I just found out about another contribution to the exploding development satire field. It’s in EXTREMELY bad taste, is often disgusting, and always features lacerating and offensive satire … therefore, some of you will LOVE it.
It’s based around a blog called HR International (to keep our blog’s PG-13 rating, I will not at this time spell out what HR stands for). I found out about it because I am one of the 3 people that @hreliefint is now following on Twitter, along with @jeffdsachs and @talesfromthehood (the latter tipped me off).
A sample of of the HRI blog (from the small part that is printable in a family blog):
Ed and I know a thing or two about emergency coordination as we go back to the days in Aceh, where I’ve hired him to develop HRIs fishing-boat distribution strategy, a program that is currently being monitored and evaluated by HRIs M&E wing: initial findings indicate that this program will become yet another world’s best practice. The 800,000 or so USD that have remained unspent in that program will come in handy as HRI is preparing a dignified launch of the findings report in Bali, with a mass distribution component aimed at making one M&E report available to each family in Aceh and beyond.
What accounts for the explosion in development satire? Of course, I am as guilty as anyone. Based on random introspection, observation of a selection-biased sample of the aid industry, and unfounded guesses, the answer is obvious: it’s because of the increase in BS in development & aid. As the BS force keeps exponentially growing, there was bound to be an opposite force of protest.
We are using the only weapon that us weak people oppressed by the BS ruling elites can use: satire. As BS keeps rising, satire is going to keep exploding in revolt. A few of us (not me) may go over the edge to the extremes of the HRI blog. So, just to be clear, you BS’ers in aid: all this bad taste is YOUR fault.
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The abundance of BS in the development and aid industry feeds the satire beast within me. We have been provided with a BS buffet! I wonder who is cooking in the kitchen? OMG! It’s Jeff Sachs!
. . . . and the sous chef is Bono!
HRI’s blog is brilliant but brutal. This satire is not a weapon of protest, it is a painful cri de coeur. There are two possible human reactions to tragedy and absurdity in life– crying or laughing. Clearly the author of HRI chooses to laugh. Pardon me while I go jump off a cliff….
Those guys are seriously funny. If you can’t laugh at yourself, whatever you are doing, you lack critical perspective. Most of the people who read their blog, and this one, are in some way aid industry people. Inside jokes are some of the best kind. Enjoy them.
I also quite enjoyed these guys:
http://www.inepd.org/
The satire has ALWAYS been there – it just wasn’t possible to conveniently make it public. Many aid workers would write hilarious mass emails home to their closed network of friends – and you could be sure that any aid worker party/get-together would be sizzling with juicy stories of aid ironies. The only thing new is that blogs make it so easy to go public. There are so many hilarious and brilliant aid workers out there – people that are well-read, well-travelled, and have seen a lot – there is bound to be some fantastic satirists in the bunch. But none of these guys and gals were gonna go through the pains of creating a website when website creation was laborious. The new media environment of show-all and tell-all just brings it out onto a public platform – BUT IT WAS ALWAYS THERE. So, I don’t think its necessarily a correlative of increasing BS or proof thereof. It’s just that the aid world is part of the wider world where every man and his dog air their opinions (good and bad) out loud for the world to see – be it what they ate for lunch or what they think of the latest devt jargon.
Of course there are many other reasons to suspect BS is on the increase – but attribution to increased VISIBILITY of satire isn’t a sound claim. Hey – that would be a nice satire – an paper in academic-speak on this whole question – peer-reviewed, of course.
Does any one still remember David Donaldson and Hope4dave the original and immortal aid blog satire. Could not find a link to it though!
unfortunately this isn’t satire.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article7048218.ece
Yes, HRI is a great blog (and great name too
– although, I agree with Jim – satirical posts/blogs on working in aid/development have been around for a while, this is not a ‘new’ thing. I remember reading some hilarious posts, back in 2000, that ended up being circulated via email. The advent of twitter/mass blogging/simpler ways of setting of websites etc., has just made it more accessible.
Re: the Geldof/Ethiopia news – can’t see that anyone working in dev/aid is going to find this surprising. Sad really.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
..just looked up the inped lot. Can’t get over how much work is put into a fake blog! The HRI one is mainly posts….but the inped are on twitter, have links to fake marketing etc. Must be students..who else would have this kind of free time?! (although their ‘Humanitarian Dating’ bit is amusing).
I wonder how useful all these blogs are – it’s all a bit ‘yada, yada, yada’. The HRI one is good, but as mentioned in earlier post, satirical humour about the aid world is not a new thing.
There is also a real INPED (The Institute of Peace and Development) part of the Peace Direct Project – which is part of Insight on Conflict. Which seems to be run/partnered etc by those local to the areas in question.
That a new batch of 20 something’s feel they have reinvented the wheel with satirical websites (and such a view is encouraged by the original post by aidwatch on HRI “it’s because of the increase in BS in development & aid” ? That’s a bit like confusing the idea of immediate notification of natural disasters via email/tv etc with a higher occurrence of natural disasters) is a bit pointless in many respects. Ultimately a critic is just that – a critic of actual work in process. Of course (!) some criticism is necessary – but when you look at the effort going into a website like inped – that is essentially just mimicking a real website, rather than saying anything new – then you have to wonder what’s the point? Far better are blogs like the brilliant ‘Wronging Rights’ or ‘Tales from the Hood’ – that put irony in context – with biting analysis, vibrant dialogue and ideas/views on what could be improved.
