The forgotten art of protesting

[st333ve]

Today protesting has basically been abandoned and has no impact on anything.

A handful of people usually land up in their tracksuits with a piece of cardboard and expect to change the world, because of how poorly people have become at protesting in Ireland , it is now seen as anti-social and will never gather the crowds required to have an actual impact.



So what happened?
Why are people so crap at protesting these days?

Years ago they were able to dress smarty and get well organised into mass protests that looked respectable and had huge impacts on the governing elite - and they had no internet or mobile phones.

[cactusflower]

Get out there on November 6th, and wear your best.

[Prester Jim]

Today protesting has basically been abandoned and has no impact on anything.

A handful of people usually land up in their tracksuits with a piece of cardboard and expect to change the world, because of how poorly people have become at protesting in Ireland , it is now seen as anti-social and will never gather the crowds required to have an actual impact.



So what happened?
Why are people so crap at protesting these days?

Years ago they were able to dress smarty and get well organised into mass protests that looked respectable and had huge impacts on the governing elite - and they had no internet or mobile phones.

Circus and bread mostly.
Also, improved psychological techniques in propaganda mean that the powers that be can control enough of the people enough of the time that protesters are seen as strange or extreme.
Look at the NAMA protests or lack of.
probably the most enormous decision taken against the wishes of the public in this state ever and barely a soul turned up.
Indifference and ignorance play a great part and I believe we will all live to regret our indifference.

[st333ve]

I cant remember the last time a protest had any impact on anything.

People cant seem to organise or get people out to protest.
And we're in recession!


Protesting is pointless now as people simply dont get involved, Maybe because of the fact that people fear eachother more in the modern world and the sense of community has been lost?

[real kiltubrid man]

protesters normally means ,attention seekers, and loud mouths ,with no cause ,shouting just to be heard, reminds me of jack o connor, yes he has no cause either

[enough_is_enough]

Egging doesn't seem to be very popular, despite its long history...! I think people are too concerned with self-image and not wanting to stand out from the crowd. Also, you could find your image plastered all over the Net. Most people wouldn't want that.

Re NAMA it's a sad reflection on Irish society that we're meekly letting it go ahead. I recently sent an email re the dangers of NAMA to over 20 MSc Graduates, and I got one reply basically saying it's a fait accompli

Most people just don't care and anyway are ignorant of almost everything outside of popular culture

[The Caped Cod]

I'm pro-testing, but not on animals!

I think what is missing is a sufficient kick in the shïte to get he people going. I fear however that once the ball actually gets moving there may be no controllig it.
Then again we may just bïtch in the pub about like usual.

[sarahj]

Today protesting has basically been abandoned and has no impact on anything.

A handful of people usually land up in their tracksuits with a piece of cardboard and expect to change the world, because of how poorly people have become at protesting in Ireland , it is now seen as anti-social and will never gather the crowds required to have an actual impact.



So what happened?
Why are people so crap at protesting these days?

Years ago they were able to dress smarty and get well organised into mass protests that looked respectable and had huge impacts on the governing elite - and they had no internet or mobile phones.

It would help if people thought protesting got anything done. Most people nowadays have just come to accept that they can't do anything to change the fact that a few people have most of the power and resources and won't give them away. They will just come up with ever more convoluted arguments, buy the media and bombard us with them until we agree that we were silly ever to ask for a tiny part of the world we live in.

[discosunbeams]

I cant remember the last time a protest had any impact on anything.

People cant seem to organise or get people out to protest.
And we're in recession!

Protesting is pointless now as people simply dont get involved, Maybe because of the fact that people fear eachother more in the modern world and the sense of community has been lost?

I think the pensioners would beg to differ!!!