Occupy Dublin. Where are they now?

Sergeant

I think we can all agree that the Occupy Dublin movement failed to bring about even the merest hint of change, but I've often wondered where did the people who hung around there go? Did they stick on a Che t-shirt, listen to some Rage Against The Machine and head off to another protest? What occupies their minds these days?

I work in the area, and cannot say I miss the sight of some crustie, sleep heavy in his eyes, poking his head out through the door of a tent as I walk to work. Or the posters which seemed to have opinions on everything from Shell to Sea to Palestine. It was like a catch-all collective of serial protesters.

Do you think they achieved anything, and if so, what?

kingtiger

I will take a wild stab in the dark

the dole office

anncoates

Sergeant wrote: »

Occupy Dublin. Where are they now?

They all graduated from university.

ricero

Back home sleeping on their mammys sofa

aaakev

Showering hopefully

seamus

Gone back to their own countries.

anncoates

Sergeant wrote: »

Do you think they achieved anything, and if so, what?

Annoyance of the general populace to the extent of making even liberals want to drive to work in Swastika-daubed Bentleys with baby seal-fur interiors

geeky

I have a mate on Facebook who was a fan. They engaged in low-level mischief-making (occupying the offices of the referendum commission during the referendum, championing the cause of those landlords who got evicted from their Kiliney home) but have quietened down now. Can't find the Facebook page any more.

My favourite antic was last year, when the troika came to town. They decided to loiter about the Merrion Hotel where they were pitched up, and 'chase' the IMF delegates from the hotel they were staying in to the Government offices they were visiting across the street. There's a photo of them in mid 'chase', that sad-faced IMF lad just ignoring them, while one fellah makes faces behind him while inexplicably holding a Macbook.

Clowns.

ballsymchugh

are they still protesting outside the israeli embassy the odd friday morning?
there's a tree in brighton that the council want to cut down, but 2 shams have 'occupied' it. could be some of the same bunch.

They're at home...wwwashing their tights!

geeky

geeky wrote: »

I have a mate on Facebook who was a fan. They engaged in low-level mischief-making (occupying the offices of the referendum commission during the referendum, championing the cause of those landlords who got evicted from their Kiliney home) but have quietened down now. Can't find the Facebook page any more.

My favourite antic was last year, when the troika came to town. They decided to loiter about the Merrion Hotel where they were pitched up, and 'chase' the IMF delegates from the hotel they were staying in to the Government offices they were visiting across the street. There's a photo of them in mid 'chase', that sad-faced IMF lad just ignoring them, while one fellah makes faces behind him while inexplicably holding a Macbook.

Clowns.

I stand corrected, they're still 'championing' every cause going here: http://www.facebook.com/OccupyDameStreet

And I dug up that photo.

Phill Ewinn

They brought awareness. That probably went over your head entirely. Some people don't want to know. Thats fine too.

Continue pushing cash at banks, let them buy guaranteed,,, government debt at cents on the euro and wait for a bond market crash.

What will you do then OP? Sleep on your parents couch, go on the dole or live in a tent?

anncoates

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

They brought awareness.

Self-awareness perhaps.

jjpep

Weather they were right or wrong they did something. Might not have achieved anything tangable but mocking a group for failing at something is really a little bit snide now isn't it. Especially when they were trying to do something for the greater good.

Sergeant

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

They brought awareness. That probably went over your head entirely. Some people don't want to know. Thats fine too.

What awareness did they bring? That dreadlocks really don't suit pasty Irish men? I never ever understood the central theme of their protest, never mind the hodgepodge of other 'hot topic' issues that they seemed to stick a poster up about.

There was never a cohesive message. It was an utter failure.

geeky

Going down the Occupy rabbit hole I came across this event: Occupy Dáil Éireann, Force the Government to Resign

http://www.facebook.com/events/446293835447518/

I can see no possibility of this failing. If 1916 taught us anything, it's that a marching straight into buildings without numbers, equipment, training or a mandate following an attempted publicity campaign yields instant success. Oh wait.

My favourite line from the organiser: "This is a serious Event .....NO TIME WASTERS !!!!"

