# Mic Check....Yea or Nay?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 16, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166 "2011-11-16T20:23:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166/1 "2011-11-16T20:23:13Z")

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Is ‘mic check’ a good tactic for a group insisting on freedom of speech?

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166/2 "2011-11-16T20:27:15Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> mic check, a tactic popularized at the Occupy Wall Street protests in which the speaker’s words are repeated by a large group to amplify that person’s voice

In case anyone else was curious.

[Source](http://www.bluecheddar.net/2011/11/16/robin-vos-got-mic-checked-by-aso/)

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166/3 "2011-11-16T20:28:45Z")

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This was posted to GQ, but it’s not a question with a factual answer. The OP might’ve intended to post it to Great Debates, however I’m moving it to IMHO instead because I think it’s a better fit there.

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**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166/4 "2011-11-16T20:29:10Z")

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If you mean Urban Dictionary’s 2nd definition, then probably not.  
if you mean the “Human Megaphone” technique used by OWS, then it’s no different than typical chants and slogans.

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**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mic-check-yea-or-nay/603166/5 "2011-11-16T20:35:35Z")

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Sorry, I should have been more specific. I meant as a disruptive tactic.