The Point Of Some Forms Of Protesting

[Sir Winston Churchill]

I was reading this news article about the Occupy Wall Street protests and how now it has apparently spread to Rome where people are protesting against Capitalism and... well who knows. Point of the matter is I read interesting parts that seem to happen every single time a riot breaks out and I question the point of some of this measures of "protesting".

A.) They burned Italian and EU flags. Now, while I understand the symbolism in doing so, I still don't understand the point in doing it. Especially the Italian flag. If these protesters are protesting against something that is bringing their country down, why are they burning the flag of their country? Seems a tad hypocritical. The statement "If you truly wish to make a statement, don't burn the flag, wash it." comes into play here. I'd have thought they were protesting not because they hate their country but because they love it and want it to improve. And while I understand many resent the EU, again, why go against it instead of try to fix it? If I was a state leader, and protesters spoke out against my policies and wanted me to change something, but then burned the flag of the nation I was head of, I'd think less of them as my people who wish to bring change to better their lives, and more like enemies of the state since they have just declared themselves that by burning the flag.

B.) Burning cars. Apparently this is rampant in Rome right now, and I still don't get it. What's the friggin point? Not only do these innocent cars not deserve the punishment that is being dished out on them, but what about the owner's of those cars? They are just everyday people, for all they know people taking part in the protest and riot, and they just destroy property like its nothing. This is where I draw the line on rational protest and tantruming babies that need to be put down since they apparently cannot control themselves in society.

I mean, it just gets so stupid when protesters undermine themselves by instead of acting rationally and peacefully protesting they attempt to make a revolution out of it or something. But these days that's just stupid and won't work, they will never gain support nor respect if they just go about blowing up willy nilly and making asses of themselves. How come these people do not realize they'll get more out of NOT pissing off people and further alienating themselves? Protests gain support because people associate and sympathize with the cause, but few people would support a cause that involves making a mess of things. Most people are not pyromaniacs and violence-seekers.

[panzer 4]

you forget many people protest because they want a change, and when peaceful means doesn't achieve that, people resort to violence.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

you forget many people protest because they want a change, and when peaceful means doesn't achieve that, people resort to violence.

Against other everyday people that have nothing to do with it? And please, people seem to resort to violence over the drop of a pin these days.

[Condottiere 40K]

My unscientific observation, is that vandalism is usually conducted by the young, egged on by mob mentality, peer pressure, hormones and alcohol.

[Prosaic Visitant]

My unscientific observation, is that vandalism is usually conducted by the young, egged on by mob mentality, peer pressure, hormones and alcohol.

Actually quite apt for more than just 00.1% of 'activists'.

I was reading this news article about the Occupy Wall Street protests and how now it has apparently spread to Rome where people are protesting against Capitalism and... well who knows. Point of the matter is I read interesting parts that seem to happen every single time a riot breaks out and I question the point of some of this measures of "protesting".

A.) They burned Italian and EU flags. Now, while I understand the symbolism in doing so, I still don't understand the point in doing it. Especially the Italian flag. If these protesters are protesting against something that is bringing their country down, why are they burning the flag of their country? Seems a tad hypocritical. The statement "If you truly wish to make a statement, don't burn the flag, wash it." comes into play here. I'd have thought they were protesting not because they hate their country but because they love it and want it to improve. And while I understand many resent the EU, again, why go against it instead of try to fix it? If I was a state leader, and protesters spoke out against my policies and wanted me to change something, but then burned the flag of the nation I was head of, I'd think less of them as my people who wish to bring change to better their lives, and more like enemies of the state since they have just declared themselves that by burning the flag.

B.) Burning cars. Apparently this is rampant in Rome right now, and I still don't get it. What's the friggin point? Not only do these innocent cars not deserve the punishment that is being dished out on them, but what about the owner's of those cars? They are just everyday people, for all they know people taking part in the protest and riot, and they just destroy property like its nothing. This is where I draw the line on rational protest and tantruming babies that need to be put down since they apparently cannot control themselves in society.

