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Apathy is Rife at Care2 - Four Petitions
Aug 24, 2007

Please put up with my rant, which I am trying to base on LOGIC.

Care2 advertises 7M members. Ok, at any given time I bet they could be as much as 2M off depending on activity, duplicate profiles for people, etc.

So, let's say at any one time there are 5M active members.

Proceeding from this, let's guess that 3.5-4M of those members are Americans.

Next, let's acknowledge that there are a LOT of problems with this site, ranging from veerrrrrrrrrry slow response time, email that doesn't work properly, friends lists that often get corrupted, postings that disappear or post 2 or 3 times, bad links, many lock-ups while trying to navigate, and on and on ad nauseam.

This brings me to the first petition:

CARE2 NEEDS A TECHNO FACELIFT

Target: Matt McGlynn, Founder and Vice President, Engineering, Care 2

Created by:

Cate Groves

Care2 needs to upgrade its IT equipment. As much as many of us love Care2, navigating the website can be so frustrating that many of us don't participate as much as we would like to. Rather than adding new subsites (e.g. polls, etc.) and other cosmetic add-ons, Care2 needs to put more time and money into developing a faster, smoother IT interface so we who are enthusiastic members can truly enjoy our time here.

THANK YOU, CARE2 TECH TEAM! Care2 has addressed one of our big issues. If you haven't already noticed, we can now send mail to 25 people instead of 10 at a time. That's a great breakthrough and it shows that Care2 is responsive to our comments. Let's keep signing to encourage them to continue to work on site performance (slow loading, broken links, etc.).

YOUR signature still matters! Cate

989 signatures 
 

Based on my own poor experiences with this site and the complaints of countless others, I didn't think a goal of 10,000 signatures out of our 5M active worldwide members was too outrageous. However, as you can see, there are 989 signatures from people interested enough to push the powers that be at Care2 to really overhaul this site.





Next: If we accept the hypothesis that the majority of active members are AMERICANS, no matter what political stripe, you might think the next 2 petitions would draw a lot of attention: 
DON'T BURY PATIENTS IN WARD 53

Target:

Kevin Kiley, Director, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Created by:

Cate Groves

There are many veterans of the unjust war in Iraq with PTSD and other combat-related psychological difficulties being virtually ignored by dumped in Ward 53, inappropriately housed in with the chronically mentally ill. It is UNJUST to shelve these veterans into a ward where they do not and cannot receive proper care and rehabilitation. These brave veterans need appropriately-focused help to be able to re-enter society and live as normal lives as possible after serving our country. We ask that you make immediate arrangements for proper diagnosis, placement and treatment for mentally-stressed, psychologically-impaired Iraqi war veterans. They served for US - now WE must serve THEM

signature goal: 5,000
528 signatures


Support Waxman's Bill to Protect the Surgeon General

Target: Representative Henry A. Waxman, US House of Representatives

Created by:

Cate Groves

Let's show our support for this legislation, which would free the Surgeon General's Office from censorship and suppression of important information by the Executive Branch.

Honorable Congressman Waxman:
We the undersigned fully support your bill to free the Office of the US Surgeon General from interference from the Executive Branch in carrying out its responsibilities and disseminating vital information to American citizens.

signature goal: 500
342 signatures


However, even though I KNOW that whatever their feelings about the war in Iraq, MOST people here care about our fighting men and women. But my petition to properly treat returning troops with mental disorders caused by their combat service has only 527 out of the goal of 5000.

The petition to support the Waxman bill to protect the Office of the Surgeon General still needs 168 signatures to reach its modest goal of 500, even after I and cooperative friends pushed this petition for a quick wrap-up, it is not ready to close yet.



Now, just to be REALLY conservative number-wise, let's assume that of the ACTIVE AMERICAN members of Care2, 60% have moderate to very liberal political leanings. The next petition was aimed at this group. The number in this group should be somewhere in the 2M+ range. However, this next petition does not even have 1,000 signatures yet - far removed from a reasonable goal, I think, given the hypothetical pool to draw from - of 5000 signatures.

TELL JOE LIEBERMAN & THE HILL: HANDS OFF IRAN

Target: Joe Lieberman, Senator, US Congress

Created by: Cate Groves

Joe Lieberman thinks an air attack against Iran as a last resort to thwart their nuclear program (and let's be honest - to protect OPEC's control of the flow of oil) is perfectly OK.Even as a last resort, it's NOT OK! We as a nation cannot afford - morally or militarily - another pre-emptive war.Tell him and the rest of Washington, DC why attacking Iran should not be on the table now or ever. NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL!


signature goal: 5,000
663 signatures



Therefore, I have come to 3 conclusions based on my long experience here at Care2:

#1 - Apathy is the overriding hallmark of this site.

#2 - Most people who are active contributors care more about harm to animals than harm to their human brothers and sisters. DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND - I love animals and care very much about them too, but I notice that 90% of petitions regarding animal welfare fill up at an extremely rapid rate, compared to a foot-dragging slowness in most petitions regarding the human condition.

#3 - People love to complain about problems on this site that affect its performance and their personal experiences here, but - see #1.

So - even as I ask those of you have not not signed my petitions to do so, I have promised myself I will never post another one here. It is too frustrating and alarming to confront the general apathy.

    Yours in activism - Cate
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Friday August 24, 2007, 2:03 pm
Tags: care2 apathy petitions care2apathy [add/edit tags]

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Sheila K. (127) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:07 pm
Wow I didn't see this...I was off the site yesterday I had a bit of an emotional emergency I had to attend to...YOU are so right! I voiced my opinion on the other "comment" page...

