Utilising our Resources
I have for some time been thinking about a couple of software projects that could help the Men’s Rights Movement.
They are:
1) A website that allows you to nominate Advertising, TV Drama, News presentation that is anti-male, or conversely, male-friendly. Visitors to the site could vote for whichever they found most offensive, or most agreeable. The net result would be a poll, ranked from worst offender down, and another poll ranked from most supportive down. The aim would be to then promote the site so that companies and media are well aware of how half the population perceives them.
2) A web-site that allows you to nominate a specific action you plan to take for fund-raising purposes. You describe what it is you plan to do, and the website will provide you with a link that you can then attach to any e-mail/blog posting/web-site you want. You would label this link ‘Help Fund’ or ‘Please Donate’. When someone clicks on this link, they will be taken to a web-page that will provide them with a bank account number to direct credit, or Credit Card details, or Paypal/Pecunix etc. The funds are kept in trust. There are clearly some prudential issues I haven’t thought through. (Maybe there already is a site that does this).
The net effect is that if you want to do something now and need funding, visit the site, state your case, then start posting the ‘Donate link’ in every electronic transaction you care to. The funds will start rolling in with no further action.
3) A ‘project web-site’ where you can enter software projects that you believe would benefit Men’s Rights, such as the two I described above. You describe your purpose and how you see your proposed web-site operating. Visitors to this web-site could vote on the individual projects of importance to them.
But most importantly, visitors with software development skills could volunteer to help. Once a requisite number of volunteers have signed up, the project can happen. (This is exactly how the ‘open-source’ movement operates in the IT world, and it’s so effective that it’s scaring the bejesus out of Bill Gates). A lot of high-school kids now have the necessary web-design and programming skills, as well as the time.
I f anyone else has been thinking about software projects they would like to see get off the ground, or have done so successfully, I’d welcome your comments.
Well I do not claim software development skills but as a start I have been keeping a database of violent females, Men killed at work, men falsley accused, and finally misc. newspaper articles. Presently it is in access 2000. I will willingly gift it.
Comment by Alastair — Sat 21st July 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Hey Alastair I am doing the same here.
This is a damn good idea.
Comment by Harry Stanton — Sat 21st July 2007 @ 6:36 pm
I really hope the protest goes well in Napier/Hastings this weekend.
But there is something i have been wanting to do for some time. And I am interested in any sort of donations.
Plan is:
Pass out 2 page little booklet at all Universities in Auckland (like a flyer but with 2 pages with writing on both sides of information on male’s rights and plight with facts that maybe Alistair can offer through his collection of research and Viv through his collection plus anyone else)
Cost:
28 cents per booklet @ 7 cents a side for photocopying.
2,000 booklets @ 28 cents each equals $560.00
But wouldn’t mind to have more copies as we have 5 Universities or similar in Auckland.
Plus Petrol, $120.00 (may be handing them out at other places so being safe)
Plus Parking @ $8 per day for 5 areas equals $40.00
Whole project cost = $720.00
Any money left over from petrol and parking will be donated to Jim Bagnalls petrol bill for helping men in the FC.
Can anyone afford to donate?
Contact offline
[email protected]
Comment by julie — Mon 23rd July 2007 @ 10:13 am
Julie,
I’ll meet the first $100 (will contact you off-line).
Could you please post the flyer content.
Comment by Rob Case — Mon 23rd July 2007 @ 10:27 am
Sounds like a great idea. The first idea for nominating male/anti-male content on TV wouldn’t be too hard to setup and would hopefully have a direct impact on reducing misandric drivel.
Comment by Maxx — Mon 23rd July 2007 @ 11:20 am
Rob, Thank-you.
2 of the half A4 pages will have a description of MTGOW and websites to vist for more information and support.
The rest will be on the stats of men in family court, deaths, health and all else. And also where men are behind in human rights and fairness as well as a brief description of femi-land. (their home country or the country they are staying in) Plus some words from important people. maybe even the feminists words. I am open to receive imformation also.
That is your and your brothers call. I am only the messenger in this but I will edit where the articles go if you like. And i will answer questions and bite back at feminists. hehehehe. I already have one person to pass them out with me who is a strong advocate.
This will be interesting and fun.
Comment by julie — Mon 23rd July 2007 @ 11:48 am
It seems that our project is coming together. We now have the printing being down alot cheaper.
New cost of printing is:
16 cents per booklet @ 4 cents a side for photocopying
Total cost of booklets is $320.
We have just saved $240.00 from another MRA
Comment by julie — Mon 23rd July 2007 @ 2:52 pm
As for the website that would highlight anti-male messages in the media, I was thinking of something along the lines of a ‘Man-Respect Index’. A number from 1 to 10, 1 being atrociously anti-male, 5 being neutral, and 10 being well male friendly.
