Doing something can be better than not-doing it perfectly.

[kyrielle]

This is a thing that happens, and that I wish would not. Someone says "hey, write to your Congress critter about" or "I wrote to my Congress critter about" or "If you are writing to your Congress critter about things, here is a note of ways that make it more effective".

And then someone comes along and says "BUT you should call them to be effective."

This is true. It is a good response to "what is the best way to contact my Congress critter?" or _perhaps_ to "I am going to contact my Congress critter about X". And maybe with a "did you know?" to the first or second above, maybe. To the third it is not germane.

I mostly write my Congress critters. I save calling for the most urgent things because it's damnably inconvenient and takes time for me also. If I only call, then I will contact them about WAY fewer things.

And I'm very VERY TIRED of this to be frank. I have heard it several times. I know. And it comes across as criticism.

Which frankly?

If I didn't actually care as much as I do, and I took the "this is the Best Way to do it and you're wasting your time doing it that other way" message to heart, I might just _stop doing it_.

It is entirely possible that there are people you have told "should" be calling who have decided their writing isn't enough, but who lack the time, spoons, or willingness to call...and who are now thus doing neither.

Comments

[conuly]

It is entirely possible that there are people you have told "should" be calling who have decided their writing isn't enough, but who lack the time, spoons, or willingness to call...and who are now thus doing neither.

Or, in my case, the voice. STILL HAVE LARYNGITIS IT HAS BEEN A WEEK OMG I HATE MY LIFE.

Seriously, though, if the most you can manage to do is sign a damn internet petition, It Is Better Than Nothing.

[kyrielle]

So much sympathy re the laryngitis. And yes! Do what you can about what you feel you should. Knowing what works best is awesome for when there is a reasonable question of what you're going to do, but I think often there really isn't.

Unrelated: have you seen the call for Ides of March postcards?

[conuly]

No....?

[kyrielle]

Circulating FB as a copy/paste. Trying to decide how I feel about the symbolism of the date picked. It's not ideal, IMO. But the basic action is...interesting. Copy/pasted:

On March 15th, each of us will mail Donald Trump a postcard that publicly expresses our opposition to him. And we, in vast numbers, from all corners of the world, will overwhelm the man with his unpopularity and failure. We will show the media and the politicians what standing with him — and against us — means. And most importantly, we will bury the White House post office in pink slips, all informing Donnie that he’s fired.
Each of us — every protester from every march, each congress calling citizen, every boycotter, volunteer, donor, and petition signer — if each of us writes even a single postcard and we put them all in the mail on the same day, March 15th, well: you do the math.
No alternative fact or Russian translation will explain away our record-breaking, officially-verifiable, warehouse-filling flood of fury. We’d like to set a new record: over a million pieces in a day, telling our Predator-In-Chief just how we feel about him.
So sharpen your wit, unsheathe your writing implements, and see if your sincerest ill-wishes can pierce Donald’s famously thin skin.
Prepare for March 15th, 2017, a day hereafter to be known as #TheIdesOfTrump
Write one postcard. Write a dozen! Take a picture and post it on social media tagged with #TheIdesOfTrump ! Spread the word! Everyone on Earth should let Donnie know how he’s doing. They can’t build a wall high enough to stop the mail.
Then, on March 15th, mail your postcard to:
President (for now) Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Not my original post but someone else's great idea!

[conuly]

His handlers will never let him see that mail. Still, might be fun!