Sheila K. (127) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:11 pm
LOL wow YOU did alot of statistical calculations here. I think you're probably right..there are maybe 3 people on my friends list who are totally committed to being activists to change this country...YOU are one of them. I'm not putting anyone down, but I said before, I agree that most of the people care more about animals and the like..I'm just as disgusted as YOU are, Cate, I just don't know what to do about the air of apathy...it's all over the country, but you'd think on this site there would be more of an outrage about things?

Michelle B. (277) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:16 pm
signed all Cate.

Rochelle G. (26) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:18 pm
And here I thought I finally found a MySpace / Fark for people who genuinly cared about the world and were more interested in news than music. (ie: people over the age of 12).

Thanks for the bubble burst. ;)

Actually, I've been posting away in some groups, wondering why I've had no replies.

I do disagree about one count with you, C2 should add SpellCheck to it's interface in addition to the other technical problems you noted (and I thought it was all me).

I'll go find and sign your petitions - lets blaming my oversight in not signing them on my not being here.

Cheers and good luck to ya!

Bradley Harris (155) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:18 pm
I admire your passion. A pat on the back for your beliefs and being active.
Peace and Grace

James S. (25) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:23 pm

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR DEMOCRACY

This US Voter Ballot Law could put critical legislation, like declaring war or impeachment, to a nationwide vote, and not in the hands of your sold-out reps. The Patriot Act, for instance, is legislation typical of what could be decided by a national voter referendum.

Its the real deal, co-sponsored by Mike Gravel (former Senator from Alaska - stopped the draft, exposed the Pentagon Papers - 2008 presidential candidate).

Past Member (0) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:24 pm
You know what Cate I have to agree. The fact is I to have noticed that more people are apt to sign a petition about animals probably even before reading the whole thing than to pay even the most obscure amount time trying to read or sign a petition about the human welfare and to be honest all the animal petition need signatures as well, but because of the animal mistreatment people should focus on what these people can do to their own race and what has been done to our own race. It is appalling to think that people would let their own race needs go unanswered.

James S. (25) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:28 pm

Oh, signed all petitions. Not apathetic. Didn't know about them before your news post. Maybe no one else is getting them either (although I do think there is more talk than action on care2, but that can change with persistance)

Ratty Ratman (160) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:28 pm
I'm right there with you Cate, I sent out an email basically saying the same type stuff a few days back. I don't understand it either, and the emails I got back from a few people are basically saying the same type thing. One thing that maybe the people that only focus on animals need to understand is if we do not turn the direction of this country in a different direction ALL life on the planet will suffer and die. It doesn't do much good to save a cat and let Bush start a war with Iran and millions of people and cats and birds and trees die from nukes and fallout.

I was at a DOE (Department of Energy) about the Piketon Ohio nuclear waste facility and there were only 58 that showed up, and on top of that when the DOE guy tried to ignore my question on DU (Depleted Uranium) NOT ONE of the other people there helped me push him for an answer.

I send out links and see from site counters a lot of the people that get and even forward the links don't even go there, and the same with petitions.

Now obviously I know there are lots working their butts off, but I wonder if a lot of it is people thinking that if they forward, they have already done their "job" and they don't have to do the actual signing or showing up at a march or the phone calls or emails or donations or whatever else they might be capable of.

I know some people are strapped for time or can't physically get out or donate or whatever, but the raw numbers of signers/donators/protesters/whatever is not nearly what it should be.

Don't give up Cate, we all need to just keep pushing and try to figure out how to get everyone active.

If everyone did what they could, things would get better.


Mary J. (29) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:30 pm
Thanks Cate. I signed the ones I hadn't yet signed. Personally, some days are not days with any extra time to read all I would like to read on Care2. And I always read the petitions I sign. I love animals too, but agree that many on the animals orbit don't often look outside their chosen habitat ie don't see the forest through the trees. You are a wonderful facilitator for dialogue and hopefully some action.

Jennie B. (14) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:34 pm
I understand your frustration, Cate. I posted one petition and it was like dragging feet to get signatures. I decided not to do it again. I also agree that animal activism seems to trump human activism here. I'm with you, both humans and animals count, however, events are such in our country right now, that neither people nor animals are safe. I see the apathy, too, and I don't know what it means, however, I think America is like this right now. The majority of people appear to continue in their apathy as if the details of every day life are far more important - shopping for fall clothes, buying a new car, planning the next party or trip, watching dis-reality shows on TV...anything that will not require looking at what is really happening here in this country right now in the government. It's too frightening, too real, and too overwhelming, perhaps, and at a time when the People are needed to save this country, it's Constitution, our men and women serving in a war based on lies that never ends, and a quickly failing health system, they are looking everywhere but at the truth-even those who should know better. Even those who claim to be activists. It's no wonder Republicans count on dividing the great mass of Americans left of right-there is no unity, no commitment, no outrage that goes further than a small group of us who know what is happening and don't turn away from the truth. I'm glad you spoke up, and I think it's because those of us over 55 have nothing to lose in telling the truth as we see it. We aren't in it for popularity or fun so much as for the real reason Care2 was created supposedly-a place for real activists to gather and make a real difference on issues that pertain to people, animals, world events, the environment and our own country. We are dealing with the major problem in this country right now-a lack of interest or just flat indifference to the consequences of not taking real action on the issues of today: from politics to global warming. hugs, jennie

Carrie Pollard (67) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:43 pm
I have signed and am often dismayed at the lack of participation--though I am away from the site for long stretches of time and know how real time things can keep a person from being active.

