So just now at school I got yelled at

[Drale]

by a Pro-Palestinian group having a bake sale because apparently by not buying a cupcake I am supporting Israel. I turned to them and very calmly said 1) I have no cash so I can't buy anything anyway 2) I don't support either side as far as I'm concerned neither sides leadership wants an end to the fighting unless they get everything their way 3) I would never give my money to a foreign group when their are people starving right here in America. It shut them up real fast and I walked away. The entire point of my post is that I am so tired of getting yelled at by people because I won't support them. On campus PETA and anti-abortion/gay rights people are the worst of it. Does the 1st Amendment really allow people to try and force their views on other people? That in my opinion is one of the major problems in this country and helped lead to the religious right and the tea party take over of many state governments.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. Which is why you need to support my "Pro Me Group" and no one else. :-P

[Xipe Totec]

4. Or Bender's anti-mugging-you campaign. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. I don't know. Those guys are assholes as far as my group is concerend ;-P

[unblock]

2. the first amendment has been characterized as protecting one's right to be an asshole

all it means is that the GOVERNMENT won't step in and stop them from being assholes.

that's your job, and in this case it seems you certainly rose to the occassion.

[Drale]

6. The problem is I go to a public university

so they kind of have to let these idiots do their little bake sale even though they are disrupting peoples lives because they were set up right near the door you go through to go to the dorms. Its very annoying.

[unblock]

8. right near the dorms? hmmm

check out the campus rules on blasting music out the windows

[Cal Carpenter]

9. Yes, freedom of speech and assembly

are so very annoying.

I'm horrified on your behalf. Really.

[mbperrin]

36. Yes, imagine running the gauntlet of pastries for sale!

By furriners, to boot!

[Ikonoklast]

3. Immature thinkers need to yell to get whatever point across they are trying to make.

The Republican Party is full of shouters, case in point.

If you cannot state your case in a reasonable fashion, I have no time to waste listening to what you might have to say.

[Blanks]

18. ...and everyone knows that all college-aged pro-Palestinians...

Are future republicans.

They're just in training on college campuses - probably accross the entire country.

[Ikonoklast]

19. You missed the point entirely.

The Left has their share of shouters, too.

Except they try to use shame as a motivator, instead of fear.

[Blanks]

30. I was just kidding.

I thought it was odd that you jumped to the GOP from the Palestinians.

The dyed in the wool GOP folks that i know seem to be maniacally pro-Israel. That's why it struck me as odd.

[Ikonoklast]

32. No, just used them as an example. Think of the AM Hateradio shouters, the Fox bellowers.

I have a lot of sympathy for the Palestinians who want their own state; none for those on either side that would kill to advance their agendas.

Same thing is going on the ME as elsewhere, death and destruction is profitable for some, and they want to keep it that way.

No harm, no foul.

[nikto]

43. Good response

That's what I'd say.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. That's pretty much the way I handle politicians when they're campaigning.

Though, in the instance you cited, I'd probably buy a cupcake.

[patrice]

10. Well, they shouldn't yell or insult, but it is good to break the silence. nt

[nikto]

44. I would try to talk softly to the Palestinians selling cupcakes...

And tell them I was a sympathizer in many ways, but that
yelling at people does not gain friends or win allies.

I'd buy a cupcake, but only if they looked good.


Then I'd sincerely wish them luck, and walk away.

[MineralMan]

11. Free speech can also include silence

and walking right by people you don't like. That would be my suggestion. If you don't support that group, pay no attention to them and just walk on. It works a treat.

[mitchtv]

12. Isn't that why we have public schools?

I'd try the poverty routine and see if you can get a 60% or better discount on those cupcakes.That way they gain nothing, but calm down.

[JaneyVee]

13. My college was filled with this, but it was ALL left-wing causes.

Graduated from here: http://www.newschool.edu/

[Drale]

14. We have left-wing causes as well

and they do outnumber the right wingers but they don't yell and scream they usually are out there getting people to sign petitions and such.

[JaneyVee]

17. Yeah, right wingers think screaming and yelling equals intelligence. Far from it.

Hang in there

[Lex]

15. Life is raucous.

They were trying to drum up sales, most likely, even though it backfired. The 1st Amendment deals with Government control of speech, btw, and not how it makes other people 'feel.'

