Ok pointers if you go to your local occupy, and you should

[nadinbrzezinski]

Wear comfy clothes, account for the weather. it's getting chilly so hats, gloves and jackets even in mild weather ain't that crazy.

Not that it is going to happen, but if you wear contacts leave them at home and wear glasses. (tear gas, and pepper spray)

Be ready to interact with perfect strangers, some interaction will happen, fair warning.

Have a way out. (Like in any large crowd situation)

Fair warning, you will interact with your neighbors, and yes needs repeating, in our texting society that is strange.

Oh and have fun. It might even affect your cynicism level.

And please do let us know.

Oh and if you are still asking what is this about, go. You might even finally get it.

I will just say this, genie is out of the bottle., that train left the station and hard core partisan thinking will not explain this. I mean that, truly mean that.

Oh and one final warning...all occupations will have their resident kook. They have their right to free speech, that is one of the driving principles. My local one has an Israel did 911, and it's ok.

:hi:

[XemaSab]

1. Cook=kook?

At first I was like "Israeli food! Awesome!" :P

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Thanks the spell checker at times drives me nuts.

[Obamanaut]

30. whispers

Wasn't there a post recently that said spelling ninnies are disruptors?

[ArcticFox]

2. Kook. I thought there might be some food to worry about.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. There is, local even had dinner.

I had mine when I got home.

:hi:

[Ohio Joe]

5. "Israel did 911" is not really OK

In fact it's pretty fucked up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. It is, but you see he has a right to do that

The rest have a right NOT to pay attention.

Oh and none pays attention anymore and mostky is ignored.

Don't feed the troll in real life.

[Scuba]

7. I met and interacted with a bunch of strangers at Occupy Milwaukee...

... and while they all seemed like great People, none were perfect.



Thanks for your activism, and your many great posts!

[gratuitous]

14. Fortunately, anyone who interacts with me

Will find not only a great person, but a perfect one. Lucky bastards.

[Earth_First]

8. Thanks for the info! OccupyRochester goes live 24/7 today at 5 p.m.

The general assembly consensus was that we needed to go with a permanent presence after the attack on OccupyOakland.

[quaker bill]

9. Not so chilly in Orlando

but comfy clothes is still well advised.

[taterguy]

10. The OP says it's chilly. You just don't know what chilly is

:eyes:

[Aerows]

12. Would you prefer -5 in Michigan?

My apologies, but it's rather a silly argument that someone has it worse than you. We all live in climates that are potentially harmful, either by volcano, hurricane, snowstorm, rain or intense heat.

No need to scorn each other as "less resilient". We are all in this together, regardless if it is OWS or just plain life.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Oh that person will find Ill if the sky is blue

Alerted, not that it will make a difference either.

[Aerows]

15. That's because it isn't an alertable offense

Just someone that needs a conversation. Some of us haven't been around the country or in deep cold or deep heat. Doesn't make us awful people, just makes us snarky sometimes when we don't know.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Not in this case...I got a few fans

Trust me on this.

[Aerows]

17. I'm one of your fans

You keep the board aware of the happenings in the OWS movement in the bay area, you are up to date on EMT procedures and share it - as a hurricane survivor, I'd be the last to declare that you are not a fantastic addition to any community.

My apologies if it seemed like I was saying anything less.

[taterguy]

28. I'd prefer that Floridians not be instructed to wear gloves and hats

It makes them look weird.

Seriously, most of the people on this site are perfectly capable of deciding on their own what to wear.

[quaker bill]

29. We have limited experience of chilly

in FL.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Well by some standards not so chilly in San Diego either.

:-)

[Rabblevox]

18. Some other advice for attending your local Occupation...

Bring something! Needs vary at different Occupations, but food, blankets, batteries, hand sanitizer, dry socks, and trash bags will always be welcome.

Do Something! Get involved beyond just marching and holding a sign. Clean-up and kitchens can ALWAYS use more hands, and pitching in will increase your appreciation of the event 10-fold.

Say Something! ( but say it short and smart) The media, for the most part, wants to make the Occupation and Occupiers look as bad as possible. Prepare ahead for the possibility of being interviewed by having a few 10-sec. "sound-bites" ready, and then Shut the F Up! You can speak brilliantly for 10 min and stupidly for 10 sec. Guess which one the news station will use?

And just...get down there already! Occupy the Planet!

[Aerows]

19. Excellent advice, RV. Blankets, food, batteries and personal items

All great ideas to help.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. And I will add something

Document. Document, document.

I was there mostly as a recorder of history if this works (I have never been in anything like this) documentation will be needed.

[Aerows]

21. Always good advice

You can't say something happened unless you documented it.

[Cal Carpenter]

22. Talk and listen, talk and listen, talk and listen

I cannot repeat that enough.

You will come across all sorts of flaky hoo-ha, stuff that doesn't seem to fit at all, and of course some assholes and idiots, just like anywhere else you go.

The meetings may seem like a big disorganized clusterfuck. Especially if you just go to one GA or something and don't have the opportunity or desire to get involved in working groups or committees or whatever.

But the best part, imo, is the one-on-one or small group conversations that happen spontaneously. THAT is where the real message is being discussed, clarified, defined. THAT is where the big picture of what this movement may actually mean for the future exists.

(disclosure - I have spent a total of 5 days (including some overnights) at 2 different sites and plan to attend more)

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Yup

[Aerows]

24. Great advice

Talk and listen let your brain do the former, and your brain also do the latter.

That has been what has been missing and caused widespread justified outrage to begin with.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

25. If police action is a possibility at your camp --

Pack light -- some cash, your ID, your camera/iPhone, and some anti-teargas supplies. What you need supply-wise: two baggies, one with a painters mask or bandana soaked in vinegar and the other with a rag soaked in a 50/50 solution of milk of magnesia and water, a bottle of water for rinsing, and protective eyewear. And write the phone number of your local National Lawyers Guild in case you need representation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. And if you get gassed and get home

Do not bring clothes inside, into paper bag they go...and take a long, as cold as you can stand shower, at least 20 minutes.

If you have any breathing issues, such as asthma, might be a good idea to stay home to begin with. It can trigger an attack.

[woo me with science]

27. "...hard core partisan thinking will not explain this. I mean that,..."

Well said. In fact, that is exactly how you will recognize the attempts to divide us. We have already seen attempt after attempt to use wedge issues and partisan alarms to get protesters to turn against each other.

We can't include a libertarian!
We can't include a teabagger!
We can't include someone carrying a gun!

I'll post again this great OP from WillyT with an article on maintaining unity of the 99 percent *without* sacrificing principles:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2167260