Visitors to the site can nominate any company, newspaper columnist, TV show, News program and readers, politician, personality.
Initially all nominations would have a Man-Respect Index of 5. A ‘thumbs up/down’ image would appear against each nominee, and visitors could click thumbs up for approval, or thumbs down for bad men-dissers. The Man Respect Index would vary accordingly.
These are just ideas. At this stage, I’m trawling for other ideas and suggestions about where a server host could be found, what existing software could be used, what features could be added to the web-site, how it could be promoted so that it gets noticed.
Anything ventured is welcome, and I don’t intend to rope anyone into this.
Comment by Rob Case — Mon 23rd July 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Hi, I have over 20 years IT experience including web development. I can provide not just the technical services but also set up the management processes these things require to be successful. I have no money but I am happy to provide services. I am particularly interested in projects related to the FC. Feel free to contact me.
Comment by Dave — Wed 25th July 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Rob,
I live off $40 a week after rent, child support and electricity: as paid by the government, as requested by me, funded to challenge the injustice for as long as I possibly can. If, to get your initiative working you need financial backing I will pledge $10 to support you activating Dave’s skills. My first initiative against the injustice was to attempt to compile men’s stories in book form, which I titled Parting Clouds. Dave did the website for me and worked efficiently to the projects needs. It was me who found it difficult to provide to the extreme demands of the project and not anyone else. Fortunately for teh project it was completed by Jim Bailey compiling stories and having them filed on his website. He too was involved in this initial group – so the initiative was realised. I imagine Dave’s story is up there and hope so, because if there is a story to tell of judicial devaluation by negligence of the masculine necessities for a son or daughter or a child to love, it can be capitalised from Dave’s tale.
Comment by Benjamin Easton — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 8:39 am
Dave,
That’s a terrific offer. I had thought the technical side would be the toughest – any suggestions on what development software to use? (are you familiar with open-source?).
Benjamin, your offer is really appreciated.
At this stage, money isn’t an issue. I was hoping it wouldn’t need to be. The most pressing demand is to find someone who would be willing to host the site (www.manrespect.com?) for free.
Then install the development software and the means for volunteers to access it over the net, and we’re nearly there.
The key thing though is that we don’t go to a lot of work, only to find no-one visits the site, and consequently no-one takes any notice of it. It needs profile. Someone out there in the marketing/promotional world may have some good ideas here, or maybe some simple common sense suggestions could be equally useful.
I’ve posted the project on the MensActivism Wiki, so pass this link to anyone you think may be interested:
http://wiki.mensactivism.org/index.php/Man_Respect_Index%28MRI%29
http://wiki.mensactivism.org/index.php/Man_Respect_Index%28MRI%29
Comment by Rob Case — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Well what a boost to have seen a flyer of your meetings and to have Julie direct me to this website. As she said ‘I am not alone’. It seems to me from exerience I have had with the media that doing something provocative like a picket of a company that is running an ad that demigrates man/men thereby getting media coverage will put some consentrated prime time focus on the issue. I am a pro musician and can supply high quality, high profile musicians for events that don’t clash with existing commitments.
Blessings ans good will to all of you.
Tony Hopkins
Comment by Tony Hopkins — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Welcome Tony,
Fathers Day is a good date for needing musicians. We were thinking of doing something out west on that day in the community.
Comment by julie — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 6:18 pm
This has become a very positive thread. Clearly there are valuable resources out there.
Rob, you have good questions and have made good observations. The answer to all of these things it to set the objectives first and then determine what is required to meet the objectives. This is going to be impossible to progress in this thread.
The wiki is a good idea but we need to act locally and the wiki seems to be global to me.
I have created a new group so that we can discuss these ideas and get some project up and running here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fatherlessNZ/
Comment by Dave — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 7:34 pm
Dave,
I defined the idea of a ‘Man Respect Index’ on the MensActivism Wiki because I think it has global application. It also means there’s a much larger talent pool to appeal to for help.
To this end, I’ve already made postings referring to the Wiki, so any further postings here will be missed by other interested parties.
Could you please update the Wiki regarding your management ideas, and provide links to your group there.
Thanks for coming on board.
Comment by Rob Case — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 8:19 pm
I guess I should have added that by exposing the idea of a ‘Man Respect Index’ to a global audience, the chances of someone with huge resources seeing it and taking to it are increased (eg the CEO of a large company who just lost half his fortune in a messy divorce). A big company with a well-resourced IT dept could put something together fairly quickly. (I’m not counting on this happening, but best not to rule it out either).
Comment by Rob Case — Thu 26th July 2007 @ 10:57 pm