Basically, the protestors can't win. If they march, they are blocking public roads and are the bad guys. If they stay in the camps, they are "sitting around and being lazy hippies". If they protest banks they are blocking sidewalks or trespassing on private property. If they giving out leaflets or holding seminars they are indoctrinating or brainwashing people. If they don't hand out leaflets or give talks, they are a movement with no goals. If they obey the rules of the police, they are gutless losers who should have just stay home, they don't obey the police they are anarchists who should be beaten silly.

But, in the end that is kind of expected because everyone is projecting their opinion of what they want OWS to be without actually getting involved with it.

But, I think my issue with this article isn't that OWS should feed breakfasts or clean streets, but they should do that in order to get them better press.
The Black Panthers did give out breakfasts to win over middle class people, but because people in Oakland were hungry and needed food.

I think the most important thing about this movement is to fight the entire concept of cynicism that has taken root in this country, and part of that is not being true to yourself and not just doing whatever in order to "win".

To be honest, I want some god damn idealism back in our society. I am sick and fucking tired of cynicism and hypocrisy. That is why it is so annoying that there as so many blog posts suggesting the protestors do X in order to "win", I think their writers may support a very general idea about the protests but miss their actual meaning entirely. It really isn't about winning people over, it is about battling cynicism.

I am glad the other protestors didn't condemn those people sitting on the street, because protecting the rights of those protesters to sit on the street was more important than worrying about the optics of how it would look on the news.

I have hope that the public will eventually see that through the haze of "expert" analysis.

What Ardennes MEANT to say, Graham, is "congratulations."

Well said, Graham. One of the best C'sOTW winners.

Actually Ardennes, you can 'win'. But you gotta pick yer battles carefully, and USE THE PRESS, seduce them - whatever it takes, since it is through them you win over the general population.
Oh, Graham sucks. He called me up and asked my thoughts and STOLE EVERY LINE.

That comment is so much more intelligent when it's not in caps.

* isolated clap *

* couple more claps *

[omg. is it? it can't be. it's-]

* wild applause *

@MEDTG: THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE IS NOT AN INVIOLATE RIGHT. THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHEN AND WHERE YOU'ER ALLOWED TO DO SO. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAVE AGREED TO WAIVE THE PARK CLOSURE AND OCCUPANCY REGULATIONS TO ALLOW THE #OP TO REMAIN IN THE PARK WITHOUT CREATING A DIRECT CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE GROUPS. IN THIS WAY, THE #OP IS IN THE PARK DUE TO THE GOODWILL OF THE STATE. I'M SORRY IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DISREGARD FACTS AND THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION; BUT THAT'S THE WAY THINGS ARE.

@8, it may have something to do with his ability to form coherent thoughts, put them into words and then spell those words correctly. I don't know. I could be wrong. I'm just a barely-sentient lunch snack.

Hmmm sincerity from Graham? I guess that girlfriend has been doing him good. Kudos sir!