I don’t see it just as a performance, but rather a way to find like-minded peopel and build a community that will eventually get things rolling in the right direction. Every movement needs some kind of criical mass to achieve something and a call to action -no matter how miniscule and benign - is a good way of setting things into motion.
Comment on YSK about Changing your Profile Picture to Clippy
Nikophos@lemmy.ca 1 day agoI’ll highjack this comment to add my opinion - I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for the main post.
I see the profile picture as performative, and I usually avoid things like this out of caution; I don’t want to fall into a habit of doing something performative and feeling like that was enough action. I also recognize Clippy is a flawed choice, as one of Microsoft’s mascots and it’s existence as a proto-AI assistant.
All of that said, I found the solidarity in the comment section of the original video comforting. So today, I will perform (and maybe spread just a little more awareness).
some_random_nick@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
Nikophos@lemmy.ca 12 hours ago
True! I know “performative” has a pretty negative connotation and can be used dismissively, but I really do believe there can be power behind simple collective actions like these. Particularly as a starting point for something more.
whelk@retrolemmy.com 15 hours ago
I’m always puzzled when people tear these things down rather than use them to build into something greater. Channel that energy while it’s there and people are fired up! If someone has ideas that they believe will be more effective, now’s a great time to pitch them - and without insulting the people they’re pitching them to.