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struggle4progress

(126,992 posts)

70. I was once an affluent young white male, and the main difference now

Sat May 2, 2015, 05:50 AM

May 2015

is that I am no longer young

I don't think social class is determinative but I do think it is usually very informative: if you know something about a person's social class then you also know something about the subculture in which they are immersed and something about where their interests lie; you know something about the ideas they hear regularly and something about the critical effort it will take them to escape from their cultural straitjacket in an effort to obtain a broader and more effective consciousness

So a class analysis of Occupy might be worthwhile. Forty-some years ago, I would probably have thought that camping in a public park and proclaiming myself one of the 99% was a bold revolutionary move

I have since ceased to believe in the utility of proclamation unaccompanied by concrete attainable objectives and intelligent organizing. I don't care whether or not someone claims to support the 99% since the bare claim is fairly vacuous. But anyone, who wants people to believe that camping on behalf of the 99% could actually accomplish anything, is effectively supporting the status quo by encouraging people to waste time

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OWS was disproportionately affluent young white males [View all] struggle4progress May 2015 OP

I guess that group has *some * value to society? MannyGoldstein May 2015 #1

I guess that's indeed possible struggle4progress May 2015 #10

Yeah, 2 things: (1) Gripe at 'em; (2) Gripe at 'em while asking for a donation. Eleanors38 May 2015 #156

Students are often leaders of protests for similar reasons. Bonobo May 2015 #2

Is there a point you're trying to make? Comrade Grumpy May 2015 #3

Another of the poster's attempts to snipe at the left Scootaloo May 2015 #9

+1 QC May 2015 #98

Before chanting "We are the 99%!" it might have been good struggle4progress May 2015 #11

How do you know they didn't? On what evidence? Hekate May 2015 #15

See my post #18. This is totally false. Just an attempt to smear Sanders in a very underhanded way. sabrina 1 May 2015 #34

Of course. There are at least 3 threads about OWS and Bernie today and this one shows up neverforget May 2015 #37

Yup madokie May 2015 #78

Rev. Jesse Jackson came to our group in downtown Phoenix at Zorra May 2015 #47

Lovely post. Luminous Animal May 2015 #131

He also showed up at an Occupy event I was at in D.C. I wonder how many he went to? N/T Chathamization May 2015 #157

WTF? I was at Occupy Los Angeles on weekends during October and KingCharlemagne May 2015 #96

They constantly reached out to those groups. Ken Burch May 2015 #127

I wonder if it has something to do with this? neverforget May 2015 #13

The OP subject lines do raise the question: struggle4progress May 2015 #28

The answer to that questions here: sabrina 1 May 2015 #36

good luck with that request. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #138

+Infinity! - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #95

Why are you saying this? Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #4

Stir up infighting. Lancero May 2015 #14

It's an interesting report. Over 40% of OWS consisted of people struggle4progress May 2015 #16

The study you linked is trash. Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #17

Since the report is from professional researchers at CUNY, who were sympathetic to OWS struggle4progress May 2015 #32

This study is not even close to a representative sample of OWS Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #40

Trash is the right word. It would be equivalent to Exilednight May 2015 #153

And it's a lie. See my post #18 for the truth about the great work AAs contributed to OWS. Shame on sabrina 1 May 2015 #21

they didn't vote because they had given up on the system. magical thyme May 2015 #84

You should regard real politics as an experimental science: you learn how to do things struggle4progress May 2015 #89

b.s. again. They learned and morphed into groups that provide aid, as I've detailed in other posts. magical thyme May 2015 #115

"only" 80% planned to vote and "only" 63% were going to vote Democratic? LondonReign2 May 2015 #91

It's not clear what those numbers mean. That report indicates a substantial expected drop in voting struggle4progress May 2015 #94

The 99% thing was just the start. Ken Burch May 2015 #128

As Mark Twain commented about himself, Jackpine Radical May 2015 #5

What a sad attempt to sow division with race. Marr May 2015 #6

Struggle against progress? nt Bonobo May 2015 #7

And it's false, see my post #18. I see we'll have to be prepared for these sly smears. sabrina 1 May 2015 #20

Yuck, that's even worse. Marr May 2015 #22

It is gross. Why do people work so hard just LOOKING for negative things, then find a FALSE sabrina 1 May 2015 #24

It should be against the law for affluent white people to advocate for social justice!!!! Doctor_J May 2015 #8

Linked study is garbage. The authors' numbers are based on a survey at one event on May 1, 2012 Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #12

Since the report is from professional researchers at CUNY, who were sympathetic to OWS struggle4progress May 2015 #19

Perhaps you'd prefer "inadequate"? JHB May 2015 #88

Data is data, but conclusions can be garbage. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #80

"African Americans More Likely to Support Occupy Movement" sabrina 1 May 2015 #18

