Protesters need to look more normal

I feel that we do our cause a great disservice if we go out to a protest barefoot, wearing dreadlocks and tie dye shirts, etc. This is because it makes it convinient for other people to look at us and say, "Well theyre just a bunch of hippies who don't know anything. They're different, theyre marginal." If we were shaven and shorn and dressed in blue jeans and a plain t shirt, then I think they would stop and think for a moment, "wait these are people like you and me. Maybe they have a point." See my point? To lure the majority we have to get them to identify with us more.

 

This article is great:

http://www.grist.org/comments/soapbox/2005/03/03/bendrick/index.html

It speaks EXACTLY of what you speak. And I couldn't agree more. It's one thing when I wear my tye dye at home, but if I want people to take me seriously, then I dress more professionally.

 

whats the point in gaining the world if you lose your soul ?

just a thought...

 

For me personally, the most important message I want to convey is that judging people on appearance is wrong. Sure, I have protested for other causes, but that is the one that is most dear to me. So I will not put on shoes to help a cause; rather I'd work even harder in being polite in my speech and clear in my message, to convince people I'm not poor, or crazy, or a druggy, and I hope that then they'll then be willing to listen to my message about planting a tree, littering or whatever. That article did describe many people's outlook of this day and age but I didn't think it was great; to me, that kind of development is as horrible as the decline of the environment itself.

 

It is sad if you place your soul in your clothes. I think it would work more easily the other way around. Once people see your point and understan where you are coming from they would be much more willing to embrace you for what you are. Appearance is the first thing people notice and if that puts them off youre never going to get through to them. Having gotten through to them, though, it makes it pretty easy after that to get them to accept your looks also.

 

I disagree! I think it's exactly the opposite. If we make such concessions to dress and appearance whenever we need to do something that is generally thought of as 'important', then that's used to strengthen those who argue for conservative dress in *all* situations. 'But you could dress up for that, so why can't you be bothered to dress up for this and this and this too?'

 

take a look at abbie hoffman... he didnt really accomplish anything but many people listened to him, and he never changed for anybody.

 

it could work either way... I guess it is a question of whch is more important, the cuse you are backing or the clothes you wear. If by changing my look I can get more people to live peacefully I will gladly do that. It is a small sacrifice in my opinion. Of course I totally understand your side of it also and am not asking you to change. I rather think I should like to meet you in fact.

 

Right, how do we communicate with a society which more and more is being driven by shallow stereotypes and branding? Everything is neatly packaged and put in it's place. With a hundred dollar bill a person can go out and buy themselves a personality package. It's easy, it's fun, it's like a video game, just choose your character. I have to agree that image is a part of communication and unfortunately in this day and age it does effect a great deal of how things move. Perhaps one day we, as a body of monkeys on this big rock, can transcend that and broaden our horizons. But for now, we have to work with what we have. Diplomacy isn't for everyone and that's why people need to organize. If you're going to send people out for meetings, pass out flyers, etc.... cold calls on the status quo, then it might be prudent to sit down and think about how people percieve them. It's not selling out, it's not some grave danger to our spirit, it's just common sense and an intelligent way to go about things.

 

It's a good thing we don't all have the same priorities.. I'd think if we all dressed nicely when going to a rally, it'd be bad for the image of those who still like to dress differently, and if no one ever did, the more conservative folks would indeed not be able to identify with us. We all have our own things we consider most important.

Btw, I wasn't the one who placed my 'soul' in my clothes, same avatar but different person I guess you could say I place my soul in my bare feet; while I started going barefoot eight years ago for comfort, it's definitely become a spiritual thing for me over time, and I will not wear shoes for anything or anyone. It wouldn't feel good to protest for the environment while at the same time stomping around on the Earth with anything but my bare soles... But I do dress up for the occasion from the ankle up; nicer clothes when going to an important meeting, or to a nice restaurant, or whatever, 'hippie' or gothic clothes when I'm just having fun, etc... In an ideal world it wouldn't matter, but I don't want to hit people with too much at once. Approaching a conservative person I want to persuade of something barefoot, *and* wearing a tiedye shirt, *and* torn jeans, *and* dreads is likely to be a bit overwhelming I still hope that by approaching him barefoot & otherwise more conservatively dressed, he'll listen to whatever point I'm trying to make, and also *start to* learn that alternative dress doesn't always mean someone is a freak... and maybe next time he'll also listen to someone who's barefoot and wears a tiedye shirt on top of a nice, new pair of jeans, & a nice haircut, and so on...

 

I really don't think it matters at all what you look like, as long as you have something worth saying. If you know what you are talking about and speak of it in a mature manner, then the fact that you are barefoot, or have dreads doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

 

When I go to a protest, I dress like me. The other protesters are either obviously in costume or are dressed like themselves. Some of the strength of protest comes from everyone seeing someone who dresses like them in the crowd of protesters.

News media photograph the odd looking people. The odd looking are the visual equivilant of "man bites dog."

If we start changing our dress to make a better impression, the end of that road is a slick TV comercial. I don't want to go down that road.

 

You can have my tie dye when you pry it outta my cold dead hand.....oh never mind..............

I wouldn't go to a protest dressed like a Jehovah's Witness, because that is not how I dress, unless I have to go to a funeral.

 

The whole image think works all different ways. I've met plenty of folk who were dressed in tye dye, patch pants, all the regalia, that were just as close minded as the people they claimed to oppose. The snooty hippy variety of hippy. Same thing on the coin flip, when I had dreads, all the stares and comments were plentiful. I just wish humanity could get over this infatuation with how people look. Learn to see with our heart, not just our eyes.

 

They tried it back in 1968, when college students went "clean for Gene" (Eugene McCarthy) and his candidacy for the Democratic Presidential nomination. http://www.ncs.pvt.k12.va.us/ryerbury/wes/wes.htm It had some success, getting LBJ to decide not to run for re-election, but ended in defeat and riots at the DNC in Chicago.


I say be yourself. Rallies I've been to have had a lot of diversity of people of all ages and appearances, and I don't see how anyone could say they're just a bunch of "naive young hippies".

 

what the fuck is normal? if people cant accept the way you dress cause its not "normal" they can fuck themself. because its normal for you, not them. and just because it doesnt seem normal doesnt mean its wrong.

 

No one is saying not to be yourself. But who's been winning the election? The guy in the suit. No, image shouldn't mean anything, but it does. That's the world we live in. George Bush won the election, again... Obviously something isn't working. People aren't listening to the message. Is it not getting across? Preaching to the choir is useless. And if the corporate bigwigs think you're trash, they aren't going to hear a word you say, no matter how loud you scream. Sad, but true.

 

Does that mean Bush won the election because he was well dressed?

 

Bush won because it didn't matter in the first place, the match was rigged and only certain contestants were really allowed to compete. It is beyond doubt now that we do not have real elections, voting is dead. Wake the fuck up America. Where is your liberty and justice but behind the veil of illusion. Learn that illusion, learn it well and know it like your birth and death. You are lied to everyday, drop it, get real. Let's turn it on and keep it on.