Discussion
Having shared a bean cake with one of the hippies here in the city a couple of years ago, it seemed there were about a hundred different groups protesting. It ranged from anarchists to the pro-cycling lobby. I'm sure the vast majority of these people are all very nice and well intentioned, but the idea that they have anything serious to contribute to the debate stretches my credulity.
The professional angry brigade (Socialist Worker and his dog) seem to think there is some intrinsic merit in public protest. This is of course complete bilge. It has no impact on public opinion at all. If you want to change people's minds you have to engage in a debate, and yelling in the street is the perfect way of not having to listen to the other side. It's totally unconvincing.
We criticise the government for spouting meaningless slogans, so surely the same applies to this mob's T-shirts, chants and banners? Complex problems are unlikely to have simple solutions, and pretending otherwise is fundamentally dishonest and betrays the people these protestors are claiming to support.
The professional angry brigade (Socialist Worker and his dog) seem to think there is some intrinsic merit in public protest. This is of course complete bilge. It has no impact on public opinion at all. If you want to change people's minds you have to engage in a debate, and yelling in the street is the perfect way of not having to listen to the other side. It's totally unconvincing.
We criticise the government for spouting meaningless slogans, so surely the same applies to this mob's T-shirts, chants and banners? Complex problems are unlikely to have simple solutions, and pretending otherwise is fundamentally dishonest and betrays the people these protestors are claiming to support.
OK, points taken but I still applaud these people for actually getting off their arses and doing something about what they believe in whereas the most the majority of us will ever achieve is posting a few derisory messages about "stealth tax" on an Internet discussion forum. 
I'm not getting into a discussion about the actual subject of the protests, just the fact that they're *doing something*.
My flamesuit is on.
I'm not getting into a discussion about the actual subject of the protests, just the fact that they're *doing something*.
My flamesuit is on.
When this came through the city a few years ago, my mate was driving me home. One of said soap dodgers ran on to the bonnet of his car and stamped on his windscreen. I think he and his friends were most surprised when I got out the passenger side and rubbed his face in the broken glass (used to work when the dog pissed in the house 
)
What pissed us off was the police, who where only 40 or so yards away did f' all. On the up side they didn't seem to mind me pointing out the error of his ways.
) What pissed us off was the police, who where only 40 or so yards away did f' all. On the up side they didn't seem to mind me pointing out the error of his ways.
excellent! So then Bonce who actually has more effect on Government policy. The Soap Dodgers who smash up the Merc showroom, piss in the lobby of McDonalds and give Winston Churchill a grass mohawk or me when I put on a shirt and tie and attend my local MP's surgery as an invited guest from the local business community to tell him in a polite and articulate manner that he's a C**t and so's his boss???
Oh yes alright I get your point
Oh yes alright I get your point
oh the great unwashed - dontcha just luv em??
Get the fire brigade out with the hoses, get Head N shoulders to sponser the event and hose the buggers down. Peaceful protest is one thing and is a legitimate way of making your feelings known to the powers that be (as is road blockades, but thats another story) Violent protest does no good at all
Get the fire brigade out with the hoses, get Head N shoulders to sponser the event and hose the buggers down. Peaceful protest is one thing and is a legitimate way of making your feelings known to the powers that be (as is road blockades, but thats another story) Violent protest does no good at all
I dont condone the actions of the great unwashed but if you want to know where they will be so as to avoid the area go to http://diy.spc.org/ourmayday/
Sod the police and all the overtime I think they should starve the Liffe guys for a few days then let them loose on the protesters
. Ill open a popcorn stand and hire out deckchairs and make a mint.
Sod the police and all the overtime I think they should starve the Liffe guys for a few days then let them loose on the protesters
. Ill open a popcorn stand and hire out deckchairs and make a mint. 
I agree with Bonce, how good of some of those protestors to march against capitalism in their nike/reebok etc trainers, jeans, sweaters, coats, all most likely made in some Tiawanese sweatshop, etc. Then they can go home watch themselves on their expensive TVs and listen to it on their expensive stereo.
Actually Jon, I think I read somewhere that they wear home made body armour made out of sofa cushions and estate agent's signs. 
Having read some of the website that Cotty linked to, I'm feeling a bit less peace and love for them - I mean check this:
ABOLITION OF MONEY!?! Huh? How
stupid is that?!? Bunch of nobs.
I still stand by my original argument that I applaud them for going to so much trouble to demonstrate their beliefs.
Bonce.
Having read some of the website that Cotty linked to, I'm feeling a bit less peace and love for them - I mean check this:
quote:
From the Mayday '01 page:
=========================
The actions included a office invasion against the arms trade, a giant veggieburger give-away at MuckDonald's, building cardboard homes in Mayfair, a picket of Coutts Bank for the abolition of money, a demonstration outside HMP Pentonville
ABOLITION OF MONEY!?! Huh? How
stupid is that?!? Bunch of nobs. I still stand by my original argument that I applaud them for going to so much trouble to demonstrate their beliefs.
Bonce.
quote:
(as is road blockades, but thats another story)
Last ones to try that on me were at Dover protesting about something on the boats. Well an Audi S4 BiTurbo peeling off the roundabout at the bottom of the ramp and accelerating at them with a howling engine did seem to part them quite well......and I wouldn't have stopped for the red bast***s either "cos I woz in fear of my life" honestly ossifer........
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