It's SUMMER! Sidewalk Chalk Intactivism, Anyone? - Page 3

[Cate]

In all honesty, I doubt it would have the desired effect. Generally, when I see those kind of things, I feel offended. It bothers me when I walk down the street and see 'Jesus loves you' or something to that effect, scrawled on the ground. I think that people may react to any sort of a message in the same way.

[KBecks]

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture

As a side note, for those who are new to the board/intactivism, a good place to start that I've never heard debated is to add a pro-intact pic, message, or link to your MDC signature.

Jen

I'll debate it. I personally don't like to feel I have to conform to any way of presenting my siggy to participate. No hazing, no initiation rites. No circ!

To me, it's really about the content of the messages, not the siggy.

[paquerette]

I don't think it's an initiation rite; it's a means to spread the message. What about when you make posts in other parts of the board that are completely unrelated to circ? Sad to say it, but there are lots of mamas who come here and only read in one area or another and never learn about circ and circ their sons. I think that's why the siggy is so important. (And much more so elsewhere, if you visit other boards that have an even higher percentage of people uninformed about circ).

I also think that I don't think there are really pro-circ people with the same passion as anti-circ people.

Oh, they definately exist! There may not be a lot of them, but they are definitely passionate. :

[KBecks]

I am thinking of discussing intactness and having something in my siggy at another board where many moms of boys visit..... I'm just working out the idea in my head so I am prepared to answer questions and I want to phrase it in a way that is compassionate to moms who have circ'd without full information.

I'm not super active at MDC and I appreciate the many, many people who have circ signs in their siggies, I'm just not ready for that myself. I'm working through what I want to share, if anything, and waiting until I feel comfortable here with any of that.

[pdx.mothernurture]

Question for those against the sidewalk chalk idea:

How do you feel about anti-circ messages on...

T-shirts

Bumperstickers

Rubber 'Awareness' Bracelets

Billboards

Business Cards/Pamphlets (left random places)

Anywhere a public message about keeping babies whole is displayed, it will provoke thought and has the potential to enlighten or offend. In some cases, children may see these things and it may initiate communication between parents and their children.

How is a well-worded pro-intact message written on a sidewalk any different really than wearing a t-shirt or having a pro-intact bumpersticker on your car? Part of me wonders if some of the negativity has more to do with personal comfort levels/unwillingess to put ourselves 'out there', visibly, publically, vulnerably...to stand openly for a cause we believe in. That's not an easy thing to do, it takes a lot of conviction and courage...and knowing that you probably will at some point or another get involved in an intense discussion or heated debate.

Personally, I'm feeling more inspired than ever. And, as summer draws to a close I suspect sidewalk chalk will go on clearance.

I would LOVE to get a small group of intactivists together locally and do some sidewalk chalking and then talk to people about what they think about the message and hand out educational literature...it might be a good research project, although I am in the northwest and the west coast has the lowest circumcision rates in the nation. Heck, I even have a good friend who works for one of the big local news stations...

Jen

[Lula's Mom]

Originally Posted by moonmama7

The only thing it will make people think is that some old perv or weird kid was messing up public property. Sorry -- not very impressive or clever or helpful to the cause at all.

No, no- old pervs and weird kids draw pictures of penises on the sidewalk, not educational messages about penises. Good job, vermontgirl! I don't know how many times I have seen posts on here from someone who never even *thought* about leaving her child intact, because circumcision is just what's done- until they found out that not everybody does it! You could have delivered that lightbulb moment to some people right there.

Jen, as always, I'm impressed with your fresh ideas and your never-ending energy and enthusiasm. Go you!!

[baybee]

<<Jen, as always, I'm impressed with your fresh ideas and your never-ending energy and enthusiasm. Go you!!>>

Yeah, Jen. Altho' I think she sees it as a monster she's created that she
can not stop

This one will probably become the biggest topic the forum has ever had and we'll be taking Jen away in a strait jacket frothing at the mouth. Crazy!

[pdx.mothernurture]

Originally Posted by baybee

This one will probably become the biggest topic the forum has ever had and we'll be taking Jen away in a strait jacket frothing at the mouth. Crazy!

You have no idea....

Mwahahahahah!

Yes, intactivism has become a bit of a compulsion.

I think there are moments we all wish we could go back to a state of blissful ignorance. In the meantime, finding our inner children with a bucket of sidewalk chalk and a mission might be a fun & productive way to keep our sanity.

Jen

[KBecks]

Originally Posted by pdx.mothernurture

Question for those against the sidewalk chalk idea:

How do you feel about anti-circ messages on...

T-shirts

Bumperstickers

Rubber 'Awareness' Bracelets

Billboards

Business Cards/Pamphlets (left random places)

Anywhere a public message about keeping babies whole is displayed, it will provoke thought and has the potential to enlighten or offend. In some cases, children may see these things and it may initiate communication between parents and their children.

How is a well-worded pro-intact message written on a sidewalk any different really than wearing a t-shirt or having a pro-intact bumpersticker on your car? Part of me wonders if some of the negativity has more to do with personal comfort levels/unwillingess to put ourselves 'out there', visibly, publically, vulnerably...to stand openly for a cause we believe in. That's not an easy thing to do, it takes a lot of conviction and courage...and knowing that you probably will at some point or another get involved in an intense discussion or heated debate.

Personally, I'm feeling more inspired than ever. And, as summer draws to a close I suspect sidewalk chalk will go on clearance.

I would LOVE to get a small group of intactivists together locally and do some sidewalk chalking and then talk to people about what they think about the message and hand out educational literature...it might be a good research project, although I am in the northwest and the west coast has the lowest circumcision rates in the nation. Heck, I even have a good friend who works for one of the big local news stations...

Jen

Hi Jen. Here's my analysis and evaluation of sidewalk chalk vs. other forms of communication. I work in advertising and marketing and I at least like to think I know a little bit about media and messaging.

What I like about t-shirts, rubber arm bands and bumper stickers, v. sidewalk chalk, is that the former are personal and sidewalk chalk is anonymous. I think it's better to have a person connected to the message because then it's a conversation starter. A sidewalk chalk message does not have a personal form of follow-up. And if I'm casually curious about a message about intactness, a friendly person is a much easier, immediate way to connect than to visit a web site. (I also think that at least the anti-circ sites I've seen are a bit overwhelming for the first-time visitor.) So, I think t-shirts, arm bands and bumper stickers are all great ways of spreading awareness, and they are better than sidewalk chalk. I don't think chalk is *terrible*, but I feel it is largely disregarded by viewers.

I care about communication and think that if you're going to spend time spreading a message supporting intactness, then spend your time wisely and try to get the most bang for your efforts!

As for the more businesslike forms, biz cards, billboards and brochures, I think they can be very effective, but the messages need to be well thought out and appropriate for the intended audience.

ETA: Sidewalk chalk is kind of like a billboard if you do it very well..... except a billboard has more credibility / status / legitimacy.

Hope that helps. Good luck with any and all of your efforts.

EATA: I think it's interesting if you think about intactivism as "selling intactness" to the world. How can you be a good salesperson and help parents buy into intactness for their sons, grandsons, nephews and friends?

[~Kira~]

I'm thinking that the line:



if men were meant to have foreskins, they would be born with them



would be a good one for side-walk chalking, as I know when people read it on my T-shirt, they always pause, think, and then the light-bulb goes on above their heads. Quite comical, really, because it really happens every time.



- Kira

PS. Jen - love your enthusiasm & positive energy, as always!

[Ilaria]

I think it's a great idea!