I sort of get where orcus is coming from. I don't think a whole lot of being "politically active" just for the sake of it, notably when it involves unproductive activities like this. Not that posting on the internet, as someone brought up, is very productive, but at least there's some (ideally open-minded and reasonable) exchange of ideas.
What is the endgame of stuff like this? What is it supposed to actually accomplish? Plenty of attention has already been brought to these issues, and beyond that, I can only think that people participate in these things in order to feel like they are doing something or making some kind of difference. *shrug*
-J
What's accomplished by "plenty of attention" being given to the issues if people then go back to not caring an hour later after the news is over or they forgot half of the article they just read? What alternative do you suggest to people who are upset and want to be heard? And why does something have to lead directly to change for it to matter or make any kind of difference?
I never said something has to lead directly to change to be worthwhile. But the goal these people claim to have IS to spark change in some capacity...isn't it?
And, really, you act like the "exchange of ideas" is any more productive than these protests, but what use do any of these discussions have if the only time we ever get involved in anything related to these topics is when we argue about it here? How is this any more "productive" or beneficial than what they're doing? You ask what the protests are supposed to accomplish as if not accomplishing anything makes it pointless, yet it's openly acknowledged that 99% of the discussions here won't change anyone's opinion on the topic.
Obviously, I can't speak for anyone else. But I think there are a small handful of us who DON'T just come here with the sole purpose of spouting off our beliefs, but rather actually do make an effort to learn from some of the other posters and consider their opinions, or at least try to see issues in a different light. At any rate, let me be clear: I don't think posting at DTF is a very productive activity either, but I do get a little bit out of it personally.
I post here mostly for entertainment, but it occasionally ends up being an educational experience. That makes it personally enriching to me in some small way, as I sometimes come away with a better understanding of whatever topic happens to be being discussed. That knowledge may come into play in some other capacity in my life, I don't know.
What I do know is that I would never waste weeks of my life marching around whining about an issue, no matter how passionate I felt about it. I would find some other way to address my concerns, preferably an avenue with some remote track record of recent success. Literally the only thing it can ever accomplish is raising public awareness of said issue, and in this day and age, I think these kind of demonstrations are completely archaic and obsolete for several reasons.
I'd be interested to know what people who are prone to participate in such protests think they are accomplishing, other than self-satisfaction. I have yet to see someone here address this question. Anyway, I certainly don't have any contempt for them, but I also don't understand how they are so lauded by some for "fighting for justice," when the reality is that they would be better served putting their efforts almost ANYWHERE else.
tl;dr - I don't care if people want to march around holding up signs and yelling, but I think usually they are at best wasting their time, and at worst doing their cause a disservice.
-J
EDIT: To be clear, I don't disagree with the causes of a lot of these protests. I just don't think much of their chosen course of "action."