Occupy Wall Street better defend its identity

[Ziggurat]

A loss of $300,000 is no big deal to you? Dude? 687 / 418 = 60%

Uh, no it isn't. 687/418 = 164%. It's 418/687 which gives you 60%. Which is a decline of 40%. Let's keep the math straight.

 

[Ziggurat]

Good analysis.

"Myth #7. The Labor Unions Are Behind This.

I saw only one labor union table at the demonstration, but most of the people seemed to have no connection to organized labor. Even if they had, there's nothing wrong with that. Labor unions are an important part of our country, and while not perfect, they've helped throughout history to improve working conditions for millions of Americans."

That's his analysis? It didn't look like unions were heavily involved?

No attempt to figure out how much money unions are spending on this? No attempt to figure out how much union personnel might be working behind the scenes? No attempt to figure out if union organizers have taken on "non-union" leadership roles within the protest?

One wonders why he bothered to "debunk" this myth when he has so little to debunk it with. Especially since he argues that it wouldn't matter even if the "myth" were true. I guess "9 myths" doesn't sound as nice as "10 myths".

 

[Virus]

What on earth are you going on about?

Dang, ya know "ordinary people" and "homeless people" are not mutually exclusive.

I've got nothing against viruses, even parasites have to live.

Do you deny that the occupiers are mostly activists of the radical left? Do you acknowledge that camping out in the street is the sort of thing a radical left-wing activist would do?

 

[RandFan]

Do you deny that the occupiers are mostly activists of the radical left?

A.) Ad hominem. B.) Why make that assumption at all? C.) How do you control for confirmation bias?

Me? I know you weren't asking me but I seriously doubt it. JMO though.

 

[Minoosh]

Do you deny that the occupiers are mostly activists of the radical left? Do you acknowledge that camping out in the street is the sort of thing a radical left-wing would do?

I don't know who most of the occupiers are, or what it takes to be considered "radical" these days. Living amongst the homeless is something a leftist (like Jesus, per some models) would do.

The thing is, the characterization of this as a "radical left-wing" movement might not push the buttons you want it to. I'm glad they're making noise, if only to counter the radical right wing.

 

[Minoosh]

That's his analysis? It didn't look like unions were heavily involved?

That's what most "analysis" is. The guy went down and had a look. It ends up being headlined "10 reasons you're wrong" or whatever due to media marketing because apparently people love lists.

I guess "9 myths" doesn't sound as nice as "10 myths".

I would have been OK with nine, personally.

Jeeminy, what unions are left to be involved, anyway? There aren't a lot where I live. Collectivism has horrors of its own, don't get me wrong. However the "every man for himself" ethos has lost some of its luster, as more people get thrown under the bus.

 

[RandFan]

Yes, now sit down and shut up...

 

[Alt+F4]

Good analysis.

Very poor analysis. Think I'm wrong? Please come to NYC (where I live) and see for yourself. Zuccotti Park smells like an open sewer and is occupied by thieves, drug addicts and vagrants. They want to make puppets and last night they had a pajama party sleep over....with popcorn! They don't give a damn about the working people who live in the area and have no intention whatsoever of trying to change anything happening on Wall Street. That people of color, unions, seniors are involved doesn't change the truth.

 

[RandFan]

Very poor analysis.

You have as much right to an opinion as the author. We should question his objectivity and ask how he (the author) controls for confirmation bias also. To be honest Alt I'm not overly impressed with your analysis but thanks.

 

[Checkmite]

This week, likely Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll be going to the Occupy Cleveland protest to have a look around for myself, to see what's going on that the "media" is missing. Assuming the demonstration is still going on at that point.

If I show up just as some kind of crackdown takes place and end up arrested, I am going to be upset and will be taking it out on this thread. Fair warning.

 

[bikerdruid]

Zuccotti Park smells like an open sewer and is occupied by thieves, drug addicts and vagrants. ........................... That people of color, unions, seniors are involved doesn't change the truth.

so, now you say that there are thieves, drug addicts and vagrants, people of color, unions, seniors.
toss in some radical left activists, and you have a fair cross section of new yorkers.
the only ones missing are the suits, bureaucrats and bankers and the abysmally far right whackos..

 

[Virus]

I don't know who most of the occupiers are, or what it takes to be considered "radical" these days. Living amongst the homeless is something a leftist (like Jesus, per some models) would do.

Dodging it.

