A tale of two web sites
Staff Reporter
Thousands of people around the world have taken to the streets to raise a collective fist for peace or war.
Using two web sites, www.go-george.com and www.no-george.com, many voice their opinion from the safety of home.
Web site creator David Bartholomew, student, Lawrence, claims the sites are "one of those 'step out of the shower' ideas."
"It was really a 'keep it simple, stupid' idea," Bartholomew said. "It's an issue like few others where people are for one side or the other. There's really not much middle ground."
Within a week of conception, Bartholomew had the sites up and the design of the "no-george" and "go-george" bumper stickers ready to go.
Because the issue is so black and white, Bartholomew knew his sites might strike a chord nationally.
He created a press release and started researching where to send it.
"I spent three days in the library using their network connection," Bartholomew said.
In those three days, he copied over 3,500 leads, from TV networks to college newspapers, and he started promoting his sites to nearly all of them.
The press release gained him recognition in various newspapers and television networks: ABC in Kansas City, CBS and NBC in Topeka, and CNN Headline News.
With this exposure the websites received over 350,000 hits in the first two hours of operation.
Bartholomew believes his sites became popular so quickly because people need a way to vent.
"For some of these people, even just a chance to put a (go or no-george) sticker on their car feels like some small degree of empowerment," he said.
Melissa Lacey, student, Lawrence, agrees, finding the web sites "interesting for allowing people an opportunity to give their opinion."
However, Lacey is concerned the popularity of the sites affects the proper way to voice opinion.
"To be honest, it's easier to put 'yay' or 'nay' on a web site than it is to write a letter to your congressman," Lacey said.
Nonetheless, Bartholomew receives letters from visitors, cheering the outlet for their position on the war.
"People on both sides said 'thank you so much for this because I was looking for a way to express myself,'" Bartholomew said.
Mark Raduziner, professor, Journalism and Media Communications, connects public reaction to Bartholomew's approach in creating the web sites.
"His creative spirit is admirable in that he's willing to take a lot of time to conduct research and offer that research to others in a manner that's easy to relate to," Raduziner said. "He cares about what other people think about and he wants others to think."
Bartholomew seems more interested in the sociological side of his web sites than the political.
In fact, he has no interest in politics whatsoever although this does not mean he has no opinion about the war in Iraq.
However, despite his opinion, he built two web sites with opposing views, disregarding worries that one site will obviously go against his own personal stance.
"I've been trying to keep it neutral," Bartholomew said. "I almost donšt consider this too political since I am keeping it neutral. If I only did one site, it would be more political."
Politics aside, Lacey wonders what point the web sites are trying to make in the first place.
"Is it doing any good either for or against?" she said.
Bartholomew did not mean for his web sites to be taken too seriously and wants people to see them as light fun on a tough subject.
If anything, he would like to put a positive light on those facing possible harm in Iraq.
"Regardless if youšre for or against, the idea is to not take it out on the troops," Bartholomew said.
"We wish everyone well and you don't spit on them when they come back. I'm still trying to keep it a little light; not have any backlash on account of it."
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