LadyLou B. (133) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 3:50 pm
Hi Cate ~ I had already signed all the petitions, but am now going back and signing my hubby's name as well ~ I asked him first of course, hope they accept this at Care2' petition though. I agree, apathy abounds, and there Are a lot more animal petitions it seems. I have no qualms at all about signing any worthwhile cause, and that most definitely includes human suffering. I do wish more Care2 members cared enough to be more sincere activists ~ I suppose some don't have the time we have, others may just not care enough. Guess we all just have to work a little harder. Thanks for sending these to me, after I try the extra signatures, I will of course forward. Hugs, Lou

Past Member (0) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 4:06 pm
Cate, I am in total agreement. Yesterday I posted news, some political, some animal, yet my news on #1-the little boy doused with gas and set on fire, NOTES 22 #2-Republican Senator Urges Bush to Start Iraq Exit By Christmas,NOTES 26 #3-Fighting Dogs Face Grim Future, NOTES 33<
So I agree, If we are to make a change in this country, We need to stop and pay attention on whats going on around us. I absolutely love animals and so much is being done to help them here, but Care2 needs to focus more on our Nation. If the 7M members don't, We may not have a Nation much longer!!!!!
I will post this under your News. You figured out something none of us thought of, Something of importance. I salute you, Cate....

Patricia H. (90) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 5:20 pm
I do agree with you Cate, but the reason I joined Care2 was for animal activism, so maybe a lot of people join for different reasons. I focus mainly on animals because they do not have a voice. I find it difficult to find enough time to do what I can in regards to animals. I am sorry you are feeling so discouraged.

Jean Smith (108) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 5:39 pm
Hi cat noted and agree

colleen o. (200) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 5:50 pm
THE MEMBERSHIP OF SEVEN MILLION IS WHEN PEOPLE JOIN CARE2.CON TO SIGN A PETITION. YOU MAY WELL NEVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN. IT IS MORE THAN OBVIOUS THERE ARE ABOUT 300 ACTIVE MEMBERS ON CARE2.CON WORKING AS VIGIL-ANTI VOLUNTEERS. OFTEN STUPID STORIES OVERIDE ANIMAL WELFARE STORIES REGARDING ARCHAIC LAWS. MANY PERSONS WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, FEW WORK ON BEHALF OF THE ANIMALS, WHICH QUITE OFTEN IS A CORRUPT ENDEAVOUR TO BEGIN WITH. SHOW ME A DOLLAR IN THIS WORLD THAT WASN'T MADE ON THE HIDE OF AN ANIMAL.

Charles C. (160) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 6:27 pm
I love animals and would do anything for them, but humanity is a priority, as I recognize the consequences for all life if it is not #1!!
Getting our country back should be the top priority.
I have to agree here with Cate on the number of signatures on petitions for other than animals, pretty poor showing out of 5-7 million.
I thought that most all here were activists for one cause or another, and I realize that many are more casual than enthusiastic in their efforts to initiate change, but that still leaves a lot of people that are active. Now I sign all petitions to save animals, but I know what my priorities are in order to benefit all life. If all the people that avoid politics and sign only animal petitions got on board and did their part signing the petitions to make the necessary changes in our government, then we might not be confronted with yet another war, which will surely involve nuclear weapons.
I know there are many that do their part and then some, and I salute them, but please let's ALL do our part. I truly believe it can happen!!!

Mary M. (20) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 7:20 pm
I voiced my opinion on the previous site and already have signed them all. Wish there were a lot more like you and this Care2 would be flourishing with petitions and the like!

Past Member (0) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 8:17 pm
SIGNED ALL...THANKS CATE

BMutiny TCorporationsEvil (429) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 8:17 pm
I've been on Care2 only a couple of years; and I was shocked to read comments from being here since 1999, that Care2 used to be MORE activist-oriented. My experience in just a couple of years, has been the opposite! It is true that the figure of "7 million" is inflated to the point of absurdity; and maybe it is recently that large numbers of people have joined just for "social" reasons, making Care2 look different from what it was in 1999.
I am fortunate in living in a rather "liberal" city where I have longstanding activist friends and know where to go for activist circles. So maybe I have activist "blinders" on. I know that "out there", outside of my own circles, people are apathetic; ESPECIALLY, it seems, about 9/11 TRUTH, being unable to FACE it.
However, that is not my experience on Care2!
I keep meeting MORE people who are NOT apathetic. People of ALL ages, even! People I would never have met without Care2! New people who keep joining, and are immediately active!

Going by the "click to donate" numbers, there are about 7,000 to 8,000 who do this regularly. Some people don't know about this, or don't have time to do it every day, or think the whole idea is absurd. Let's say half the activists on any given day, "click to donate". Or, even only a third. So, that would give you 16,000 to 24,000 real activists at any given time. {Others are on vacation, travelling, busy, etc. These would be the activists you could COUNT on to be, well, ACTIVE on this one day. Or week, etc.} Well, that is a way smaller figure, maybe way off; but I think the calculations are at least likely to be CLOSER to accurate! than anything in the "millions".
In my experience, it is HARDER TO GET AT petitions than it used to be! This is one of the "improvements" that was the OPPOSITE from an improvement.
I think, that all the NEW PEOPLE, if they could get into "click to donate" and into signing petitions, it might contribute to a SENSE OF SOLIDARITY among us. It would IMMEDIATELY GET THE NEW PEOPLE MORE ACTIVE; as they seem to WANT to be! I think we might even be losing a few newbies, if we don't give them something immediately to sink their teeth into!
I see things as gradually IMPROVING on Care2! But, of course, I have no idea what it was like in 1999!

