What, exactly, is BOM? From what I can see, BOM is nothing but yet another merchandising scheme that by no means empowers young people. It lacks just that. Empowerment. Empowerment, to me, is knowing you're worth it and do not deserve all the shit that people are putting you through, yet all I see in BOM is merchandise and text for user generated advice.
It has been my experience that the best thing to do in a variety of situations is to tell people what's going on. Often times, adults and friends know something is up, but don't know how to react or respond to you until you either come in covered in cuts and bruises or crying. When you are in an abusive relationship, you should NOT be wasting time texting a site for what can easily be given wrong advice. You need to TALK to someone, press charges if need be. Dating violence is NOT something you mess around with, and neither is possessiveness no matter HOW romantic Stephenie Meyer and Twilight make it seem.
I'm sorry. I don't see this in BOM and I don't know why, other than money and traffic, YN is interested in this. BOM is NOT about fighting against all the abuse that happens or, if it is, it seems to be doing a shitty job at it. All it seems to be is a marketing scheme and that, above all, pisses me off.
The BOMinc campaign was indeed designed for teens, although anyone is allowed to participate. This is the design of BOMinc, not of YouthNoise. As Khary said, older youth would not necessarily be much help to teens because they are in different points in their lives.
That said, if older youth want to participate, they are certainly welcome. If you want to make a video about relationships in the MCI, you are definitely welcome, and we will send you some BOM gear.
Again, I fail to see how a campaign targeting younger users affects older users, but I assure all of you that YouthNoise does not intend to alienate any age group.
"If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated," p.60, "1984," by George Orwell
Ah, okay, thanks K. This is what happens when I leave for 3 weeks. This is a different survey than the one I was talking about. I would assume this would have to do with the fact that again, they are trying to target a certain sample of people. I will check into it. Once again, though, the campaign is open to everyone.
"If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated," p.60, "1984," by George Orwell
In both of those cases the age restriction serves a legitimate purpose. 14 to 18 covers high schoolers, generally speaking. I can see how a video response from someone in college, or even someone who has graduated college, could seem irrelevant or even alienating to someone in that age demographic. Likewise, the survey's usefulness might be diminished if the pool of respondents was too broad--high school students and college students have significantly different dating/relationship scenes.
I don't have much of a stance on the whole "YN is alienating older users" deal, but I'm not sure that was very good evidence for it. Sorry Cap.
Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. Frederick Douglass
First off, the survey is only for a small sample audience in CA, which is why the restrictions apply. I don't believe the survey has ever been advertised on the YN site. It has nothing to do with the website as a whole.
quote:
And on the BOM MCI, it says "If you are 14 to 18, post a video response to our weekly BOMinc question and you could receive free BOMinc gear."
This one I missed. I think this was posted accidentally because it was the same age range as the survey, but I will check. As far as I know, all youth should be able to submit videos.
"If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated," p.60, "1984," by George Orwell
And on the BOM MCI, it says "If you are 14 to 18, post a video response to our weekly BOMinc question and you could receive free BOMinc gear."
There's two age restrictions right there.
And I would never feel pain / and never be without pleasure, ever, again / and if the reign stops, and everything's dry, he would cry just so I could drink the tears from his eyes...
Originally posted by Ikki14Reed: Kate, these are more YN issues than simply BOM issues. It just fit in here at the moment.
While BOM does not list age restrictions, YN's relationship with it does..
I'm not sure what this means. Where does YN's relationship with BOMinc list age restrictions?
As for the rest of it, please see Ginger's post on Meagan's thread.
"If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated," p.60, "1984," by George Orwell
3. "YN is alienating half its member base" You guys really need to settle down about this. a) Nowhere on the BOM site does it list any age restrictions. b) Nowhere does it insist that users must be from California.
Kate, these are more YN issues than simply BOM issues. It just fit in here at the moment.
While BOM does not list age restrictions, YN's relationship with it does. And that's where the problem lies as the issue is about all of YN's base, but YN only aims it at half of it's base. That's where the problem is and why it is a YN issue and not a BOM one.
Also, the California comment is based on the fact that YN recently seems to go for more CA originated campaigns and organizations, and not necessarily the best ones that they could. I'll keep an eye out for better sites, but YN needs to remember that not all their users are CA based. This comment is moreso towards what Meg posted a day after this, but as that wasn't up yet, and I didn't want to start multiple threads of feedback in one day, I just tagged it in here.
And about the applying thing: Lately, all their campaigns have been limiting their base. But more on that in Meg's thread as that's more appropriate a place to post.
