Saturday, December 15, 2012

Tweeting from tragedy: activism on Twitter gets things done?


In light of recent tragic events, local Twitter activist Joseph Hills has issued the following tweet:

“Cant beleive this could happen. We have 2 act now!!!!!! #nomoreguns”

Hills is referring to the school shooting in Connecticut yesterday, which has prompted many Twitter users to respond with their own stances on the topic, despite the fact that the only appropriate response at this time should be profound sorrow. Many Twitter users wish to repeal the Second Amendment, which gives every eligible American the right to bear arms. Others want harsher and more stringent gun safety laws, especially in the case of automatic weapons.

Even though he has never publicly expressed any opinions on firearms or gun regulation before, Hills—whose Twitter handle is HillzKillz69 (10,456 tweets, 22 followers)—claims that he's always been passionate about the issue. “I may have never done anything about gun safety before, but it's time for a change!”

Hills's change? He tweeted, “Guns dont kill people? Than how do bullits get fired?!??!!?! we should get rid of all the guns so we stop killing people” Ignoring the obvious truths that outlawing guns will not end gun violence (or violence as a whole) and that no steps were outlined so as to achieve this end, Hills—a 17-year-old with no job and a paltry knowledge of any news or current events—is clearly a reformer on the rise.

Claiming that he cares about important issues “24/7, all the time,” Hills's recent tweets were preceded by Instagrammed pictures of food and a declaration that he was “soooooo drunk last nite!!!”

For anyone who finds themselves affected by this serious and unfortunate tragedy, Hills has some advice. “Get on your smart phones now and just share your feelings. If you put enough exclamation marks on it, someone in the government will probably see it and change the law.”

Hills, who apparently has never taken a single social studies or government class, then added, “If Rosa Parks were around now, she'd probably tweet about sitting in the back of the bus rather than actually doing something about it.”

Reactionary tweeting has become fashionable with many Twitter users in the past few years. Researchers attribute the rise in popularity to the passive means by which people can appear socially and politically active. Rather than continuously fighting and rallying for a cause like an adult with conviction, reactionaries tend to wait until they find it “safe” to express any beliefs.

A dictionary would define the word“reactionary” as “responsive, after the fact.”

While scientists find there is nothing wrong with sending thoughts and prayers to those affected by the unthinkable atrocities as any sane human being with a heart would, some argue that capitalizing on a national tragedy to soapbox your political opinions could be construed as insensitive.

“Why should I give people time to grieve?” asked Hills. “It's more important that I say what I want on Twitter, so that things like this never happen again.”

By press time, Hills had moved on to his next platform. “hw over xmas break?!?!?!! happy bday jesus not!lol”

The victims' families wish to thank Hills for turning their losses into a hashtag.

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