TEDxToronto 2010
Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy
Dave Meslin: 冷漠的解藥
Filmed:
Readability: 4
1,853,644 views
社區政治 － 學校，分區，理事選舉 － 與我們生活息息相關的一切。為甚麼我們大部分人從不參與？是因為我們真的毫不在乎嗎？Dave Meslin 不這麼想。他指出七個阻擾我們參與地方事務的原因 － 就算我們真的在乎。
Dave Meslin - Artist and organizer
Dave Meslin is a "professional rabble-rouser." Based in Toronto, he works to make local issues engaging and even fun to get involved in. Full bio
Dave Meslin is a "professional rabble-rouser." Based in Toronto, he works to make local issues engaging and even fun to get involved in. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:15
How often do we hear
0
0
2000
我們是否時常聽到
00:17
that people just don't care?
1
2000
2000
沒人關心政治？
00:19
How many times have you been told
2
4000
2000
是否時常有人告訴你
00:21
that real, substantial change isn't possible
3
6000
3000
真正的改變是不可能的
00:24
because most people are too selfish,
4
9000
2000
因為大多數的人們要不是太自私
00:26
too stupid or too lazy
5
11000
2000
太白癡，就是太懶惰
00:28
to try to make a difference in their community?
6
13000
3000
沒人想真正努力改變自己的社區
00:31
I propose to you today that apathy as we think we know it
7
16000
3000
今天我想要告訴大家的你所熟悉的這些冷漠
00:34
doesn't actually exist,
8
19000
2000
其實並不存在
00:36
but rather, that people do care,
9
21000
2000
其實人們在乎
00:38
but that we live in a world
10
23000
2000
但我們所在的這個世界
00:40
that actively discourages engagement
11
25000
2000
卻往往以許多阻礙
00:42
by constantly putting obstacles and barriers in our way.
12
27000
3000
來阻擾我們參與社區事務
00:45
And I'll give you some examples of what I mean.
13
30000
2000
讓我舉出一些例子來說明我的論點
00:47
Let's start with city hall.
14
32000
2000
從市政府開始
00:49
You ever see one of these before?
15
34000
2000
你看過這個嗎？
00:51
This is a newspaper ad.
16
36000
2000
這是個報紙廣告
00:53
It's a notice of a zoning application change for a new office building
17
38000
3000
一個新商業大樓申請區域重劃
00:56
so the neighborhood knows what's happening.
18
41000
2000
於是登報告訴當地住戶
00:58
As you can see, it's impossible to read.
19
43000
2000
如你所見，這根本無法閱讀
01:00
You need to get halfway down
20
45000
2000
你需要一路看到中間
01:02
to even find out which address they're talking about,
21
47000
2000
才能找到這塊地的地址
01:04
and then farther down, in tiny 10-point font,
22
49000
2000
你得再往下找到這些更小的字
01:06
to find out how to actually get involved.
23
51000
3000
才知道如何參與討論
01:09
Imagine if the private sector advertised in the same way --
24
54000
3000
想像私人企業也用這套 －
01:12
if Nike wanted to sell a pair of shoes
25
57000
3000
如果耐吉想賣鞋
01:15
and put an ad in the paper like that.
26
60000
3000
然後登這種報紙廣告
01:18
(Applause)
27
63000
3000
（掌聲）
01:21
Now that would never happen.
28
66000
2000
這是不可能的
01:23
You'll never see an ad like that
29
68000
2000
你不會看到這種廣告
01:25
because Nike actually wants you to buy their shoes.
30
70000
3000
因為耐吉真心希望你買他們的鞋子
01:28
Whereas the city of Toronto
31
73000
2000
但多倫多市政府
01:30
clearly doesn't want you involved with the planning process,
32
75000
2000
很明顯地不要你參與重劃過程
01:32
otherwise their ads would look something like this --
33
77000
2000
要不然他們的廣告應該看起來像這樣
01:34
with all the information basically laid out clearly.
34
79000
2000
所有的資訊都一目了然
01:36
As long as the city's putting out notices like this
35
81000
2000
要是市政府的公告總是這樣
01:38
to try to get people engaged,
36
83000
2000
還期待市民加入討論
01:40
then of course people aren't going to be engaged.
37
85000
2000
那麼當然，不會得到任何結果
01:42
But that's not apathy;
38
87000
2000
但這不是冷漠
01:44
that's intentional exclusion.
39
89000
3000
而是刻意排除
01:47
Public space.