Do you think ordinary, mainstream, middle-of-the-road people just spontaneously decided to go and camp out in a public square? Then start looking, talking and acting like left-wing activists?

 

[RandFan]

Dodging it.

Do you think ordinary, mainstream, middle-of-the-road people just spontaneously decided to go and camp out in a public square? Then start looking, talking and acting like left-wing activists?

YES! YES! YES!

What is that people don't get? There was a movement, People called their friends and said let's do something so they protested Wall Street. Word got out and more and more people showed up. This isn't difficult.

1. It's been more than 10 years of a lousy economy. Every year most middle class and poor must live on less and less while the rich get richer.
2. Many people who graduate from college can't get jobs.
3. WALL STREET @#$%ed US and drove our economy further into the ditch.

Have you looked at the GDP adjusted for inflation compared to 10 years ago? Have you looked at the stock market lately compared to 10 years ago?

Things are getting worse and worse and people are sick and tired about it. What's so difficult about that?

 

[theprestige]

You have as much right to an opinion as the author. We should question his objectivity and ask how he (the author) controls for confirmation bias also.

Why do that when we can much more easily question his methodology and his reasoning, which are both easily accessible already?

His methodology consists of reaching a conclusion from a single observation. You see the observation, you see the conclusion. Do you find his methodology convincing?

You see his reasoning, which consists of the above single observation and conclusion, followed by a complete non-sequitur. Do you find his reasoning convincing? If so, convincing of what? After all, most of it is concerned with answering a question other than that being asked.

 

[RandFan]

His methodology consists of reaching a conclusion from a single observation. You see the observation, you see the conclusion. Do you find his methodology convincing?

To falsify blanket demeaning and belittling claims ? Yeah, actually I do. Thank you.

 

[jj]

It's interesting, now, that we find out that Faux News has been carefully antiselecting coherent, articulate occupy wall street participants.

So, now we know, the prestige has basedhis or her straw men on a deliberate disinformation campaign by known dominionist supporter Murdoch.

 

[Minoosh]

Do you think ordinary, mainstream, middle-of-the-road people just spontaneously decided to go and camp out in a public square? Then start looking, talking and acting like left-wing activists?

I didn't spontaneously decide to do it, but yes, sure I can see mainstream folks doing it. I'm not sure what the point is about harping on "left-wing" activists. Having learned some things about universal health care, I'm now firmly for it; is that part of a left-wing agenda? I really don't know what you're defining as "left wing." Left of who, Archie Bunker?

 

[Brainster]

A loss of $300,000 is no big deal to you? Dude? 687 / 418 = 60% What you bet isn't really in evidence is it? But I will concede there was a spike before the collapse. End story my mother purchased her home for $100,000 and sold it for $120,000. That's a fact. It's an anecdote but it's a fact. The loss of value is real harm no matter how you try to spin it.

Dude, I take it you don't have a job where mathematics is required. Your mom made $20,000 on her home. Now granted, I suspect that is not what she could have made if she'd sold it in 2006 or so. And in that respect, she's probably in the same boat as, oh, 100 million other homeowners in this country, including me. But she's way ahead of everybody that bought from 2001-2008.

 

[Brainster]

Meanwhile, some of the Occupy Wall Street crowd are now calling for a guy who made billions on Wall Street to come down and audit the books. I kid you not:

Occupy Wall Street’s Finance Committee has nearly $500,000 in the bank, and donations continue to pour in -- but its reluctance to share the wealth with other protesters is fraying tempers.

Some drummers -- incensed they got no money to replace or safeguard their drums after a midnight vandal destroyed their instruments Wednesday -- are threatening to splinter off.

“F--k Finance. I hope Mayor Bloomberg gets an injunction and demands to see the movement’s books. We need to know how much money we really have and where it’s going,” said a frustrated Bryan Smith, 45, who joined OWS in Lower Manhattan nearly three weeks ago from Los Angeles, where he works in TV production.

 

[RandFan]

Dude, I take it you don't have a job where mathematics is required. Your mom made $20,000 on her home. Now granted, I suspect that is not what she could have made if she'd sold it in 2006 or so. And in that respect, she's probably in the same boat as, oh, 100 million other homeowners in this country, including me. But she's way ahead of everybody that bought from 2001-2008.

Are you kidding me? Seriously? 20 years, twenty thousand dollars? That's the return on $100,000 dollars? Do me a favor, don't lecture me on math. BTW, for the last decade I was an auditor and I actually know the rule of 72, you? I actually know how to factor inflation. You?