# Which side are you on **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601 "2011-04-25T00:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/21 "2011-04-25T19:57:08Z")
The status quo. The revolution is a bunch of (probably young) people who are letting their emotions run away with them. I believe in working from within the system. Unless, I dunno, the existing system is completely corrupt and unrecoverable. But that’s an extreme last step. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/22 "2011-04-25T20:03:50Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Is that the sound of you firing the guns? Or are you taking fire with the rest of us? 😉 Neither. I’m taking over abandoned territory!😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/23 "2011-04-26T09:22:12Z")
The revolution means risking life and limb, and I don’t even know what for. I’m far enough out in the boonies that I doubt I’ll see any direct fighting, so I’d have to voluntarily go out where it’s dangerous. That is not happening. Heck, if I were really worried about this, I’d be the guy in the bunker with a 30 years supply of food and water. (I’d have backup entertainment, but I hope I don’t get my information cut off from the outside.) In my perfect scenario, I’d have a pretty sizable group down there with me, as it would have been a community wide project, but with a secret bunker for me and my family someone does actually figure out a way in. I’d have some scouts on the surface (volunteers), but they would not know the bunker’s location, communicating via long range radio and themselves staying as far away from the action as possible. It’d probably be people who have really good wilderness skills, unlike the rest of us. Okay, so that’s entirely too much thought for an idle hypothetical. I’m out, now. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/24 "2011-04-27T00:51:02Z")
I’m on whatever side that, after the clean up is over, will leave me the hell alone. And stay off my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/25 "2011-04-27T00:56:36Z")
For the Counterrevolution! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/26 "2011-04-27T00:57:41Z")
Viva le revolucion! Shake things up, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/27 "2011-04-27T02:28:56Z")
I was for the revolution before I was against it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/28 "2011-04-27T02:33:42Z")
If the current state of the world is the absolute best that capitalism can offer us, and if the results of recent elections show us how much change can really be achieved by working within the system, then bring on the revolution, there are many, many millions that need it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/29 "2011-04-27T12:49:08Z")
I knew some revolutionaries in college. Those guys were idiots. Crush the revolution. I will then write my memoirs and make a handsome living on the lecture circuit. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/30 "2011-04-27T13:41:45Z")
No government in human history has lasted forever so far. Change is coming sooner or later. Might as well be sooner rather than later. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/31 "2011-04-27T14:40:16Z")
To arms, brother! You go first. Meaning, if a revolution hits, I’ll be out there with the rabble. I won’t be starting it, because I am lazy as shit. I don’t like the status quo, but I’ll take it as long as I have to… since fighting it as a trailblazer is liable to get me imprisoned, and it’s more fun to be floating under the radar in the meantime. But if everyone else is out there burning down the city, I’m not going to be hiding in my bedroom and not having fun! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/32 "2011-04-27T18:19:45Z")
It all depends. If the same amount of shit is going to hit the fan regardless of who wins, then I’m on the side of the revolution. There’s been a class war here, and the rich people have won. If the shit’s gonna hit the fan either way, then I want to do what I can to make sure our Galtian overlords get shat on. If there’s still time to keep serious shit from hitting the fan, though, I’m on the side of the status quo. Things have to be pretty damned bad for revolution to amount to an improvement, and they aren’t anywhere near that bad yet. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/33 "2011-04-27T20:50:14Z")
Given that I am serving in my nation’s armed forces, it’s probably a given that I’m not in the Revolution, barring any severe changes to the current way of things. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/34 "2011-04-27T21:01:43Z")
Whatever happens, I just hope I’m not on the fan’s side. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/35 "2011-04-27T21:05:06Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Unless, I dunno, the existing system is completely corrupt and unrecoverable. Shall I put you down as “pro revolution” then? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/36 "2011-04-27T21:21:36Z")
Like, what are we talking about? If it’s a counter culture revolution from NAMBLA supporters taking over the capitol cities and forcing undocumented farmhand kids into sexual bondage? Status quo, please. On the other hand, what if it’s like a 12 Monkeys revolution because animals should be free, man. Fuck yeah. Let’s let those lions and gazelles roam Central Park! It’s a hard knock life for me. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/37 "2011-04-27T21:24:02Z")
To the barricades, mes enfants! ---
**Author:** ![Marc\_Xenos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Marc\_Xenos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marc_Xenos)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/38 "2011-04-27T21:30:38Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > When the shit hits the fan? > > Only two options - you’re either for or against Depends. I guess on WHY the shit hit the fan. The status quo is primarily beneficial to me, yet I always throw little things into the works to keep it from OWNING me. Obviously when the shit hits the fan, there are only two choices, but it depends on whether it’s because someone doesn’t like a few items about the status quo and wants to tear it ALL down (in which case I’d fight FOR the status quo), or if the status quo became so corrupted that it actively interferes with me (in which case, I’d fight for the revolution). Ideology simply isn’t enough justification. Religions are ideology. There has to be a practical, real-life on earth benefit to justify either side, and that’s what determines my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Marc\_Xenos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Marc\_Xenos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marc_Xenos)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/39 "2011-04-27T21:36:18Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Given that I am serving in my nation’s armed forces, it’s probably a given that I’m not in the Revolution, barring any severe changes to the current way of things. Didn’t you take an oath to defend your country and Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic? The President is your Commander-in-Chief. If he ordered you and the armed forces to stand guard at the door of each individual Congressman (all 535 of them) and prevent them from leaving, for their own protection, you’d have a Congress that could not meet and vote, thereby removing one entire branch of government. Would that put you in the Revolution, or maintaining the Status Quo by following orders? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601/40 "2011-04-27T22:26:05Z")
> [@Marc\_Xenos](#): > > Didn’t you take an oath to defend your country and Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic? The President is your Commander-in-Chief. If he ordered you and the armed forces to stand guard at the door of each individual Congressman (all 535 of them) and prevent them from leaving, for their own protection, you’d have a Congress that could not meet and vote, thereby removing one entire branch of government. > > Would that put you in the Revolution, or maintaining the Status Quo by following orders? That sounds like a severe change in the way of things, so my answer is effectively unchanged. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-are-you-on/579601.md?page=3)