40
92000
2000
公共空間
01:49
(Applause)
41
94000
2000
（掌聲）
01:51
The manner in which we mistreat our public spaces
42
96000
2000
我們對待公共空間的方式
01:53
is a huge obstacle
43
98000
2000
也是一個
01:55
towards any type of progressive political change
44
100000
3000
阻礙政治進步和改變的障礙
01:58
because we've essentially put a price tag on freedom of expression.
45
103000
3000
就像是我們為言論自由貼上價格標簽
02:01
Whoever has the most money gets the loudest voice,
46
106000
3000
誰有錢，誰大聲
02:04
dominating the visual and mental environment.
47
109000
2000
充斥著我們的視覺和心靈環境
02:06
The problem with this model
48
111000
2000
這個模式的問題是
02:08
is that there are some amazing messages that need to be said
49
113000
2000
那些需要被聽到的重要訊息
02:10
that aren't profitable to say.
50
115000
2000
並不賺錢
02:12
So you're never going to see them on a billboard.
51
117000
3000
於是你永遠無法在告示牌上看見它們
02:15
The media plays an important role
52
120000
2000
媒體在我們處理公共事務和促進政治改變的心態上
02:17
in developing our relationship with political change,
53
122000
3000
扮演著非常重要的角色
02:20
mainly by ignoring politics
54
125000
2000
它們避開那些爭議性的話題
02:22
and focusing on celebrities and scandals,
55
127000
2000
過分關心娛樂新聞和醜聞
02:24
but even when they do talk about important political issues,
56
129000
3000
就連它們好不容易提到重要的議題時
02:27
they do it in a way that I feel discourages engagement.
57
132000
3000
都是用一種避免人參與的方式
02:30
And I'll give you an example: the Now magazine from last week --
58
135000
2000
讓我舉出一個例子：這是上禮拜的“現在”雜誌
02:32
progressive, downtown weekly in Toronto.
59
137000
2000
一本先進的，多倫多市中心的週刊
02:34
This is the cover story.
60
139000
2000
這是封面故事
02:36
It's an article about a theater performance,
61
141000
3000
一個有關劇場表演的文章
02:39
and it starts with basic information about where it is,
62
144000
2000
一開始它就寫出上演的地方
02:42
in case you actually want to go and see it after you've read the article --
63
147000
3000
因為你讀完這篇文章後，很有可能會想去看
02:45
where, the time, the website.
64
150000
2000
地點，時間，網頁
02:47
Same with this -- it's a movie review,
65
152000
2000
這個電影評論也是
02:49
an art review,
66
154000
2000
還有藝術評論
02:51
a book review -- where the reading is in case you want to go.
67
156000
3000
書評 － 朗讀會在哪裡舉辦，如果你想去的話
02:54
A restaurant -- you might not want to just read about it,
68
159000
2000
餐廳 － 因為你不只想讀
02:56
maybe you want to go to the restaurant.
69
161000
2000
你還會想去吃
02:58
So they tell you where it is, what the prices are,
70
163000
2000
於是它們會告訴你在哪裡，大概甚麼價位
03:00
the address, the phone number, etc.
71
165000
2000
地址，電話等等
03:02
Then you get to their political articles.
72
167000
2000
等到你開始讀政治評論
03:04
Here's a great article about an important election race that's happening.
73
169000
3000
這個文章為現在進行的選舉做了很好的報導
03:07
It talks about the candidates -- written very well --
74
172000
2000
它談論我們的候選人 － 寫的很好
03:09
but no information, no follow-up,
75
174000
2000
但沒有後續資訊
03:11
no websites for the campaigns,
76
176000
2000
沒有選舉網頁
03:13
no information about when the debates are, where the campaign offices are.
77
178000
3000
也沒有選舉中心的地址，或辯論大會舉行的資料
03:16
Here's another good article
78
181000
2000
這裡有另一個好文章
03:18
about a new campaign opposing privatization of transit
79
183000
3000
談論反對大眾運輸私有化
03:21
without any contact information for the campaign.
80
186000
3000
卻也沒有附上活動的連絡方式
03:24
The message seems to be
81
189000
2000
這本雜誌透露出來的訊息彷彿是
03:26
that the readers are most likely to want to eat,
82
191000
2000
讀者們最喜歡的是吃
03:28
maybe read a book, maybe see a movie, but not be engaged in their community.
83
193000
3000
偶爾看本書、看部電影，但絕不是改變社區
03:31
And you might think this is a small thing,
84
196000
2000
你可能覺得這都是小事
03:33
but I think it's important because it sets a tone
85
198000
3000
但我之所以覺得它重要是因為
03:36
and it reinforces the dangerous idea
86
201000
4000
這一切都導向一個危險的訊息
03:40
that politics is a spectator sport.