To the degree that I personally encountered OWS awareness in So Cal ucrdem May 2015 #33

I was in CA, Oakland, LA, SF where AAs, Hispanics, Older people, young people, all ages, all sabrina 1 May 2015 #39

Fine, your experiences were different. No need to crucify the OP. nt ucrdem May 2015 #42

The OP is attempting to smear Occupy in an attempt to smear Bernie LondonReign2 May 2015 #92

+Infinity! - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #102

I spent time at two different OWS gatherings in Los Angeles-- Long Beach and dowtown... Marr May 2015 #46

OP links the study, with page numbers struggle4progress May 2015 #49

Stop stomping your feet-- I'm not interested in talking to you. /nt Marr May 2015 #51

Occupy Atlanta offshoot of Wall Street protest denies Rep. John Lewis chance to speak struggle4progress May 2015 #48

Another falsehood that has been dealt with by Rep Lewis himself. Keep dragging up these old Fox sabrina 1 May 2015 #58

+1, this is one of the lowest things I've seen on this site. Marr May 2015 #59

Shouldn't your handle be "ucrRepub"? brentspeak May 2015 #50

As I was saying . . . ucrdem May 2015 #55

See post #18. Are you denying the evidence in the photos? - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #101

Another interesting article: "Occupy DC expands to black churches" Chathamization May 2015 #56

They certainly risked far more in so doing. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #83

That is a damned good point. The camp at OLA also had a problem with sexual harassment, abuse KingCharlemagne May 2015 #111

Yup. I'm not trying to minimize the place of either women of minorities or minority women in OWS. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #112

Well put. I saw some of the most courageous acts I have ever seen in my life KingCharlemagne May 2015 #114

This should be made into its own OP, imho. Whom are you going to believe, S4P's skeezy data KingCharlemagne May 2015 #100

Thanks for this, sabrina!! hifiguy May 2015 #148

Pardon me, but this is pure and idiotic BS sadoldgirl May 2015 #23

It's a not so subtle smear against Bernie Sanders who got an endorsement from OWS sabrina 1 May 2015 #27

You may be right, Sabrina, but I encountered sadoldgirl May 2015 #41

I spent time at two here in Los Angeles, and had a similar experience. Marr May 2015 #31

OP links the study, with page numbers struggle4progress May 2015 #43

I don't care, I want to know whether YOU ever sadoldgirl May 2015 #53

And thus they don't matter. Luminous Animal May 2015 #25

A totally false OP, intended to subtly smear Bernie Sanders. See my post #18 for the facts. sabrina 1 May 2015 #30

probably because of the anarchists JI7 May 2015 #26

Well thank God I was never an affluent young white male. hunter May 2015 #29

"Was"? I don't know about the racial makeup, but they're not gone. NYC_SKP May 2015 #35

K'n'R, accords with my own observations, detailed above in reply #33. ucrdem May 2015 #38

And you are incorrect, unless you were in a very privileged and small area of the state. AAs sabrina 1 May 2015 #44

I'm telling you what I observed. nt ucrdem May 2015 #45

More likely what you were instructed to say you observed. n/t brentspeak May 2015 #52

People in glass houses should close their drapes. nt ucrdem May 2015 #54

Sanders "new found accolades"...LOL ms liberty May 2015 #87

It would behoove you to study and learn the difference between KingCharlemagne May 2015 #107

The demographics of Occupy Wall Street struggle4progress May 2015 #57

OWS romanic May 2015 #60

Tell that to all the people in NY and NJ who they helped smokey nj May 2015 #72

NOT TRUE OF BOSTON OWS and the Mayor stuc OWS on a median very close to the business district merrily May 2015 #61

Movement demographics may provide insight into what to expect from movement support struggle4progress May 2015 #62

May I ask a question? romanic May 2015 #63

I was once an affluent young white male, and the main difference now struggle4progress May 2015 #70

^^ Awesome ^^ ucrdem May 2015 #71

OWS has long since moved forward from "camping in a public park" magical thyme May 2015 #81

It's not as though any significant number of OWS types voted for McCain-Palin. Ken Burch May 2015 #67

No, I don't think OWS was a GOP plot. I do think there's some evidence that OWS had some tendency struggle4progress May 2015 #74

My impression was that the energy created by OWS helped us in '12. Ken Burch May 2015 #77

But here is what is so ridiculous TM99 May 2015 #76

The dull reality is that one must become a bean counter rather than a binary thinker struggle4progress May 2015 #85

If we accept that the GOP TM99 May 2015 #105

Again: you need to think in statistical rather than binary terms struggle4progress May 2015 #106

I am well aware of statistics TM99 May 2015 #108

I will venture a really wild guess that, if OWS had endorsed HRC, this OP would not exist. djean111 May 2015 #64

