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[Dsarker]

Having been reasonably interested in the recent scurrying of the peasantry, (some which might have caused me some injury! I almost didn't have enough toothpicks at my twenty seven course dinner! I could have died from shame!) I have been encouraged by my butler to attempt to find out what this 'Occupy' nonsense is. Have we gone to war with this 'Wallstreet' country? Just give them the old what-for, they'll surrender in no time! Oh, yes. What is this Occupy stuff about, old hat, and why should I pay attention to it, old bean?

[RedKing]

My father has taken an increasingly negative view of the Occupy movement ever since he drove past the Occupy Raleigh protestors. One sign prompted this shift in opinion, that being a sign that read "Capitalism is mean.".

I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed in that being a sign too.

Yeah, that's weaksauce. I have to say, I've been underwhelmed from the view on the inside as well. I joined the Messaging/Communications committee so I could help avoid those sorts of train wrecks. Unfortunately, since there seem to be 27 different trains trying to use the same track, and they're all insisting on using *their* preferred social media to communicate....>_<

Seriously, we have one person insisting on using Facebook groups, another who insists we all use the Wiki they built, four more who went out and registered domains and now seem slighted by the fact that no one is rushing to use their slapdash website...this is what happens when you let hipsters try to plan a revolution. Nevermind that since this is an utterly non-hierarchical organization with non-binding committees, there's not really jack-all we can do to get everybody on message anyways.

I'm going to have to watch Life of Brian again and take dark comfort that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea was just as fucked-up.

[mainiac]

My father has taken an increasingly negative view of the Occupy movement ever since he drove past the Occupy Raleigh protestors. One sign prompted this shift in opinion, that being a sign that read "Capitalism is mean.".

I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed in that being a sign too.

Yeah, that's weaksauce. I have to say, I've been underwhelmed from the view on the inside as well. I joined the Messaging/Communications committee so I could help avoid those sorts of train wrecks. Unfortunately, since there seem to be 27 different trains trying to use the same track, and they're all insisting on using *their* preferred social media to communicate....>_<

Seriously, we have one person insisting on using Facebook groups, another who insists we all use the Wiki they built, four more who went out and registered domains and now seem slighted by the fact that no one is rushing to use their slapdash website...this is what happens when you let hipsters try to plan a revolution. Nevermind that since this is an utterly non-hierarchical organization with non-binding committees, there's not really jack-all we can do to get everybody on message anyways.

I'm going to have to watch Life of Brian again and take dark comfort that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea was just as fucked-up.

I could be worse.  You could have a movement so small that communication isn't a challenge.

[RedKing]

My father has taken an increasingly negative view of the Occupy movement ever since he drove past the Occupy Raleigh protestors. One sign prompted this shift in opinion, that being a sign that read "Capitalism is mean.".

I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed in that being a sign too.

Yeah, that's weaksauce. I have to say, I've been underwhelmed from the view on the inside as well. I joined the Messaging/Communications committee so I could help avoid those sorts of train wrecks. Unfortunately, since there seem to be 27 different trains trying to use the same track, and they're all insisting on using *their* preferred social media to communicate....>_<

Seriously, we have one person insisting on using Facebook groups, another who insists we all use the Wiki they built, four more who went out and registered domains and now seem slighted by the fact that no one is rushing to use their slapdash website...this is what happens when you let hipsters try to plan a revolution. Nevermind that since this is an utterly non-hierarchical organization with non-binding committees, there's not really jack-all we can do to get everybody on message anyways.

I'm going to have to watch Life of Brian again and take dark comfort that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea was just as fucked-up.

I could be worse.  You could have a movement so small that communication isn't a challenge.

I'm not altogether convinced that would be worse.

[SalmonGod]

Interactive graph that shows national income growth over time in America, and who that growth went to.

[Urist Imiknorris]

Interactive graph that shows national income growth over time in America, and who that growth went to.

What I would give to be back in 2000.

[scriver]

I'm going to have to watch Life of Brian again and take dark comfort that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea was just as fucked-up.

..But that revolution did not end well. At all.

[Siquo]

More and better charts. Wow, your government really fucked up.

Also: Batman is the 1%. (you should also be more worried about the 0.1%, by the way.)

[scriver]

And what is Batman? He's a damn spoiled playboy who has turned Gotham into his own playground, claiming to "fight crime" when all he does is perpetuate and escalate the violence.

Seriously, Batman is the worst of Superheroes. He has all that money that he can use to make a real change in Gotham, and he chooses to spend it on things like batarangs and silly gimmicks and toys. You're right, he really is the 1%.

Also I think I went off topic here.

[Siquo]

Also I think I went off topic here.

Nah, I just saw people mention Lex Luthor as the 1%, which I think is (again) unfair labeling, therefore: Batman. Your arguments make him look even worse. 

[RedKing]

And what is Batman? He's a damn spoiled playboy who has turned Gotham into his own playground, claiming to "fight crime" when all he does is perpetuate and escalate the violence.