Phill Ewinn

Sergeant wrote: »

What awareness did they bring? That dreadlocks really don't suit pasty Irish men? I never ever understood the central theme of their protest, never mind the hodgepodge of other 'hot topic' issues that they seemed to stick a poster up about.

There was never a cohesive message. It was an utter failure.

You're not bothered. Thats fine like I said. Some lazy "paddy " who doesn't want to know what's going on. Bury your head, the world will go on.

But bear in mind it'll go on making a fool of you.

Sergeant

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

You're not bothered. Thats fine like I said. Some lazy "paddy " who doesn't want to know what's going on. Bury your head, the world will go on.

But bear in mind it'll go on making a fool of you.

You're engaging in the type of vague rhetoric that caused me to create the thread in the first place.

What is going on? Why am I burying my head in the sand? What will go on making a fool of me?

The entire protest movement in general appears to be filled with this type of gibberish. Vague slogans and a couple of soundbites.

BraziliaNZ

You mocked them when they were protesting and you mock them now because they're not. I wish I knew the meaning of the word ironic because there's a chance it could be used here?

maximoose

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

You're not bothered. Thats fine like I said. Some lazy "paddy " who doesn't want to know what's going on. Bury your head, the world will go on.

But bear in mind it'll go on making a fool of you.

So because someone doesn't/didn't support crusty hippies sitting around in shacks in a left-wing fantasyland with unrealistic "demands" while damaging local businesses and causing a nuisance to everyone working in the area they are a fool and don't understand or what to know what is going on with the economy?

Good one.

Phill Ewinn

Sergeant wrote: »

You're engaging in the type of vague rhetoric that caused me to create the thread in the first place.

What is going on? Why am I burying my head in the sand? What will go on making a fool of me?

The entire protest movement in general appears to be filled with this type of gibberish. Vague slogans and a couple of soundbites.

What do you want me to tell you? What use is telling you anything? If you didn't want to hear then, why do you want to hear now?

seamus

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

What do you want me to tell you? What use is telling you anything? If you didn't want to hear then, why do you want to hear now?

Is this the usual way in which you communicate a message of protest? I can see the chant now;

"What do we want?"

"Why should we tell you?!"

"When do we want it?!"

"Mind your own business!"

Doesn't surprise me that Occupy disappeared with barely a whimper when they seem unable to provide even the most scant details about their aims or achievements.

Phill Ewinn

maximoose wrote: »

So because someone doesn't/didn't support crusty hippies sitting around in shacks in a left-wing fantasyland with unrealistic "demands" while damaging local businesses and causing a nuisance to everyone working in the area they are a fool and don't understand or what to know what is going on with the economy?

Good one.

Economy? Which economy? Loads of those crusty hippies were suit and tie wearing, well paid business people. What have you done? Sat back and taken it?

anncoates

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

They brought awareness. That probably went over your head entirely. Some people don't want to know. Thats fine too.

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

You're not bothered. Thats fine like I said. Some lazy "paddy " who doesn't want to know what's going on. Bury your head, the world will go on.

But bear in mind it'll go on making a fool of you.

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

What do you want me to tell you? What use is telling you anything? If you didn't want to hear then, why do you want to hear now?

You strike me as being not so much a poster as a Jefferson Airplane album that has somehow achieved sentience.

Handsome Bob

anncoates wrote: »

Annoyance of the general populace to the extent of making even liberals want to drive to work in Swastika-daubed Bentleys with baby seal-fur interiors

I don't get how people always found them so annoying. I also worked around the area at the time and sure, there were always blow ins (who weren't even part of the movement and who would go home to their beds at the end of the night) who made tits of themselves.

However, there were also a core group of the same people that were always there, that actually slept in those tents every night and who never gave the gardai hassle.

They didn't achieve anything, but I respect what those core group of people did for the best part of 6 months or so.

G Power

geeky wrote: »

I have a mate on Facebook who was a fan. They engaged in low-level mischief-making * (occupying the offices of the referendum commission during the referendum, championing the cause of those landlords who got evicted from their Kiliney home) but have quietened down now. Can't find the Facebook page any more.

My favourite antic was last year, when the troika came to town. They decided to loiter about the Merrion Hotel where they were pitched up, and 'chase' the IMF delegates from the hotel they were staying in to the Government offices they were visiting across the street. There's a photo of them in mid 'chase', that sad-faced IMF lad just ignoring them, while one fellah makes faces behind him while inexplicably holding a Macbook.**

Clowns.

