Caption: Naked truth...

[emad]

Naked protesters block 8th Avenue in midtown Manhattan outside Madison Square Garden, site of the Republican National Convention, August 26, 2004. Law enforcement authorities expect thousands of protesters to descend on the city before the start of the convention on August 30, 2004. REUTERS/Bob Covington

[slinkerwink]

1. fucking stupid protest

[name not needed]

3. Just get over it already

[apnu]

5. and why is protesting Bush stupid?

Or is the "nekkid" part bothering you?

[slinkerwink]

8. this just turns off voters and does our cause no good at all

[name not needed]

10. Most people don't like protesters as it is

Do you honestly think that a couple of people standing naked in the street is going to cost us the election all by itself?

[slinkerwink]

14. A mass protest of 880,000 people is much more effective

than a protest of naked crazy hippies is.

[name not needed]

17. "Naked crazy hippies"?

They don't look different from anyone else. The only difference is, they're not wearing clothes.

[slinkerwink]

18. hence that's why they're called naked crazy hippies

[name not needed]

19. So being nude makes you a hippie?

[Bog Frog]

2. OMG. Those protestors ROCK.

[Kid_A]

4. Why does that woman have a parachute on her ass?

Unless those are her....oh dear God......

[name not needed]

6. Granny Panties...

rofl

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. Yeah, that's not funny.

[Kid_A]

12. Oh come on, yes it is.

I think that anyone who takes off their clothes in public is fair game for ridicule.

[Bog Frog]

13. That's crap.

Pure crap. Clothes on or off, it is childish to ridicule anyone for his size, body type, looks, skin condition, whatever. Childish.

[Kid_A]

20. But it's not childish to strip in public so you can "make a point"?

It's not this is a photo of her at home or at a swimming pool. She knew what she was doing, and she knew there would be pictures taken, and she also knew people would probably laugh at her. Just because I'm laughing at her bedsheet undies doesn't mean I don't admire her conviction, even it is a silly stunt that ultimately hurts their cause.

[Bog Frog]

21. Because she "knew what she was doing" gives you the right to

employ ridicule? Why can't you make your opinion about these protesters known without resorting to ad hominem? Leave the childish attitude behind and you'll argue more effectively.

And if you were just trying to be funny, well, unless this is a teen sex movie, you missed.

As to "it's not childish to strip . . . " No, it's not, not IMO. I believe in civil disobedience. It works best when you get a great deal of attention. From here you can probably reach my point on your own.

[Kid_A]

23. If I'm being childish, it's just because I'm replying in kind.

I've never taken nude protestors seriously, and I don't think the majority of people do either. Our society is obsessed with nudity, and appearing nude in public just distracts from the issue. Of course standing in the street naked is a great way to get attention, but don't be surprised when the average reaction resembles ridicule more than serious contemplation of the issue.

In a perfect world, people would see that photo and think "Naked people! Cool! Hmm, and the distribution of wealth in the global economy is quite unbalanced. These naked people with granny panties make a good point." But this isn't a perfect world, and people don't react that way. These protestors aren't calling attention to a serious issue, they're calling attention to their genitalia.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

22. No...

It's still not funny.
Duckie

[Stephanie]

9. Above their heads you can see the pedestrian bridge that was built

They built that bridge just for the convention, so the RNC members would not have to dirty their feet on the sidewalk when they cross from MSG to the Post Office where the press is being kept. Nice! Did Boston build Kerry a bridge?

[name not needed]

11. They're republicans. It's customary that they are not

to be around normal people. Just nationalistic supporters and rich golf buddies.

[name not needed]

15. They're not naked! They still have their socks on!

:D

[sui generis]

16. protesters are anti-Bush

that's not always the same thing as pro-Democrat. We should not confuse everyone who protests against Bush with protesting FOR democrats.

They all have their pet issues and they are taking advantage of the extra media attention, as they should. If the worst thing that happens is that some basket and tang gets flashed, then so be it.

We are SO freaking uptight.