Denise L. (464) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 8:38 pm
Here, here, Cate! I bet if people realized that human are animals too, they'd sign those petitions! I just don't understand how people can only care about animals & not about each other. When my firend's apartment caught on fire, I got one response that really pissed me off: "All I can do is pray for the animals they have eaten". I blasted her & took her off my friends list! No where did I mention that she & her kids ate meat & I let her know that humans are animals too. Does she hate wolves because they are carnivores? If not, then why hate humans? ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!

OK, I think MY rant is over LOL!

I appreciate this blog entry & I want you to know I'm 110% behind you!

Marivic B. (27) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 10:46 pm
Great post, Cate, and thank you, Ron for alerting me to it.

I try to read, note and sign news and petitions as much as I am able here on Care 2. I try to strike a balance between animal welfare petitions that have more global impact and human rights and child welfare issues.

As much as I want to support US war veterans (my grandfather was a WWII US vet)and troops, and would love to see Bush booted out, I cannot write to your House reps and senators because the petitions ask for my State and Zip Code! I am not American.

However, I do appreciate all the efforts of the activists here in Care2. I have noted some of your news, Cate, from the political to the offbeat, as they are all very interesting and do have merit.

I agree with Ron -- I have learned more about the world and the serious issues of our time just by sitting in front of the computer. The wealth of information I find here is amazing! I have forwarded news and articles I find here to fellow activists who are not Care2 members. It helps us in the work we do here in my country.

So you see, all is not lost, Cate. To you and all the comrades here, THANK YOU.

Cameron Farmer (60) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 10:46 pm
Cate,

Although I agree to a point about some apathy on Care2.com, even my first attempt at a petition culled only 108 signatures. I don't fault anyone their beliefs and attitudes on what I created but I am thankful and grateful for those who agreed with my petition.

There are going to be people who may not agree with some of the petitions you create but that's the whole idea with Care2.com... if you believe strongly in something you take your chance, put it out there - and wait. That's all we can do, really. If the petition strikes a chord in the heart of any human being, that's when you should take heart that you got an agreement.

Care2.com may have some problems but the people that comprise this community are worldwide. We just can't assume that everyone here is amenable to a certain point of view; and I have certain views myself that I won't place here.

It may not be apathy being rampant. MAY. And I can't stress that enough! It MAY be another's point of view being compromised and not agreeing with your own. And I've had my eyes opened to other viewpoints that I haven't considered.

I urge you not to give up hope where your beliefs are concerned - humans are just as important (even more so!) as other subjects on Care2. I've signed many "people" oriented petitions myself and I still count myself as still an "armchair" activist. I'm not as rabid as many (who are few and far between) but when I have some time on my hands I try to do the right thing when faced with a subject I wish to sign my belief to.

Don't give up hope! Please!

Maria W. (48) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 11:16 pm
I had signed all but one of these already! This network group apathy reflects the greater population apathy, which I have been shocked, disappointed and astonished by for most of the years of my life! I consider myself to be very wildlife oriented, however, I have noticed the overwhelming preference for animal petitions (mostly domestic) AND I've noticed in my daily clicking that the pets and baby seals get at least 1000 more clicks a day than the breast cancer or protecting women from violence! I have been noticing this for a long time, and marveling at it. Also, I would like to point out that the seals and pets get a lot more clicks than the primates page... is that weird... Apathy is what allows a powerful civilization to spin out of control as ours has, so it's not so much surprising as it is disturbing and frustrating. Personally, I don't understand how compassion can be delegated, you're either compassionate or not. You either care or you don't. It makes no sense to parcel your compassion and care out to only specific "groups".

Maria W. (48) 		Friday August 24, 2007, 11:28 pm
Hi again, I just wanted to add something about the animals. I think that animals get a lot of attention because they can't write their own petitions or lobby congress or do much of anything on their own behalf. Wild animals, so many of them, are facing extinction, which is a dreadful loss to everyone, every living thing on the planet Earth. I put a lot of my energy into wildlife conservation/preservation. So I understand that. I find that I am more surprised by the vast overwhelming numbers of petitions focused on domestic pets and especially personal vendettas based on a pet related situation!

My wildlife activism in no way interferes with my desire and action on behalf of human suffering and environmental issues and American politics. A life is a life, right!?

Blacktiger P. (247) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 1:27 am
Cate dear I am wounded as I am pretty sure I signed all of these mentioned, if I missed some I'm truly sorry. Also I am Canadian and though just one blade of grass separates our to great nations, I fully understand that what happens on your side can also affect us.

Ingeborg K. (32) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 2:46 am
I do care about harm being done to human beings, but much to my surprise:
I posted five news articles this morning. One of which concerned a little Israeli girl in big trouble.
And one about DUCKS! Which was interesting enough (or I wouldn't post it...)
Have one guess which one received the most notes so far...
In case you're interested: here's the link to the story that received the least notes...

http://www.care2.com/news/member/865848054/461900

And I signed all petitions!