Yes, Critics aren’t original, they are derivative.
Avam, what makes me laugh about the “20 somethings that think they are reinventing the wheel” (and this can be applied to anyone that thinks they are new in their brilliance – regardless of age) is that they assume there is some large group of aid/devt workers that are unreflexive, naive, and oblivious to realities of the absurdities of the some of the approaches/processes that have been grandfathered into the aid system we inherited – and no, cannot change easily.
Meanwhile – the most stimulating and insightful conversations I’ve had in general were exactly with aid/devt workers (yes as we sat around sipping margaritas and such at the fancy restos/hotels, yes yes) where eveyrone was FULLY self-aware of “the wheel” – and were turning it.
jim, avam, this whole thing is a misunderstanding – at HRI we are fully committed to not reinventing the wheel. to do that we exchange lessons learned and engage in coordination. by the use of best practices matrixes and information sharing toolkits we strive to create an enabling environment for the prevention of overlaps and duplication. i’ll send you a powerpoint about it.
I agree with Avam; I spend about half an hour each morning going through the blogs and from time to time, making a very quick comment; I don’t see how anyone in the field has enough time to do the HRI blog, especially considering the age of some of the news links which are included.
Avam, humanitarian dating is not a joke. It is actually a real website. I think you might be a bit confused now!!
I agree that the recent spate of aid satire has much more to do with the growth of social media than it does with increasing BS in the aid world–there was a great deal to criticize in the 70s, 80s and 90s after all!
And Bill, as a former World Bank staff member, surely you remember “Bank Swirled,” which started, I believe, in the early 90s?
Rachek: I hate to say it, but I think the humanitarian dating site is actually meant to be a joke….look at the FAQ’s and terms of membership etc., it’s subtle, but it’s definitely not 100% serious. Plus, it’s a blog that was set up/part of the inepd lot, and was originally set up by a blogger who did another satirical site called Hope4dave.
Given all this, I would assume it’s not meant to be taken seriously.
Re: Jim, Yes – fully agree. Also, agree with comment about 20 somethings – that “this can be applied to anyone that thinks they are new in their brilliance – regardless of age”. I just thought the inepd lot struck me as ’20somethings’ from a few comments on the site – though I could be wrong. Also, I think (?) the ‘wronging rights’ crew Are in their 20s (?) – and that site is excellent.
avam,
I have to admit I’ve actually been on Humanitarian Dating and so have a few friends. At the time there are about 10,000 people who seem to have fallen for the joke. When I was on there was no connection to Inepd or any bloggers from Inepd.
As for Hope4dave I am the one who mentioned it here. It was more than a satirical site. It was a really fantastic piece of fiction with a great story. The forum attached was also really funny. I thought it was incredible original. I was a big fan a few years ago.
I think you may be drawing connections that don’t exist.
In the immortal words of Elvis Costello, “What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?”
rachek – ok, well, perhaps I stand corrected then. I also knew of hope4dave (and perhaps I am wrong in the link to inepd with that). But the ‘humanitarian dating’ blog is a blog that is linked through from the inepd blog site (this is a fact, not a link I’m assuming. If you go on Inped, it has a links to ‘our blogs’ and it takes you through to humanitarian dating – and indeed the site design/colours are similar. Perhaps this is a joke that inepd is making by Using the humanitarian dating site rather than vice versa). In any case, due to the link to inepd I found it hard to believe the humanitarian dating was an actual dating site rather than something that was more of a funny take on dating. Not that dating should be taken that seriously mind you!
But regardless, if as you say, people are meeting on it, then it is clearly a success – so good luck to it.
Avam,
There are blogs on humanitarian dating from many people and you can make the blogs look how you want. I took a look on the site and the Inepd Blog is just the most prolific on the site. I guess they have placed their blog there so people will read it.
Surely we recall Graham Hancock’s 1989 book “The Lords of Poverty”, with Ross Coggins disrespectful poem on “The Development Set”.
Andrea and Avam,
I finally had time to look at the Inepd website and their blog so thanks for pointing the site out. . I think however most of what they do happens on twitter as little plays almost. Some of these are copied into their blogs as little scripts. Some incredible funny.
What they do seems very different to just writing a blog or putting up a fake website. There does seem to be a whole world being created by the Inepd Crew. Maybe it is always easy to say, ” it’s been done before” but with new mediums of communications there are new forms created that are of course partly original.
Hi Rachek: Yes, of course I would agree that there is always room for new ideas etc., however, the original point was simply that to refute Bill’s original post that these blogs reflected “an increase in BS in development & aid” rather than just more accessible ways (via social media) to get these views out there.
I also stand by my original comment, that regardless of the inepd site being a bit funny – it is mostly derivative in my humble opinion. Also, that (again, just my opinion) sites like Wronging Rights, Tales from the Hood manage to combine humour with actual ideas/views/dialogue on development.
