Do "Mass" type events tend to make you more or less sympathetic to a cause?

[Tobra]

Do "Mass" type events tend to make you more or less sympathetic to a cause? To be clear, by this I mean flash mob deals where a bunch of people together, to walk across a bridge and stop traffic, or ride bicycles in the street and stop traffic, or when the Rodney King verdict came out and there were people marching in the street. I would not really classify the more recent occurrences in Ferguson or Baltimore much differently.

Same kettle of fish, just a little more rotten, from a respect for society point of view.

[stomachmonkey]

Neither.

While I may get "the why" and even empathize I also get irritated by the lack of consideration for the public that generally accompanies these events so for me it's a wash.

[VaSteve]

Organized, published, OK. People holding up the traffic on a workday with no permits? The hell with those people.

[pavulon]

Consciously or sub-consciously?

[Noah930]

I'm with Steve. ^^^^

Don't be inconsiderate and I'll be more sympathetic.

[scottmandue]

I'm pretty confident, educated, and aware of what "causes" I support... don't need a group to support my convictions.

However I'm good with events to support any cause I agree with (farm aid, concerts to support medical research, disaster relief, etc.)

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'm with Steve. ^^^^

Don't be inconsiderate and I'll be more sympathetic.

Ditto. I'm not very sympathetic to a bunch of inconsiderate a-holes.

[jyl]

They don't make me more or less sympathetic to a cause. They do, however, make me aware of a cause, and that is their purpose.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Ditto. I'm not very sympathetic to a bunch of inconsiderate a-holes.

I'm a member of a union... however a local union decided to have a "walk" at 5:00PM mid-week... they claimed it wasn't designed to inconvenience any one... then why not have your "demonstration" on the weekend or in the afternoon instead of clogging the street for all us poor duffers trying to get home from work?

[mreid]

The causes I don't support always seem to be radical and disruptive. They also tend to be people trying to take advantage of what they haven't earned. The two exceptions are generally keeping the environment I live in clean and the food/water I consume pure.

[wdfifteen]

Less. Those things are designed to appeal to emotions and I respond better to facts and figures.

[TheMentat]

Originally Posted by jyl

They don't make me more or less sympathetic to a cause. They do, however, make me aware of a cause, and that is their purpose.

Exactly!

[rwest]

Thought about this and I think that it doesn't matter if they get sympathy, in fact sympathy might work against their goals.

My conclusion is that the inconvenience they cause "pisses" off lots of people and the politicians/officials/policy makers don't want to deal with angry constituents, so if the groups "requests" can be dealt with so that the problem goes away, that's how the group gets their way.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by jyl

They don't make me more or less sympathetic to a cause. They do, however, make me aware of a cause, and that is their purpose.

Let's face it. Pelicans are Porsche owners, 95% white, at least middle-class income, the majority with a college education. Most Pelicans have never been subjected to discrimination, gone hungry, been kicked out of a residence when converted to condos, and 90% have access to good healthcare. We're not empathetic, so the inconvenience they cause brings no sympathy.

I'm no bleeding heart liberal, just the opposite, but this forum is not a good group to look for unbiased or open minded opinions on public demonstrations. "Yeah, those f#@kers protesting for a raise in minimum wage made me drive my Carrera the long way to Cars and Coffee. Bastards!" LMAO!

[Nostril Cheese]

This reminds me of the four guys I recently saw on the side of highway 99 flying confederate flags. One had a sign that said F*** N****rs, another said Kill all F*gs. It looked like they had been pelted with rocks and garbage.

Best laugh all day.

[oldE]

I saw a T shirt the other day which said,

"When you follow the masses be careful: the "M" is sometimes silent."

So no.
Best
Les

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Let's face it. Pelicans are Porsche owners, 95% white, at least middle-class income, the majority with a college education. Most Pelicans have never been subjected to discrimination, gone hungry, been kicked out of a residence when converted to condos, and 90% have access to good healthcare. We're not empathetic, so the inconvenience they cause brings no sympathy.

I'm no bleeding heart liberal, just the opposite, but this forum is not a good group to look for unbiased or open minded opinions on public demonstrations. "Yeah, those f#@kers protesting for a raise in minimum wage made me drive my Carrera the long way to Cars and Coffee. Bastards!" LMAO!

For me it's as simple as it shows incredibly poor manners.

Mama didn't raise me like that and daddy woulda slapped me upside the head.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by rwest

Thought about this and I think that it doesn't matter if they get sympathy, in fact sympathy might work against their goals.

My conclusion is that the inconvenience they cause "pisses" off lots of people and the politicians/officials/policy makers don't want to deal with angry constituents, so if the groups "requests" can be dealt with so that the problem goes away, that's how the group gets their way.

I understand your point re: their MO. But I do not want to be the kind of guy that rewards bullying and selfishness. I agree with stomachmonkey, above.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

This reminds me of the four guys I recently saw on the side of highway 99 flying confederate flags. One had a sign that said F*** N****rs, another said Kill all F*gs. It looked like they had been pelted with rocks and garbage.

Best laugh all day.

Had a similar situation, guys parked their pickups flying giant flags blocking one of three major intersections in my town. They weren't earning anyone's respect.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by oldE

I saw a T shirt the other day which said,

"When you follow the masses be careful: the "M" is sometimes silent."

So no.
Best
Les

Gold!