Joyce M. (28) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 2:57 am
perhaps because some dont take time, find time or make time to actually read them
and need to snap out of the dronezones masses
and get into the know
I appreciate all you send
*hugs* hang in there

Blair Sherwood - Miller (246) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 3:43 am
I have signed all these petitions when i got them in my email box. Enough said.

Dolores H. (2) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 4:44 am
It's true, Care2 is not too user friendly. One has to take time to figure the in's and out's.

And yes, it may be true that there are a lot of apathetic people here, but there many concerned active people here too. And this activism may not always be directed to petitions on this site. Many people do not like to sign on-line petitions, or are jut active in that particular cause in their own way, in their own arena. As long as we keep getting the message(s) out,those that we think are not participating active, may be reading and learning. That alone is worth it.

Past Member (0) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 5:12 am
It is easy to become frustrated Cate. The world and personal situations combine to bring us down and subdue our activist spirit sometimes. I signed all the petitions and hope to keep supporting petitions to the betterment of society, and the world. Best Wishes, Jeff c.

John Jones (143) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 9:42 am
It's funny you posted this Cate. I'e been feling the same way recently. I guess I'm getting burned out too and frustrated. I spend a lot of time recearching and posting things that I don't think people know. I have some very good friends who are a lot like me and what I've been hearing from them lately is the same thing. Maybe it's something their putting in our water. Lol. I have a lot of irons in the fire and as a single parent and disabled I cant keep up with all the petitions unless someone seens me a message. I just don't think the government cares what we think and have their own agenda. I've also noticed on other sites the neo-con trolls are getting very vicious and right wing orginiztions are poping up in mass to spread propagand and lobby the congress.People laugh when I sugest voting Green or any other 3rd party but we have to get the "owned" out of Washington. My pet project is getting cannabus legal but I've put it on hold because we have bigger problems, martial law. Check some of the stories I've posted. Thanks Cate. Also some people I've sent things to have told me not to send anymore. Guess they just like the fuzzy stuff.

Past Member (0) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 10:11 am
Cate I understand your discouragement.

For me, not being an American, I know it is of no value for me to sign petitions intended for U.S. Congressmen and/or Senators, or to other organziations of the American government. This doesn't mean that I don't care - I do very much and have signed "international" petitions and petitions in my own country.

I read as much as my one hour of library time allots and click to donate - I do hope you will rethink you're statement about "never" posting another petition.

Apathy begins when one person loses heart. Please don't give it further strength by growing silent.

Past Member (0) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 11:24 am
I can understand how you feel. There are many situations in life where we experience frustration. That said,

Care2 is a profit-making venture. Their revenue model entails attracting advertising to the site. The more members they can claim, the more they can charge for all those ads we see pop up all over the site. My guess is that they probably have a total of 250,000 active members - that is people who visit the site at least once a month.

Incidentally, on the further subject of Care2, some of the advertising they accept is probably offensive to some people. They have featured questionable images in ads for dating services, for example.

Even their "click to support...." initiative is a very cheap way to get us to see an advertiser's message. You will note the list of large corporations that sponsor this program.

The entire thrust at Care 2 is to attract a body of members who share a common interest. Then they can go out and sell advertising to companies that want to reach that group. Pet medicines are one very obvious example. Just make it a point to see who is paying for our use of this site. Look at who is advertising on Care2.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. It does pay the rent at Care2. However, it does nothing to encourage them to undertake expensive programming ventures. What they should do is open up their applications to those of us who can improve it. Amazon does it, Google does it, IBM does it, Boeing does it, and this will surprise you, Proctor and Gamble does it. These companies recognize that the best way to make their products and processes work is to open them up. It even has a name - wikinomics. Sort of takes off on how the Wiki Encyclopedia is made, and is maintained to reflect the most recent news. Will Care2 do this? Probably not. Why?

Because they need to be able to satisfy their advertisers. They need to be able to have us all think that they are altruistic and caring, when what they are really doing is exploiting our membership. When they decide to abandon the "advertising model." then they can claim some independence. Any body will tell you if you embrace advertising, that is where your bread gets buttered. There are plenty of other internet models.

Again, that being said, Care2 is still, in my opinion the best thing out there. Our power with Care 2 eminates from the fact that our collective membership is what allows them to sell advertising. The 250,000 of us who "check in" on a daily basis, who surrender our identities to petition sites (ever notice how your "junk mail" increases as you sign more petitions)because we believe in supporting the community, are their biggest asset. They give us some applications on the web, we give them the credentials to solicit advertisers.

Incidentally, I do not think this is necessarily bad. Some of the most successful internet companies like Google and Yahoo use this model very well.

You will notice that once somebody has established a profile, you may be sending requests to sign petitions into the Care2 database of Cyber Missing Persons. Go through your friends list and send them a request to confirm their continued participation. Then, if you don't get an answer in 30 days, ask Care 2 to delete their profile. Tell Care 2 you are going to do this, and enlist the help of your active friends, until they make the changes you demand on the site. That will hit them where it hurts (enrollment) and empower you.

Another thing we need to do is come up with a way to filter the petitions so we do not get them 20 times. That distracts us from tending to the ones we have not signed. Frankly, I go through my 100 or so daily emails in my Care2 inbox, and pay just fleeting attention to the "fwd fwd"s etc. In 95% of those cases, I have responded to an email on the same subject. To filter my email, I really pay attention to the ones that are sent directly to me - albeit with 24 others, but that is fine.

