Violent Protest

[Frozzy]

I've never been able to discern any coherent position or cohesive message from the G8/G20/etc protesters. They fail. And they know they fail. Yet they continue. I can only assume they need an outlet for their anger. But at least it's something the host cities can plan for.

Or maybe I'm just hopelessly naive and ill-informed. I probably read the the wrong websites...

They're usually more just a catalyst for interest groups to start shouting and stand around braziers.

So, one day you might get trade unions protesting, then you'll get environmentalists, then you'll get anti-war protesters, anti-poverty protesters. Then when the summit actually starts you get them all lumped into one angry, loud group with some imbecile anarchists who throw rocks through windows and set police cars on fire.

It's not a coherent, it's daft and it's pointless.

[Flubber]

They're usually more just a catalyst for interest groups to start shouting and stand around braziers.

So, one day you might get trade unions protesting, then you'll get environmentalists, then you'll get anti-war protesters, anti-poverty protesters. Then when the summit actually starts you get them all lumped into one angry, loud group with some imbecile anarchists who throw rocks through windows and set police cars on fire.

It's not a coherent, it's daft and it's pointless.

THats always been my take as well yet EVERY time there seem to be a fairly large number of them-- larger than would be accounted for by the truly lunatic fringe. All they seem to do is bump up the security cost of the conference and break a few things.

Whuile some might have a "message" it gets lumped in with so many other messages as to become a babble.

When the g8 was in Calgary I talked to a few protesters and was surprised at how many couldn't articulate much beyond a distaste for "globalization", 'big corporations" or "government waste"

[MrFun]

(random threadjack thought)

There's a robin outside on my patio right now.

[Q Classic]

I'm not defending them at all, but I fear you're missing their point. They hate that those economies are so large. They don't think it's a good thing.

Alas, they're wrong. Being in the first world has a lot of benefits. Like, for instance, being able to eat on a regular basis.

[Q Classic]

(random threadjack thought)

Doritos Mr. Dragon's Fire Chips are awesome.

I find the font and idiotic package design to be reprehensible and offensive.

[Asher]

Of course they're wrong.

[Q Classic]

Another side benefit of living in the first world: not being prey to frequent life-threatening social upheavals, like much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Oh, and being able to pay for an adequate defence, like South Korea.

Oh, and being able to find careers that are satisfying instead of substinence farming.

****ing hippies. They should get goddamn jobs.

[MrFun]

I find the font and idiotic package design to be reprehensible and offensive.

I would like almost anything that offends you, though.

[Wezil]

The police Chief is under pressure to explain how with thousands of cops and a $1B budget a couple hundred trouble makers got the best of him.

Another note about "asshats": The police held a press conference today to display the "weapons" they seized from the protesters. Front and center were a crossbow and chainsaw. Pretty disturbing items to be sure, but nowhere near as disturbing as the fact these items were NOT seized from G20 protesters (they were taken the prior week in an unrelated event). Never let truth get in the way of a good photo op.

[Asher]

The thousands of cops and $1B budget were not for protest management, but actual leader security for the most part. They don't give a **** about property.

[Wezil]

I suspect that was the problem.

[C0ckney]

you'd think that with $1billion they could do both, no?

[Asher]

you'd think that with $1billion they could do both, no?

Sure, but I think they were more worried about seriously injuring people. When they're running around swinging hammers and firebombing cars, they could rush in and try to arrest them right away but I'm sure that'd escalate the situation.

[Wezil]

I just returned from Old City Hall and it didn't look too bad downtown. I presume the glass people had a good day yesterday.

[Flubber]

I just returned from Old City Hall and it didn't look too bad downtown. I presume the glass people had a good day yesterday.

Probably

The reality is that no amount of security can protect windows. The area and number of people are so large. You can created fenced off zones I guess but these are resisted and no matter how large you make a safe zone, the protesters can gather just outside and then its impossible to prevent random idiots from tossing rocks.