Just Stop Oil

[Port Vale Devil]

I am not agreeing or disagreeing with the reasons behind their protests but surely blocking roads as people are going about their day to day business just seems a bit wrong to me. Stories of people missing important hospital appointments due to these protests doesn’t sit well with me at all.

They seem to be concentrating on sporting events now like Snooker, Cricket and Wimbledon this week.

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These protests get them on the news so highlighting the issue but some of their methods when it impacts normal people seems a little off.

 

[Wumminator]

They’ll be seen as heroes soon.

 

[grahamo]

bring back police brutality .

 

[fergieisold]

Johnny Vaughan was joking on radio x that they must be sponsored by big oil. What better way to turn people against climate change action.

 

[berbatrick]

i don't think their tactics are good, but there are literally no good tactics. unless these same people are capable of holding about 50 CEOs and presidents hostage in exchange for immediate policy shifts.

 

[horsechoker]

They're right and that's all that matters.

 

[maniak]

When will these protestors learn that if they want change they need to protest in a way that doesn't bother anyone? Have they learned nothing from history?

 

[RedSky]

i don't think their tactics are good, but there are literally no good tactics.

Agreed.

 

[adexkola]

I am not agreeing or disagreeing with the reasons behind their protests

Then the protests won't have any impact on your stance, which means you may as well pretend the protests don't exist

 

[Ralaks]

To be honest for any protest to have a chance it has to be disruptive and inconvenient.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Bunch of fecking cnuts.

 

[Tarrou]

I’m all for it but don’t expect it to make much difference, sadly.. but one thing is for certain asking nicely won’t work

progress will be made when climate change impacts people directly, or progress aligns with financial interests

Politicians are too corrupt or useless and most people are too apathetic to give a shit

 

[JB08]

Call me petty and irrational but I’ll say the truth - I feel further away than ever from supporting such a movement due to these (mostly) uneducated cnuts disrupting things that people are just trying to enjoy.

 

[Port Vale Devil]

Then the protests won't have any impact on your stance, which means you may as well pretend the protests don't exist

Was more I didn’t want the thread to be about the issue but more about their tactics really.

 

[Wumminator]

Call me petty and irrational but I’ll say the truth - I feel further away than ever from supporting such a movement due to these (mostly) uneducated cnuts disrupting things that people are just trying to enjoy.

Aren’t they highly educated?

 

[Shinjch]

Was more I didn’t want the thread to be about the issue but more about their tactics really.

Are there tactics that you would suggest to bring about the change?

 

[adexkola]

Was more I didn’t want the thread to be about the issue but more about their tactics really.

Do you think their tactics hurt their cause? As in, are there are people who go, "yeah I was all for saving the planet, but after being stuck in traffic for 2 hours, feck earth!!!"?

 

[Ekkie Thump]

I don't like the sitting in traffic tactic. I do like the disruption of events.

 

[The Boy]

People complain if they block roads, people complain if they disrupt events, but no one does fecking anything if they just state the problem.

They're 100% right in what they're saying and what they stand for but they're in a no win situation and sadly that fecks us all.

Governments around the world should hang their heads in shame that it has come to people being forced to do things like this in an attempt to make a difference.

 

[The Boy]

Call me petty and irrational but I’ll say the truth - I feel further away than ever from supporting such a movement due to these (mostly) uneducated cnuts disrupting things that people are just trying to enjoy.

So you think as a result of their actions that climate change isn't worth battling against?

 

[Care_de_Bobo]

The protesters might make people miss the odd hospital visit, but the oil companies are helping to kill life on our planet for a quick buck so it's fair game imo.

I actually have more of an issue with the rail strikes as that is the greenest form of transport and people are regularly denied the opportunity to use it, therefore, actively putting people off ditching their cars.

People fighting for a noble cause rather than a payrise should be applauded even if they delay the odd cricket or tennis match every once in a while.

 

[Samid]

They have iPhones. They use gas heating. They consume animal/plant based products. They were probably fine when Jaap Stam was sold. How can anyone have any sort of sympathy for these loons?

 

[FireballXL5]

What do they expect people to do? Kayak to work?

 

[Port Vale Devil]

Are there tactics that you would suggest to bring about the change?

I doubt there are many tactics that will bring about real change but they are not endearing themselves to the normal man in the street.

 

[Big Andy]

A lad I went to school with was big into Anti-fracking when it was a thing. There was a rumour that a site near my home town had been chosen for fracking, so this lad and all his eco warrior friends (the worst type, think dreadlocks and tie dye) went down there and started camping there, tying themselves to trees, etc. At first I was interested in it, until he completely lost me with the most entitled facebook post ever.

