Click Click: The Signs of the Google Reader Protest

Washington is a city who appreciates a good sign. So when the 15 or so folks who got together to protest changes to Google Reader outside the Google's D.C. headquarters this afternoon, we figured that they might try and put their thoughts on a few pieces of posterboard.

What we didn't count on was that the protest would feature impossibly cute toddlers holding such signs.

Well played, guys.

Anyway! The protesters were eventually told by a Google employee that he would try and promote our cause within the company. So the message kind of got across and they got to take some photos of adorable kids: sounds like a all-around successful demonstration.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@dcist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Aaron Morrissey in News on October 26, 2011 4:00 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

geek42

i am also a heavily GR user , but consider its huge bandwidth and no benifits , i can understand why google want to shut it, i hope GR can give an paid service for those who still want to use the service

Bornagainscholar

I am new around here as well and I still find Qwerkie's statement completely ridiculous. I wonder if she thinks all of the other occupy foolish places seems like a more important cause. After all Google reader is only going to take away all of the freedom from the citizens of Iran and their ability to have unfiltered world news. No big deal!

Good job Google protesters. I think you may have actually had the most impact out of any demonstration in the united states since the Rodney king riots.

M bahrami

الان باز سر و کله گودرین های پارسی پیدا میشه میریزن به هم اینجا رو

Mordicai

I wish I'd been there-- thanks for fighting the good fight, guys! Maybe us Gothamist folks will do the same out in front of the Google branch here. Google Reader For Life!

matthew731

So, what's the "meatspace" reference? This is an honest question. It sounds...not like something you'd find in a web-based application.

slim_pickens

http://www.urbandictionary.com...

IntangibleArts

What the hell's a google reader? No seriously, I have no idea. And no, seriously, nevermind.

Mordicai

It is a feed reader that aggregates all your websites into one location. In short, it is the way the future of the web should work. There is a small initial bump that is a barrier to entry, as you find all the rss/atom feeds for the pages you like, but after that it makes your whole internet experience a zillion times better. I recommend figuring it out.

TheRuralJuror

WHERE WERE THE TROMBONES, I ASK YOU?!

poopieface

Y'ar, not a looker among them.

Joe Flood

Those OWS protesters could take a lesson from these people - we like our protests cute and short-lived.

matthew731

You've kind of made clear that you wouldn't like the OWS protests even if they came wrapped in a bow and offered you candy.

Ollie Pooeater

I think we would give them another week if they can cross marketed with the Drag Races.

matthew731

"We"?

Jamie

Looks like someone stole a flip pad and some magic markers from their conference room to stock the signs for this protest. Lame. I've seen more interesting PowerPoint presentations.

A successful protest needs horrific photos of aborted fetuses, young/hot/half-naked/gay interns locked in cages, and/or a clown. Ideally all three.

Newhce

OCCUPY GOOGLE!!

Qwerkie

A successful protest = no arrests? Fascinating.

Also, why do they have the baby in the cold and rain holding a sign? I'm calling CPS.

Ryan Ellis

I'm the "baby's" father (the one helping her hold the sign). You can't tell, but she is wearing a sweater over her shirt and was just fine. She was out there for all of ten minutes and then back in the car. Photo-bait, and it worked.

Incidentally, she is nearly 3 years old. She can handle 55 degree weather for a few minutes.

Fugitive Vizsla

This is the only time I've ever approved of using a child as a protest prop. Well done, sir.

Qwerkie

You all seem completely serious about this. I can't be the only one who thinks it's ridiculous to make signs, etc. for something as trivial as Google Reader.

Guest

You must be new around here.

Guest

You sound like a far better father than the father of the Koons Ford kids who have been exploited for years.

CJ_Scudworth

Cute kids? Check. (+10 pts)

Gender/racial diversity of protesters? Mm...sort of. Could be better. (+5)

Are the participants/signs visually interesting? Not really. (0)
Mitigating factors: Are they multicolored? Yes. (+1) Do they attempt humor? Yes. (+1) Do they make adequate use of white space? Yes. (+1)

Is there protester-hobo synergy? No. These protesters look like they have a job they have to go to once their lunch break is over. (0)

Was the protest large enough such that the estimates of its size in different news outlets will vary by several hundred people or more? No. (0)

According to these criteria, I rate this protest an 18 out of a possible 50 points. This places it squarely in the "Should have been an email petition" category. A higher rating might have enabled it to reach the "union protest featuring rented hobos" category (20-29 points), or "Twee Ride" category (30-39 points).