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0 pointsfiloleg6y ago0 comments

Somewhat off-topic, but tangentially related: I feel like it is similar to all other kinds of disruptive protesters blocking the roads for people who are just trying to get to/from work

No matter the cause, blocking someone’s commute and making them waste time is not really going to convince them to be on your side, unless they were already on it. So you are essentially alienating the people in the middle and in the opposition to your cause, while not adding anything extra to those already on your side (+the possibility of some of those people defecting to the opposition, after being inconvenienced enough).

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4 comments · 2 top-level

voqv6y ago· 2 in thread

Usually the counterargument in that case is that no movement got what it wants by asking nicely.

leetcrew6y ago

I'm prepared to accept that experienced activists probably understand what's effective better than I do, but I've never understood how this actually works in the case of doing very annoying stuff like blocking streets.

sure, it gets people's attention, but if they don't already care, why would you expect their solution to be "right this injustice" rather than "get the police to clear these people out of my way"?

filolegOP6y ago

Sure, they are welcome to ask for things non-nicely, but not in ways that majorly inconveniences people who are not related whatsoever to the issue they are protesting.

You are trying to protest corruption of your local city council by gathering outside of the building and yelling loudly? I will support you, maybe even join you, if I feel strongly enough about the issue. You protest the same thing by blocking off random highway ramps to any traffic (which could potentially affect emergency services), inconveniencing random people who have nothing to do with the issue? Yeah, you lost my sympathy and support, and very likely gave some ammo to those trying to derail your cause and those on the fence.

btrettel6y ago

Exactly. I'm not opposed to demanding things. I just don't see particularly disruptive protests as effective at realizing those demands. As you point out, these protests might even be counterproductive.

If all they're doing is blocking the road as is the case in the photo I was responding to, that's not likely to help. That's screaming into the ether. It might make them feel better but it's not likely to solve the root cause of their problems.

I think a lot of activism is more about making the activists feel better than actually changing the world.

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