Politics Blocking streets for protests

[Engimal v3]

I was waiting for a tram on Swanston St today, but the trams were severely delayed due to protests in the streets. The cause was something regarding women's rights and anti-rape messages, I only briefly read the signs. Now, I am fully on board with this, and I think most people would say they are very anti-rape....

However, does anyone agree that blocking streets and delaying public transport is the most insane idea ever to advance a cause? That is some serious mental gymnastics being performed by these people, for them to think that all these pissed off commuters that they've made late are now going to listen to their ideas.

Is creating a public disturbance an effective form of protest? I think it creates aggression toward that cause. Anyone who has been involved with an event like this, please let me know your thoughts.

 

[Thegibbsgamble]

Had mate protest the opening of the uranium mine in roxby downs

What they said would happen did at fukishima.

Anyway sapol took shipping containers up there to lock up the protestors. Many left in them all day in seering heat. My mate developed schitzophrenia from heat exposure and dehydration.

He didn't get a pay out by others in them with him did from other medical issues caused by locked up in a shipping container

Protests are an important part of a democracy. However when everyone was caught up in same sex marriage hyperbole laws slipped through parliment allowing the gov to stop ones they want to. Big protests coming if we start taking the nuclear waste no other country wants because of how dangerous and unmanagable it is.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

I was waiting for a tram on Swanston St today, but the trams were severely delayed due to protests in the streets. The cause was something regarding women's rights and anti-rape messages, I only briefly read the signs. Now, I am fully on board with this, and I think most people would say they are very anti-rape....

However, does anyone agree that blocking streets and delaying public transport is the most insane idea ever to advance a cause? That is some serious mental gymnastics being performed by these people, for them to think that all these pissed off commuters that they've made late are now going to listen to their ideas.

Is creating a public disturbance an effective form of protest? I think it creates aggression toward that cause. Anyone who has been involved with an event like this, please let me know your thoughts.

The idea is to bring your cause to somebody's attention, to make it so in-your-face that the general public like yourself can't walk on by and ignore your message. It's definitely a legitimate tactic of protesting, if one at the more extreme end of the scale.

FWIW, I don't think anti-rape protests really need a street-blocking march. Like you said, pretty sure most people would already acknowledge that rape exists agree that rape is bad.

 

[Engimal v3]

The idea is to bring your cause to somebody's attention, to make it so in-your-face that the general public like yourself can't walk on by and ignore your message. It's definitely a legitimate tactic of protesting, if one at the more extreme end of the scale.

FWIW, I don't think anti-rape protests really need a street-blocking march. Like you said, pretty sure most people would already acknowledge that rape exists agree that rape is bad.

So it's like an "any publicity is good publicity" sort of thing?

I'm just not sure it applies toh tese sorts of situations. It reminds of those anti-Starbucks protesters going into stores and screaming into customers' and casual baristas' faces. It mostly just angered people because of the obnoxiousness, and the message was damaged because of it.

The same thing would likely happen here, right? They obnoxiously block traffic, and people who were made late or were in emergencies just get anagered at them.

 

[Dixie Normous]

They should just use the pavement instead of taking up the whole street, but I guess that wouldn't attract as much attention

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

So it's like an "any publicity is good publicity" sort of thing?

I'm just not sure it applies toh tese sorts of situations. It reminds of those anti-Starbucks protesters going into stores and screaming into customers' and casual baristas' faces. It mostly just angered people because of the obnoxiousness, and the message was damaged because of it.

The same thing would likely happen here, right? They obnoxiously block traffic, and people who were made late or were in emergencies just get anagered at them.

Yeah but keep in mind that the people walking into starbucks stores and screaming were more than likely just people with deep-seated anger issues who look for situations where they can vent and justify it. They're far removed from protests like the one which you saw today.

Look at it this way. If the protesters today had stood on the side of the road in silence and allowed traffic to pass through, you would have given them nothing more than a glance instead of being annoyed enough to post about it on the forum and start this discussion, which was exactly what they wanted you to do. The word is being spread.

 

[ShanDog]

Yeah but keep in mind that the people walking into starbucks stores and screaming were more than likely just people with deep-seated anger issues who look for situations where they can vent and justify it. They're far removed from protests like the one which you saw today.

Look at it this way. If the protesters today had stood on the side of the road in silence and allowed traffic to pass through, you would have given them nothing more than a glance instead of being annoyed enough to post about it on the forum and start this discussion, which was exactly what they wanted you to do. The word is being spread.

It's a good way to get a lot of people offside though too. I wonder if there is a net gain to be had in reality. I'd guess not.

But then again I find the idea of excusing public nuisance as protest to be weak. You can do it without impeding other people.

 

[Procrastinator35]

I was waiting for a tram on Swanston St today, but the trams were severely delayed due to protests in the streets. The cause was something regarding women's rights and anti-rape messages, I only briefly read the signs. Now, I am fully on board with this, and I think most people would say they are very anti-rape....

However, does anyone agree that blocking streets and delaying public transport is the most insane idea ever to advance a cause? That is some serious mental gymnastics being performed by these people, for them to think that all these pissed off commuters that they've made late are now going to listen to their ideas.

Is creating a public disturbance an effective form of protest? I think it creates aggression toward that cause. Anyone who has been involved with an event like this, please let me know your thoughts.

It's a common tactic amongst the European set....Particularly Farmers or Truckies.

