Social advocacy requires more investment, thought, and time than other forms of service because these are often long term efforts meant to change policies or attitudes. Social advocacy often is trying to fix, or at least lessen, the source of the problem instead of just dealing with the aftermath. The civil and gay rights movements, for example, are forms of social change advocacy. These were large movements, often with multiple leaders, who are working to change the environment that they are in so that they may all live safer and happier lives. If someone began supporting or leading social advocacy for a problem that they know very little about, then they can end up supporting actions against the wishes or needs of the population they wish
