Forum Post: I'm sorry everybody, the People's Microphone concept has got to go
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 1, 2011, 10:58 p.m. EST by mediaauditr
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This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Read all my posts. I wholeheartedly support OWS and the power behind the movement. But for God's sake, the People's microphone concept is absolutely ridiculous. I understand the point of it. Everyone has an equal voice. No one is better or more powerful than anybody else. The very act of the peoples microphone signifies the OWS movement. I get it.
For the sake of brevity, for the sake of getting through a message in a timely manner, quit the human microphone. Do other people see this as an incredible waste of energy? In the time it takes to chant about one message, three or four concepts could be covered.
The People's Microphone should only be used when a group of us are in a crowd of people who are hostile. Then it would make sense to chant over and over, to show those who don't believe the idea that everyone has an equal voice.
But when we are among ourselves, we already believe that no one is better than anyone else. We don't have to prove it to each other! We are grouped together because we already believe that!
Does anybody else agree with me?
I find it very juvenile and disruptive and cultish. BUT - for the GA - we have to communicate to 1000+. It may be the only way. But are old style non-electronic megaphnes banned? Could 200 cell phones be on the same line as speakerphones?
"Do other people see this as an incredible waste of energy?" Yeah and it's annoying as hell too. It's a bunch of Pavlov's dogs salivating at the chance to bark out the next mind-droning chant. It's more than "the people's microphone" - it's conditioned reflex in action.
I admit that it's creepy. Somebody donate a PA system already.
The people's mic started because it was difficult for people to hear in the back. That's still the reason it's being used.
lol yeh definitely... its a distinctive part of the movement, and it has a certain charm, but its horribly inefficient
if they insist on it, then at least use full clauses : )
We are only doing it bc Bloomberg has banned mic's. It's the only way to get messages out to the crowd.
Thanks Gaga and Calman, I stand corrected!
Well they use the people's microphone to let people in the back to hear in larger groups (that is why they use it in NYC). It will fade away and technology will take that part lol :) .
I find the "people's mic" to be extremely creepy. It also reeks of some type of behavior from a kindergarten class.
I hear the crap all the time that it is done because NY doesn't allow megaphones without a permit. That is a load of crap.
Almost every other city in this country is using megaphones, yet they still do the very creepy and childish "people's mic".
Out of every conversation I have had with people regarding OWS, everyone seems to find the "people's mic" very childish and strange. Some also agree it is creepy.
The movement really needs to drop it.
Do you even know why they do it? The cops won't let them use megaphones.
I have an idea why they do it, and it is not because of lack of megaphones.
Didn't you read the previous post? All over the country everyone else is using megaphones, yet they still engage in this creepy practice.
The lack of megaphone usage in NY is not an excuse for everyone else to do it.
It has become a part of the movement, I know. But that is because NY is the center of the movement. I'm not sure everyone understands why they're doing PM. But anyway, I do think it can be creepy, but it's also empowering and inspiring, depending on the situation and the individual. It's not all good or all bad, surprisingly.
It reminds me of neuro-linguistic-programming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming
espcially when they are repeating someone with a megaphone.
Interesting.
It definitely involves some type of collectivist physiological bullshit and that is why they are doing it.
Repeating the people with the megaphones is the worst.
... "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated"....