4 ms·

Protests are a consequence of a democracy that isn't. If people had power, they would cast votes (on laws or representatives) instead of wasting their precious

Protests are a consequence of a democracy that isn't. If people had power, they would cast votes (on laws or representatives) instead of wasting their precious time walking around with little to no observable effect.

setr 9y ago
Well no, because you still need to convince the majority to your opinion... your single individual vote is still meaningless on the macro scale
- dmichulke 9y ago
  Protests also needs to convince but in protests consent/dissent is not even measured ...
  - ebola1717 9y ago
    Protests aren't meant to persuade - they're meant to draw attention. Persuasion is a separate step in the movement. Look at BlackLivesMatter. The initial protests drew attention to issues of police brutality that most Americans had little knowledge of. Then, journalists contextualized the history of police violence and attempted to persuade readers. Protests also help frame a narrative, which make people more amenable to persuasion.
- NumberCruncher 9y ago
  Why should the majority share my opinion? Maybe I am wrong. Maybe it would be boring, because there wouldn't be discussions any more. Different opinions may coexist.
  - setr 9y ago
    ....because in a democracy, majority vote rules So obviously if you want something to change...
Broken_Hippo 9y ago
If the majority of a population think being gay or bisexual is a horrific thing, and are OK with barring these folks teaching jobs and the like, what happens then? If one doesn't protest and can't get jobs in positions that reach folks, what are the other options? Pretend you aren't gay? Pretend you only like the opposite sex? How in the world does this person fight religious messages saying this is wrong?
- 2muchcoffeeman 9y ago
  If you are in a country where such discrimination is OK, I don't think that the general population is going to look too kindly on the oppressed class protesting. There are already cultures where if you go against the majority opinion you can end up burning all the bridges to your family and friends.
  - Broken_Hippo 9y ago
    The US, though? That's where I've experienced this stuff. It isn't always "kill the gays", just like it isn't always "kill the minorities". The social backlash can be bad enough: I was 13 when some girls figured out I was interested in other girls. I sat alone the rest of the year and folks wouldn't speak to me. The high school I gradutated from (different school system) would not allow same-sex couples to go to prom together. I know of a school superintendent that tried not to hire gay teachers, as he thought a gay teacher turned his son gay. I personally identify as bisexual, but the options I had with women in the US weren't the same as men. A woman couldn't adopt my child, nor could we be legally married until recently. As recently as 1998, oral and anal sex was considered sodomy by US military code. Guess what that means? Same sex sexual relations can get you dishonorably discharged. And you are correct - few in the states look kindly on the oppressed class protesting. And it is supposed to be a right.
    - kelukelugames 9y ago
      Sexual orientation wasn't considered a protected class until recently. EEOC took their first case only a year or two ago.
gozur88 9y ago
The problem isn't that the democracy "isn't". It's that people joining these protests are in a minority, sometimes a tiny minority, and democracies don't cater to minority opinions.

setr 9y ago

Well no, because you still need to convince the majority to your opinion... your single individual vote is still meaningless on the macro scale

dmichulke 9y ago
Protests also needs to convince but in protests consent/dissent is not even measured ...
- ebola1717 9y ago
  Protests aren't meant to persuade - they're meant to draw attention. Persuasion is a separate step in the movement. Look at BlackLivesMatter. The initial protests drew attention to issues of police brutality that most Americans had little knowledge of. Then, journalists contextualized the history of police violence and attempted to persuade readers. Protests also help frame a narrative, which make people more amenable to persuasion.
NumberCruncher 9y ago
Why should the majority share my opinion? Maybe I am wrong. Maybe it would be boring, because there wouldn't be discussions any more. Different opinions may coexist.
- setr 9y ago
  ....because in a democracy, majority vote rules So obviously if you want something to change...

Broken_Hippo 9y ago

If the majority of a population think being gay or bisexual is a horrific thing, and are OK with barring these folks teaching jobs and the like, what happens then? If one doesn't protest and can't get jobs in positions that reach folks, what are the other options? Pretend you aren't gay? Pretend you only like the opposite sex? How in the world does this person fight religious messages saying this is wrong?

2muchcoffeeman 9y ago
If you are in a country where such discrimination is OK, I don't think that the general population is going to look too kindly on the oppressed class protesting. There are already cultures where if you go against the majority opinion you can end up burning all the bridges to your family and friends.
- Broken_Hippo 9y ago
  The US, though? That's where I've experienced this stuff. It isn't always "kill the gays", just like it isn't always "kill the minorities". The social backlash can be bad enough: I was 13 when some girls figured out I was interested in other girls. I sat alone the rest of the year and folks wouldn't speak to me. The high school I gradutated from (different school system) would not allow same-sex couples to go to prom together. I know of a school superintendent that tried not to hire gay teachers, as he thought a gay teacher turned his son gay. I personally identify as bisexual, but the options I had with women in the US weren't the same as men. A woman couldn't adopt my child, nor could we be legally married until recently. As recently as 1998, oral and anal sex was considered sodomy by US military code. Guess what that means? Same sex sexual relations can get you dishonorably discharged. And you are correct - few in the states look kindly on the oppressed class protesting. And it is supposed to be a right.
  - kelukelugames 9y ago
    Sexual orientation wasn't considered a protected class until recently. EEOC took their first case only a year or two ago.

gozur88 9y ago

The problem isn't that the democracy "isn't". It's that people joining these protests are in a minority, sometimes a tiny minority, and democracies don't cater to minority opinions.