Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In reference to protest marches?

24 replies

SirBoobAlot · 06/06/2010 20:47

Am not going to mention what it was about, because I know that would cause more trouble - but FWIW what it was about actually had nothing to do with the fact it annoyed me.

But - walking up a main road, blocking traffic (and yes, I know that's the point, to get the public attention), was really not helpful today. I had to walk an extra mile, and with my condition, pushing a buggy, I was not happy.

Secondly - there were children in the crowd, shouting hateful remarks in regard to what the protest was about. I understand wanting to make the point, but involving young children, so that are around that attitude constantly, it doesn't give them the opportunity to make their own decisions when they are older. Some of the comments they were coming out with were really horrible.

And then, a delightful woman cut in front of me when I was walking with my buggy and practically shouted in my face, "Babies are dying. They could be yours. You have to change it NOW!". This pissed me off no end. I get you have a point to make, but how dare you mention such a thing?

Now, am I BU in thinking that the combination of these things is actually more likely to get peoples backs up to your cause, and not make them sympathetic? Because frankly, I do feel inclined to help with their plight, or even google for more information right now; I feel annoyed that my legs are hurting from having to walk an extra mile, upset that I was late for lunch and so only got to spend two hours with DP, and just generally really bloody grumpy.

OP posts:
ReneRusso · 06/06/2010 22:17

YANBU. But I am always filled with admiration they can summon the energy to go and march, or don't have something better to do

firsttimemum77 · 06/06/2010 22:22

If I know that there is a protest march in a particular area, I just avoid that area or go another way.

YANBU about the delightful lout woman shouting in your face - I would have been inclined to tell her not to shout in my face smack her in the mouth

I think YABU thinking that the combination of these things actually get peoples backs up to the cause, and not make them sympathetic. If its a worthy cause its a worthy cause...

smallorange · 06/06/2010 22:27

Yup. I think they should stop
the right to peaceful protest so
women with buggies don't have to walk an extra mile.
Absolutely.

Vallhala · 06/06/2010 22:30

I feel that you're absolutely right, sometimes protests do irritate people either to the extent of having no sympathy with the cause or at least losing sight of the objective. All credit to those who take part in them and speak from the heart but I think it's important to focus on the real targets of their cause, not to alienate the public at large,

I'm a little sceptical of protests and their ability to change things anyway, and could never be a banner-waver.

SirBoobAlot · 06/06/2010 22:44

Smallorange - I have M.E., so an extra mile is going to cost me a lot, so that's why I'm pissed about that.

And as soon as someone is getting in my face - totally unprovoked - telling me my baby could be dead, that to me is no longer peaceful protesting. That is scaremongering and emotional blackmail.

OP posts:
2shoes · 06/06/2010 22:57

what was the march for
dh saw one the other day, and was shocked to see young children involved(in wheelchairs)

harpsichordcarrier · 06/06/2010 23:01

yes it was a peaceful protest
and yes it was a small inconvenience to you
yabu, the right to protest is a very important one and DOES change things so in a free and civilised society there has to be some give and take.
on this occasion, this required a little give from you.
otoh, you have personally benefited hugely from political changes brought about by protests over the years so it all balances out.

smallorange · 07/06/2010 08:14

Ah AIBU by stealth. Love it.

Even so, ipeoples right to protest is more important than inconveniencing others for a few hours. If the government was to do something to drastically affect ME suffererers I'm sure you would be on the streets too.

ifancyashandy · 07/06/2010 08:22

YABU - The right to protest is the underlying basis of democracy. Take it away and you create societies such as Saudi Arabia and the like. Extreme comparison I know but slippery slopes and all that...

And FWIW, I went on tonnes of protest marches back when I was a kid. Hasn't stopped me from forming my own opinions - more, it's enabled me to question society and garner information to do the exact opposite. Some things I marched for I still believe in, some I don't. And my over-riding memory is of a party, carnival atmosphere

Gibbon · 07/06/2010 08:22

YABU re having to walk the extra mile.

YANBU for being shouted at in an intimidating manner. No need for that.

I am proud of every march I have taken part in, I feel v strongly about just how important it is to stand up for what you believe in.

Being late for lunch is not the bigger picture imo.

2shoes · 07/06/2010 08:31

but if the protesters have the right to protest, then the op has the right to complain

smallorange · 07/06/2010 08:36

I would take to the streets in protest if her right to complain was taken away. Absolutely.

She was asking if her complaint was unreasonable. In my opinion it is unreasonable. But she has the right to complain.

Why is it shocking to see children in wheelchairs protesting? Disabled people have won rights for themselves through peaceful protest.

sarah293 · 07/06/2010 08:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DuelingFanjo · 07/06/2010 08:48

I went on a March in Wales this weekend to protest against the English defence league (EDL) who basically tar all muslims with the 'terrorist' brush and claim they are not racist whilst doing Nazi salutes.

I think standing up to this kind of thing is really important.

TheBride · 07/06/2010 08:49

It's a PITA when you have to go round them but worth putting up with occasionally for the right to protest.

To be fair, they do tend to organise big marches at weekends when the impact is less.

Protests are great - i found shouting "Tony Blair- shame on you" outside Downing St very therapeutic.

TheBride · 07/06/2010 08:50

........oh but YANBU re woman shouting in your face.

SirBoobAlot · 07/06/2010 09:28

I agree with the right to protest - and I appreciate that in this country we are very lucky to have it. And I was probably over reacting when I posted last night due to generally frustration with a combination of factors. So I probably am BU on reflection...

OP posts:
2shoes · 07/06/2010 09:53

sirboob you are never unreasonable

SirBoobAlot · 07/06/2010 10:15

2shoes could you please tell DP that? And my mother whilst you're at it...

OP posts:
biddysmama · 07/06/2010 10:35

apparently theres a protest march thing in liverpool against the american owners of lfc [yawn] dp thinks we should go.... i'm 30 weeks pg, have an 8 year old and a 14 month old... i think not matey!

FlookCrow · 07/06/2010 12:29

YABU to think that protesters should mollify their words in case you get upset. How dare she mention children dying? Well, they are! And they do. Every day.

... Just seen your updated reflection, am glad you re-thought. Free speech in this country is a good thing, the extra mile (pain in the arse it may have been).. think of it as a bit more exercise!

SirBoobAlot · 07/06/2010 20:12

Mollify? No, but literally shouting in my face "YOUR BABY COULD BE DEAD" is not on, protest or not.

OP posts:
slouchingtowardswaitrose · 07/06/2010 21:20

Sorry, YABU. YABUnderstandably irritated given your condition, but not reasonable I'm afraid.

What PPs said re democracy blah blah blah.

FWIW I have taken my DCs to a protest. I wanted them to see their mother involved in political activism. I wanted to teach them about democracy, free speech, etc.

I told them we (the protesters) were going to tell others our ideas and try to persuade the government to change laws.

Not a bad lesson IMO.

I don't think this in any way prevents my children forming their own opinions. I think it teaches them we have to right to our opinions, and a means of getting them heard.

My parents taught me all kinds of bogus prejudices etc but I don't share them today, despite the brainwashing

Sorry you had a bad day.

slouchingtowardswaitrose · 07/06/2010 21:21

Oh wanted to add I babysat for some kids once, who spent the day making placards and planning a 'kids rights' protest against their mum

LOL

New posts on this thread. Refresh page