I mean, it just gets so stupid when protesters undermine themselves by instead of acting rationally and peacefully protesting they attempt to make a revolution out of it or something. But these days that's just stupid and won't work, they will never gain support nor respect if they just go about blowing up willy nilly and making asses of themselves. How come these people do not realize they'll get more out of NOT pissing off people and further alienating themselves? Protests gain support because people associate and sympathize with the cause, but few people would support a cause that involves making a mess of things. Most people are not pyromaniacs and violence-seekers.

Mob mentality, people can be animals once the mass gains a mind of it's own. Why do something logical like have a clear demand and then wash smeared of a flag when you can engage your inner pyro and scream obscenities like " government" or w/e.

Also, you're right, behavior akin to bored British children is quite off putting and alienating. Why 'revolutionaries' and 'activists' fail to get this I can only guess, and my guess is that their youth and inexperience makes them impatient and edgy while others are looking for fun and others wish to go down in history as a person who 'raged against the establishment'.

You can say what you can about the Tea Party, fact of the matter is they were orderly and a Teabagger is yet to be arrested for public disruption.

[Hotspur]

Rage is not logical, so you lash out at whatever is nearest or easiest.

[LSJ]

In protests like 'Occupy Wallstreet', most of the people are peaceful. They just hold up signs, sit around, maybe take part in a chant, and drink coffee. I don't think protestors in general believe that burning cars and looting stores is helpful to their cause. The vandals who do that are typically few in number as long as sports aren't involved. When you have thousands of people together protesting, some people will inevitably take advantage of the situation and, influenced by the mood, inadequate police presence, time of day, and low chance of being caught, do something stupid and selfish.

Flag burning isn't so bad, though. At least the flags are the protesters' own property, and there is a message in it.

[Platon]

...few people would support a cause that involves making a mess of things. Most people are not pyromaniacs and violence-seekers.

And neither are 99.9% of the protestors

[Monarchist]

The panic is being spread and spread and spread by whoever is in control of propaganda and economic reporting. People can only stand so much bad news, day in and day out, before they just FREAK out. Most human beings are mindless proles and don't deserve Democracy, so it's hardly surprising that they'll start doing irrational things like burn cars. What we need is people to convert to Christianity, have a hot bath, drink some wine, and calm down.

We don't need luxuries to be happy, but it is the insane pursuit of endless luxuries that this society is most focused on. When it gets to the point that every family's dream is to own X teles, Y automobiles, and Z cottages in the countryside, it's a lost cause. Most forms of protest are just pure angst and rage being carried out by bitter people who wanted to get rich quick, but now hate the rich because they failed to get there.

[The Fishman]

The panic is being spread and spread and spread by whoever is in control of propaganda and economic reporting. People can only stand so much bad news, day in and day out, before they just FREAK out. Most human beings are mindless proles and don't deserve Democracy, so it's hardly surprising that they'll start doing irrational things like burn cars. What we need is people to convert to Christianity, have a hot bath, drink some wine, and calm down.

We don't need luxuries to be happy, but it is the insane pursuit of endless luxuries that this society is most focused on. When it gets to the point that every family's dream is to own X teles, Y automobiles, and Z cottages in the countryside, it's a lost cause. Most forms of protest are just pure angst and rage being carried out by bitter people who wanted to get rich quick, but now hate the rich because they failed to get there.

Monarchist, in light of your post I am going to consider you as a mindless prole who doesn't deserve democracy. You really need to convert to Sikhism and have a nice hot bath now, maybe a drink of Char.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

The panic is being spread and spread and spread by whoever is in control of propaganda and economic reporting. People can only stand so much bad news, day in and day out, before they just FREAK out. Most human beings are mindless proles and don't deserve Democracy, so it's hardly surprising that they'll start doing irrational things like burn cars. What we need is people to convert to Christianity, have a hot bath, drink some wine, and calm down.

We don't need luxuries to be happy, but it is the insane pursuit of endless luxuries that this society is most focused on. When it gets to the point that every family's dream is to own X teles, Y automobiles, and Z cottages in the countryside, it's a lost cause. Most forms of protest are just pure angst and rage being carried out by bitter people who wanted to get rich quick, but now hate the rich because they failed to get there.

Don't you dare bring religion into this Monarchist. Ever hear why there was a French Revolution?

[Gromovnik]

Don't you dare bring religion into this Monarchist. Ever hear why there was a French Revolution?

Yeah, the reign of terror was really cool...

