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How social media changed protest How social media changed protest
(40 minutes later)
By Dominic Casciani BBC News home affairs correspondentBy Dominic Casciani BBC News home affairs correspondent
Over the past month, many parts of the UK have witnessed student-led protests against tuition fees and the end of grants in further education.Over the past month, many parts of the UK have witnessed student-led protests against tuition fees and the end of grants in further education.
On television, the scenes have looked like a typical demonstration: people standing around in the cold waving placards while police run around after trouble-makers. But what's beyond doubt is that social media has played an important role in the anti-cuts demonstrations, but is it changing the nature of modern protest?On television, the scenes have looked like a typical demonstration: people standing around in the cold waving placards while police run around after trouble-makers. But what's beyond doubt is that social media has played an important role in the anti-cuts demonstrations, but is it changing the nature of modern protest?
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Bob the irony of your comment is not lost on me.
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  • Any protester that is arrested for violence should not be allowed to get any help for their University education. Also when there is any violent protesting, water canons should be used. A nice dose of freezing cold water on them would soon quieten them down. God forbid this lot is the future of our country.
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  • BobL55 wrote "Perhaps universities could keep the price of necessary degrees such as science, maths, engineering, etc."What, like the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), for which the teaching grants are being maintained? :-)
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  • It is time they stopped these useless University degrees which are of no use to the future of this country. If students really want to do one of them then make them pay for it.As for the protest, they are not going to change anything. If they had the intelligence (which they should have) and studied the fees system then they would know that a vast majority will be better off.
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  • This is reminiscent of various sci fi novels. The creation of a hive consciousness or, instant democracy, whereby information and votes can be viewed and actioned quickly. The hope is that this would form the future of government and political power. The reality at the moment seems to be that peoople use technology constructively. The reality, at the moment, is quite destructive/irrisponsible.This is reminiscent of various sci fi novels. The creation of a hive consciousness or, instant democracy, whereby information and votes can be viewed and actioned quickly. The hope is that this would form the future of government and political power. The reality at the moment seems to be that peoople use technology constructively. The reality, at the moment, is quite destructive/irrisponsible.
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  • Once again we have legitimate protest hijacked by extremists, causing injury and damage. As someone who had to pay for my part-time degree, I feel students should pay for what they get. If that means less students participating in useless subject degrees so be it. Perhaps universities could keep the price of necessary degrees such as science, maths, engineering, etc.
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  • too many armchair protesters...
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  • One key difference between Then and Now has been missed: Widespread Public Support. In the past, many protestors enjoyed widespread support from the general public but, in the case of the recent protests against tuition fees, both the protesters' tactics and, indeed, the underlying demands are nowhere near as widely supported.
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  • More people should protest, we are very lazy. Social media just makes it easier. I just wish protesters would get facts right. A fact has the power to win though, lies just turn me off.
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