I love the ability to speak out about the things that I am passionate about, and Odyssey and other popular writing platforms are the perfect place for writers like me to voice opinions, ideas, and ideals. However, they are almost too perfect. Similar to the "armchair quarterback," the "Odyssey Activist" is a new and somewhat concerning trend. I know that it's no good to make mountains out of little things, but honestly, it's a concerning problem.

Activism or passions used to require a great deal of effort to get your message out there. A person used to have to commit to an in-person experience; whether a march, a sit-in, a meeting, or even simply face-to-face communication. Now, anyone with a keyboard and computer screen can type away a scathing opposition article in the comfort of their own home with no real dangers or roadblocks in sight, except maybe a spotty Internet connection. This may seem favorable: reaching people faster, maybe reaching more people, and no opposition in sight. These are actually quite dangerous things and can lead to spreading of misinformation and one-mindedness.

Before committing, activists of the past often did important research, and the people who were published writers tended to be experts, doctors, professionals, and generally informed people. To formulate an argument for their cause, these people had to know what they were talking about to get published and back up their information with statistics and facts. Articles were not nearly as hasty and under-researched. Now, any person can publish anything without having to cite sources. Ideas that are nonsensical can be published and treated as facts by people who really don't know any better. Only because it was personal experience, I'd like to bring up an article that I came across about the rodeo industry. As someone who is well-versed in the world of rodeo, I immediately could point out the many errors in the article; however, people who don't know any better could be boycotting a whole experience because they read wrong information on the internet by someone I'm sure was trying to "help." All it's doing is spreading false information. If that example doesn't do it for you, take an article on vaccines. Someone could just publish wrong information on the internet then a whole outbreak of measles infests a school because of wrong information on the internet from people who are "helping."

Finally, it takes guts to really go out and try to achieve something. There's a much larger margin for failure if you're actually committing real time and effort into something, but it will make all the difference. Anyone can sit behind a screen berating another opinion or disagreeing on the internet. What makes a person grow is in-person communication. You can block yourself off from any opposing opinion, but actually listening to an opposing view with the purpose of actually listening will allow you to go. You may gain common ground or maybe you won't, but this way you will be able to grow as a person. Most people wouldn't dare have the audacity to say what they call others who disagree on the internet. It's kind of cowardly really.

I get that it starts from a good place with all of us. We desire to make a difference, and the quickest, easiest way is to take to our laptop screens, but is it really doing much good at all? Anyone can type up an article then feel good about themselves, and say "I did my part." Most of the time an article just isn't enough. You have to actively stand up for what you believe in. A person who argues why people should recycle should go beyond the keyboard to start a recycling program or be incredibly active in recycling. Telling people why they should buy this charitable brand of footwear should maybe be a brand ambassador or support the brand themselves. It only goes so far to tell someone, "Hey, do this thing." It takes a bigger person to actually back up what they're endorsing. If you're passionate about something, want to tell the world, go out and actively help! It's almost never enough to just type something up and send your information to cyberspace. It won't be nearly as easy, but actions trump words any day.