Poll: Have you ever publicly protested something?

[Brawndo]

Having been in college in the United States for 6 years now, I have only seen a handful of protests, usually involving something that only matters to a niche group. Sometimes I wonder if American students are less inclined to protest than their foreign counterparts. We're certainly not nearly as active as our predecessors - compare the level of public rallies, demonstrations, and riots against the Vietnam War to those against the Iraq War. I don't know if this generation is simply more apathetic, or is just more concerned about how protesting "the wrong thing" can affect their job prospects or public image in today's internet age.

So my question to you is, have you ever publicly protested something? And by the way, I mean in person, not righting an angry editorial or changing your profile picture on Facebook to "express solidarity".

 

[DustyDrB]

I protested something about Africa for a hot girl my freshman year. I think it was the Invisible children thing. We ended up sleeping on the steps of our State House. A bunch of us had guitars and we kind of just jammed. I know it sounds shallow, and it is. But it was fun

And as far as the girl goes, it worked.

 

[ramboondiea]

i was protesting the raise in tuition fees (UK) in manchester along with a few thousand others

 

[Neonbob]

I have not. And I likely never will. Simply because I lack the drive to go do something like that...and I don't do well in crowds.

 

[Brawndo]

I protested something about Africa for a hot girl my freshman year. I think it was the Invisible children thing. We ended up sleeping on the steps of our State House. A bunch of us had guitars and we kind of just jammed. I know it sounds shallow, and it is. But it was fun

And as far as the girl goes, it worked.

lol

The "Activist Annie" type girls can be cute... and you know there's a good chance they fuck on the first date too because they are usually very liberal.

 

[DustyDrB]

I protested something about Africa for a hot girl my freshman year. I think it was the Invisible children thing. We ended up sleeping on the steps of our State House. A bunch of us had guitars and we kind of just jammed. I know it sounds shallow, and it is. But it was fun

And as far as the girl goes, it worked.

lol

The "Activist Annie" type girls can be cute... and you know there's a good chance they fuck on the first date too because they are usually very liberal.

Actually she was a very conservative christian. I'd feel like a scumbag if I did something like that now, though.

 

[Ambi]

I never have but would like to. I wish I knew about the protests in Brisbane in support of Julian Assange.

 

[Lilani]

No. If I have a problem with what some company or organization is doing, I will personally contact them either by mail, email, or phone. The way I see it, if I want them to treat myself and my opinions in a civil and understanding way, I should approach them in a civil and understanding way. Most protests I've seen as of late only manage to embarrass either one or all of the parties involved, plant the seeds of anger and frustration, and unnecessarily burden those who are uninvolved in the area.

 

[Austin Howe]

I was at the Rally to Restore Sanity. Fun day.
"Sometimes, the light at the end of the tunnel, ISN'T the promised land. Sometimes, it's just New Jersey."-Jon Stewart.

 

[sketchesformysweet]

I was there in the recent protests/riots against the rise in student fees/education cuts/tax avoidance here in London, UK. It was the most memorial day of my life, never thought I'd experience anything quite like it... Police brutality is a real thing my friends...

 

[revolutionaification]

I take part in Glasgow's May Day every year, protesting all sorts, generally the restrictions on worker's unions. Reckoning we'll get a better turn out this year now that the Tories are back in power which is good and bad. Good obviously when it comes to raising awareness but terrible considering we're currently the bitches of a government we (Scotland) didn't choose in the first place.

 

[loc978]

No, but I've been part of a security detachment at a protest. People get stupid at these things. The only positive outcome I've seen from a protest march is getting an issue most people don't know about into mainstream news. Aside from that, they tend not to make positive changes for their espoused cause.

 

[Daveman]

I would but I don't really care enough about anything. Also my friends said I gave up the right to express my opinion because I didn't vote. But then I would have voted Lib Dem like them if I had voted as we're students, so who's the real idiot?

 

[Ashcrexl]

it's just too much work. i am against things but to get out of bed, make a sign about it, and yell and wave it around for a few hours is just fucking boring.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I have made my views known, but I never stood outside a building.

Oh, you should have seen the witticisms I made during the Swine/H1N1 Flu scare.

 

[dududf]

I guess you could say I protested.

I went to the states on a plane about a week ago, and I told the guys doing the searches that if they touched my testicles I'll have them arrested for molestation of a minor.

I hate going to the states.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

A while back there was some fuss over opening up a 'gay-friendly' pub in my town and a whole bunch of "family values" types made a big deal over it.

I went with a whole mess of people from my Uni to protest, saying it should be opened.

It never DID get opened, but oh well.