* this is in contrast to the long list of factual high level mischief the "elite" have been up too!!

** so now protestors are only allowed have particular brands of devices?? or maybe they should be hauling a blackboard and chalk around with them is it??

Three Seasons

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

You mocked them when they were protesting and you mock them now because they're not. I wish I knew the meaning of the word ironic because there's a chance it could be used here?

You're right, you don't know the meaning of the word. You make Alanis Morrisette look good.

awec

seamus wrote: »

Is this the usual way in which you communicate a message of protest? I can see the chant now;

"What do we want?"

"Why should we tell you?!"

"When do we want it?!"

"Mind your own business!"

Doesn't surprise me that Occupy disappeared with barely a whimper when they seem unable to provide even the most scant details about their aims or achievements.

That's because they didn't even know their aims. It was an excuse for the attention seeking ultra-left to make a nuisance of themselves once again, nothing more.

These people get their jollies in protesting about everything and anything, I think it makes them feel relevant.

G Power

Handsome Bob wrote: »

They didn't achieve anything, but I respect what those core group of people did for the best part of 6 months or so.

did they not?? they achieved a lot given the very limited support they got. people are still talking about them with mainly the same ignorance as they did while the camp was there!!

FAO everyone who laughed at or continue to laugh at the movement, just take an honest look at how much better your life is today by ignoring it and waiting for it to "fail" as ye put it. I say it didn't fail and in it's own little way helped educate a lot of people at the time

G Power

seamus wrote: »

Is this the usual way in which you communicate a message of protest? I can see the chant now;

"What do we want?"

"Why should we tell you?!"

"When do we want it?!"

"Mind your own business!"

Doesn't surprise me that Occupy disappeared with barely a whimper when they seem unable to provide even the most scant details about their aims or achievements.

so unlike many other countries the Irish want a small group of people to not only explain every finite detail as to what they're doing now and what solutions they hope to bring about in the future before the majority will even consider joining a movement or protest!

this is why we are where we are today

awec

G Power wrote: »

* this is in contrast to the long list of factual high level mischief the "elite" have been up too!!

** so now protestors are only allowed have particular brands of devices?? or maybe they should be hauling a blackboard and chalk around with them is it??

You don't see the hilarity in someone protesting about today's tough times and the decisions being made while carrying around a laptop that costs well into 4 figures to buy?

Ha! :pac:

G Power wrote: »

did they not?? they achieved a lot given the very limited support they got. people are still talking about them with mainly the same ignorance as they did while the camp was there!!

FAO everyone who laughed at or continue to laugh at the movement, just take an honest look at how much better your life is today by ignoring it and waiting for it to "fail" as ye put it. I say it didn't fail and in it's own little way helped educate a lot of people at the time

So what did they achieve?

Three Seasons

awec wrote: »

That's because they didn't even know their aims. It was an excuse for the attention seeking ultra-left to make a nuisance of themselves once again, nothing more.

These people get their jollies in protesting about everything and anything, I think it makes them feel relevant.

Agreed. Protesting is basically a way for them to vent their envy and anger at the "elite" who are out to "fukc over the common man".

jjpep

Actually I felt the vagness of their position and of the occupy movement generally was one of its strengths. It's funny that there always described as being left wing or hippies or whatever but when you look at the core of what they were saying it could also have being seen as quite a conservative viewpoint. The idea that bailing out companies that failed because of market forces as not being a good thing to do would be a very kenisian point of view. People on the left would also say that bailing out companies is a bad idea but they would have gotten there from a different path.

So in a way it's odd that the occupy movement was seen as so divisive.

awec

G Power wrote: »

so unlike many other countries the Irish want a small group of people to not only explain every finite detail as to what they're doing now and what solutions they hope to bring about in the future before the majority will even consider joining a movement or protest!

this is why we are where we are today

I think it's more the case that we are unwilling to side with a protest just for the sake of protesting.

We don't even want the finite details. Just a high level will do.

Unfortunately, those protesting have not got even a shred of a clue as to what they would prefer.

"You're doing it wrong!!"

"So what would you do?"