By the way, I'm still getting feedback on something to do with BOM and I will let them know what I think if the feedback I hear goes along with what I feel. But I can also question YN's involvement with BOM as it is everywhere on the site, which is why it becomes a YN issue and not a BOM issue.
Glad to see everyone so passionate! My first request is that if you have a problem with BOM, please report it to them, not YN. They run the campaign and control what it does and means, so please report feedback to them, not us. Go to the www.bom411.com website, go to the bottom right corner, click "Contact Us." They would love to hear from you.
Now, this is why you are wrong:
1. "BOM is a merchandising scheme." First off, BOM will be giving away far more free stuff than they will be selling. Secondly, its a nonprofit. Thirdly, if you knew anything about this campaign you'd see that they are spending far, far more money than they are making (probably almost none).
2. "BOM is pointless" The BOM movement is not about the BOM website. BOM is about the connections people make by way of the social networking sites that allow them to give each other advice. Again, if you don't like their model, tell them, not YN. They want youth feedback.
All the tagging and merchandising has to do with getting the word out about BOM, not about selling a product.
3. "YN is alienating half its member base" You guys really need to settle down about this. a) Nowhere on the BOM site does it list any age restrictions. b) Nowhere does it insist that users must be from California. c) If something doesn't apply to you, ignore it. Someday, something will apply to you and not someone else. Getting all offended is pointless and reactionary. YN appeals to a wide range of people and not everything it does can apply to every one of those people.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: ShodMod,
"If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated," p.60, "1984," by George Orwell
I completely 100% agree. Even if I was in a "dramatic" relationship, I don't see how BOM would help me. I don't see anything on the site that could actually help solve a problem. If I have a problem with my boyfriend, I would sit down with him and talk to him to his face. Most of the ideas on the BOM site are really just... not wonderful ideas.
BOM is obviously targeted towards a very specific group - the teenage "hip hop" group. So even if someone did like the concept of BOM, they may not want a card that says "Back your S#!T off!" I definitely wouldn't, and I'm IN the target group!
How many of the people who created BOM are teenagers? How many have ever been in violent relationships? And how many of them are therapists or social workers or anyone who'd actually know what they're doing? (<--credit to Ikki and amp for that one)
I agree with YV, it definitely sends the wrong message, and in a way, kinda promotes lack of communication (honestly, if you really don't like your girlfriend's clothes, say something to her!).
Not to be rude, but this site looks like BS. A merchandising scheme, as Ikki put it. And most of the YNers I've spoken to seem to agree.
And I would never feel pain / and never be without pleasure, ever, again / and if the reign stops, and everything's dry, he would cry just so I could drink the tears from his eyes...
I still want to say that now I'm a bit calmer, I still don't like what I'm seeing with BOM. However, what I find even more bothersome is that you are aiming all your BOM stuff-- survey, weblinks in MCI, etc-- at teenagers when a quote from Blue Shield of California Foundation, says that:
quote:
Fact: According to a report prepared by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Promoting Prevention, Targeting Teens, youth ages 16 to 24 are the most at-risk population for intimate partner violence.
Now I know that the targeting at teens is not entirely your doing as that's what BOM was created for, but I find it highly disturbing that a group of young people in that category-- ages 19-24 are left out completely, especially as 19-24 usually indicates college age and being away from your family and, as such, often your support system. With no support system, it's easy to get caught up in things, including relationship violence, and, as such, I cannot support any website that not only disregards half of the highest at-risk population but that aslo, to me, gives foolhardy suggestions, does not give a Hotline number right off the bat (I found it twice. The first time on accident and the second time when looking for BOM's backer. I hold it should be more easily findable). While I know you, personally, have no control over that, I am amazed that YN not only alienates half it's member base when it comes to dating violence, but also supports and condones a website that does such as well as does not immediately give a Hotline in case people need to talk to people about their own specific relationship.
Seriously, YN. You have power. Get off of your California-based agenda, and actually find worthy websites to partner with and not ones that are questionable.
So I went to the BOM page and I must admit I don't see how cellphone tagging can help ones relationship... Also, if you feel like you must measure your bf/gf's actions in a "psychometer" you're probably in the type of relationship you need to get out of. The suggestions here are a bit weird, like the personal boundary definer that you must print out and reads "I'm crazy about you! But you need to back your S#!T off." Ye--ah, it literally reads that. I was honestly turned off by such suggestions. If you need your space, shouldn't that be something to be discussed with that person instead of placing a banner of some type?
I'm not sure how helpful this site is, and with all due respect, it seems to me that it sends the wrong message to people.
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
