Am I the only one who is not a big fan of the name "Occupy" for this movement?

[garybeck]

To me, the word "Occupy" implies defiance and confrontation. While I favor peaceful defiance and passive resistance, I don't think the word "occupy" sells well in the media, nor does it sound great to people who are uninformed about what they are doing. It just has a negative connotation in general.

It would be better to have a more positive sounding name that shows how inclusive the movement is. If it were me I would call it simply "We the People". Then every time the jerks in the media mention what is happening, even though they're trying to spin it in a negative way, they can't avoid reminding the viewers that it's "We the People" they're talking about. Like now, Rush Limbaugh can refer to "those damn Occupiers" and it sounds right. But "Those damn 'We the people' folks" kinda makes him sound rather silly.

Am I the only one who thinks the name "Occupy" is not the best choice for the name of a movement that wants to be seen as populist and truly gain support from 99% of the country?

I realize I have no right to make suggestions like this because I'm sitting here at home while the real folks who have a say are out on the streets and thus far all I've done to support them is share some links on facebook and sent them some pizza money. But for what it's worth, that's my 2 cents... A more positive-sounding, inclusive name would help the movement thrive and grow... Stupid as it may sound, there really is something to a name.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yup, you are

It is civil disobedience. And the indignados will not sell in the us.

Chech popularity numbers though.

[pnorman]

6. Actually, it IS "selling", even on Fox Noise!

http://www.observer.com/2011/10/fox-news-web-poll-on-occupy-wall-street-sentiment-backfires/

[tularetom]

2. Yes

You are the only person in the entire US of A that feels that way.

At least I haven't heard that opinion expressed by anyone else.

[MineralMan]

3. You're never the only one.

:shrug:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. Ah.....semantics

The boondoggle in the liberal mind.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

20. I object to the term "semantics." I prefer the less judgmental term "wording"

PSYCHE!

:P

:hug:

:toast:

[RaleighNCDUer]

27. What are you - anti-semantic or something? nt

[Nuclear Unicorn]

37. I'me very semantic

Candles. Soft music. A place by the fire...

[jmg257]

5. oc·cu·py (ok'-ye-pi)

tr.v. oc·cu·pied, oc·cu·py·ing, oc·cu·pies
1. To fill up (time or space):
2. To dwell or reside in.
3. To hold or fill (an office or position).
4. To seize possession of and maintain control over by or as if by conquest.
5. To engage or employ the attention or concentration of:


Actually seems like a wonderful name for this movement.

[BrendaBrick]

7. It is what it is

[Cirque du So-What]

8. You're using Abbie Hoffman's avatar

and having doubts about appearing confrontational?!? Howz about 'Respectfully Requesting on Wall Street.' Better? :eyes:

[WilliamPitt]

10. Win.

[garybeck]

28. I disagree.

I'm a huge Abbie Hoffman fan. When they Levitated the Pentagon, it was not an "occupation." It was fun, enlightening, it made a statement, and it was peaceful. Part of the whole idea was to interact peacefully with the soldiers who were standing guard. It was not confrontational. I believe that was a key component of his antics, to peacefully make a statement and NOT be confrontational.

as a few have pointed out here, the word "occupation" implies a confrontation. Think of how we are occupying Iraq or other countries, that we shouldn't. Do you want to align yourself with that sort of thing?

to answer your (sarcastic) question, no I don't like "respectfully requesting wall street." I think that's pretty stupid.

again, I would prefer the name "We the People."

[a simple pattern]

32. This machine doesn't wanna make any fascists uncomfortable or anything

[A-Schwarzenegger]

9. From an old story about the sit-ins, 1960....with photos...

"Greensboro students form the Student Executive Committee for Justice to sustain and expand the campaign. The Greensboro NAACP endorses their action. On February 3rd, more than 60 students, now including women from Bennett who have returned from break and students from Dudley High School, OCCUPY every seat at the Woolworth's counter in rotating shifts for the entire day. The Ku Klux Klan also learns of the sit-in, and led by George Dorsett — North Carolina's official State Chaplain — they heckle and harass the students. The students are not deterred. In the following days their number grows — including white students from Womens College (now University of North Carolina) — and the sit-ins spread to Kress and Walgreens lunch counters, and then to other Greensboro restaurants."

http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgcoll.htm

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Rosa Parks "occupied" a bus seat --

Dr. King "occupied" a bridge or two, students "occupied" their universities -- there's a very long history of nonviolent occupation. :)

[tularetom]

11. Wanna make some wing nut heads explode?

Call it the "Wall Street Tea Party". Nobody has copyrighted that name, so there's nothing they could do about it legally.

