To sign, or not to sign? THAT is the question.

Online petitions, writing to your MP or attending protest marches and demonstrations. Things that some people will applaud and some people will mock you for, in equal measures.

The latest online petition doing the rounds in the UK is a call for a General Election (less than 5 months after the last one), on the basis that “the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last general election.”

In space of a day or so, this petition has gathered 1,614,871 signatures at the time of writing and it is increasing by hundreds every second. In fact, in the time it has taken me to type this sentence, it’s now 1,617,021. That’s almost 3,000 signatures in a minute. And it’s happening every minute.

According to the Parliament website that is officially hosting this, the Government will respond to all petitions with more than 10,000 signatures; and those with over 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate. Note the word considered.

There is no milestone consideration for 500,000 signatures, or 1,000,000 for that matter. We’re well on the way to 2,000,000 and the petition is open until May 2025.

Do I think the Government will respond to this? No.

Do I think it will trigger a debate in Parliament? No.

Do i think it will contribute to the overthrow of the malignant Labour regime? No.

So therefore, do I think it’s a waste of time? No.

On the simple basis that it would take around a minute to complete and submit, it could hardly be argued against as a literal waste of ones time. What other meaningful task could you accomplish in under 60 seconds, aside from maybe emptying your bladder? Sure “they” will collect your data on the official website and maybe label you as a “dissenter.” Terrifying stuff altogether. They already have pretty much all the information they could want about you. You’re tracked everywhere, online and offline. And the information they don’t have, they could get if they wanted.

So what’s the point in doing something that ultimately will yield no meaningful result? I think of it like flipping someone off if they are driving badly (I know, it’s childish and shows lack of restraint), or shouting abuse at a jaywalker from inside the protective bubble of my car (I know, it’s childish and shows lack of restraint). It’s a brief release of tension and I figure I would be better off doing it than not for that reason, even though it technically achieves nothing.

The jaywalker won’t quit jaywalking. The bad drivers of the world won’t change their driving habits because people are making obscene hand gestures at them; but, for those making the gestures, it helps just a little to deal with a constant scourge or source of irritaion, even if for a second or two.

If you’re a driver, you will know what I’m talking about.

Mass protests also attract criticism. Do they even achieve anything? Who organises them? Is it just controlled opposition to give the general population the feeling that they are effecting change? Arguments can, have and will be put forth for all points of view. But as far as I’m concerned, many people that attended rallies and demonstrations felt a sense of camaraderie, made new friends and maybe got a lift to their mental health by being out and about in a large crowd of mainly like minded individuals. And if nothing else, but for that reason alone, they time and effort spent attending was worthwhile for many.

So rather than grumbling about how signing online petitions achieves nothing, they are waste of time, makes you no better than the sheep, shows cognitive dissonance if you’re against the Government etc. think of it this way;

In my opinion, it’s like taking part in a mass flipping off of the Government this weekend. I know it’s a crude analogy. But even if their response is deadpan, or non-existent, they WILL see it.And if you’ve ever been flipped off in anger, even if you don’t show it, it gets under your skin just a little. So, along with almost 2,000,000 other like minded individuals, that’s where the real value lies.

Or, don’t sign it. Keep your hands to yourself.

Rick

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