[Sir Winston Churchill]

Yeah, the reign of terror was really cool...

That's the point, that horrible and bloody revolution was brought upon in part by the Catholic Church (specifically). So saying everyone should just be Catholic then everything would be right peaceful with the world is a load of crap that doesn't belong in the discussion. Even I know if everyone was Buddhist that wouldn't fix much.

[Prosaic Visitant]

We don't need luxuries to be happy, but it is the insane pursuit of endless luxuries that this society is most focused on. When it gets to the point that every family's dream is to own X teles, Y automobiles, and Z cottages in the countryside, it's a lost cause. Most forms of protest are just pure angst and rage being carried out by bitter people who wanted to get rich quick, but now hate the rich because they failed to get there.

The bit about most forms of protest being mere rage and envy at not being as wealthy as the upper-middle or upper classes is quite apt. I mean, how many protests are displays of anger against 'the rich' vs the number of demonstrations calling for being calm or for some rational debate.

[Condottiere 40K]

[The excited one]

A.) They burned Italian and EU flags. .

well its quite a compulsory thing to burn their own country's flag since they think their country don't do anything for them and thus burning the flag

I'd have thought they were protesting not because they hate their country but because they love it and want it to improve.

their love of their country is on the basis on how their current government performed if they performed like having a sex-addicted PM then they hate the country.....

B.) Burning cars. Apparently this is rampant in Rome right now, and I still don't get it. What's the friggin point? Not only do these innocent cars not deserve the punishment that is being dished out on them, but what about the owner's of those cars? They are just everyday people, for all they know people taking part in the protest and riot, and they just destroy property like its nothing. This is where I draw the line on rational protest and tantruming babies that need to be put down since they apparently cannot control themselves in society..

i seems that either the "protesters' are not protesters at all just thugs and want to do some looting instead and destorying cars since its the coolest thing to do yet or some revolutionaries (commies) who thinks that cars are evil because its owned by the evil capitalist since the revolutionaries don't own cars they burn things that they can't afford to own and show their anger toward the current society under the evil explotation of capitalism (that may be rare but there still some chance.

I mean, it just gets so stupid when protesters undermine themselves by instead of acting rationally and peacefully protesting they attempt to make a revolution out of it or something. But these days that's just stupid and won't work, they will never gain support nor respect if they just go about blowing up willy nilly and making asses of themselves. How come these people do not realize they'll get more out of NOT pissing off people and further alienating themselves? Protests gain support because people associate and sympathize with the cause, but few people would support a cause that involves making a mess of things. Most people are not pyromaniacs and violence-seekers.

i totally agree with you man tgere us a bigger scale than this anyway look at the london riot avenge for the dead person then RIOTS everyones just joins in (not just the "evil" blacks but sadly most rioters are blacks) wether black and white they just came in for "fun" and "loot"

[Prosaic Visitant]

Preciesry, and it was ONE rally. Compared to how many that are born of anger or envy at not being at the wealth level of 'the rich'?

Even then, it was half troll, half serious. Half sanity, half fear.

[Col. Tartleton]

Well I for one am blaming the terrorists.

[Pelopidas_Of_Thebes]

Most protestors are anarchists or kids from a community college who are doing a degree in communications.

They have no idea what they are protesting about. They are angry at their " lives", how some people are poor and rich.

People are ignorant. There is a justifiable cause to this protest, but "how can the rich be so rich" isn't one of them.

I don't know about Europe, but occupy wallstreet was originally about bank/political corruption. Now it's about "how can Walmart and Apple be so rich, me very angry".

ignorant people, they are worse than the banks.

It ruins the credibility of the whole thing.

[Lord Romanus III]

Most protestors are anarchists or kids from a community college who are doing a degree in communications.

They have no idea what they are protesting about. They are angry at their " lives", how some people are poor and rich.

People are ignorant. There is a justifiable cause to this protest, but "how can the rich be so rich" isn't one of them.

I don't know about Europe, but occupy wallstreet was originally about bank/political corruption. Now it's about "how can Walmart and Apple be so rich, me very angry".

ignorant people, they are worse than the banks.

It ruins the credibility of the whole thing.

You can't be an anarchist and a kid? Oh, lawdy!