"Errrrr, umm, I dunno, but you're doing it wrong!!"

Phill Ewinn

awec wrote: »

That's because they didn't even know their aims. It was an excuse for the attention seeking ultra-left to make a nuisance of themselves once again, nothing more.

These people get their jollies in protesting about everything and anything, I think it makes them feel relevant.

To clarify, I'm not a part of the occupy shower. Really I couldn't care. If you want to pour your wages into a bank that won't exist in five years thats fine.
If you want to support a bubbling bond market and a shadow banking system that you will not profit from thats fine too. Go for it. Ignore the crusties. Ignore anyone that wants to help you. Support anonymous speculators and let them make money off your back. I couldn't care.

smash

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

To clarify, I'm not a part of the occupy shower.

Is it a unisex shower? I'd occupy that!

Valetta

Phill Ewinn wrote: »

They brought awareness. That probably went over your head entirely. Some people don't want to know. Thats fine too.

That's my favourite sort of awareness; the type that goes over your head. :rolleyes:

VinLieger

G Power wrote: »

so unlike many other countries the Irish want a small group of people to not only explain every finite detail as to what they're doing now and what solutions they hope to bring about in the future before the majority will even consider joining a movement or protest!

this is why we are where we are today

So you advocate protesting simply for the sake of protesting? Yeah thats a real productive way to change things

super_furry

What exactly did they achieve?

Tabnabs

They got trounced on when they started on google

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=606283856054974&set=a.606283846054975.155640.298321290184567&type=1&theater

Three Seasons

jjpep wrote: »

Actually I felt the vagness of their position and of the occupy movement generally was one of its strengths. It's funny that there always described as being left wing or hippies or whatever but when you look at the core of what they were saying it could also have being seen as quite a conservative viewpoint. The idea that bailing out companies that failed because of market forces as not being a good thing to do would be a very kenisian point of view. People on the left would also say that bailing out companies is a bad idea but they would have gotten there from a different path.

So in a way it's odd that the occupy movement was seen as so divisive.

Bailing out banks is economically left wing. Letting them collapse would be right wing.

bucketybuck

jjpep wrote: »

Weather they were right or wrong they did something. Might not have achieved anything tangable but mocking a group for failing at something is really a little bit snide now isn't it. Especially when they were trying to do something for the greater good.

Trying to do what? Failing at what for that matter? What were they actually trying to achieve?

Gran Hermano

Will someone think of the trees, they dont hug themselves.

Menas

The demands and their goals of these protests often baffle.
In the case of occupy dame st, their demands seemed to be that we say no to the IMF, refuse to pay back bondholders and that we leave the euro.
But they had no plan for what we should do to cope with the Armageddon that would ensue had the '99%' listened to them.
Same with this gang of looneys that want to occupy the dail. So their plan is to occupy the dail and force the government to resign.
And they advertise this on facebook?
Assuming that the powers that be do not monitor social media for potential up risings, and that these lads do get in to the Dail. They then plan to keep all the TDs in there until the government resigns? Surely they should only keep the government tds and let the opposition go?
What happens then? Do the opposition get to form a government? Including FF?
Or will the loons set up their own populist government?
Cant wait to see how this pans out.

starlings

It's 10 years since the war in Iraq began. My views at the time were fairly simple: I didn't think the war was justified and I didn't want Ireland to let the US use Shannon for refuelling. Yet even then there were lots of other agendas on the march and I'd find myself dancing up and down the crowd to check what banner I was under. There was even a spilt protest at Shannon IIRC, with two routes.

But in comparison to Occupy, it was a united voice. Occupy seemed to get stuck in a loop of "awareness" which meant letting people rant about their own pet agendas - e.g. water flouridation, or simply to "voice their anger" - and I think this wrecked so many heads who might have been sympathetic in the beginning.

jjpep

Three Seasons wrote: »

Bailing out banks is economically left wing. Letting them collapse would be right wing.

Yep, that's what I'm saying. It's just strange to me how the occupy movement in general is nearly always seen as a left wing movement although they were against bank bail outs, which is as we're both saying is seen as a leftist idea.

TeddyTedson

Get rich or die tryin'.
I never took much notice of those tents. I still have no real clue what they were doing there.
Not much by the sounds of it.

