Comments on: 20 Things That Make More Sense Than Protesting

By: Of Facebook and the prorogation of our national playpen

Of Facebook and the prorogation of our national playpen — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:45:05 +0000

[...] On a different but somewhat related note: if you wish to read something damn funny, by Justin Kownacki on alternatives to protest you should really go here. [...]

By: 20 Things That Make More Sense Than Protesting. « The UFOC

20 Things That Make More Sense Than Protesting. « The UFOC — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:45:41 +0000

[...] http://www.justinkownacki.com/.....rotesting/ [...]

By: Are Pittsburgh G20 protesters wasting their time |

Are Pittsburgh G20 protesters wasting their time | — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:16:22 +0000

[...] Justin Kownacki thinks so (I mostly disagree, but he makes some telling points) Dear protesters (and those who feel like shouting while at home), [...]

By: John R. Carman

John R. Carman — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:34:35 +0000

Jym, Justin’s post is about taking action, and I personally know that he himself has taken many of those actions. I’m sorry that you don’t agree with his suggestions, but I assure you he’s not just clucking at protesters.

By: Derrick

Derrick — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:26:37 +0000

Jym, you think making a mess of Pittsburgh will do anything to contract police powers? I’d argue just the opposite: doing *nothing* which justifies an apparently-already-overzealous police response will do more than lifting a finger from here on out: their attention will be shown to have had no justification.

By: Jym

Jym — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:50:58 +0000

=v= This would be oh so very trenchant if not for the fact that the people growing tomatoes at the Landslide Community Farm were hassled by the Pittsburgh police for no good reason.

The expansion of police state powers under the Bush Administration is a very real problem, but I guess you’d prefer to just cluck at protesters.

By: Leslie Poston

Leslie Poston — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:37:28 +0000

Great post – had to reshare it alloverthedamnplace

By: John R. Carman

John R. Carman — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:31:59 +0000

Best. G20 post. Ever.

I tweeted earlier that the protesters should have gone to PodCamp, because they’re not doing a very good job of getting their messages heard.

I suspect that Joe is right that it is a small number of people who are out to make a mess, and perhaps these groups don’t have much of a message beyond angst. But I’ve never believed that protesting is very effective, and I think that a lot of the ideas you give here can be much more effective — perhaps none more so than taking enough time away from thinking about the bad to go and do some good.

I like the way you rant.

By: Chris Hall

Chris Hall — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:14:37 +0000

Having witnessed a protest against the organization I work for today, I’m very interested to find out if actual conversations can happen at one. Say I were to have gone across the street just to learn the opposing party’s point of view, one individual at a time…

Maybe I get spit on. Maybe I make new friend. What is more likely?

By: Joe Williams

Joe Williams — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:48:27 +0000

What if you already do many or most of these things, and think lending your presence to non-violent protest is a good idea? Most people who I know do many of these things and also participate in protest. Don’t overstate your point, Justin. You’re talking about a small number of people who are out to make a mess, and the huge majority of activists don’t want anything to do with that (including me).

Keep in mind protest is primarily nonviolent, and that those who get out of hand are almost always losers (from all sides). In fact, when there is violence, it is important to look for the presence of provocateurs from left, center, and right.