deliriumcrow | Short addendum to the last post.

I knew I forgot something.

I don't have a problem with them having their display in public. As Kat pointed out, there is the right for even the KKK to march, and the Nazis and whoever else decided they want to be seen, and for the rest of the country to be pissed about it and have counter demonstrations. It's just the way things are. If one person has the right to voice an opinion, so does everyone else, no matter how wrong you may think they are. It's that whole free exchange of ideas, I guess. So yeah. If they wanted to have big posters of dead people, then go for it. But don't call me a Nazi in the process. Don't accuse me of supporting genocide, because I don't. Your right to free speech ends at accusations like that, because it hinders the freedom of thought and debate. And it hurts people.

Also, there was a single soul there, sort of a third party person, promoting the nascent Campus Libertarian Party, and freedom of speech. He amused me, sitting there in a folding chair with sunglasses on and enjoying the spectacle.

And the reason not eating was a bad idea? I ended up having in the course of the day, a cookie and a bagel. Not really enough, if you ask me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I remember at one point reading a "law" on k5 which I think originated on slashdot, it went something like, "Sooner or later, all discussions will digress to the point where one or both sides will call the other nazis. At that point, the conversation should just be abandoned."

It's an arguement of last resort, and once somebody's said it, you can just throw up your hands and let them keep talking, because once they get to that point, there's nobody new they'll convince.

Though I guess this illustrates part of my problem with rallies, is that by their very nature there isn't actual discourse. Try chanting a reasoned thesis at a rally, it won't compete with a good sounding slogan, however ridiculous.

It's not that I disagree with protesting, I just wonder if besides from evidencing a body count of people who are for a cause, if there things ever actually convince anyone of anything.

Yeah... I'm thinking this is an unpopular view around here, but I think protesting is...um... silly. And it doesn't contribute anything relevant to the debate. A bunch of morons waiving signs and shouting isn't going to convince me of anything. All it does is annoy the crap out of me... similar to coin drops and bake sales. I'm busy. Give me a url and if I'm interested, I'll send time or money your way. Harass me on the street, and you're just gonna make me mad. I'm tired of debate that takes place with shouted soundbites. The 60s sucked, and didn't make anything better... It just made it louder.

Again, I concur. I still take part, just to add a body to the count when they want to see how many people are for/against a thing. I know it accomplishes nothing. petitions seem slightly more useful, calling senators, calling the scholl president and telling her to act more fairly, that's one thing. Making noise is another.

Yeah, those are good points... I just feel very silly at things like that. And my big bug-up-my-ass thing lately is the absolute derth of civilized discourse in this country. There is just no reason for every national debate to take place "Crossfire-style"

I concur. No one was convinced of anything, though I don't doubt that the governing body at the school might have noticed that we are very unhappy with them now. I don't think it will change anything, but you know something? I've heard more debates and discussions around campus recently, so maybe it got people to think a bit.

What about when the debates start with calling the opposing faction a Nazi, a racist, or comprable similar to those who perpetrated the Twin Towers attack, as part of their whole purpose for being there? I know it will go nowhere, but I'm offended, and want them to know why. So I told a few of them, in actually quite level and reasonable tones, and left when the conversation had gone too far.

Short addendum to the last post.

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