[Comrade_McKenzie]

16. I hate when people taking up money try to guilt you into it...

Or stand in a place that can't be avoided.

[MurrayDelph]

20. Nothing new, but still annoying

When I went to UCLA 40 years ago, there was a similar gantlet up Bruin Walk, where you were chastised for not "donating."

I learned to take alternate routes.

[bluedigger]

21. College is a great place to learn effective advocacy skills.

Sort of a pass/fail course environment, if you will.

[RevStPatrick]

22. Not very good salespeople!

Around here, every once in a while we get these petitioners who will ask something like:

"Do you have a moment to save a child's life?"
I find this to be horrible technique, completely manipulative, and I always say something like "No. I hope they all die." If you're going to try to guilt trip me, I'm going to turn it back around on you.

I would say you did good there...

[Robb]

25. Welcome to DU!

[Drale]

26. wow 6 posts and your already trying to call people liers

I don't think your going to last to long my friend, so Enjoy Your Stay while it lasts.

[X_Digger]

24. The first amendment's most important protection is for unpopular speech.

Popular speech needs no protection- it's popular.

[tblue]

27. Just say "Sorry. I'm broke."

They won't yell at you for that.

No need to get into a spat and obviously it bothered you. Unless you want to get into a fight over opinions, just stay neutral, be cordial, and go you own way.

[siligut]

28. Oh sure, like you are going to buy something from people who yell at you

WTF? Sounds like the bake-sale is just an excuse to get their message out. Again, who listens to people who yell at them?

[richmwill]

29. What horrible salespeople.

Insult customers who won't buy- yeah, that works really well lol.

[Silent3]

31. In what way were you "forced"?

I think it sounds like these people were being jerks, but so what? You think that an occasional feeling of displeasure at someone's rudeness is a sign that maybe the First Amendment has gone too far?

[Shrike47]

33. The problem for me is that I'm easily frightened and when I'm frightened, I get aggressive.

PTSD. Anyway, yelling at me makes me very uncomfortable. Let's hope I'm not armed today.

[mbperrin]

37. So I should watch out for the crazies? Shouldn't they take a bit of responsibility on themselves?

And surely arming a PTSD victim is a crime in itself.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

34. Ok then. nt

[treestar]

35. Some very obnoxious individuals

Who don't know that they will not catch flies with vinegar as much as with honey.

[mbperrin]

38. Who wants to catch flies, anyway?

Nobody ever answered that when I was a kid, either.

[treestar]

39. And who tried to do it with vinegar?

[mbperrin]

40. Yeah! Looks like plain old poop would have been

best if you just HAD to have 'em!

[LeftInTX]

41. Take the student PLO with a grain of salt

They were like that 35 years ago.

As for the Tea Party/anti-abortion crowd, can't help you there. They weren't around when I was in college.

Well, there was an anti-abortion group, but they were a very small, shy, quiet, polite group at a table after Sunday mass. I guess times have changed for the worse.

[nikto]

42. Your life sounds so tough...

Not.

Try getting a little spine, and build-up some ability
to hear people you disagree with, even if they seem "wacko",
and even be able to withstand their criticisms and complaints.

I hear stuff said all the time (in media and in person) I not only find offensive,
but often even untrue.

Personally that which I feel is UNTRUE, bugs me far more than being yelled at or insulted.
(Must acknowledge----I was a HS teacher in the inner city for over 30 years, so perhaps I have built-up an unusually thick-skin---You have to, to survive in teaching these days).

When I don't just ignore the provocation, I try to respond rationally, with empirical arguments.
Or in some more insulting cases, ridicule them with satire of some kind.


You are damn lucky to live in a country that still has free-speech rights.

Although, if too many people adopt your attitude, maybe free-speech rights will go bye-bye, eh?


Stop being so sensitive. YOU have free-speech rights too.

Don't deny others that right (even if they are rude and crude),
and maybe YOU won't have those rights taken away or threatened by someone
who is offended by your expression of free-speech.


IMO, people who are easily offended do not make good defenders of free-speech.

My suggestion:
Tolerate other's free-speech (object to the tone if you find it offensive), and
meanwhile, make good use of your own.