this post was submitted on 01 May 2025
92 points (96.0% liked)

askchapo

22986 readers
343 users here now

Ask Hexbear is the place to ask and answer ~~thought-provoking~~ questions.

Rules:

  1. Posts must ask a question.

  2. If the question asked is serious, answer seriously.

  3. Questions where you want to learn more about socialism are allowed, but questions in bad faith are not.

  4. Try !feedback@hexbear.net if you're having questions about regarding moderation, site policy, the site itself, development, volunteering or the mod team.

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I just went down to our local lib demonstration. All I could really feel was depressed. All those people waving signs but I wonder how many are willing to do anything more than that? Shit most of them were pretty old, tbh. I approached some people I clocked as comrades but I was very awkward and we didn't have a conversation.

I guess I don't really have a question here. Just feel like everybody has identified (some of) the problems, but have totally misidentified the solutions. Will these protests ever accomplish anything? Can we radicalize the protestors without them having to get beaten by cops? Or is that what it will take?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] heresiarch@hexbear.net 60 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Liberal contingents at rallies are excellent opportunities for recruitment. Large groups of angry people who are motivated enough to go outside, but have no strong ideas about what they should be doing. I'm genuinely fired up after canvassing the May Day crowd in my town. I met a lot of people who only needed to be told how to get involved in making real change.

[–] electric_nan@lemmy.ml 36 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Thanks, that is heartening to hear, and a good reminder to take some responsibility. I'll say I'm new in town (been gone a long time), and only slowly finding "my people" here.

[–] heresiarch@hexbear.net 28 points 1 week ago

It's always tough attending a rally where you don't know anyone! The only thing that lets me be outgoing at events is being able to recharge my social batteries by talking with comrades I know.

[–] dil@hexbear.net 17 points 1 week ago

Agreed! My org had folks go out and poll people about what they're most concerned about, which was a great icebreaker for moving to what they're doing about it.

I also found that having a scripted opener was helpful in making the approach less awkward (something like "Hi! I'm trying to get a sense of the main concerns folks have. What brings you out here today?"). It also helped my nerves to frame it as just collecting data, so each interaction wasn't make-or-break.