[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Pookie

Sign it if you agree with it. It's a small step in raising awareness and often that's the best thing you can do. If the government (for example) receive a petition by a significant number of people then you at least know that they are aware of your and other people's feelings.

It would be good if other action is also taken (direct action particularly) but a petition is a good start.

nah, the online petition is a good ending because it deludes people into thinking that by signing it they have actually accomplished something, which keeps them from actual civic engagement.

and actual civic engagement might use petitions, but those petitions actually require you to go door to door and gather real signatures. and because of this they will work better in school systems, municipalities and institutions, unlike addressing vague global needs on the internet. then again there are ballot initiatives and referendums, which are petitions of sorts.