To repeat, Care2 is still the best community offering for people with compassion for causes. There are others, but not as good. From a tech point of view, Care2 is pretty good. Could they improve? Sure. Will they? I hope so, because if they don't they won't survive, and that would be a tragic result for all of us who depend on our collective power to bring about change.





John Jones (143) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 11:51 am
It's funny you posted this Cate. I'e been feling the same way recently. I guess I'm getting burned out too and frustrated. I spend a lot of time recearching and posting things that I don't think people know. I have some very good friends who are a lot like me and what I've been hearing from them lately is the same thing. Maybe it's something their putting in our water. Lol. I have a lot of irons in the fire and as a single parent and disabled I cant keep up with all the petitions unless someone seens me a message. I just don't think the government cares what we think and have their own agenda. I've also noticed on other sites the neo-con trolls are getting very vicious and right wing orginiztions are poping up in mass to spread propagand and lobby the congress.People laugh when I sugest voting Green or any other 3rd party but we have to get the "owned" out of Washington. My pet project is getting cannabus legal but I've put it on hold because we have bigger problems, martial law. Check some of the stories I've posted. Thanks Cate. Also some people I've sent things to have told me not to send anymore. Guess they just like the fuzzy stuff.

John Jones (143) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 11:58 am
Here's another example of the "oddities" that happen on C2. I posted on here only once and the same thing shows up twice? Sometimes I do something, send a message or note something for example and it don't show. By the way I had already signed all but the first and last, done now. I'm glad we have C2 but sometimes wierd things happen.

Kathleen R. (991) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 6:52 pm
Hi, Cate! THANK YOU for your hard work and active caring!! As a life-long advocate, I was elated when I discovered Care2. THerefore, I want to help however possible to make it a most efficient network of advocacy activity and successes!
PEACE~

Jennifer O. (1) 		Saturday August 25, 2007, 7:17 pm
signed them. don't give up posting yet. this site has so many petitions i find it hard to sift thru them to get the ones most important to me signed. maybe others have trouble too. i am a stay at home mom with a very active child. i give up an hour of needed sleep to do my email/read care2 news/sign petitions. we all do what we can. slow and steady wins the race. oh and so does publicity. peace to you.

Chetna P. (283) 		Sunday August 26, 2007, 8:04 am
Hi Cate, I had already signed 2 of your petitions and have now signed the other 2. I would like to add something to point #2 - for a lot of people like myself who are not US citizens, signing animal petitions is much easier. Petitions addressed to the US senate, congress requires me to read carefully and double check whether my signing is ok. Wish you all the best

Gwen H. (66) 		Sunday August 26, 2007, 8:10 am
And I commented and it never showed up. Could the same thing be happening with Petitions?

Past Member (0) 		Sunday August 26, 2007, 10:05 am
I have met with more than apathy for humans on here before. I have met with people on here who have said they care less for humans and wished all humans would just die off so animals could live their lives!!Now that is pretty sorry!

As to the tech problems on care2, I know what you mean. My biggest complaint is when signing a petiton I wish the page would link right back to my starting point INSTEAD it takes me to the petiton page. Often times I can not find my starting point and that is frustrating!

I have come across petiton after petiton for the same causes over and over again and the human causes get lost sometimes. I try to sign as much as I can but sometimes I don't like signing the same things over and over. It does not seem like much progress being made!!

I would also like to see Update pages for each petition or a way of tracking them to see how they effected the cause in the end or if they get all the signatures they need. That would be a good additon to seeing prgress. I think sometimes it feels like signing does not make a difference when we don't see the edn results that the petitons had an impact or not. This might lead to apathy.
Jodi

Past Member (0) 		Sunday August 26, 2007, 11:55 am
Had already signed 3, just signed the 4th. It's sad that there is not more signatures with all the people on care2. It should be easier to fill up petitions much quicker. Come on people, let's get something done to help on this site. And for those of you who already do, thank you and keep up the great work. Thanks for speaking up Cate. You're awesome!!!

Armand F. (5) 		Sunday August 26, 2007, 3:03 pm
Cate, I agree wholeheartedely with your premise of apathy. However, I also think that there is another aspect which you overlook. The reason the animal protection petitions fill up faster is that they are "safe" petitions. With the ever growing ability of the government to legally spy on us it is oftimes perceived as potentially dangerous to take a public stand. That is not apathy, it is a heartfelt paranoia. "King George II" has succeeded in quieting the masses through his black-booted tactics. I stay as active as I dare, being reliant on government-funded programs for my survival. I recognize that "anonomous" is available, but paranoia knows not logic. Just my own perspective.

Glenn Maltais (103) 		Sunday August 26, 2007, 11:55 pm
Cate my friend, I'm pretty sure I've read, agreed to, and signed all of your petitions weeks ago...but I will double check.

Personally, I think the root causes of the indifference many of us witness here in C2 and beyond, and perhaps even experience first hand from time-to-time, are two-fold:

1) Society as a whole, to a certain extent has become desensitized via (mainstream) media’s relentless use of sensationalism to get grab our attention. Day in and day out, we are bombarded with tragic headlines. Yet, despite each day’s alarming news…tomorrow always comes…and from our short-sighted vantage points, appears unaffected by the day be fore’s tragedies.

2) For many with large and diverse C2 networks, the shear volume of requests to; sign petitions, forward emails, call this person, write to that one - becomes overwhelming and manifests itself in the form of…delete, delete, delete, delete, etc.

I’m not sure what the answer is, but I [want to] believe there are a lot of like-minded active people out there in our C2 community – and “the real problem” has more to do with our inability to effectively identify and connect with one-and- other. As some of the (I was not aware) comments in this thread would indicate.

