Maybe? I think throwing food at works of art is so far removed from the point of the protest that it is, in effect, pointless. And, therefore, probably damaging to the cause.
I’m imagining Rosa Parks saying fine, you won’t let me sit here? Watch me go throw some pea soup at Washington Crossing the Delaware.
Scuzz
5707
Sarcasm, they might as well put someone in a cartoon suit and have them run around Trafalger Square.
I think there is something to their protest. If we don’t fight climate change we won’t be able to enjoy nice things.
Timex
5709
Why not protest in such a way that targets those responsible, rather than harming humanity as a whole by destroying priceless works of art?
And I guess they didn’t really destroy the painting, they just pretended to… But the fact is, it’s a terrible strategy. There will be fine of people who essentially associate environmentalism with destruction of art.
That’s not the identity you want to assign to yourself, I don’t think.
complaining about the manner in which people protest is just one of those things people do I guess
I’m about as sympathetic a target as it gets when it comes to their stated goals. I should be an easy mark for fundraising and political support. Fuck them. Each and every one of them. Individually and collectively. I will never under any circumstances support them or their organizations.
Scuzz
5712
So let’s throw tomato sauce on everything. That will prove our point and show how serious we are.
Scuzz
5713
Maybe they should torch their neighborhood.
Not quite seeing the equivalence there, or even what point you are trying to make.
Aceris
5715
Yes, climate change wouldn’t be in the news at all if teenagers weren’t doing stunts that annoy millions of people and make them think less of the movement, it’s totally worth it.
Aceris
5716
There’s plenty to be said to criticise German policy on climate change, but inaction is not the word I would choose.
DoubleG
5717
Important to understand that neither the Monet or the Van Gogh painting were harmed in any way.
It’s tough for me, who’s not doing shit about climate change, to criticize some kids for what seems to be a very effective protest.
Timex
5718
So, the fact that they didn’t destroy priceless works of art is good.
But, from the perspective of messaging, that’s kind of immaterial, because the act was specifically designed to make people THINK that the protesters had destroyed those works of art.
So, there will be tons of people who see that some idiots destroyed priceless artwork, and won’t actually know that it was all just performative bullshit. And those people will be turned against your side.
Well if their goal was to attract attention to their cause, then this was obviously a brilliant tactic since it’s worldwide news.
If their goal was to garner support for their cause, then who knows how effective that was? Personally I think it’s a pointless gesture since I don’t see anybody flipping sides on fossil fuel usage because a couple dorks threw paint or food or whatever on something.
I feel like if you suddenly become anti-climate because some kids threw some food on some art, then maybe you didn’t really care about the climate that much in the first place.
ShivaX
5721
Beau had a video about how the RoI for them was insane.
Basically they spent $15 and got more exposure than hundreds of millions of dollars could’ve bought.
But ultimately this is where I fall on it.
Okay, you got massive exposure, but it was bad exposure and people hate you and by extension your cause to some extent.
Maybe J.G. Wentworth should give it a go.
I think the issue is that their performative protest is doing nothing to advance their cause, but it could hurt their specific organization. People who support efforts to combat climate change see this protest and either shake their heads and tut while continuing to vote and act the way they were going to anyway, or they raise their fists and say, “right on” while also continuing to vote and act the way they were going to anyway. Opponents just use this as additional ammo to paint all people concerned about climate change as kooks.
The only place this moves the needle are with folks that may have been sympathetic and might’ve donated to the kids’ cause, but now won’t because they look like idiots. Also, I guess it gave these kids much-needed clicks and TikTok clout, so yay I guess?
Hey I never thought about it that way. That’s a great point. Shit like TikTok clout may seem meaningless to us old people, but if it reaches the impressionable fuck-the-establishment youth and spurs them on to vote, and vote for the right candidates, then it could be an effective protest after all.
Come on young people! Do it for the memes or whatever!
Aceris
5725
The thing is, it’s not just about climate. I also want to keep people with no interest in maintaining democratic norms out of power. These stunts - and acceptance of these stunts - send the message that the people involved don’t care about democratic norms.
Note that Starmer has denounced these stunts.
