re: #70 Killgore Trout

Extremism is factor. People giving speeches about revolution and waving communist flags is a turn off to most Americans. The violence is another factor depending on which side the public blames. There’s also the general kooks, 9-11 truthers and conspiracy nuts can have and adverse effect on public opinion.
I think possibly a larger factor in public opinion that applies more to OWS than the Tea Party is the lawlessness within the camps. Rapes, stabbings, beatings really hurts the movement’s credibility. Breitbart is hyping a story today about an underage girl was picked up at an OWS camp by a pimp/madame who prostituted her. Not all of the is related to ideology but it reflects poorly on the movement.

Safety is always going to be a factor. We’re talking, at least in my area about a group in an anonymous urban setting with no functioning security and an increasing distrust of law enforcement. Add to that the camp-outs are going to attract an odd assortment of transients, and idealistic young idiots, and the criminals who prey on both, and there’s going to be a certain amount of trouble.

I seriously doubt that pimps will stop working Grand Central Station and start checking out Zucotti Park for their latest additions to the payroll, but you are going to have some other problems. When people consider themselves to be surrounded by ‘the good guys’, they often aren’t as alert or sensible as they would otherwise be. Think rock concert.

There are things that can be done to reduce this, and hopefully, some of the OWS groups will do them.