36 Hours in the Internet and the Political Process

[evilhippo]

I don't even know where to begin to start. Did I even mention I was going to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear? I probably didn't. It kind of didn't register in the midst of the giant Thing that was the Paris trip, and then the middle of October went pchoooo and suddenly I was on a bus populated by Redditors and hippie liberals. (Now with

Comments

[apple_pathways]

Awesome recap! I so wish I was there, and not just because I would have verbally kicked the ass of that guy bothering you on the bus. Seriously, you have so much patience, and were much nicer to him than he deserved!

Loved the list of 100 signs; I think my absolute favorite was of the little girl in the princess dress that said, "I'm taking back tea parties!" TOO CUTE!

Also: in any gathering of nerds, the Who fans will be out in force! (Is it wrong that if there were a Doctor Who political party, I would totally consider forgoing my independent status?)

[evilhippo]

Heh, that is exactly why I need travel companions. After that nonsense I am infinitely more grateful that I managed not to have any issues like that while I was abroad. Just a brief conversation with an Italian guy who was supposed to share my room in Montmartre, who I accidentally Anthea'd.

I saw that little girl on my way out. She was adorable! There was also a similarly-young girl who was sitting on the fence with a sign that said "I can see America from my backyard."

I think my favorite might be the Under-Appreciated Super Heroes one, though, just because... Super Grover is my favorite. (-:

(I don't see anything wrong with that! In fact, it'd be completely in line with my hope that we'll eventually let our politics wander in the direction of British politics, which openly allows for odds-and-ends fringe parties. There's so much potential for something like the Party of Rassilon. We would have the best rallies ever.)

[flutingfrenzy]

You totally could have been meaner to the guy and it would have been completely justified, but it's probably just as well, since you never know whether an asshole like that (especially a drunk one) is going to escalate.

Aside from him, I am jealous! I'm generally too shy/suspicious/lazy to meet the internet, but these things always sound so awesome. I would probably feel inadequate for not being able to think of something clever to put on a sign, though. Did you have a sign?

my generation at...its best and most interesting (in costume, waving ironic signs while un-ironically joining in to sing the national anthem)

Yes! This is my favorite part. HEY GUYS LIBERALS LOVE AMERICA. I KNOW, RIGHT?

[evilhippo]

Yeeaah I kind of just wanted to move seats at that point and pretend that he didn't exist, but unfortunately the bus was full and doing so would've caused an even bigger scene. At least he left me alone after that, though.

I did not have a sign... mostly because I couldn't think of anything clever, but also because I didn't want to accidentally end up on TV or something. I was definitely content to just be an observer.

I was so very much expecting people to go "Omg, why are we singing the national anthem?" but instead they sang and I was kind of flabbergasted. So much so that I remembered to take my hat off and be respectful before I joined in as well. (-;

[madonnalal]

I am super jealous that you got to go to the Rally. I was really trying to get some people to head down with me, but everyone I talked to had work, school, a sick cat, or the flu. So I just decided that if I couldn't go, then I would promised myself that I will vote this year.

That guy sounded like a super creep. You handled it a LOT better than I would have.

[evilhippo]

It was strangely hard to find real-life people that could go. Even my best-laid plans with one of my friends here fell through (but mostly because he wanted to make a weekend of it, and I couldn't get enough time off work to pull that off without giving up Christmas. In the end we were probably no more than 10 yards apart in the crowd and we still didn't manage to run into each other at all there).

I still have no idea how people are supposed to handle those situations. I mean, I'm downright terrible at it, but if I could even conceive of a reasonable way to deal with it, I'd try it. I just stumble into the situation and draw a complete blank, so I have to sit there trying not to laugh at how awkward it is.