherings are not welcome in some of our nation's natural areas anymore! sad reality, but it is reality! WHOSE PLAZA? OUR PLAZA! long as we respect it anyway....

[tnjeb]

bob et al, i do feel like there is a great deal more we can do for stakeholder building and allowing for/recognizing the many invaluable people and perspectives who make the occupation possible but cant physicly occupy. dont know about indoor GA's (depends mostly on location), though it sounds kind of nice. just thinking logistically in terms of those onsite w/o transportation...rides cud b worked out fairly easily i suppose tho the issue of needed numbers for vibes/security becomes an issue...

Christopher