Cohen: What we should learn from Wescoe Beach

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By Ben Cohen

Monday, December 1, 2008

Be loud. Be obnoxious. Get people to pay attention to you no matter what. To some, this is the right way to get a message out. Somewhere, a group of people will sit around a table, trying to figure out the best way to tell people something, and at some point they will agree that the best course of action is to be annoying.

We see it on campus every week. A message is chalked on the ground everywhere you look or a certain flyer is taped to any and all open surfaces. Maybe somebody is standing on one of the planters on Wescoe Beach, shouting their message to the irritated masses.

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One of the most common sights on the Beach is Brother Jed, the ever-lovable power-cord enthusiast with the deep tan, graying hair, wearing a wide variety of dapper suits. Once a month or so, Jed will appear on campus, ranting and raving about how we are all sinners, fornicators, masturbators and various other fun terms that most college students do not find as offensive as he thinks we do.

If it isn’t Jed, it is the latest anti-abortion (I refuse to call them pro-life) group that has valiantly ridden into Kansas to tell us that if we are not vehemently on their side in this particular hot-button issue, then we are sinners, killers, Nazis and liars. Usually, they supplement this with large banners bearing graphic pictures of aborted fetuses. Apparently, pointing out that a medical procedure isn’t pretty is supposed to be a deterrent.

And then there are the small political parties. Be it a national election or one for student government, third parties tend to have a hard time gaining a foothold. All too often, this leads to smaller parties focusing their campaigns less on their own platforms and accomplishments and more on any perceived faults in their opponents.

Lord, help anyone who disagrees with them. If you find yourself listening to somebody campaigning for a small party candidate, and you don’t immediately leap up and exclaim that they have forever altered your perception of politics and society, prepare for a deluge of insults about how you are ignorant, elitist or a sheep. Sadly, I have yet to hear a Libertarian call me a sinner. Get with the program, guys!

The problem with any of these types, the people who are dedicated enough to a cause to go out to any hostile environment to express themselves, is that they don’t see how their method can hurt their message. When you position yourself as the ultimate voice of a movement, you need to make sure that people are willing to really listen.

Attracting hordes of loud detractors, half of whom are as irrational as you, can be fun, but if, at the end of the day, all you do is offend those hordes instead of truly challenging them, your point is lost, and your cause can go nowhere.

— — Cohen is a Topeka senior in political science.

Comments

awood (Adam Wood) says...

"Lord, help anyone who disagrees with them. If you find yourself listening to somebody campaigning for a small party candidate, and you don’t immediately leap up and exclaim that they have forever altered your perception of politics and society, prepare for a deluge of insults about how you are ignorant, elitist or a sheep. Sadly, I have yet to hear a Libertarian call me a sinner. Get with the program, guys!"

Ben, where are you getting this? You know that I don't insult people. I have never heard anyone that I work with insult anyone, however I've personally experienced both Democrats and Republicans insulting me. There are some people that worked for Obama that were more rude and arrogant than anything I've experienced, not to mention members of Connect, United Students, CSW, College Republicans, and Young Democrats. I should carry around a tape recorder because you would be amazed at how some of your colleagues act. In fact, I've talked to you about some of these instances.

As far as Student Senate elections are concerned, which coalitions were annoying? All of them.

Also, the Ron Paul campaign (which I assume you were alluding to in part) focused on his platforms, not how much the other candidates lacked, even though there was ample opportunities.

Maybe you should talk to me before you write an article about my colleagues and I.

December 2, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

awood (Adam Wood) says...

Also, Students of Liberty is not a third party. In fact, we are the only active coalition right now.

December 2, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

handy (anonymous) says...

Far from the best piece of opinion the Kansan has published. Very, very, far from it.

December 2, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Abita (anonymous) says...

I find this column strikingly ironic when paired with your last one and how you responded to criticism of that piece.

December 2, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Abita (anonymous) says...

Here is some constructive criticism.

The point of your column is in the last paragraph. You need to get to this much sooner. Your first two graphs can be cut to one. The third graph (Brother Jed) isn't bad and should be immediately followed by the graph you currently have last. Now, your column has an interesting introduction that few people are offended by and most people are interested in. Better yet, everyone can at least figure out the argument being made.

Next, you need an alternative. What are you suggesting with this piece? If you think the current way people are trying to persuade on Wesco is unfruitful, give us three points to improving. Provide some advice we can follow.

Your fourth graph is mostly hot air until you get to the last sentence about the graphic abortion posters. That's an argument worth making. Cut out the generalizing and hyperbolizing and stick to what everyone has seen and heard. You've told us why it's a bad argument. Now tell us why it's unsuccessful or how it can be more successful.

Your writing and ability to make an argument will mature. These are things an editor should be helping you with.

December 2, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sjschlag (anonymous) says...

I really think this article misses the point. Even if these people are annoying or irritating to some, to others they may be entertainment. I personally enjoy nothing more than eating my crappy chinese food from the underground while watching the spectacle that is Wescoe beach. The more nutcases, libertarians, anti-abortion/pro-life/catholics, brother jeds, white owls the better.

December 3, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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