America In Flames: The Appropriateness Of Riots & Protests

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

Imagine you're sitting in a room with a bunch of people you know or are in some vaguely defined grouping, same as you. Across from you is a window into another room where a larger group of participants are sat facing you. Thing is, you're separated by a soundproof wall and two-way mirror. They are only vaguely aware of the other group, but are informed that you're there. They're tasked with carrying out some mundane task, same as you. Except, the other group has randomly placed buttons that send horrific electric shocks to you and those around you. Most of them are entirely unaware of this, but a few catch on over time and/or are informed for 'research purposes', and begin to do so on purpose.

This continues for 48 hours straight. Maybe a week.

How long would you endure your own suffering or the suffering of those around you before you decide to smash your way through the damn mirror?

I completely support these riots. I'm a white male and cannot understand 1:1 what these people deal with, but even my limited understanding shows me how truly screwed up it is.

Fight on, be safe, my friends. God save you all.

What does this bizarre thought experiment have to do with George Floyd?

Shame on you for supporting the wanton destruction of the lives and property of innocent citizens! I do not care what color, race, or sex you are, there is no excuse for supporting such violence. These riots are an affront to justice and the antithesis of civilization.

I have said: 'Blow out the lamp! Day is here!' And you keep saying: 'Give me a lamp so I can find the day.'

Violence is the act of desperation and last resort. The American people have been pushed up against the wall and they are lashing out. With good reason. Property. Please. Your greed and materialism is ephemeral. Get over it.

[US-SSR]

How about the appropriateness of cops killing unarmed black men? The cop that was charged was the first and only cop charged in the murder of a citizen in Minneapolis since 1966, when a young black woman was murdered by a cop. The curfew in NYC was the first curfew imposed since 1943, when a black soldier was murdered by a cop.

There is no one side of violent protests and another side of violent cops. The two go hand in hand.

Wanna turn off the riots? Try arresting three more cops.

"Riots are the voice of the voiceless." -- MLK jr

[Atheris]

These riots are terrible.

"An eye for an eye makes the world blind."
- Mahatma Gandhi (as much as I hate the guy).

[The Grims]

These riots are terrible.

"An eye for an eye makes the world blind."
- Mahatma Gandhi (as much as I hate the guy).

Had it been a downtrodden people in some other country rising up against their oppressors, would you hold the same opinion ?

[Federal Republic Of America And The Cari]

The irony is that America firmly supported similar looting, destruction and killings of policemen across the Middle East, and just a decade later has to deal with the same crap on its own soil. That being said, a riot is naturally expected to break out and perpetuate if you see something like this or this first-hand (generous police violence in these videos - you've been warned). These "officers" are out of control. The supposedly few bad apples seem to generate disproportionate amounts of chaos. Reform is obviously needed, now.

First off, these two examples are the bad cops. Absolutely, they should face consequences for these actions. There are many 'bad apples' out there, and that's what needs to be fixed. My point is that not all cops are terrible human beings. Secondly, about the middle east. Yes, that was shameful. Causing unrest and violence in the Middle East is horrible. The actions of Bush and Obama during that period were arguably some of the worst decisions that can be made by any government.

YES

[Atheris]

These riots are terrible.

"An eye for an eye makes the world blind."
- Mahatma Gandhi (as much as I hate the guy).

Had it been a downtrodden people in some other country rising up against their oppressors, would you hold the same opinion ?

Yes, I would have.

"Riots are the voice of the voiceless." -- MLK jr

MLK also said "Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace."

[The Lone Alliance]

Protests are fine, even civil disobedence against the government is acceptable in times, I think even property damage against the ones seen as responsible for the protest seems understandable.
Also minor property damage during civil disobedience isn't that hard, you have a lot of people in a small area, stuff gets knocked over, things get damaged, stuff happens.


Rioters and looters though, they're off message.... especially looters.

While some might claim the destruction by rioters is justified or it's a way to inflict harm on the "Regime" or whatever, for a large part most rioting is simply done by people who want to destroy things but are smart enough to know that destroying something for no reason makes you look like an asshole and or will get negative consequences. So they use protests to give them a justifiable excuse.

And looters, they're just thieves taking advantage of the situation.

