To me, what he's doing is heroic, so, he's a hero. If you don't think he's a hero, fine. But the only objective question is whether Sam is heroic to someone, and clearly, the answer is "YES." Therefore, Sam is a hero, because at least one person finds his efforts heroic, even if you do not. Naysayers, STFU, GTFO.
Especially fatcat, who does almost nothing but shit on people who stand up for themselves or even say they'd stand up for themselves if aggressed against, because apparently, actually doing something is inferior to bitching online.
So by this rationale, Hitler was a hero. George W. Bush was hero. Obama is a hero. Some homeless guy pissing his pants is a hero.
Doing something isn't inferior, but there will be criticism no matter which "something" a person undertakes. Now Sam is getting in the regular media, that's fantastic. I just think it's terribly sad he's starving himself for something that in the long run will most likely be completely forgotten.
This.
Well, I don't think Sam getting in the media is fantastic, because I don't think it will do anything. If people being murdered by polce making it on national news doesn't do anything, I severely doubt some "nut" going on hunger strike is going to open anyones
And please, this isn't an invitation to talk about how its "changing attitudes/public perception". Unless you have numbers to back up this "change in attitude", I'm going to assume its the same meaningless waffle that gets waved around most activism.
Apparently Ed and Elaine Browns protest has changed attitudes, but as far as I can see the government is stronger than ever, there hasn't been any strong increase in people joining liberty movements, and Ed and Elaine Brown now have ALL their shit taxed by the government, and they're sitting pretty in a cage, congratulations.
Since we're on a forum, the whole point is to discuss things. Me saying Sam is wasting his time is no more "inferior" than you saying he's not. We're just talking here.
Its my opinion that Sam is not going to achieve anything. Whether I have a better idea or am doing anything is not of issue. If you have good reasons why Sam is achieving something, you shouldn't have to rely on personal attacks that "i'm not doing anything", as pretty much anyone who criticizes Civ Dis is responded to.
If you want to say he's courageous, thats fine, its courageous to jump into a pit with a lion, but I don't have a particular hard on for courageous acts that don't achieve anything important, and I don't think circle jerking and back slapping for actions that aren't productive.
If you aren't open to discussing the effectiveness of what Sam is doing, whats purpose has the discussion? Meaningless ego stroking? It sure seems like that when people have a hissy fit when people don't agree how great Sam is, and effectively go down to "If you aren't doing anything, shut up", when people should be seriously considering
If this stuff is a highly effective method of achieving liberty, then it is of grave importance to all liberty lovers, and it deserves to be studied so that we can learn from it and get even more liberty. Criticism should be welcomed as a measure to prove how effective this method is, and show other peoples how they can achieve greater liberties, the attitude should definately not be "what we're doing is so great, and anyone who disagrees isn't doing anything so their opinion doesnt count.