How do you differentiate between "real" and "fake" protesters? Age? Clothing? What?

[timeforpeace]

[derby378]

1. Look for a bus - especially one that smells like Jim Beam

If you see angry folks piling out of it holding anti-reform signs, you know what to do...

[Xipe Totec]

2. Glazed look, zombie walk, arms stretched forward

eerie moaning.

[TomCADem]

7. "Get Your Government Hands Out Of My Medicare!"

I think the first clue is whether they have any clue as to why they are even there besides the fact that the local right wing radio host told them to show up and raise hell. If they start screaming about the President's place of birth, and making reference to Nazis, then I would be inclined to dismiss them as an Astroturf Fox News zombie who blindly follows orders.

[MADem]

3. The real protesters are the ones demanding a single payer option.

The fake ones are holding placards suggesting that "dissent" is patriotic wheile they try to shout down the speakers and prevent the gathering from taking place at all. They don't understand the meaning of the word.

It's not rocket science. Anyone with half a brain can figure it out.

[redqueen]

8. +1... and another hint: if they're shilling for lobbyists - they're fake. (nt)

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Cash payments, jobs for GOP big wigs who tell them to attend as their

employment that day.

A few elections ago I was poll watching and the woman poll watching for the Repos didn't even vote, she was employed by some lady who sent the her down to poll watcxh instead of the counter job she normally did at the woman's business. Fake activists.

[rvablue]

5. RW talking point. n/t

[EFerrari]

6. Mass printed signs.

[gkhouston]

9. People who are there to ask a question or air their complaint and then let someone

else do likewise are "real" protesters. People who are there to create chaos and prevent any sort of discussion from taking place are fake. Townhall meetings are for discussion. They're not friggin' pep rallies to see who can yell the loudest and citizens in a democracy should be able to discuss important issues that concern them with their representatives and each other without being disrupted by a bunch of irresponsible yahoos.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. This. n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Respectful attitude vs. hooliganism.

[ddeclue]

11. People who are shouting down others and using violence to hijack the event...

jack booted thugs...

[surrealAmerican]

13. The real ones know what they're talking about, and want to be heard.

The "fake" ones just want to make sure the discussion never happens.

[Fleet]

14. Try engaging them.

People who genuinely feel moved to protest will probably discuss the issues at length.

Those who can only shout slogans and seem to shy away from having to defend their position seem suspect, or at least ignorantly motivated.

[redqueen]

16. Hi Fleet...

welcome to DU! :hi:

[Fleet]

19. Thanks!

This was a lot nicer than my first "welcome."

Some people really don't think that it's alright to disagree about anything.

[Posteritatis]

20. I disagree!

*ducks*

But yeah, the mere attempt to discuss issues is never wasted. You'll have to give up on discussion with some people sooner rather than later, but it never hurts to at least ask "where're you coming from?"

[redqueen]

21. Well we do get a whole lot of troublemakers...

so sometimes people get a little trigger happy with the accusations. Especially lately... they get motivated by a big issue (like Health Care) and come here and act like morons (LOL, "act"... I crack myself up!)

I've been guilty of that myself from time to time. Goes with the territory. Try not to take it personally... there are hardly any members here that others haven't accused of being trolls. :P

[tkmorris]

15. If they wear Lennon or Che t-shirts

They are trying way too hard. Infiltrators.

[havocmom]

17. Get pictures at all hooligan events and compare pictures

Same faces will probably show up at different events. When they all tumble out of buses and there are familiar faces over and over, you know who the coaches are.

[Stevenmarc]

18. Slack jaw and dragging knuckles

[Juche]

22. I don't know

I think the protesters are real, but I think they are highly misinformed and being manipulated by wealthy interests who prey on how uninformed and afraid they are.

As a result, I do not take their protests as seriously. not only that, but none of them would ever vote democrat anyway and most don't even live in the districts of reps they are protesting. So its not like politicians have anything to lose by ignoring these people.

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. There will be at least 2 mis-spelled signs in their group.

And they cannot track coherent sentences. Just slogans.

[tabasco]

24. LOL.

You're funny.

[Spazito]

25. I think it's kind of like how DUers spot....

trolls. We know them when we 'see' them.