We had the Vic Taxi industry protesting the murder of yet another Sheikh driver a few years back, in order to draw attention to their plight & the need for increased security....They also used the same tactic to protest against Uber cutting into their turf.

One of the more effective ones occurred a few years ago in Russia....A well known Oligarch wasn't paying his workers the correct wage & sacked those who went out in protest....The entire town of this factory protested, cutting off the main Trans-Siberian highway in Russia for days.

Finally, Putin went to the town to intervene, & ordered all the foreman & the owner to be present....On National Television he instructed the owner to re-instate all the workers & give them all a 30% pay increase or else.....And duly made him sign the contract right there & then.

Problem solved.

 

[Donakebab]

Had mate protest the opening of the uranium mine in roxby downs

What they said would happen did at fukishima.

Anyway sapol took shipping containers up there to lock up the protestors. Many left in them all day in seering heat. My mate developed schitzophrenia from heat exposure and dehydration.

He didn't get a pay out by others in them with him did from other medical issues caused by locked up in a shipping container

Protests are an important part of a democracy. However when everyone was caught up in same sex marriage hyperbole laws slipped through parliment allowing the gov to stop ones they want to. Big protests coming if we start taking the nuclear waste no other country wants because of how dangerous and unmanagable it is.

That's not how schizophrenia works.

 

[faible]

It's a common tactic amongst the European set....Particularly Farmers or Truckies.

We had the Vic Taxi industry protesting the murder of yet another Sheikh driver a few years back, in order to draw attention to their plight & the need for increased security....They also used the same tactic to protest against Uber cutting into their turf.

One of the more effective ones occurred a few years ago in Russia....A well known Oligarch wasn't paying his workers the correct wage & sacked those who went out in protest....The entire town of this factory protested, cutting off the main Trans-Siberian highway in Russia for days.

Finally, Putin went to the town to intervene, & ordered all the foreman & the owner to be present....On National Television he instructed the owner to re-instate all the workers & give them all a 30% pay increase or else.....And duly made him sign the contract right there & then.

Problem solved.

What I took from this is that we need Putin to come here to resolve any industrial disputes that might arise.

 

[FireKrakouer]

Seems immature and counter productive.

 

[Procrastinator35]

Seems immature and counter productive.

Nope: Quite the opposite


Vietnam street march protests, circa 1967.....It would appear that the U.S has always had a fascist element to it's authoritarianism.

And who can ever forget this bloke?
Tiananmen Square may well have been a massacre, but it did lead to far more liberal reforms thereafter. With the massive universal condemnation & international pressure it brought to bear on China.

 

[Engimal v3]

Yeah but keep in mind that the people walking into starbucks stores and screaming were more than likely just people with deep-seated anger issues who look for situations where they can vent and justify it. They're far removed from protests like the one which you saw today.

Look at it this way. If the protesters today had stood on the side of the road in silence and allowed traffic to pass through, you would have given them nothing more than a glance instead of being annoyed enough to post about it on the forum and start this discussion, which was exactly what they wanted you to do. The word is being spread.

That's very true that it's got people talking, but I feel like most of the talking is (and was, from pedestrians I overheard), "gee, I wish these dickheads didn't delay public transport and ruin my day".

Pissing people off doesn't usually sway them to your side.

 

[Procrastinator35]

That's very true that it's got people talking, but I feel like most of the talking is (and was, from pedestrians I overheard), "gee, I wish these dickheads didn't delay public transport and ruin my day".

Pissing people off doesn't usually sway them to your side.

Mass street protests are one of the only ways left for the people to have their voices heard against the tyranny of their governments.

Where they feel their government is not listening to them or is unrepresentative, then street protests provide for a forum of mass civil disobedience, as a way of getting the point across.

These were very successful in the 60's & 70's for all kinds of progressive movements, like Black Lives matter, feminist abortion rights, Anti Vietnam rally's, Anti-Nuclear development rallys etc, etc.

 

[Leeda]

That's not how schizophrenia works.

strange. you drive the bus to utopia... you will be blessed...

 

[Leeda]

Seems immature and counter productive.

everything is counter productive and less that worthy.. say hello to my tourniquet..

 

[Leeda]

That's not how schizophrenia works.

grant me another web page so I can rattle the lifelike journey to tell you to tell the smarter parts of me to tell
you to shut up...

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

They also used the same tactic to protest against Uber cutting into their turf.

At least one of the protests I can remember they stayed off the tram tracks. They walked on the eastbound lanes of Bourke Street.

 

[Procrastinator35]

At least one of the protests I can remember they stayed off the tram tracks. They walked on the eastbound lanes of Bourke Street.

The one against the murders of Taxi drivers & the point of increased safety procedures after dark, took up all of Swanston & Flinders street outside the Flinders Street Station....It made for pretty sad & powerful viewing seeing so many adult men wailing in that way....It was strong stuff & it was also effective.

 

[Leeda]

The one against the murders of Taxi drivers & the point of increased safety procedures after dark, took up all of Swanston & Flinders street outside the Flinders Street Station....It made for pretty sad & powerful viewing seeing so many adult men wailing in that way....It was strong stuff & it was also effective.

send you on your way and we are likely to crash the party... he says that I like wrong parties and they drive levelling ... good on you...

 

[Present Not Past]

They're usually well advertised and you just have to make adjustments to your travel plans.
What I really hate is being stuck in traffic jams due to accidents and breakdowns and stuck on useless public transport.
There's usually little to no warning and you have nowhere to go.