And the liberal media wouldn't know whether to shit or go blind.

[shraby]

12. The important thing about the word occupy, is if you mention

it to anyone, they know immediately what you're talking about.

[bowens43]

13. Yes. nt

[Odin2005]

14. Your concern is noted.

:eyes:

[OHdem10]

16. I like calling them the 99%ers.

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Occupy is the obvious response to foreclose.

[pnwmom]

18. "Occupy Wall Street" has morphed into "Occupy Seattle," etc. And that is the problem with the name.

It's a word that is used when an invading country keeps soldiers in the country they've invaded. So it sounds both militaristic, and implies that the occupiers are the enemy (rather than the heroes).

It might have made sense with "Occupy Wall Street" but it sounds very different when it gets translated to "Occupy Seattle," etc. Wall Street refers to a bunch of corporations. Seattle refers to a city, and everyone in it.


I think there could be a better name. "Occupy" could put off people who see themselves as -- and are -- ordinary, patriotic Americans.

[garybeck]

21. exactly my point. n/t

[a simple pattern]

31. Whose streets, pnwmom?

OUR STREETS. OUR COUNTRY.

[pnwmom]

38. Which is the point. An ENEMY "occupies" streets.

I can see that the group is at odds with Wall Street -- as we all should be. But the groups aren't the enemy of people in our cities, so the word "occupy" has unfortunate connotations.

[Rene Descartes]

19. "Occupy" is what military units do subsequent to overthrowing governments.

[Luminous Animal]

22. It is also what civil, social, and justice activists do to wrest power from those

who purport to represent us.

[valerief]

23. How about "Occu-Mah-Pie-Kitty"? nt

[Earth_First]

24. The media isn't going to sell ANYTHING on this movement well...

You could name this movement 'Butterflies and Puppy Dogs"

It's the CONTENT of the movement, and I'm not giving an inch on any of it.

For all I care we can rename it 'Fuck You'

It's not going to sell any better one way or the other.

[Tatiana]

25. I love the term "Occupy." It sums up exactly what needs to happen.

We need a long-term occupation of many segments of our government and financial sectors.

[ChiciB1]

26. I'm Sure Others Don't Like... But For Me IT'S GREAT! n/t

[tomg]

29. Actually, I see your point, but

I think occupy is the right term. It hit me when I heard one of the folks on the street say "we are occupying wall street because they are occupying Washington." to a great extent, it is in the tradition of the 1930s labor movement and the song and call"which side are you on,"and more importantly, the 1950s1960s civil rights movement and "it isn't nice," the great malvina Reynolds song. So that it is both confrontational and peaceful is, I think,essential.

[lame54]

30. don't ever go into advertising...

you want to change the name of a product while it's selling like crazy - bad move

[blogslut]

33. No problem here

The word quite clearly describes what they are doing. As well, it effectively conveys their earnest determination. It is not a violent word but it is also not a passive word. It is the right word. It is the word for today because Occupy Wall Street is serious business.

[philly_bob]

34. I see your point, but I suggest it's too late to change. (nt)

[lunatica]

35. Calling it We The People makes it confusing

Occupy is quite unique and all it takes is that one word and everyone knows exactly what you're talking about. We The People is used in too many different contexts.

[TBF]

36. The name has grabbed everyone's attention and surprisingly even the status quo is nervous -

so I think they are doing just fine.

Maybe we should ask you why you'd want to change a name that is so successful.

[TheKentuckian]

39. I'm sure you aren't the ONLY one but I'm good with it. In fact, if need be take it up

a notch to besiege.