87
205000
3000
就是我們可以袖手旁觀
03:43
Heroes: How do we view leadership?
88
208000
2000
英雄們：我們如何看待領導力
03:45
Look at these 10 movies. What do they have in common?
89
210000
3000
看看這十部電影，它們的共通處是甚麼？
03:48
Anyone?
90
213000
2000
誰來告訴我們？
03:50
They all have heroes who were chosen.
91
215000
2000
電影裡的英雄都是被選擇的
03:52
Someone came up to them and said, "You're the chosen one.
92
217000
3000
某個人出現對他們說“就是你了
03:55
There's a prophesy. You have to save the world."
93
220000
2000
預言說，你必須拯救世界。”
03:57
And then someone goes off and saves the world because they've been told to,
94
222000
3000
於是這個人就上路去拯救世界，因為有人要他們這樣做
04:00
with a few people tagging along.
95
225000
2000
也沒幾個人跟隨他
04:02
This helps me understand
96
227000
2000
這讓我理解
04:04
why a lot of people have trouble seeing themselves as leaders
97
229000
3000
為甚麼人們很難把自己看成領導者
04:07
because it sends all the wrong messages about what leadership is about.
98
232000
3000
因為這些都灌輸人們有關領導力的錯誤訊息
04:10
A heroic effort is a collective effort,
99
235000
2000
英雄事蹟是集體合作
04:12
number one.
100
237000
2000
第一
04:14
Number two, it's imperfect; it's not very glamorous,
101
239000
3000
第二，它並不完美，也不華麗
04:17
and it doesn't suddenly start and suddenly end.
102
242000
2000
它不會突然開始又突然結束
04:19
It's an ongoing process your whole life.
103
244000
2000
它是一個持續發生的過程
04:21
But most importantly, it's voluntary.
104
246000
2000
最重要的是，它是自願的
04:23
It's voluntary.
105
248000
2000
自發性的
04:25
As long as we're teaching our kids
106
250000
3000
一旦我們教導我們的孩子
04:28
that heroism starts when someone scratches a mark on your forehead,
107
253000
3000
英雄都是從有個人在他額頭做上標記開始
04:31
or someone tells you that you're part of a prophecy,
108
256000
2000
或是得有人過來告訴你：你是預言的一部分
04:33
they're missing the most important characteristic of leadership,
109
258000
3000
他們都遺漏了領導力最重要的一個特性
04:36
which is that it comes from within.
110
261000
2000
就是它是從內而生的
04:38
It's about following your own dreams --
111
263000
2000
它有關跟隨你的夢想
04:40
uninvited, uninvited --
112
265000
2000
無須他人邀請
04:42
and then working with others to make those dreams come true.
113
267000
3000
然後與他人一起合作，實現美夢
04:45
Political parties: oh boy.
114
270000
2000
政黨，老天
04:47
Political parties could and should be
115
272000
3000
政黨可以是，也應該是
04:50
one of the basic entry points
116
275000
2000
那些想參與政治活動的人
04:52
for people to get engaged in politics.
117
277000
2000
的絕佳入口
04:54
Instead, they've become, sadly,
118
279000
2000
但是它們，很不幸地
04:56
uninspiring and uncreative organizations
119
281000
3000
卻變成這些沒創意又沒想法的組織
04:59
that rely so heavily on market research
120
284000
2000
靠著市場調查
05:01
and polling and focus groups
121
286000
2000
投票和意見調查
05:03
that they end up all saying the same thing,
122
288000
2000
說出一樣的話
05:05
pretty much regurgitating back to us what we already want to hear
123
290000
3000
反芻那些我們想聽的話
05:08
at the expense of putting forward bold and creative ideas.
124
293000
3000
而不是提供有創意或勇敢的想法
05:11
And people can smell that, and it feeds cynicism.
125
296000
3000
人們聽得出來，於是變得諷刺
05:14
(Applause)
126
299000
6000
（掌聲）
05:20
Charitable status:
127
305000
2000
慈善組織：
05:22
Groups who have charitable status in Canada aren't allowed to do advocacy.
128
307000
3000
加拿大擁有慈善身分的團體不能支持特定組織和人物
05:25
This is a huge problem and a huge obstacle to change
129
310000
3000
這是一個大問題，也是改變的一大阻力
05:28
because it means that some of the most passionate and informed voices
130
313000
3000
這意味著最熱情和理解狀況的聲音
05:31
are completely silenced, especially during election time.
