# Invisible Children / Kony thing = scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 8, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124 "2012-03-08T05:39:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/1 "2012-03-08T05:39:43Z")
Lots of conflicting opinions on this one. Personally, I think it’s a total scamfest but I leave it to y’all to debate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/2 "2012-03-08T05:46:48Z")
> [@FixMyIgnorance](#): > > Lots of conflicting opinions on this one. Personally, I think it’s a total scamfest but I leave it to y’all to debate. No-not until just a wee bit more info is provided by you as to what the holy hell the topic is. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/3 "2012-03-08T05:47:59Z")
I think he’s talking about this: [Charity Navigator - Rating for Invisible Children](http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12429) ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/4 "2012-03-08T05:52:33Z")
Just to elaborate more, from the linked page: > [@](#): > > The story of Invisible Children (IC) began in 2003, when three young filmmakers traveled to East Africa and filmed a documentary, Invisible Children: The Rough Cut, about the ongoing civil war and child soldier phenomenon in northern Uganda. Upon showing this documentary in the United States, the story of the child soldiers sparked a youth-oriented grassroots movement driven by the desire to transform apathy into activism.This movement led to the establishment of Invisible Children, Inc. as a registered 501(c)3 in 2005. IC’s programs include educational and microeconomic initiatives in Central Africa benefitting over 11,000 people as well as biannual tours, awareness events, and fundraising campaigns stateside. Recently, IC has expanded its operations to Central Africa to address the plight of the most recent victims of the LRA’s reign of terror who live in some of the most remote regions of the world. The leader of the LRA is Joseph Kony, hence the “Kony thing” of the OP. There’s a video going around facebook too. ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/5 "2012-03-08T05:58:02Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Just to elaborate more, from the linked page: > > The leader of the LRA is Joseph Kony, hence the “Kony thing” of the OP. There’s a video going around facebook too. Yes, this. Sorry for not elaborating more in the OP, kinda assumed everyone would know what I referred to since this thing is practically all over FB at the moment ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/6 "2012-03-08T06:01:05Z")
This “FB” of which you speak…? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/7 "2012-03-08T06:26:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This “FB” of which you speak…? “FB” is clearly “football”, but I thought the season was over once they played the SB. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/8 "2012-03-08T06:32:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This “FB” of which you speak…? Facebook. Twitter too, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/9 "2012-03-08T06:32:25Z")
Just what do you think is a “scamfest” about it? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/10 "2012-03-08T06:32:56Z")
I posted this in another thread but will ask for that to be closed as I put it in the wrong forum anyway. FWIW I don’t think it’s a scam. However… I woke up this morning to find that Facebook has gone KONY mad. [Watch the video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc). It’s thirty minutes long but worth the time. It is worth the time both for the story behind it, and to understand the rest of the thread. I’ve spoilered my opinions because I don’t want to introduce any bias before you watch it. **I highly recommend spending thirty minutes watching this video before commenting**. Not just to participate in a discussion, but because the story within it **needs to be told** , however it is told. I also know it’s bad form to post a link to a video with no explanation, so grudgingly here’s the TL:DR version:Some American guys went to Uganda in 2003 and were horrified to learn about the unspeakably awful crimes of the [Lord’s Resistance Army](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord's_Resistance_Army), led by Joseph Kony. They befriended Jacob, a child victim. They started a campaign called Invisible Children to raise awareness of the LRA issue in the US, in order to put pressure on US politicians to send military advisers to assist the Ugandan government in chasing him down and eliminating him. They have had speaking tours where they brought Jacob over, and various protests. To do this, they propose putting up fake “KONY” campaign posters, and various social media activities. They also suggest buying an action pack from them.Even as KONY was going viral, a backlash had already started, so by the time I saw the first campaign there was a counter-campaign stalking it.[One negative response](http://thedailywh.at/2012/03/07/on-kony-2012-2/). In summary despite having 501(c)3 status, Invisible Children isn’t completely transparent with its books, and only 31% of funding goes directly to Uganda - a lot more goes on travel expenses and filmmaking. It’s a slick campaign and has apparently claimed successes that can’t solely be credited to Invisible Children. It supports military intervention via the Ugandan government, and the Ugandan government doesn’t exactly have its hands clean.Here’s what I think:[spoiler]No matter the nature of the organisation, they’ve done a better job than _any other organisation in history_ in getting the horrific story of the LRA out to ordinary Joe Soaps. I’m a news whore so I’ve known about the LRA for years - and of course have done nothing to help, though I’ve posted about it several times on the SDMB - but I’d imagine of the 15 million people (it was only 10 million about three hours ago) who have now watched the video, a substantial proportion didn’t know anything about these bastards beforehand. Even if Invisible Children eat kobe beef and caviar with golden cutlery every night, they have done a hell of a lot more good than me - or their critics - ever have. They are trying to f\*\*k up the LRA, and anyone who does that has my support - though perhaps I will think twice before they get my money.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/11 "2012-03-08T06:33:28Z")
