The application of this psychobabble to current events lacks support. People aren’t getting mad at climate protesters because they think the protesters caused climate change. Likewise, people aren’t getting mad at college protesters because they think the caused the problems in the Middle East. Those are actually examples of value disagreements. I.e. when you prominently put your values on display, you invite reaction from people with different values. That has nothing to do with the “blaming the messenger” problem discussed earlier in the article.
Protesters are not only bringing a message, but almost always proposing a solution. And in both cases you mention they are vigorously pointing out the frying pan while being willfully blind to the fact that they're trying to get us to jump in the fire.
It's possible to have a protest movement over somebody protecting an ox, but most protests are about issues that aren't solved because there is no good solution. If there is an answer why hasn't it been done?
this article started out so strongly too--found it pretty interesting. and then just deteriorated. like, within a few sentences in the later half you already know the leftist stance with little nuance on any of the topics being brushed with broad boring strokes
Indeed. I think that another way to look at it would be that protestors are not simply messengers, they are people who have specific goals which they would like to effect.
The war reporters, scientists, or perhaps the journalists reporting on the protests are the messengers here, and whilst I think they do receive a fair amount of cynicism, usually that's linked to the perceived attempt at influence.
i.e. Okay, you want me to change what I'm doing for you. I don't know you, and my natural tendency is to decline such requests until I determine that you're trustworthy, because otherwise I'd simply be under a constant DoS attack.
