More on PETA Protestors.

[jamesq]

I wonder if they put any thought into the likelihood of violent reprisals from their targets. It somewhat wrecks your message if the public figure you've just pied tackles you to the ground and beats the snot out of you on camera. Can you imagine something like this happening to Jessie Ventura?

Comments

[petranef.livejournal.com]

No, it doesn't wreck the message. It creates an assault charge and makes the target look like an idiot for overreacting.

[jamesq]

An assault charge is likely, but an assault conviction is unlikely.

I also disagree that the target will look like an idiot. Jean Chretien got a PR boost for choking a protester that got in his face back when he was PM.

It really depends on whether the general public agrees or disagrees with the protester's cause. For the most part people think PETA is ridiculous at best and low-grade terrorists at worst - even while supporting PETA's general message. Groups that really want to advance the cause of protecting animals from human cruelty would do well to disassociate themselves from PETA.

[bungle-lord.livejournal.com]

How about just having someone on standby with a pie available to reply in kind? Thus making the attacker seem as ridiculous as well.