Drumpot

Three Seasons wrote: »

Bailing out banks is economically left wing. Letting them collapse would be right wing.

I think that is a point lost on most people ridiculing the occupy movement . . The phrase "socialism for the banks (and by extension financial investors), capitalism for everybody else" comes to mind.

In truth, it exposed how shallow, fickle and mindnumbingly idiotic most democratically run countries working off the capitalist "principles" truely are and for that most people felt ridiculing the movement was preferable to actually trying to have a debate on how society can progress. . .

This post is a case in point. . .How much progress could be made with any movement with so many people taking such ridiculous close minded views on the topic. . People want to be spoon fed -

• Whats the answer ?
• Whats the solution ?
• Whats the alternative ? (It must be communisim because theres no possible way anything else could be devised!:rolleyes:)

What is even funnier is that people are craving for change and when a completely radical movement (albeit not overly clear on a strategy) challanged the status quo, people got frightened simply because it didnt have all the solutions required. .

The occupy movement challanged the status quo - that was its success. Perhaps the reason why it was unemployed, students or hippies is because these sections of society havent been poisoned or conformed into group idiotic thinking. The are not putting their heads in the sand and working 40 hours a week, hoping that by 65 they will be able to retire. If thats your main focus, then how could you possibly comprehend any different from how you have lived your entire life?

People speak of this protest as if capitalism or banks are the ONLY way society can progress. Capitalism in its current format is an absolute mess because no government will allow a major financial institution to fail if it will have substantial ramifications on its economy. Nothing has changed since the collapse of 2007 because we all know that governments will continue to "ask" banks to do the right thing and let them do pretty much whatever they want and then bail them out when its required.

Ah but sure hasnt the world progressed so much better then it did under communism ? What a ridiculously flawed logic. The fundamental problem with any system (king, capitalism, communism, whatever) is usually the corrupted/flawed principles of those leading and those keeping them in charge. As a society, we have truely failed in this matter. Failed to have the foresight to encourage change (by how we vote and what we value), failed to encourage our children to not make our mistakes (financial education, more politically pro active) and failed to do anything other then follow the general consensus in how a country should be run (we are compleley reliant on USA/UK and Europe for prosperity).

For me, the occupy movement brought attention on the absolute comedic protection that financial services industries/investors get at all expense. Its not too different to the catholic church protecting abusive priests so their own house doesnt collapse . . Its really head in the sand stuff.

Perhaps the majority of people arent driven to have a swimming pool, 10 houses and 50 cars. Perhaps most people are happy just to live a frugal life where their children can get a good education , the best medical attention when required and basic ammenities etc. Perhaps the cream that people can make to get their 10 houses etc should be made after society takes care of its peoples basic needs and most importantly puts the health (mental) of its people ahead of everything else.

jjpep

bucketybuck wrote: »

Trying to do what? Failing at what for that matter? What were they actually trying to achieve?

Right at the start of the occupy movement (worldwide) it's message was things are unfair. The comparisons between how individuals are treated and how large corporations are treated. It didn't have any answers just a question. The question was' is this really fair? Is this the best way we have of doing things?' But like a lot of movements it quickly gained baggage and I guess lost its way under the weight of other agendas being thrown on top of it. But the initial question was a good one. Is there a better way that the world can work? I don't know but it's the kind of thing that I think is a good idea to sit back and ask occasionally and especially when things aren't working so well.

gurramok

When they started to support that rich Killiney landlord couple by turning up on their doorstep with a tent, it finished them.

seamus

G Power wrote: »

so unlike many other countries the Irish want a small group of people to not only explain every finite detail as to what they're doing now and what solutions they hope to bring about in the future before the majority will even consider joining a movement or protest!

No, you're right. People should just attach themselves to a protest regardless of what the aims of that protest are.

Occupy continually have failed to deliver any kind of cohesive message beyond, "We hate big business". They offer no solutions to the financial woes of everyday people, and as is evident in this thread anyone who even tries to ask the question is abused and called "sheeple" or whatever.

Occupy was an experiment in an open-source movement; a vehicle whereby people could protest because they're unhappy but have no real ideas on how to fix their unhappiness. It failed, for the simple reason that moaning and protesting alone accomplishes nothing when you have no solutions.