# \#OccupyWallStreet **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 19, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851 "2011-09-19T18:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/461 "2011-10-05T12:40:02Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m happy to have a revolution I can dance to. I don’t, however, mistake the afterparty for the main event. And it’s not clear yet whether there will be a main event. But if these guys had done nothing, would we somehow have better odds that there will be a main event than we have now? Sure, it’s nice to have all your ducks in a row, all your i’s dotted and t’s crossed. But if that’s where you set the bar, oftentimes you’re going to get nothing at all. Sometimes the only way to see if you can get somewhere is to start, even if you have no idea what you’re doing. At least they can say, in the words of Randall P. McMurphy, “But I tried, didn’t I? Goddamnit, at least I did that.” And (can’t find the exact quote, so this is a paraphrase) as Wynton Marsalis once said, ‘If you want to criticize my playing, pick up a trumpet and show me how it should be done.’ It’s not like they’re poisoning the well for the thousands of _real_ protesters who were planning to step up. There wasn’t anybody else, and if they hadn’t done anything, there probably wasn’t going to _be_ anybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/462 "2011-10-05T13:28:50Z")
> [@jlzania](#): > > Now I see them taking to the streets and it makes me glad. Really? From their first official declaration: > [@](#): > > … > They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices. That’s there at the behest of the PETA / anitmal rights crowd, and I’m pleased that you’re able to cheer them on knowing that they would eviscerate your livelihood if given free reign. Surprised, but pleased. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/463 "2011-10-05T14:19:17Z")
And \*\*Bricker \*\*clutches his pearls, and faints dead away. Hey! Counselor! Leave those kids alone! All in all, you’re just another **Bricker** in the Wall! ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/464 "2011-10-05T14:21:46Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And \*\*Bricker \*\*clutches his pearls, and faints dead away. No. “Surprised,” is not a synonym for pearl clutching or fainting. There is nothing in my post that should have led you to this conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/465 "2011-10-05T14:30:33Z")
> **[Occupy Wall Street Mass Arrest Resembles Infamous Police Tactic, Critics Say](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/occupy-wall-street-mass-arrests_n_995047)** > > Occupy Wall Street Mass Arrest Resembles Infamous Police Tactic, Critics Say About that bit about how none of the protestors was claiming to be tricked? Oh, wait, lets be careful here: does filing suit qualify as “claiming” something? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/466 "2011-10-05T14:32:44Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. > > “Surprised,” is not a synonym for pearl clutching or fainting. There is nothing in my post that should have led you to this conclusion. So, Noah Webster was caught fooling around with the maid. His wife cried out in shock: “Why, Noah Webster, I am so surprised.” “No, my dear, you are _astonished_, I am _surprised_.” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/467 "2011-10-05T14:48:07Z")
The PBS series about Prohibition last night explained succinctly why the pro-Prohibition forces won the day in 1919, and why the repeal people won in 1933: they had \*one \*specific, narrow goal, and they had tunnel vision about reaching it. No side-roads, no “oh, and also this,” they were very clear about exactly what they wanted to accomplish and they were relentless and strident and clear about it. These kids? I have no idea what they want or how they think they are going to get it. Maybe I \*am \*in favor of their goals, I don’t know what their goals _are!_ ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/468 "2011-10-05T14:53:37Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Really? > > From their first official declaration: > > That’s there at the behest of the PETA / anitmal rights crowd, and I’m pleased that you’re able to cheer them on knowing that they would eviscerate your livelihood if given free reign. > > Surprised, but pleased. But you see, I **don’t** “profit off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.” We don’t run a CAFO. Our birds are always treated humanly. As we state on our webpage, we practice transparency. Anyone is welcome to visit the farm and see what we’re all about. Last month we had a vegetarian WWOOF volunteer stay with us and he observed the kill process. Even Peter admitted that we made it as quick and painless as possible. Now he hasn’t gone back to eating hamburgers but he was comfortable eating our chicken for dinner (twice!). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/469 "2011-10-05T14:55:42Z")
I am in favor of any program that results in the slaughtering of chickens. Hated those evil little 'tards since I was four years old, and feeding them was my chore. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/470 "2011-10-05T15:03:57Z")
To concur: eating home-raised fried chicken compares to Piggly Wiggly manufactured chicken like a drug-fueled orgy with nymphomaniac cheerleaders compares to having sex with your wife because its Tuesday. If you’ve had home-raised fried chicken, watermelon and pecan pie, you know what they eat in Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/471 "2011-10-05T15:06:48Z")
They don’t have a platform, they don’t have an agenda, they don’t even have a memo of approved talking points from the Central Committee! If they don’t play by our rules, how can we beat them? No fair! ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/472 "2011-10-05T15:20:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > To concur: eating home-raised fried chicken compares to Piggly Wiggly manufactured chicken like a drug-fueled orgy with nymphomaniac cheerleaders compares to having sex with your wife because its Tuesday. > > If you’ve had home-raised fried chicken, watermelon and pecan pie, you know what they eat in Heaven. You can take the boy outta Texas but you can’t take Texas outta the boy. (It was the pecan pie reference that gave your roots away). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/473 "2011-10-05T15:46:41Z")
Little town called Waco. You never heard of it, nothing ever happens there… Now, to the matter at hand, trying to suss out what these kids are on about! Occupy Wall Street, maybe there’s a clue. I mean, if they were upset about the decline of American musical comedy, I guess they might have gone for Broadway. Or if it was the lack of wholesome recreational activities, maybe Central Park. But Wall Street? What has happened on Wall Street that might arouse such ire and animosity? Might it have something to do with the plundering of our economy by a bunch of greed freaks in suits? Ya think maybe? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/474 "2011-10-05T15:55:23Z")
And this just in from famous Paul Giametti impersonator, Ben Benanke… [http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/10/05/336510/bernanke-occupy-wall-street/](http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/10/05/336510/bernanke-occupy-wall-street/) (Think Progress? A lefty site? Ya think?..) > [@](#): > > “They blame, with some justification, the financial sector for getting us into this mess,” Bernanke said: He’s a wild man, I tells ya, a wild man! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/475 "2011-10-05T16:04:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > [Occupy Wall Street Mass Arrest Resembles Infamous, Costly Police Tactic, Critics Say | HuffPost Impact](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/04/occupy-wall-street-mass-arrests_n_995047.html) > > About that bit about how none of the protestors was claiming to be tricked? Oh, wait, lets be careful here: does filing suit qualify as “claiming” something? From your link: > [@](#): > > \*\*The mass arrests on the Brooklyn Bridge resemble a clear, premeditated police tactic that has come to be known as “trap and detain,” said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice. The tactic goes something like this, she said: the police permit and escort marchers to proceed with their activities before suddenly corralling them into a closed off area and arresting everyone in one sweep. > > The police will use a side street, a park, or, in the case of Occupy Wall Street, a bridge – usually an area where the people trapped cannot disperse, and where they end up having to beg the police to leave, Verheyden-Hilliard said. Journalists, tourists and legal observers are often caught up in these dragnets. A reason for the arrests is crafted after the fact, she said.\*\* – underline mine. This view pretty much concurs with what I said upthread about it being a police tactic – borrowed from the military it would seem – that once in place, it’s practically impossible to avoid. Jibes well with the footage from the march I watched two nights ago. So, again, to the ones criticizing the protesters as “inept”, “fools” & what have you, I trust you’ll be happy to learn that if legal precedent is any indication, they have some serious moolah coming their way…so I wonder who the “idiots” are in this case? Seems fair to me. Want to intimidate & draft a data base? Fine…as long as you pay for it. Guess we’ll have to let the “free market” determine the current going rate. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/476 "2011-10-05T16:10:48Z")
Just guessin’ here, but it might be nothing more than “Hey, we’re the cops, and you’re not! Fuck me, sir? No, sir, fuck you, sir!” Now, a lot of names, addresses, and such will be collected, and if its just lying about on a server somewhere, well, who knows? But conspiracy to commit database? Dunno. The cops haven’t released an agenda or anything so, really, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/477 "2011-10-05T16:24:55Z")
Well, I don’t think I am getting into CT territory as much as I am suggesting intimidation – after all, getting arrested and having your name on file is not exactly conducive to life in the fast lane as far as your professional career aspirations are concerned. Unless waiting 8-9 years for possible legal compensation is part of your plan. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/478 "2011-10-05T16:31:59Z")
I only regret that I have but one Permanent Record to fuck up for my country. Gee, **Red** , where did they all go? is there a Tupperware party scheduled, somewhere? Or are they just waiting for someone to set a car on fire or wreck shit so they can piously huff 'n puff about those insane anarchist kids? So far, would make a pretty good Roger Corman movie, _Mild in the Streets_… ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/479 "2011-10-05T16:49:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I only regret that I have but one Permanent Record to fuck up for my country. > > Gee, **Red** , where did they all go? is there a Tupperware party scheduled, somewhere? Or are they just waiting for someone to set a car on fire or wreck shit so they can piously huff 'n puff about those insane anarchist kids? > > So far, would make a pretty good Roger Corman movie, _Mild in the Streets_… I don’t know-I got my first arrest for civil disobedience when I was 17 and it hasn’t stopped me from doing what I wanted although I doubt I’d ever get a security clearance from the government. And all joking aside, I am really concerned that an agent provocateur will overturn a police car and give the police an excuse to clear the streets. I’ve seen it happen before, during the protests in the early 70’s. An FBI spokesmen issued a statement yesterday that essentially boiled down to “We’re watching and waiting..”. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851/480 "2011-10-05T17:07:41Z")
There’s a march planned for a bit later this afternoon: [March to Foley Square from Liberty Plaza](https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=dnUwODVjZmFraXE3NDQxbnVoYWNtbDVrdTAgOWEyNHNyaHE4dWdiMmw1b3ZhbW83MjNpMGdAZw&ctz=America/New_York&pli=1&gsessionid=GQ2m0e5Tpb0s3CII213gZA&sf=true&output=xml). If I am not mistaken, this will be the first time some of the Labor Unions will be joining in. Bit worried about that, precisely due to what **jlzania** says. Just hope the original sentiment – vague as it is, though I doubt you need be a rocket surgeon to “get” the message – doesn’t get co-opted by narrower “Unionvision”…to coin a word. If anyone wants to watch a live stream of the march, again, you can do so here: [**globalrevolution**](http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/occupywallstreet/596851.md?page=25)