> [@FixMyIgnorance](#): > > Lots of conflicting opinions on this one. Personally, I think it’s a total scamfest but I leave it to y’all to debate. Th. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/12 "2012-03-08T06:35:14Z")
I just watched the video tonight, thanks to Twitter. I’m not planning to donate, but I might forward the video. I am firmly against children being killed - I know, that’s a pretty controversial stance. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/13 "2012-03-08T06:42:11Z")
I’m not sure it’s a scam - [from this site:](http://guyism.com/lifestyle/advice/kony-2012-viral-video-scam.html) > [@](#): > > There’s a viral video about Joseph Kony, a Ugandan rebel who committed a great deal atrocities, being shared like crazy. Small problem: Though sort of accurate, it’s kind of a scam. Jeeze, thanks for clearing that up. What I got from the video is that they’re aiming at increasing the visibility of this problem; if that’s their goal, it’s working very well. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/14 "2012-03-08T06:56:14Z")
And to reply to the OP’s question: without looking at the accuracy of their statements, I think the 31% of their money getting to Uganda can be acceptable, but only as a first step. Raising awareness of the problem is a legitimate goal for the organisation, but now that they’ve produced the video (and thus secured higher levels of donations in the future) they either need to devote themselves to more direct forms of assistance, or step aside for those charities who will. Otherwise I think they’ll become another PETA: a nonprofit organisation that cares more about securing donations than actually advancing their purported goals. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/15 "2012-03-08T07:07:04Z")
Can those who think it’s a scam please elaborate with specifics? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/16 "2012-03-08T07:20:05Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Can those who think it’s a scam please elaborate with specifics? I initially posted in agreement with the OP but later edited my response because I felt it needed more explanation. Since I haven’t read up fully on this case, I don’t feel that I can give an informed opinion one way or another. However, when I first heard about this on a different board I had an immediate instinctual reaction of disbelief. This was due to the over-the-top nature of the crimes; both in scale and act. Now after I have read more completely about this case I’ll be able to give an actual opinion. But my first _reaction_, after hearing admittedly few details, was one of disbelief. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/17 "2012-03-08T07:39:44Z")
Pardon my short response: There is a subtle difference between a scam and just bullshit. This campaign is the latter. They seem to be a legitimate (though not great) organization, but what they’re advocating is pathetically simplistic and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/18 "2012-03-08T07:50:53Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > However, when I first heard about this on a different board I had an immediate instinctual reaction of disbelief. This was due to the over-the-top nature of the crimes; both in scale and act. His crimes are over-the-top and practically unbelievable, but he’s [one real bastard](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5129350.stm) and I’m all about anyone willing to move the world an inch closer to his demise. ---
**Author:** ![Hallucinex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba9def/32.png) [@Hallucinex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallucinex)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/19 "2012-03-08T10:25:11Z")
Pros: Making more people aware that Kony is a massive c-bomb Cons: Supporting [these douchecanoes](http://www.wrongingrights.com/2009/03/worst-idea-ever.html/) There are a lot of articles floating about in response to the this stuff: [http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/post/18890947431/we-got-trouble](http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/post/18890947431/we-got-trouble) [http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/07/guest\_post\_joseph\_kony\_is\_not\_in\_uganda\_and\_other\_complicated\_things](http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/07/guest_post_joseph_kony_is_not_in_uganda_and_other_complicated_things) [http://www.vice.com/en\_uk/read/should-i-donate-money-to-kony-2012-or-not](http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/should-i-donate-money-to-kony-2012-or-not) ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124/20 "2012-03-08T10:42:53Z")
Ten years ago it might have been a good idea, now not so much. It’s not a scam, the 30ish percent of their funds going to Uganda are doing some good, and the people involved aren’t getting rich, so it’s not a scam, certainly. On the other hand Kony is a spent force, he has less than a tenth of the fighters he used to have, he’s been chased out of Uganda and is hiding in South Sudan, DRC and CAR. The main reason they’re still about is that they’re useful to their enemies, the Ugandan government, who can use them as a bogie-man when they want to, as they often do, rig elections, invade neighbouring nations, destabilise the Congo, and so on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-children-kony-thing-scam/615124.md?page=2)