My God, you are an idiot.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sgtclub

I don't understand why the elected officials haven't dispersed these protests yet. Certainly they can't be properly permitted, can they?

In the United States, you think one needs a permit to stage a political protest?

Wow, you may be right.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Fugee

There is no reason to protest at someone's house other than to piss off their neighbors and make the person's family feel threatened. That's jackassery.

Using RT's example -- would you feel the same about a protest at an abortion provider's home? If it's wrong for the one, it's wrong for the other.

There is a difference between elected officials and doctors.

It may be that people don't want to know how much shit elected officials take. But if I ever stand for office, please, tell opponents I'd much rather have them picketing my house for something I actually did than lying about me or spreading false rumors, both things that happen every day in politics. The US Chamber funded ads in the last election were great instances of jackassery - because they are misleading and nasty. That is real jackassery. Many, many times worse that a few pickets by your house.

So I'd give the head of the US chamber the award for jackassery; these guys don't even get a nomination.

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

There is a difference between elected officials and doctors.

It may be that people don't want to know how much shit elected officials take. But if I ever stand for office, please, tell opponents I'd much rather have them picketing my house for something I actually did than lying about me or spreading false rumors, both things that happen every day in politics. The US Chamber funded ads in the last election were great instances of jackassery - because they are misleading and nasty. That is real jackassery. Many, many times worse that a few pickets by your house.

So I'd give the head of the US chamber the award for jackassery; these guys don't even get a nomination.

Both doctors and elected officials have offices where protests about their professional activities should be conducted. Going to someone's home is jackassery.

And yes, lying about people is bad, but that's off topic. Stay with the hypothetical!

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Both doctors and elected officials have offices where protests about their professional activities should be conducted. Going to someone's home is jackassery.

And yes, lying about people is bad, but that's off topic. Stay with the hypothetical!

Under your scenario, being an elected official means dealing with jackassery 24/7 and everyone you deal with, almost without exception, is a jackass. In a democracy, you don't just put up with but even listen to pests.

I favor higher standards for jackassery.

I think we're in agreement, though, that it's not nice and not effective.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

In the United States, you think one needs a permit to stage a political protest?

one guy pitched a tent in the mayor's driveway. ain't no permit for that.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

"Hugh Grant ... did his tabloid reputation as a heartless, feather-brained Lothario immense harm in the process of delivering damning testimony on phone-hacking to the Leveson inquiry on Monday."

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Fugee

There is no reason to protest at someone's house other than to piss off their neighbors and make the person's family feel threatened.

I don't know that inconvenience is the same as threatened (which, by the way, is the difference that Atticus keeps missing when he brings up abortion protesters), but yes. The reason to do it there is to put greater pressure on the person in question, which is, after all, the point of a protest.

Using RT's example -- would you feel the same about a protest at an abortion provider's home? If it's wrong for the one, it's wrong for the other.

Context matters. I do not have a problem with a peaceful candlelight vigil at an abortion provider's home, if that's all it is. But those protests are infused with the history of violence against abortion providers by anti-abortion activists.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

one guy pitched a tent in the mayor's driveway. ain't no permit for that.

Here's a really good post on the change in police tactics, by Alexis Madrigal in The Atlantic.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Both doctors and elected officials have offices where protests about their professional activities should be conducted. Going to someone's home is jackassery.

It's not uncommon for people to protest at the University president's home. Is that jackassery? Does it matter that public dollars pay for it?

ETA: Also, is it jackassery to talk politics with your legislator if you see them in the grocery store? How about if he's out in the yard raking leaves?

It just seems to me that you don't stop being a public official because you're at home, and it's fair game communicate about public issues with a public official at their home, although different rules apply as to what are acceptable means (i.e., a drum circle might be fine on the government plaza but not in the neighborhood).

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Adder

It's not uncommon for people to protest that the University president's home. Is that jackassery? Does it matter that public dollars pay for it?

ETA: Also, is it jackassery to talk politics with your legislator if you see them in the grocery store? How about if he's out in the yard raking leaves?

It just seems to me that you don't stop being a public official because you're at home, and it's fair game communicate about public issues with a public official at their home, although different rules apply as to what are acceptable means (i.e., a drum circle might be fine on the government plaza but not in the neighborhood).

One particular chancellor now has much bigger problems. Her students are launching a general strike and reoccupying the quad and her options re use of police force are very limited. Luckily, the strike doesn't start until after the birds, pies and shopping is done, so maybe they'll forget about it by then.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Fugee

There is no reason to protest at someone's house other than to piss off their neighbors and make the person's family feel threatened. That's jackassery.

Using RT's example -- would you feel the same about a protest at an abortion provider's home? If it's wrong for the one, it's wrong for the other.

How would you feel about a protest at Officer Pepper-Spray's home?

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

How would you feel about a protest at Officer Pepper-Spray's home?

Same thing. He acted like an assjack (worse, actually) but that doesn 't excuse reciprocal assjackery. And home should be off limits.

On the other hand, I wouldn't object to his getting blasted with short range pepper spray.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Same thing. He acted like an assjack (worse, actually) but that doesn 't excuse reciprocal assjackery. And home should be off limits.

On the other hand, I wouldn't object to his getting blasted with short range pepper spray.

Assualting him with a weapon would be better than peacefully assembling outside his home?

You have weird priorities.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Fugee

And home should be off limits.

I still don't understand why you feel this way. So, serious question: why? What's different about the sidewalk in front of his house?

Is it that you think that's inherently threatening (you seemed to imply there was a threat involved earlier)? If that's the case, why? Doesn't the threat come from what is being done any not where?

Is it inconvenience to the neighbors? And if so, why is that inconvenience different from inconvenience to his neighbors at work?

Is it the presence of family? But aren't they going to be particularly tuned into any criticism of the elected official, regardless of where it takes place?

I still don't see what's inherently assjackery about the location per se. I'd say that a protest there would need to be quieter and more respectful to avoid jackassery, but if it is, I don't see the issue that concerns you.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Adder

I still don't understand why you feel this way. So, serious question: why? What's different about the sidewalk in front of his house?

Is it that you think that's inherently threatening (you seemed to imply there was a threat involved earlier)? If that's the case, why? Doesn't the threat come from what is being done any not where?

Is it inconvenience to the neighbors? And if so, why is that inconvenience different from inconvenience to his neighbors at work?

Is it the presence of family? But aren't they going to be particularly tuned into any criticism of the elected official, regardless of where it takes place?

I still don't see what's inherently assjackery about the location per se. I'd say that a protest there would need to be quieter and more respectful to avoid jackassery, but if it is, I don't see the issue that concerns you.

I understand; my wife might well agree with her, but my wife would object (and has objected) strenuously to me running for just about anything, because she understands what it would entail.

I think this is more objectionable to the general public than to those who have actually jumped into politics.