[West Leas Oros 2]

The problem with riots, if you ask me, is a result of their lack of organization. They cause needless destruction to innocent bystanders, which sucks. The point is to stick it to the man, not ruin a random dude’s day. Also, riots attract all sort of people who don’t give two shits about justice, freedom, equality, or any other grand ideas. They just want to break shit. Ultimately, riots are the tools of misguided reformists that are then hijacked by opportunists.

[West Leas Oros 2]

Protests are fine, even civil disobedence against the government is acceptable in times, I think even property damage against the ones seen as responsible for the protest seems understandable.
Also minor property damage during civil disobedience isn't that hard, you have a lot of people in a small area, stuff gets knocked over, things get damaged, stuff happens.


Rioters and looters though, they're off message.... especially looters.

While some might claim the destruction by rioters is justified or it's a way to inflict harm on the "Regime" or whatever, for a large part most rioting is simply done by people who want to destroy things but are smart enough to know that destroying something for no reason makes you look like an asshole and or will get negative consequences. So they use protests to give them a justifiable excuse.

And looters, they're just thieves taking advantage of the situation.

This^

[Rusozak]

The thing about a riot is it's uncontrollable. It's not an organized unit of insurgents or a professional force. It's a gang of random people loosely united by a common cause, that's about it. You may have good intentions for organizing a riot, but it's out of your hands almost as soon as it gets going. Hence the disorganized and often indiscriminate violence. You're not lighting the cannon of revolution, you're starting the wildfire of chaos.

[Federal Republic Of America And The Cari]

The thing about a riot is it's uncontrollable. It's not an organized unit of insurgents or a professional force. It's a gang of random people loosely united by a common cause, that's about it. You may have good intentions for organizing a riot, but it's out of your hands almost as soon as it gets going. Hence the disorganized and often indiscriminate violence. You're not lighting the cannon of revolution, you're starting the wildfire of chaos.

This^

[Senkaku]

Obviously everyone would prefer a world where people didn’t get hurt or lose property, because we all agree those are bad things (and many of us realize they can also be used by certain elements to try and discredit more peaceful approaches)

But unfortunately when people’s peaceful paths to achieving their political goals are hermetically sealed off by an out of touch elite with no regard for anything but its own financial interests, they will be forced to pursue violent ones

[Picairn]

I don't support the riots or looting, but the politicians need to get to work and implement reforms to the police force already. The federal government's structure and the way it operates are just generally dysfunctional, if not f'ed up.

[Waldoven]

I'm ok with the protests but the looters are not justified at all. They are basically stealing while everyone is distracted. I don't like rioting too. Violence isn't the answer. The better thing to do is to just protest peacefully. But don't block roads. Its annoying for the drivers.

[Myrensis]

I'm ok with the protests but the looters are not justified at all. They are basically stealing while everyone is distracted. I don't like rioting too. Violence isn't the answer. The better thing to do is to just protest peacefully. But don't block roads. Its annoying for the drivers.

"Why can't they just protest quietly somewhere out of the way where they won't bother anyone?"

[Cappedore]

Afternoon, all you fabulous internet-lingering people.

It is I, Cappedore, and I'm about to shoot you an inquiry.

What do you think about the current BLM riots happening nation-wide across the USA. Do you think they are acceptable or unacceptable? Why?

I believe they are unacceptable. Two wrongs do not make a right, although history would say otherwise. However, this does not make riots socially acceptable in any way and may even be digging a bigger hole for those who are rioting.

[Greed and Death]

At this juncture any protester is an accessory to looting and rioting and should be imprisoned accordingly.

[The Grims]

We already have two topics on this - one on the riots and one on the ethics of using violence in a protest. Plus all the discussion in the US election and Trump threads.

What uniqueness does yours bring ?

But my opinion in a nutshell: violence is allowed for an oppressed people.to rise up, especially after peaceful methods were shot down. Was true for the Jews in nazi Germany,was true for the gays in Britain and is true for blacks in the USA.

Perhaps people should not have whined so much when they merely protested by bending the knee during the national anthem.

[Deacarsia]

The riots are unacceptable.

[Dominioan]

Hell naw

[Bombadil]

Apparently, at some point, kneeling was unacceptable.. the question is, when nothing is acceptable then what becomes necessary?

[Qabea]

No.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Yes.

[Kazakah]

There are cases where violent protesting is necessary, but I doubt those that loot and burn businesses really care about George Floyd. They just wanna cause some chaos.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Without the credible threat of violence if demands aren't met, then no peaceful protest movement can work.