Yes, you could argue that a site that only aims to provide some light relief (like inepd) is also good – I suppose to me it all just seems a bit (as said in a previous post) “all done before”.
Avam,
My point was that the Inepd website is a minor part of what they do. They are actually doing live performances/plays on twitter and seem to have a reasonable audience. I think this is a really original idea and while there is a performance there is comment and interaction with the audience. This is much different to just a blog. I think you need to take a closer look. It is a really innovative use of the medium.
Your point also that it’s been done before is a bit weak. With this criteria you would never bother to read a new book or see a movie made since the 2nd world war. I know ER was a great medical show and Hill Street Blues was a great cop drama but maybe something set this century could also be worth a look.
Rachek
No one is saying that bc aid criticism/satire has always been around, that no one should continue doing it.
It was just to make the point that its seemingly ‘recent proliferation’ has more to do with easy-to-use web media and less to do with a past absence of it among aid workers.
And, I think what Avam is trying to say is that its more authentic somehow when it contains the insights/nuances that come from people actually physically and professionally engaged with aid in developing countries.
As for inepd, sure is innovative in its ‘live performance’ aspect – that’s kinda cool though i don’t follow them so not sure what they are saying exactly – but sure as an idea it is interesting.
Well, at least we can probably all agree we are grateful we do not live in China where our IP addresses would be traced and we’d all be in jail.
David: Yes! Thanks for that – you got my point exactly.
Re rachek: I certainly don’t think having a valid criticism of one thing, means that anyone – as you state – who does so is not interested in anything else (if that was the case easterly would have been out of a job a while back!). Indeed, not all ‘new’ things are intrinsically better, worthwhile or without flaws as you imply (the current trend for reality TV a case in point or, re development, e.g. playpumps). I was merely saying I think things should be judged on their own merits – which, in this case (inepd) and in my opinion (not a ‘fact’ just an opinion) – was a bit derivative. You don’t agree – I don’t expect you to. If you like it – great. But to presume my views are therefore reflective of an entire dismissal of all things new/different is more than a tad assumptive.
You are all talking about “proliferation” and “explosion” of aid industry satire, but from this post and the comments i only see two such websites. would you really call two websites ridiculing a multi-billion industry an “explosion”?
Kenneth: the only person who referred to it as an ‘explosion’ was easterly, and most posters (incl myself) have been refuting this.
The point is that aid satire has existed as long as development/aid has been carried out – that such commentaries are now more accessible due to social media outlets, and that there will continue to be new blogs all the time – some better than others.
The fact that only HRI and inepd were talked about here should not be taken as representative of all there is. Have a look around online and you will see.
Avam,
You are making a point that the most satire of the aid industry is derivative. Isn’t that really the same for most satire/comedy/drama etc. in any context where it is set. It is usually based on something or someones experience except maybe science fiction. I think it is a redundant point.
I also give you an example how Inepd is original and the point is dismissed. Let me know of other groups who are using twitter to present live performances with multiple characters anchored to a spoof aid organisation to give the whole thing plausability. I just think the whole concept is pretty cool and think it is a bit weak to be dismissed as derivative. I just said take another look. You have been wrong before as was the case with you thinking Humanitarian Dating was a spoof site.
Rachek (!)
I get that you like inepd (!), I have posted a few times now that that is great. Good for you. But that I respectfully, in my opinion (if that is ok with you!?), disagree that it is an especially innovate site. I do find it derivative, that does Not mean I find all satirical sites derivative as you state: “You are making a point that the most satire of the aid industry is derivative”. ?
I am at a loss how you can not accept that people might have different views than you. There are Many blogs out there, my Personal opinion is that I’m not a big fan of inepd (although god knows it’s probably received more notice re these posts than ever before). I prefer other sites, that’s all. Your argument would be a bit like saying to someone who doesn’t like a certain book or song that what they are ‘Really’ saying they dislike all songs and books. It’s a nonsensical argument. Especially as clearly the fact that I even know of these sites and can compare and contrast with other ones shows I am well aware of many sites out there and am (as said before) a fan of some over others.
I’m not responding to any more posts on this.
NB – I also (previously) had a look at the ‘live plays’ and no, it has not especially changed my mind. I did not ‘dismiss’ the site or your point, I merely said I (as in Me – My opinion) did not like it much.
Avam,
It’s always nice to have the last word
Touché
Hold on a minute. I thought I was going to have the last word!
Ok, you can
Rachek,
I have to agree with Avam that you are pushing the point a bit far, we all have different tastes.
I have been following Inepd for the last few months on twitter and know it is not everyones cup of tea. There is a really wide range of reactions to them on twitter and in blogs. Some people think the Inepd characters and Inepd are real and like them, some think they are real and are shocked by them, some know it’s a parody and like or dislike them. Just looking at the website or blog is a small part of what they do and I think this was your point. Following Inepd is kind of hard work on twitter as it is now a very complicated plot with a lot of characters and twitter doesn’t make it easy to try and follow someones tweets back in time.
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