A post by Pat
In what some are calling the “Twitter Revolution” thousands of young demonstrators have been clashing with police and ransacking government buildings to protest the election results. Yesterday was the worst day of rioting so far, as protesters attacked riot police with cobblestones and bricks, prompting security forces to use batons and water cannons to stem their advance. A fire engine was turned upside down and destroyed in the melee.
A current report from Iran? No. This was a report less than three months ago about the protests in Moldova. You remember Moldova, don’t you? Moldova has been added to the pile of spent and largely forgotten uprisings. Our attention span for the excitement of ordinary people getting their heads bashed in for noble causes is short. Remember how much concern we felt for the Myanmar monks…at the time? It’s somewhat appropriate that the 140-character limited Twitter is a major vehicle for bringing us the latest “news” about the uprising de jour.
Twitter and other social networking tools are of value to the media when normal channels are controlled. They are somewhat overblown as organizing tools in places like the Middle East. As much as technology helps anti-government protesters, the governments have more technology at their disposal and considerably more weaponry. There are only 8,600 Twitter users in Iran.
To whatever extent these tools help the oppressed, they are invaluable. But what about us, the privileged onlookers? Is the raw reporting coming through Twitter sometimes more titillating than illuminating? Is there something of a vicarious thrill being virtually connected to danger? Those protesters are putting life and limb on the line while we tweet and retweet rumor and speculation as well as facts. We feel involved. Part of it. But safe.
Eventually there will be the day after the uprising and then the days after that. When our once green-colorized avatars have become passe, some of the people with whom we felt such close solidarity will be in prison. Some will be dead. We are onlookers at best and voyeurs at worst. Those are brave human beings we are watching. They pay a high price for their actions today. A true demonstration of solidarity isn’t a ribbon or a pin or an avatar. It is a genuine tear of sorrow.
Nick Thompson of Wired Magazine talks to NPR about the impact of social networking on the Iranian protests:
