# The National Day of Silence **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 9, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593 "2003-04-09T17:35:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/41 "2003-04-11T03:44:51Z")
Spit, try leading Diogenes by example. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/42 "2003-04-11T04:47:09Z")
Otto, just admit to yourself that things are over between us. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/43 "2003-04-14T15:07:02Z")
[Well, this is just _swell_.](http://365gay.com/NewsContent/041403studentBeating.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/44 "2003-04-14T16:28:08Z")
But, you know, **Otto** , it’s just some stupid, ineffective symbolic gesture - obviously it doesn’t really affect anyone… :rolleyes: Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Daikona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Daikona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daikona)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/45 "2003-04-14T18:27:20Z")
Well, first off, I think we can safely say that some girl getting beaten is a definite _bad_ effect. But you know what Esprix? You’re starting to sound an awful lot like the people who chased me right out of the whole thing. You just can not accept that some people don’t agree with you that this thing is the be all and end all of gay rights. > [@](#): > > And at least someone’s doing something that generates conversation. What, we’re supposed to wait until The Perfect Event shows up on our doorstep, and then do it? Pfffft. Do what you can, when you can, and as often as you can. I’m thinking of a Gandhi quote… Yeah, you’re right. No one who doesn’t like this particular approach does shit. What the fuck were we thinking? So you sit there and throw your little eye rolls around. Because mocking people who don’t agree one one comparitively miniscule point is a sure way to win people to your overall cause. Cause nevermind any other involvement I have. Never mind that I get shit from _both_ sides of the issue, because I’m not quite gay, but I’m not quite straight either. Never mind that I spend every fucking day in the wrong body. Never mind the amount I do trying to correct misperceptions about either of those, and anything related, pretty much any time they come up. Never mind the unpleasantness that has resulted at times, and the fact that I keep fucking doing it. I don’t like your day of silence, so I’m just pissing around waiting for the perfect opportunity and doing nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/46 "2003-04-14T18:46:58Z")
Oh, please - hyperbole much? The comment was directed at those who specifically stated the day was a waste of effort. You’re welcome to disagree that it might not be the most effectual device of change, but it’s obvious from this tragic that it had _some_ impact, and in my mind, that makes it a positive event. Don’t want to participate? Fine - I, nor others, would force you to. Do other things for the community? Great - and I never said you didn’t. But the least the nay-sayers can do is acknowledge that those who _did_ participate made an effort and made an impact. And the quote I was thinking of was: > [@](#): > > Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/47 "2003-04-14T18:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > **Well, first, unless it’s a government official putting “the slightest pressure” on you to be silent, your First Amendment rights are not implicated.** Wrong. (e.g., civil rights violations can come from non-governmental groups or individuals.) Trinopus ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593/48 "2003-04-14T19:55:26Z")
Please cite the case law which says that my telling you to shut the fuck up is a violation of your First Amendment rights. Please cite the case law which says that a non-governmental party handing you a card explaining why that party is silent and suggesting you do the same is a violation of your First Amendment rights. Oh, and just so you know? The guy who shushes you in the movie theatre? You can’t sue him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-silence/167593.md?page=2)