The Joy and Amusement of Watching Protester Punishment

Nobody said civil disobedience would be easy. After all, disobedience means that there are rules and there is some kind of consequence for noncompliance. Otherwise, why follow the rules, right?

So, I guess maybe that's why I have to giggle when I hear protesters decry the evils of getting shot in the ass by rubber bullets or a having a headache from intense audio shot at them by police. Either that, or it's the same demented side of me that laughs really hard when people bite it in the show Wipeout. Knowing me, I'd guess it was the latter.

In either regard, you know what you're getting into when you show up. In Wipeout, there are two ways you can approach things. You can take your time and carefully traverse the obstacles, knowing you'll be safe, but probably won't make the show or make any money. OR, you can fly recklessly though the course in an effort to win and make money with full knowledge that you'll probably have a spectacular "wipeout"and probably make TV in trying.

Same thing goes with protesting. They call it CIVIL disobedience for a reason. Those that do it coherently and methodically (a la purely civil) probably will not get hurt. But, by the same token, they probably won't get the TV coverage either.

There needs to be a balance. The person that wins in Wipeout is able to call upon a balance of fortitude and caution. Same goes with the protesting. Too much civil or too much disobedience, you'll either end up beat down in the mud or on the cutting room floor.

For example, the Greenpeace demonstration at the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit was a spectacular balance of fortitude and caution that resulted in their victory in getting their message across. Greenpeace showed great fortitude in a daring demonstration where protesters rappelled from a high-visibility bridge with a sign with their message.

At the same time, Greenpeace showed extreme caution by using protesters skilled at rappelling and making sure that nobody was hurt (and no damage came to property).

The protesters fully-knew and understood the consequences of the fortitude portion of their demonstration. It is disobedience after all. And, when they ascended their ropes, they willingly turned themselves in to authorities without incident. Nobody was beat, gassed, shot or deafened.

The protesters did their job and the police did theirs. Balance! The result? WIN! They had the shock and awe to get on to TV and they had the skill to make sure their message was communicated while not being overshadowed by damage or injury.

So, that's not to say that you have to be arrested to conduct a successful protest. In fact, I watched thousands of people march in protest to the G-20 in the Thomas Merton Peace March.

Thousands of people with several different agenda all marching and showing symbols of their position. Not a single one of them received a cross look from a police officer. And, to my knowledge not one of them had a brush with the law--or experienced police brutality. In fact, I shot video and pictures of the event.

So, what does that leave? The "protest" that is all fortitude (disobedience) but no civility or coherence (a la "anarchists"). These are the absolute fail protests that I classify purely as amusement because they're all reckless abandon with no visible substance and you just know they're going to end badly.

You know you can count on these people to run blindfolded in a field with an electric fence and be "shocked" when they get zapped by testing the boundaries. They willingly enter the obstacle course, challenge the course and cry foul when the course wins. (photo by @iwasthere)

It is no small wonder that these are the ones that get the TV time--largely because they are the most amusing to watch.

They're angry little pawns that rail against authority by following somebody's orders to destroy things to communicate. They're pent up balls of unsubstantiated frustration just like a pre-screening call for a reality show.

They think they're famous and accomplishing something because people look at them. But, in reality, people watch them because they love to see them unravel and self destruct.

Thousands marched across the city without a single incident, but this small group of Tasmanian devils somehow seemed to attract every police incident, every ounce of gas and voluntarily become guinea pigs for new technology like LRAD (Long Range Acoustical Device) cannons. Thank you all!

I need to thank you all for your spectacular "stunned fan" look as you are body slammed to the ground. Thank you for your willingness to act surprised that the police "victimized" you after giving you a forty-five minute notice to disperse (as well as incremental notices in between).

Thank you for being surprised that removal by physical means actually means that you will be removed. Thank you for willingly standing on the news and showing me the welts that the rubber bullets left. Otherwise I wouldn't be sure that it was truly a good shot.

Even better, now you all shoot home video and cell phone pictures to capture those off-screen moments--enabling me to get a first-person account of how bad tear gas burns or how new technologies like LRAD really hurt the ears and fuck up your phones.

But, I understand, you weren't protesting, you were just there to document it. The orders didn't apply to you, right? You are yet another innocent victim.

Much like the media that go to Iraq and Afghanistan to cover the battles, you run a risk of becoming collateral damage. When you decide to get close to the action, it's a risk you take. Seriously, would you stand next to an artillery fight in the Middle East?

Then why would you stand there when people are breaking windows, throwing rocks (or poo), or otherwise doing stupid things to attract body slams, hand cuffs, gas or noise? Or at least, how can you stand there and be surprised that you caught come kind of shrapnel or other type of collateral damage? When you watch on TV at home, you're safe. When you show up and get in the mix, you're an active participant and a potential target.

When I went down town to shoot video and pictures of the march, I completely understood that if shit hit the fan, I could be gassed, trampled, pelted or even arrested. It's a chance you take--an occupational hazard. So, much like those you're watching, don't be surprised if you get caught up in the tornado you're watching.

I guess unintentionally this entry has become "Woody's Guide to Proper Protesting," but it was intended to be a a thank you to those that opt for disobedience over civil disobedience for your spectacular failures--whatever your message was. And, please save your home footage, it will come in handy for your tryouts for Real World, Big Brother or especially Wipeout.