Baring Witness - I'd Rather Not

[Max Power]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=573&ncid=757&e=2&u=/nm/20030117/od_nm/nude_dc

http://www.baringwitness.org/

I'm not making a comment here about war, protest, politics, anything like that - - - just one simple observation - - - - how is a bunch of people lying around naked going to help or make an impact on anything?

Regardless of the cause - - - say it was BAN THE DH or ANTI-MUSIC CENSORSHIP or BRING BACK THE PUBLIC PAYPHONES instead of the actual cause............other than "I want to be on Jerry Springer" - - how could this act help anything?

Attention? OK, yeah, for 20 seconds, maybe - - then what?

Is this just a big waste of time?

[JamesI]

Nudity gets peoples attention. You need that attention to get them to hear your statement.

Not that I think it really works.

[Gosfgiants]

Originally posted by Max Power
I'm not making a comment here about war, protest, politics, anything like that - - - just one simple observation - - - - how is a bunch of people lying around naked going to help or make an impact on anything?

I'll say this for them, they are making there voice heard in their own way. Isn't that part of what being an American is all about?

[Max Power]

I dunno - - - - maybe.
Part of me says it's just an excuse for them to get naked in public - - - - guess it still beats chaining themselves to something.

[sweaver]

Well, guess it can't hurt!

Unless you get caught on thorns or barbed wire. Then, well....

[satchel]

Originally posted by JamesI
Nudity gets peoples attention. You need that attention to get them to hear your statement.



Originally posted by Max Power
Part of me says it's just an excuse for them to get naked in public


It's both. It's also a social opportunity, as well as some evidence that at least this group of young people has some idea of recent American cultural history, as it's a clear tribute to the kind of demonstration that went on in the hippy era.

I actually think this is pretty good. It was probably fun for them to do, and it got them some attention without hurting anyone. It's likely to encourage similar small, grass-roots demonstrations from other kids - it's an anti-apathy weapon. Better to be involved in some small-scale creative demonstration, than not to be involved at all.

[Max Power]

To pharaphase Lilith Crane:

"I only disrobe as a prelude to passion."

Well, that and showering................

[gyb13]

Originally posted by Gosfgiants
I'll say this for them, they are making there voice heard in their own way. Isn't that part of what being an American is all about? yeah, but doesn't that belittle their cause?

it's not "people are saying no to war!"

it's "look, there's a bunch of naked people...and they spelled out 'no war'. i wonder why they're naked?"

[JamesI]

good point Gyb, but the very fact that we're talking about them shows that they are being heard. Without the nudity they would be just another anti war protest and probably ignored.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by JamesI
good point Gyb, but the very fact that we're talking about them shows that they are being heard. Without the nudity they would be just another anti war protest and probably ignored. which tells you all you need to know about these times... people don't care what's happening in the world, but throw a couple of naked people and you get instant attention

[satchel]

Originally posted by gyb13
which tells you all you need to know about these times... people don't care what's happening in the world, but throw a couple of naked people and you get instant attention

I'm not so sure "these times" are any different from any other times in that respect.

[JamesI]

Originally posted by gyb13
which tells you all you need to know about these times... people don't care what's happening in the world, but throw a couple of naked people and you get instant attention

Yep.

[pathogan]

...protest in Times square a few years back was for that reason, so that people would notice.which is the reason i participated:p

[Sheila]

they're probably fat ugly men

[pathogan]

Originally posted by Sheila
they're probably fat ugly men


think of myself as neither fat nor ugly, actually

[Max Power]

Still at it: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/030208/168/38353.html&e=1&ncid=996

[JamesI]

Originally posted by Max Power
Still at it: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/030208/168/38353.html&e=1&ncid=996

Well, I guess they're having fun doing it. People are paying attention (for the wrong reasons).