Protest NCsoft WEST HQ?

[CollegeZoo]

Hey All,
Just wondering how many of use would be interested in picketing Protest NCsoft WEST HQ.  If we get enough folks showing up for the event, we could get some press. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please reply and give input and what you think would be a good date.

As far as dates, Mondays or Tuesdays would be preferred, as it tends to be when the news networks resort to more "fluff" stories to eat up air time. Also, a protest midweek mean executives are less likely to take day off to avoid us.

NCsoft's West US Offices are located in Seattle, WA three blocks west from the Washington State Conventions Center (The place that PAX Prime happens in.) Click here for a Google Street View

If we decide to this, we'll need the following at the event:

• A large crowd
• An event permit if the crowd is over 50 people
• Plan of action
• Signs (and perhaps capes)
• Hopefully, at least celebrity

[downix]

I am up for this.

[DrakeGrimm]

hey, 'Zoo. Now I'm really annoyed I had to leave and am stuck in the midwest again. Good luck, I hope this happens. I'd be there in spirit.

[Knightward]

There's no way I can afford to fly out there to do this, but it is an awesome idea and I fully support it!

[LtlBtyRam]

I've been wanting to do something similar since day 1.  I've been told by some of the higher powers it isn't quite time yet (although that was over a week ago).  I was thinking on a larger scale though.  One in Seattle, Austin, and at the Paragon Studios location too.  This would give more community members a chance to participate and show our unity :-)

Angela (lives about an hour south of Seattle)
@Ventus vis Vires
@Villamos vis Vires on Triumph

[dwturducken]

Paragon are friendlies. Stopping by with words of encouragement would likely not be unwelcome, though.

[Victoria Victrix]

Does anyone remember the "gauntlet of shame" that the pepper-sprayed students at UC forced the Chancellor of the University to walk?

Basically they lined the sidewalk and the entranceway, did not block anyone, and forced her to walk through a double line of absolute silence and disapproving stares.

That might actually be more effective than a traditional protest, especially if the group is small.  Wear something like a "Save City of Heroes" sign or a t-shirt rather than carrying it, make no noise, wear white (the color of death in Asian cultures) and make everyone that enters or leaves the building walk the gauntlet to absolute silence.

You won't be disrupting anything
You won't be blocking anything
You won't be violating any ordinances.

This should keep them from being able to order local police to clear you away.

It also powerfully invokes eastern shaming culture.

[Siberian Spring]

Depending on date/time, I may be able to take a day off work and drive over (about 3-4 hours away) with the husband & daughter... but really contingent on date as my boss is taking a week of vacation and it's a SMALL business.

[CollegeZoo]

Does anyone remember the "gauntlet of shame" that the pepper-sprayed students at UC forced the Chancellor of the University to walk?

Basically they lined the sidewalk and the entranceway, did not block anyone, and forced her to walk through a double line of absolute silence and disapproving stares.

That might actually be more effective than a traditional protest, especially if the group is small.  Wear something like a "Save City of Heroes" sign or a t-shirt rather than carrying it, make no noise, wear white (the color of death in Asian cultures) and make everyone that enters or leaves the building walk the gauntlet to absolute silence.

I was thinking we could all hold Flashlights. I'd say torches but the Seattle Cops would not be amused. Not getting arrested is the name of the game. 

[darkskye]

I was thinking we could all hold Flashlights. I'd say torches but the Seattle Cops would not be amused. Not getting arrested is the name of the game. 

Or hold a picture of your toon holding a torch?

[Victoria Victrix]

Or hold a picture of your toon holding a torch?

That is a GOOD idea.

[DrakeGrimm]

Or hold a picture of your toon holding a torch?

You could also wear a picture of your toon, holding a torch, on a lanyard. Rows of silent protestors, standing stock still, hands at their sides might be more culturally intimidating and shameful than if you are holding something. (Someone feel free to contradict me!)

[Cende]

Be very, very careful if you do this. The location of the Seattle office is only about a block away from where the Anarchists hit last May.

The police and the local residents & workers are still rather jumpy.

(My husband works on the next block up, which IS the block the Anarchists hit)

[Aggelakis]

The Seattle office is also located in a place with a bunch of different other offices of unrelated businesses. How do you know That Schmoe works for NCsoft and That Other Schmoe does not? Not to mention the first floor is all street businesses.

[emu265]

I support this idea, but my being poorer than dirt won't allow me to make the trip up there.  I do wish you the best of luck.

Be very, very careful if you do this. The location of the Seattle office is only about a block away from where the Anarchists hit last May.

The police and the local residents & workers are still rather jumpy.

(My husband works on the next block up, which IS the block the Anarchists hit)

I didn't know this, but it seems as though y'all should -definitely- be careful. 

[Victoria Victrix]

The Seattle office is also located in a place with a bunch of different other offices of unrelated businesses. How do you know That Schmoe works for NCsoft and That Other Schmoe does not? Not to mention the first floor is all street businesses.

An interesting phenomena happened when another group recently used the same ploy (in a staircase) and accidentally first had an encounter with a group of people who did not know what was going on, and then with a group of their supporters.

The first group asked what was going on, was genuinely curious, and many became their supporters.

The second group interpreted the protesters (correctly) as supporting their position.

Only the people being protested against were unnerved.

[DrakeGrimm]

Here's what you do.


1) Call ahead and notify police. Ensure the protest falls in line with local ordinances. Jump whatever legal loop holes you need.

2) If folks become unnerved, appoint someone to be the spokesperson. When people walk up nervously and go "what's going on?" have that single person indicate that you are there to protest the erasure of eight years of online history, shared stories, communal triumphs, and community hardships. You are there, to honor and represent those who cannot be there themselves--those who are too far away, or those who have passed on but are remembered. Heroes.

[CollegeZoo]

Be very, very careful if you do this. The location of the Seattle office is only about a block away from where the Anarchists hit last May.

The police and the local residents & workers are still rather jumpy.

(My husband works on the next block up, which IS the block the Anarchists hit)

I will make sure we get all the permits we need once we have a date set so we will be 100% legal.

[DrakeGrimm]

I will make sure we get all the permits we need once we have a date set so we will be 100% legal.

Knew you would be, 'Zoo. You're a 'by the book' type, always have been near as I can tell.

[Zolgar]

And then.. when you have all the NCSoft people around.. light them on fire!

... huh? What do you mean 'not that kind of protest'? Well, I'm out then. *goes back to playing with his zippo in a corner* *clink-spark* Heee fiiiire.

In all seriousness, if done right, this could be pretty epic. If done poorly, it could be a pretty epic shitstorm. Tread carefully- the group will need heavy self policing. We've all seen the various emotional outbursts this closure has caused, and the more people you have in one area.. the more possibility there is that something will happen to set one person off (on either side of the 'fight'), and .. that one person could easily be the catalyst for a whole lot worse.

It's going to take more than making sure it's done 'by the books', you always want to make sure things are well in your control. If this is going to end up on the news, we don't want it to be because "Rabid fans attacked local employees over the shut down of a video game" >.>