Regarding the success rate of animal vs. social petitions, my observations are consistent with yours.

I have been circulating a U.S. congressional petition with little success to date. It pertains to upcoming negotiations over energy security, renewable energy and related environmental issues. Now, considering that every day, another 30,000 children needlessly die from not having access to electricity; and between 100-150 plant and animal species become extinct from the effects of fossil fuel pollution, ocean acidification and deforestation - one would think even the (exclusively animal) activists would see the value in supporting such a petition.

I had hopes of using the petition to attract the interest of media, politicians and area celebs to a “Fueling the Movement” multi-community energy awareness expo I’m trying to co-ordinate.

So, needless to say Cate, I feel your pain. But rather that throwing in the towel…lets all work together to figure out how to make this potentially valuable tool work for the betterment of all!

Warm regards to all,
Glenn

Kim Sanders-Fisher (454) 		Monday August 27, 2007, 6:47 am
I understand your frustration. To get my own Patient Safety, Whistleblower Petition noticed I sent out thousands of messages to friends and all those on my friends of friends lists as well, ten at a time for weeks and weeks on end. As my friends of friends list grew just the time to load and scroll down under one letter took ages; letters like “C” took several days to send out over 2500 messages. Why resort to such desperate tactics to get noticed? I was protesting the danger to patients presented by understaffing of US Hospitals by highlighting incidents where I was left stranded, scrubbed into Surgery for over 12 straight! If I had described a puppy going without water, food or a chance to pee for over 12 hours people would have yelled cruelty! However, without the exceptional efforts at promotion, few would have even noticed my Petition let alone signed it.

No one is that bothered about Human Rights for Human Beings who work in US Medical facilities! Hospital Managers refuse to acknowledge how much Deliberate Negligent Understaffing compromises patient care, but no one is paying much attention to the unnecessary danger to patients. I tend to bypass animal petitions, not because I do not care passionately about animals, but because they already have so much support. I try to target the Human Rights and important political Petitions that get overlooked. I have just launched a new Blog targeting Understaffing and Corporate accountability in Healthcare, plus I am working on a new Petition to CONTROL UNDERSTAFFING TODAY. It has taken well over a year to get close to my 3000 Petition goal through the above extraordinary efforts and I worry about the daunting prospect of promoting another Healthcare Petition that might well be ignored.

The C.U.T! Campaign and my TRANSPARENCY for EQUAL ACCOUNTABILITY in MEDICINE, T.E.A.M. Blog is absorbing much of my time so when I do return to check messages on Care 2 what I need is to identify the most important things to act on. I know I could be a lot more affective if there were better tools to help us target the issues that matter to us the most. This is different from person to person but we should be able to fine tune our incoming mail so that the calls for action to not get overwhelmed by the incessant cacophony of “Have a nice day” reminders! My best efforts are stymied when I am deluged with well meaning best wishes like “Happy Friday” and flashing artwork that distracts me from a far more serious goal.

I would appreciate spell-check as I hate making typos. I feel compelled to write everything in Word, then cut and paste into Care 2 as a means of eliminating mistakes. However, being dyslexic, I cannot even read the messages when there are flashing images that blinks and jump around: I often reject artistic “Comments.” My somber Patient Safety message is not exactly enhanced by a dancing Minnie Mouse; it is hard enough to get my message across to those who visit my home page without an animated performance in the side column! I have asked people not to send these animated messages, but they keep coming. I wish I had time for happy Friday, but I need to stay focused and that is very difficult when so many of the messages I receive merely distract. I think apathy does come into play, but sensory overload is the one thing that curtails my efforts the most. I will stop winging now and go sign your Petitions! I hope you will take a look at my home page.


Cynthia S. (3) 		Monday August 27, 2007, 2:25 pm
Still trying to catch up on my email. I had signed 3 of the 4, probably didn't get ormisunderstood the Care 2 Tech Face Lift one, but did it now with 2 messages. I find I belong to a collection of friends that strongly overlaps. I support Human Rights strongly, but I suspect there are more petitions on animal issues, now that I think about it!
If it helps--remember that every effort puts the energy and will out there--and there are thousands of groups on Care 2! I suspect the majorityof them are not activist groups. I would like to challenge everyone who belongs to a spiritual, angel or environmental group to support activism needs for ALL living things, especially PEOPLE! People are the only ones on earth who can do this!

Joseph Johnson (33) 		Monday August 27, 2007, 6:39 pm
Cate, there are not truly 7m members here. Many members are from outside agencies, sites, whatever, that are linked through care2, so a very small fraction of the listed amount of members are actually care2 members.

Ramona Gehl (141) 		Tuesday August 28, 2007, 4:28 am
Hi Cate, All petitions were previously signed by me, and I really do care for both people and animals.....although I gotta say kids and animals take precidence for me! Thanx for all you do here at Care2!!!

Jennifer Houser (32) 		Tuesday August 28, 2007, 5:57 pm
signed them all Cate and there is a green star coming your way!

