this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2025
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Good intentions and all, but the full video context (the vehicle just keeps going and the blocker moves out of the way after several seconds of nudging) makes this a terrible example that only reinforces the sense of futility, in my opinion.
Not saying not to stand and fight, but this isn't the posterchild to use.
Perception is more powerful than reality. You think the tankman from china actually accomplished much. But he is still a symbol today.
I still find it so odd the tank didn't want to run him over, when just the day before they had tanks running over hundreds of bodies over and over to the point where they could just spray the remains with a fire hose into the sewer.
When there are many people, you don't have to look at individual faces. When it is one calm and harmless man, you can find the tank driver is human too. The driver was probably execured or something for not running the guy over.
I realize that. But there are countless current examples of real resistance and sacrifice that could have been used instead.
But do they have the same optics. Will they be perceived like this one? Probably not.
Okay post a really good picture right here in the thread.
It's more than any of us have done. Often, genuine actions and words are much stronger than any impact they may initially have.
Nothing about how this was presented is genuine though, and that's my point.
And plenty have done more. People are constantly martyred fighting back, in part because they have been actually willing to die for their cause. Any one of them could have been used as a more authentic representation of resistance than this... and have more of an impact because it's not a cherry-picked, out-of-context fabrication.
I realize we're post-truth, but jeez.
We can't keep fighting with the weapons of yesterday. Like it or not, propaganda is a part of resistance. Look back at all the WW2 propaganda in the US and the UK. We must take control of the message.
I don't disagree, propaganda is always part of it. But use something less flimsy (if not outright contradictory when viewed in context) because this particular example loses "control of the message" with the slightest bit of scrutiny. If it's going to be a fabrication then just use a piece of art, a rumor, or at least something vague/unverifiable rather than a single frame of an easily available video that shows the opposite of what is implied.
Perception is reality, but if you build it out of twigs then it'll become a liability that will do more harm than good.
The blocker pussied out in the end? Was about to get his own Tiananmen moment but decided that taking a stand for what's right should only come when personally safe to do so