Seriously, Batman is the worst of Superheroes. He has all that money that he can use to make a real change in Gotham, and he chooses to spend it on things like batarangs and silly gimmicks and toys. You're right, he really is the 1%.

Also I think I went off topic here.

Hello? Iron Man? Tony Stark is a billionaire *arms dealer*.
At least Wayne Enterprises makes their money from...y'know....Wayne stuff. 
Really, when you think it about it....the vast majority of superheroes are either crazy rich (Professor Xavier and Reed Richards as well) or government-sponsored. It takes a lot of cash to have a secret lair, custom vehicles, frequent medical care, and to pay for liability for all the collateral damage. There's probably a good Master's thesis in English/sociology there for somebody, analyzing wealth disparity in comic books heroes.

Anyways, enough derail. I'll probably drop by on Thursday or Friday and visit with the folks down at the Capitol, bring 'em some lunch or something. Maybe make some better signs for them to wave. 

[SalmonGod]

I like how Batman (in the Christopher Nolan films, anyway) goes on a soul-searching journey into poverty to try and understand the criminal mind, which he admits is life-changing for him as he learns what it is like to have to do things like steal food to survive...

... and his reaction to that experience is "I know what needs to be done about all these criminals... scare the shit out of them!"

[RedKing]

I like how Batman (in the Christopher Nolan films, anyway) goes on a soul-searching journey into poverty to try and understand the criminal mind, which he admits is life-changing for him as he learns what it is like to have to do things like steal food to survive...

... and his reaction to that experience is "I know what needs to be done about all these criminals... scare the shit out of them!"

Well you have to remember that the Nolan films were adapted from the Frank Miller-era Batman. And Frank Miller is a guy who honestly believes that vigilanteism is the highest form of justice. Although I rather liked the bit in The Dark Knight where

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the Joker has the two boatloads of people held hostage, one with convicts doing a prison transfer, and the other with regular people. Each boat has a bomb on it, and the other boat has the detonator. The regular people are nearly fighting each other to blow up the criminals, while on the convict boat, the biggest, baddest motherfucker on the boat takes the detonator...and doesn't let anybody touch it.

[scriver]

Hello? Iron Man? Tony Stark is a billionaire *arms dealer*.
At least Wayne Enterprises makes their money from...y'know....Wayne stuff. 
Really, when you think it about it....the vast majority of superheroes are either crazy rich (Professor Xavier and Reed Richards as well) or government-sponsored. It takes a lot of cash to have a secret lair, custom vehicles, frequent medical care, and to pay for liability for all the collateral damage. There's probably a good Master's thesis in English/sociology there for somebody, analyzing wealth disparity in comic books heroes.

Hehe, I was going to postabout the exact same people
Especially Richards, though, considering he is useless and all. And seriously, where the hell did Xavier even get the fortune it must've cost to both research and assemble all that futuristic tech he has? I mean, this and the nature of his powers does raise a few questions.

I like how Batman (in the Christopher Nolan films, anyway) goes on a soul-searching journey into poverty to try and understand the criminal mind, which he admits is life-changing for him as he learns what it is like to have to do things like steal food to survive...

... and his reaction to that experience is "I know what needs to be done about all these criminals... scare the shit out of them!"

And also the "..And I must never use a gun or kill anyone, except innocent bystanders who gets in the way of my fighting or reckless driver or any of the other destruction I cause" thing he has going.
And also faceless mooks, because their obviously the lives of the Joker and his likes are much more worth than the poor fucked up henchmen and lowlives more or less forced to work for them.

Well you have to remember that the Nolan films were adapted from the Frank Miller-era Batman. And Frank Miller is a guy who honestly believes that vigilanteism is the highest form of justice.

Frank Miller has got *some* problems, doesn't he.

Although I rather liked the bit in The Dark Knight where

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the Joker has the two boatloads of people held hostage, one with convicts doing a prison transfer, and the other with regular people. Each boat has a bomb on it, and the other boat has the detonator. The regular people are nearly fighting each other to blow up the criminals, while on the convict boat, the biggest, baddest motherfucker on the boat takes the detonator...and doesn't let anybody touch it.

One of my favourite moments as well. Right there behind every damn frame with Ledger in it


edit: Okay, so now I actually went way too much off-topic. Apologies, once more

[RedKing]

Back on topic:

Saw this in one of the discussions where we're trying to get some message discipline going:

Top down control of messaging is not what Occupy Raleigh is about. that is so 20th Century.

 

Okay, let's all just run out and shout the first thing that comes to our minds when people ask us what the Occupy movement is all about!

"Capitalism is mean!"
"Corporations suck!"
"My cat's breath smells like cat food!"


Seriously...I feel like I'm trying to herd a few hundred Ralph Wiggums here, and all the while there's some goateed hipster douchebag saying, "Hey bro, don't be bringing your 20th century "messaging" and "coherence" up in here."