O O O O (114) 		Tuesday August 28, 2007, 10:02 pm
ate,you do know,i do not almost ever sign anything that just brings a gov. that only cares to attack one,than do as it ought,but i too already did sign one of yours,about the only one i've done all year,perhaps,& nope,it did not show,& this is not the only thig care2 did not do or do correctly on my sites,as i have had a live body helping me do some of them& they did not work,& sometimes did not show at all-period,so,Cate,here you i go again,as i w/retry your better care2 site poll,Yet again.
Merrie,what you stated sounds true,but it is not,your votes actualy,though they are not supposed to count,7 w/not in an actual count-do count,as those in charge look first at the total # signed,just as Cate & you all are doing,then look at the batched vote figures for there effect by location. Numbers-just sheer numbers alone-do,in fact,count,& perhaps,by too much.
Re:particapation-this is why,my one of my groups seems to be failing to point of loseing it's co-host,& is allowing me to even come here for you Cate,time wise,but is also a reason i to,may soon either leave entirely or cut waaay back farther than i already have,becasue i too am simply no longer here as i was,but when care2 attacks,those that have been themselves made a victium here of illegal online & other behavior,it is time,to clean up care2 both as a site& this co. too,if need be-or QUIT,as,to my Friends reading this-fair warnning,i may-QUIT. There are simply better,& sometimes here-SAFER!-things to do,but,to my Freinds here-i will miss you. those wanting alternate e-address,just ask. Yours,?,O.

Sylvia W. (46) 		Friday August 31, 2007, 7:25 pm
I have been out of the loop for various reasons recently and only just got back in, and signed all three, plus a bunch more I had missed. I rather doubt that Care2 members are really all that apathetic, but the end of summer does wreak havoc with good intentions of all kinds. Don't give up on us :-)

Ashera Ashera (0) 		Saturday September 1, 2007, 12:28 am
I think you might be amazed at how many of us are NOT from the U.S. and for whom most petitions are irrelevant. I sign all global petitions...

Past Member (0) 		Saturday September 1, 2007, 6:04 am
I am going to sign your petitions Cate because i trust you. I think you are wise and kind person! You truely care for people!

karen s. (0) 		Monday September 3, 2007, 2:44 pm
Thanks for expressing your sentiment. I had no idea this was a site for activism. I check this news more than the NYTimes and WAPost which I subscribe to. I think your disappointment is due to big expectations. In the 60s the statistics were that for every person responding the govt counted 9 more in the wings who felt the same but didn't respond. Advertising thought .003% response was an effective mailer. People care but they are busier than in the past. There is more communication at a faster rate to respond to take that into consideration. I spend more time now signing more petitions than I did going to anti-war and civil rights demonstrations when I was young! Effect does not equal mass so keep the heart going.

Bill Edison (1458) 		Tuesday September 4, 2007, 11:03 pm
I really question the sincerety of any or all the comments posted here. The Forest Across America Project has been needing contact with anyone that is 'not' Apathetic. I offer land, housing, fresh from the garden foods, and even cars, insurance and toothbrushes,... most anything you might need,... so you can help create sanctuaries for People and Animals. We have a discussion about this 'share' at the Forest Across America Project group. If you are not apathitic,... please come help those that are willing to take action to make a real difference for everyone, and everything. Let's do something while we are still alive and able. Bill

Past Member (0) 		Saturday September 8, 2007, 9:54 pm
Signed all those petitions some time ago---------and I do know that you are right Cate---APATHY--is the name of the game--very sad--suppose it will take some country/people/Sept. 11/-- kicking our ass again before people get up in arms and do something---

Sue B. (23) 		Thursday September 13, 2007, 7:49 pm
I am not based in the US, so really can only sign up to the Care2 petition, but when I clicked on the link to do so, I got a "Page not found" notice!
Hmmmm, I thought it was my comp that was playing up, now I'm wondering....

Elizabeth W. (20) 		Wednesday October 3, 2007, 8:25 pm
I hate to make excuses..but I find that perhaps Americans have mass ADD or the like. I tend to let my personal life and crisis take over ..sadly. I do have a number of challenges, but this is an avenue where I had hoped those less overwhelmed than myself would be making great strides. I find I do things in spurts...when I am able...and not distracted by kids...moments...self-expressive interests calling for my attn. Please don't give up.

Melissa Dawson Chapman (281) 		Wednesday November 21, 2007, 1:39 pm
I have noticed just how many "save the animals" petitions there are as well. And I, like you, am an animal lover.. would never harm one and would do all I can to save them. In the same breath, I realize that if we humans don't "get OUR acts together" there won't be a planet for all of these rescued animals to live on. Please don't give up Cate... WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU... YOU ARE A FIGHTER... PLEASE, KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT AND KNOW... YOU ARE NOT (I REPEAT, NOT) ALONE!

Ariel H. (48) 		Tuesday December 4, 2007, 10:02 am
Thank you Cate. You are abosolutely correct. I find it amazing that for the numbers reported that more isn't being done as well. It seems like I could sign petitions all day long...but you really have to search for them. The serious issues around war and human rights are back page news.

It seems I post on the multitude of groups I am involved in and nothing comes of it. I post definitive actions that the people could be doing rather than spouting philosophy and trying to sound more high minded than others...and the post dies a quick death. There must be only a small number who want to truly make a difference!

Past Member (0) 		Saturday December 22, 2007, 9:24 am
You think you got it bad try living under an unelected,ineffectual, apathetic government that does not it`s hands from it`s feet.It is not a case of liking animals more than our "fellow"man. Domstic animals are blameless victim`s who have no recourse to justice!unlike many overfed,overpaid pussy`s who sue at the drop of a hat,som animals in fact do more work than quite a few humans i know!and they don`t get overtime premiums,dental/health packages,paid holidays,golden handshakes?/early retirement......do they?

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