For sure. Give the struggler time. morningfog May 2015 #65

No, that won't happen: I almost always like Sanders' positions. struggle4progress May 2015 #73

But apparently it means enough for you to start morningfog May 2015 #75

The nature of the discussion in this thread suggests a fair number of people struggle4progress May 2015 #90

A lot of assumptions on your part, but even so, morningfog May 2015 #97

Oh, I get it. Start the frame early to blame liberals for Hillary's lose. morningfog May 2015 #99

There will be no point in blaming people after the fact; there is, however, some point struggle4progress May 2015 #104

And if Bernie didn't run, no other candidate would engage the people rallying around him. Ken Burch May 2015 #134

If you don't think Bernie is electable, make a positive case for someone else. Ken Burch May 2015 #132

LOL. Dateline: Department of the Obvious :) - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #110

I seriously doubt that OWS was racist, if that's what you're implying. Ken Burch May 2015 #66

I think the op is meant to imply that Sanders and his supporters are racists. it is a very Doctor_J May 2015 #93

I never suggested Sanders is a racist and don't consider him such struggle4progress May 2015 #109

You insinuated that OWS was racist, thereby hoping to tarnish KingCharlemagne May 2015 #113

First, it's difficult to understand how a largely amorphous movement with little organization struggle4progress May 2015 #118

So you admit you insinuated that OWS was racist. I doubt you would have had an issue KingCharlemagne May 2015 #123

I often wonder how many people confuse their hallucinations with realities struggle4progress May 2015 #126

If the endorsement is insignificant, why are you so determined to discredit it? Ken Burch May 2015 #135

It looks to me like low swampy ground, and I think searching there for will-o-the-wisps struggle4progress May 2015 #150

Lol, very clumsy attempt to smear Bernie and Economic Justice movements. Katashi_itto May 2015 #68

Can't smear Bernie on civil rights, so smear his supporters. smokey nj May 2015 #69

Makes sense. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #79

Your attempts to analyze and engage the smear job in the OP are laudable. Your KingCharlemagne May 2015 #116

I think that's a reasonable school of thought. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #117

Since 'terror' as the word is commonly used is a miitary tactic used by the weak KingCharlemagne May 2015 #119

And highly educated treestar May 2015 #82

.... and they still failed miserably... Oktober May 2015 #86

Most of the time, the Left fails... Ken Burch May 2015 #129

And your point is? 99Forever May 2015 #103

I'm thinking affluent people were more likely to be able to put the time in gollygee May 2015 #120

The OP is in fact a straight, white man. Bluenorthwest May 2015 #122

Seriously? Ken Burch May 2015 #125

Nope. I'm old white dude. But I do regularly chat with a number of African American women, struggle4progress May 2015 #137

"But I do regularly chat with a number of African American women" Ken Burch May 2015 #161

Frankly, I don't much care what it sounds like: I'm just grateful for what I learn struggle4progress May 2015 #162

As a charter member of Occupy the tri tiredtoo May 2015 #121

So we're discrediting the OWS movement now. LiberalAndProud May 2015 #124

... whom we don't hate at all! Really! n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #130

For once, I agree with you jeff. LiberalAndProud May 2015 #142

As a posting newbie... marle35 May 2015 #133

Post removed Post removed May 2015 #136

I think it's rude to link long reports without giving details struggle4progress May 2015 #139

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2015 #140

very good point! nashville_brook May 2015 #146

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2015 #152

this is the same reason why nobody takes Tumblrinas seriously MisterP May 2015 #141

So? The only way that the marginalized and oppressed will ever have any chance is if those tblue37 May 2015 #143

wow that's some BS nashville_brook May 2015 #144

It's meant to malign the movement... by associating it with (insert racial/gender group here). lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #151

Are we just importing Discussionist threads these days? DisgustipatedinCA May 2015 #145

Do the demographics of a group standing up for social justice matter? hifiguy May 2015 #147

Demonizing privileges romanic May 2015 #149

Is it possible that someone favors a different candidate or holds a different view of OWS ucrdem May 2015 #154

When you said, "to the extent that I encountered OWS awareness in So Cal", what did that mean? Marr May 2015 #159

I think I've supplied enough personal information already for you to take my meaning ucrdem May 2015 #160

In other words, I was correct. Marr May 2015 #163

Great. Enjoy the rest of the thread. nt ucrdem May 2015 #164

Oh, I will. Just wanted to point out that you didn't ever actually *go* to an OWS gathering, Marr May 2015 #165

Don't forget to wash your hands when you're done. nt ucrdem May 2015 #166

My hands are still clean, but I'll wipe my feet. :) Marr May 2015 #167

Oh my. I'll get a mop. nt ucrdem May 2015 #168

Question-- Marr May 2015 #169

Disaster! Round up the usual suspects, immediately. Eleanors38 May 2015 #155

Wow. SomethingFishy May 2015 #158