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by timewizard 503 days ago
Keep in mind "Mens rea." If you are implicated in the crimes of the crowd all of these actions may be used to increase the penalties you face. Even if you "trust" the crowd, somehow, you should remember that agent provocateurs exist.

You might ask what attending a large scale protest is intended to achieve and decide for yourself if the personal risks are worth it.

2 comments

> You might ask what attending a large scale protest is intended to achieve and decide for yourself if the personal risks are worth it.

True. But keep in mind that demonstration size can have an impact.

Even just relatively large, not even a Million Man March.

For example, relevant to recent news magnifying vile Nazi-saluting imbecile demographics: They tried to pull that at an event in Boston in 2017, but tens of thousands of counter-demonstrators showed up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Free_Speech_Rally

We need more reminders that the US can be good people.

> but tens of thousands of counter-demonstrators showed up

What social change did this lead to? It sounds like two ideologically opposed groups showing up in the street to war with each other. In the end the organization just built a new group and moved everyone into it. What is this meant to be an example of?

Seems like "Sound and fury. Signifying nothing." to me.

> reminders that the US can be good people.

The US /is/ good people. Will it ever be 100% "good people?" Of course not. Perhaps you shouldn't let salacious for profit media hyperventilation over the few bad apples that exist to tarnish your view of an entire country. Let alone allow this to encourage you to participate in meaningless street level shouting matches.

The last election proved otherwise. The police are corrupt and now are going to have immunity to it. The President just introduced a meaningless cryptocurrency to bilk his true believers and is just ripe for a rug pull.

We demonized a whole group of immigrants and said they were eating pets and they just pardoned 1500 violent criminals that even the police were opposed to pardoning.

And over half the country is okay with that

> What social change did this lead to?

Even when obviously crazy/corrupt/malevolent people seize control of most branches of government, demonstrations tell some of the people who feel most threatened that they're not alone, that the people around them are not what the news would have them believe, and that many others will come out and stand up for them.

And if those risks are too great due to state over-reach, best stay at home.
That seems too lenient on yourself. Why not do the right thing and hand yourself into the Inquisitor General for wrong-think about protesting? Maybe they'll go easy on you.
At the least you should confess your temptation to wrongthink at the nearest Larry Ellison AI monitoring 'oracle'. Landru...I mean Oracle AIs maintain social order through their constant AI vigilance. The good is the harmonious continuation of the Body.