Along the lines of "We won't stop, we won't let up, but we need some essentials delivering to us to enable us to carry on the fight against fracking. We're desperately in need of toilet paper, water, charcoal, burgers, chicken, steaks and beer" I wouldn't mind but the site was about a ten minute walk from the fecking Tesco Express, the scrounging fecks. Who the feck deems barbecues essential ffs.

It eventually turned out that there wasn't even going to be any fracking there and it was a site set aside for a hydroelectric facility, they all went home after that, and left the site in a right state.

 

[maniak]

I doubt there are many tactics that will bring about real change but they are not endearing themselves to the normal man in the street.

At least they're highlighting the fact that the normal man in the street cares more about not being slightly inconvenienced than the environment and the future of the members of his community.

 

[Ekkie Thump]

I doubt there are many tactics that will bring about real change but they are not endearing themselves to the normal man in the street.

I don't think endearment is their strategy and it's unclear whether it should be. The most prolific response to their actions seems to be "I know they're right but aren't they assholes?" Overall I think their strategy is somewhat successful. They're not seeking power themselves nor do they wield any so it seems to them reasonable to sacrifice their reputations in order to keep the issue in the news - which it does.

 

[HTG]

 

[Simbo]

Johnny Vaughan was joking on radio x that they must be sponsored by big oil. What better way to turn people against climate change action.

Not sure he was joking! And probably not wrong.

 

[Toblerone92]

They have iPhones. They use gas heating. They consume animal/plant based products. They were probably fine when Jaap Stam was sold. How can anyone have any sort of sympathy for these loons?

They still have to partake in society which in this day and age necessitates the use of a smart phone and more likely than not gas heating. That argument isn’t the epic retort people think it is.

They don’t want sympathy, they want people to be angry about the fact that our government wants to open new gas and oil fields in the North Sea. That oil companies are making billions while the planet burns. If our government was seen to be taking meaningful steps to mitigate the impending climate disaster then maybe they wouldn’t need to do what they do, but until then I fully support them.

I was stuck behind 3 of them this morning going over Tower Bridge, not ideal but neither is rising sea levels, food shortages and the destruction of eco-systems. What do you suggest they do instead? Sit around waiting for it all to collapse like the rest of us?

 

[DOTA]

They're good.

The incredibly serious way sports commentators respond to them, as if they are witnessing mass death and not someone throwing dust or confetti around, is very funny.

 

[Port Vale Devil]

At least they're highlighting the fact that the normal man in the street cares more about not being slightly inconvenienced than the environment and the future of the members of his community.

Maybe so but glueing yourself to a busy road when people are trying to get to work, hospital appointments etc etc seems a bit off.

 

[HTG]

They're good.

The incredibly serious way sports commentators respond to them, as if they are witnessing mass death and not someone throwing dust or confetti around, is very funny.

And it’s not even actual sports. Just tennis. So who gives a shit?

 

[maniak]

They still have to partake in society which in this day and age necessitates the use of a smart phone and more likely than not gas heating. That argument isn’t the epic retort people think it is.

They don’t want sympathy, they want people to be angry about the fact that our government wants to open new gas and oil fields in the North Sea. That oil companies are making billions while the planet burns. If our government was seen to be taking meaningful steps to mitigate the impending climate disaster then maybe they wouldn’t need to do what they do, but until then I fully support them.

I was stuck behind 3 of them this morning going over Tower Bridge, not ideal but neither is rising sea levels, food shortages and the destruction of eco-systems. What do you suggest they do instead? Sit around waiting for it all to collapse like the rest of us?

They were probably fine when Jaap Stam was sold.

 

[Dumbstar]

Reminds me, I need to fill up the car!

 

[maniak]

Maybe so but glueing yourself to a busy road when people are trying to get to work, hospital appointments etc etc seems a bit off.

Minor inconvenience in my book.

 

[NotThatSoph]

Here's a picture from the London protest against invading Iraq. If they'd left some more space on the road, maybe war could have been avoided?

 

[Sweet Square]

It’s not helping their cause and will have no effect on the outcome of climate change but jesus the ruining sporting events is incredible funny. Full support to them.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

If they were serious about their message they’d have stopped the oil club winning the Champions League

They’re just attention seekers. There was no value in disrupting a Man City game because nobody is watching

 

[HTG]

I just want to point out that people getting mad about this stuff are the embodiment of why not enough is being done. Because while accepting that climate change is real and must be fought, they still don’t want to acknowledge that in order to do so, our way of life has to change in some ways.
Asking protestors to protest in ways that don’t affect everyday life is the same kind of denial. „Sure your protest is valid. But please don’t affect my way of life in any way.“
Admitting to the necessity of such protests would be admitting that our way of life has to change. Can’t do that. So let’s get mad at the protesters and let’s make up some stupid reasons to do so.