131
316000
3000
在選舉期間是完全靜默的
05:34
Which leads us to the last one,
132
319000
2000
於是我們來到最後一點
05:36
which is our elections.
133
321000
2000
我們的選舉
05:38
As you may have noticed, our elections in Canada are a complete joke.
134
323000
3000
大家都知道，加拿大的選舉根本是個笑話
05:41
We use out-of-date systems
135
326000
2000
我們用落後的系統
05:43
that are unfair and create random results.
136
328000
2000
製造出不公平和隨性的結果
05:45
Canada's currently led by a party
137
330000
2000
今日的加拿大是由
05:47
that most Canadians didn't actually want.
138
332000
3000
大部分的加拿大人不想要的政黨所帶領的
05:50
How can we honestly and genuinely encourage more people to vote
139
335000
3000
我們該如何誠懇地鼓勵人們去投票
05:53
when votes don't count in Canada?
140
338000
2000
當投票在加拿大根本不算數呢？
05:55
You add all this up together
141
340000
2000
你把以上原因全加在一起
05:57
and of course people are apathetic.
142
342000
2000
你就知道為甚麼人們如此漠然
05:59
It's like trying to run into a brick wall.
143
344000
2000
就像撞進一堵磚牆
06:01
Now I'm not trying to be negative
144
346000
2000
列舉這些阻礙不是為了
06:03
by throwing all these obstacles out and explaining what's in our way.
145
348000
2000
帶來負面影響，然後說，我們就是這樣
06:05
Quite the opposite: I actually think people are amazing and smart
146
350000
3000
相反的，我覺得人們非常聰明
06:08
and that they do care.
147
353000
3000
而且他們在乎
06:11
But that, as I said, we live in this environment
148
356000
3000
但誠如我所說，冷漠是來自我們的環境
06:14
where all these obstacles are being put in our way.
149
359000
4000
和這些立在我們之前的阻礙
06:18
As long as we believe that people, our own neighbors,
150
363000
3000
一旦我們相信人們，我們的鄰舍
06:21
are selfish, stupid or lazy,
151
366000
4000
都是些自私、愚蠢、又懶惰的人
06:25
then there's no hope.
152
370000
2000
就毫無希望
06:27
But we can change all those things I mentioned.
153
372000
2000
但我們可以改變我剛剛所提到的
06:29
We can open up city hall.
154
374000
2000
我們可以向市政府提出要求
06:31
We can reform our electoral systems.
155
376000
2000
我們可以改變我們的選舉系統
06:33
We can democratize our public spaces.
156
378000
2000
我們可以讓公共空間民主化
06:35
My main message is,
157
380000
2000
我的重點是
06:37
if we can redefine apathy,
158
382000
2000
如果我們可以把人們的漠然
06:39
not as some kind of internal syndrome,
159
384000
2000
不再歸咎於個人的心理狀態
06:41
but as a complex web of cultural barriers
160
386000
2000
而是歸咎於這些複雜的文化負擔
06:43
that reinforces disengagement,
161
388000
3000
是這些負擔阻礙了我們的參與
06:46
and if we can clearly define, we can clearly identify,
162
391000
3000
一旦我們重新思考
06:49
what those obstacles are,
163
394000
2000
我們就可以辨認這些阻力
06:51
and then if we can work together collectively to dismantle those obstacles,
164
396000
3000
如果我們一起努力打破這些阻礙
06:54
then anything is possible.
165
399000
2000
任何事都是有可能的
06:56
Thank you.
166
401000
2000
謝謝各位
06:58
(Applause)
167
403000
2000
（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dave Meslin - Artist and organizerDave Meslin is a "professional rabble-rouser." Based in Toronto, he works to make local issues engaging and even fun to get involved in.
Why you should listen
Multi-partisan and fiercely optimistic, Dave Meslin embraces ideas and projects that cut across traditional boundaries between grassroots politics, electoral politics and the arts community. In his work, in Toronto and globally, he attempts to weave elements of these communities together. (His business card reads "Dave Meslin: community choreographer," which feels about right.)
Some of his projects include 2006's City Idol contest, which put a sexy new face on council elections; co-editing Local Motion, a book about civic projects in Toronto; and Dandyhorse and Spacing magazines. And he's part of the Toronto folk/indie collective Hidden Cameras, using their worldwide touring to research voting practices in the cities where they play. He recently founded the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT).
He blogs at Mez Dispenser, or find him on Facebook and Twitter, where he's @Meslin.Dave Meslin | Speaker | TED.com