Why are protestors required to repeat everything stated by the speaker?

[NoGvmnt]

I attended my first GA on the night of 10/7/2001 and I was surprised and confused by the apparent requirement that everyone repeat everything that the speaker (person holding the microphone) said.

 

It seemed rather silly and considering that each speaker is time limited and this apparent rule requires the speaker to utter a few words, wait for the protestors to repeat those words, utter a few more words, wait for the protestors to repeat those words , ad nauseum, not only waste a whole lot of time which could be better spent by the speaker presenting the issue or proposal, but also confuses the issue by requiring the speaker to present the issue in broken sentences.

 

Is there a reason for this apparent rule?

 

Jim

[Selena]

I whole heartedly agreee with this. I, and three of my friends, were all very confused by the "human microphone". While in theory, it's nice to have a unified voice being heard, it is silly and time-consuming to have everything repeated after the speaker. Please reconsider using this public speaking tactic. Maybe opt instead to use the "human microphone" to drive home important points instead of repeating announcements or general talking points.

[blacklite911]

The human microphone is probably temporary until we actually get a loud enough sound system (wanna donate?).

It sounds silly but that megaphone is actually not loud and clear. Human mic insures that everyone hears it. Thats all.

 

If you break your sentences correctly, you can easily avoid any misconceptions. 

 

Hopes this settles your confusion.

[ShyViolet]

I am not a fan of the human microphone and I think GAs go a lot better without it. It's annoying and really fragments people's thoughts.

[Jim Reinhold]

The human microphone thing really didn't  bother me too much personally. Kind of fun really.  But I understand the point about  fragmented thought streams etc. Maybe for me too a little. It does depend on speaking volume, and phrasing at times..  

Which made me think of this: 

    At the rally today there was a guy with a portable cart with make shift PA with   speaker horns and microphone. He arrived with the anti war protesters around 3-ish. Letting people speak and lead chants. Even while I was playing my cowbell and beating drums I could hear it all. They had that thing loud , a little distorted and squawky, but I know if you use a PA at low volume it can be clear. Probably wouldn't have to be that loud to be clear-er than the megaphones that were used tonight at the GA.

Additional benefits of pa, random thoughts and questions.... :

-It'd be cool to have pa-speakers placed mid-assembly and/or towards the back. That would allow it to be used at lower volume because they'd be nearer each part of the group. 

-Allow there to be a mic stand or standS for people to step up to. Then speakers could     use  2 hands to hold their wind blown note sheets.

- Or send people out to croud with mics talk show style......maybe not

-PA can be switched off when certain "non cooperatives" decide to play keep away with the megaphone while they "go off topic" possibly' lets say.. promoting a film they might be shooting on BOA! Geez!

-Also better sound quality might help with order, at times, in our little assembly hall by the lake too. *(:"chatter rules" weren't always followed:)* 

-Is there any city rules prohibiting an actual (tiny)PA in the park there?  Only megaphones?

  I know I have no access to any pa system. Do we toss money in a hat for one? Maybe a great American could donate one?? ..... :)

*I was thinking; would it be appropriate to have someone acting as  "gavel", (No, not to hammer any chatterers!:) to bring order at such times?   

-A suggestion for those of us who need to have those mini chat sessions during proceedings should walk over to the sidewalk by the street, so we don't  distract or interfere with (me) hearing the speakers.

I am not criticizing with any of this.     Just brain storming the subject.  Maybe half a good idea in there somewhere. 

  My wife and I were very impressed our first time at the GA.  I think those organizing and "not moderating"  were/are doing a brilliant job. It's heartening to see what's going on with the occupy movement.  all across the country. Particularly proud of us doing it chi-town style. 

This movement is only growing. It should be allowed to grow organically as it has so far. Hopefully it leads to a new way of doing things, possibly a real new party.   I like the format so far. I want to attend more frequently.   I'm inspired and so are a lot of Americans of all backgrounds.  We're doing our duty folks.

 

I'll be back. and not just to play my cowbell.

-Zep

[Adam K]

I also am extremely frustrated by the human microphone. It stilts peoples' natural voices and confuses people who aren't used to addressing large crowds. There are portable PA system that range from 100-200 dollars. I think that we could easily raise this much money for the benefit of the General Assembly. Also, having a left and a right speaker with ports for additional speakers would solve the problem of sound direction and ensure that everyone in the crowd can hear the speaker. Megaphones are not a good way to address a large crowd.

I believe that this would save TONS of time and help to avoid confusion (which abounded at last night's GA).

Just as examples, here are a couple inexpensive PA systems:

http://goo.gl/AbrqN

http://goo.gl/3jXgu

[Adam K]

Also, as ZepLefty mentioned, surely we could find a sympathetic company or organization that would shell out 200 kola nuts for the benefit of our most vital democratic process.

[Adam K]

I discussed this issue with a secretariat at tonight's General Assembly and she made a very good point that a loud PA system would draw noise complaints from the surrounding buildings, and that with very large crowds, the human microphone can have a beneficial "cascading" effect.

I've thought about this, and as long as we have sufficiently long cables, we could locate speakers throughout the crowd (think drive-in movie theaters) and enable a much lower volume, ensuring that every section of the crowd can hear the speaker. I'd imagine that four speakers placed throughout the crowd would suffice for even packed General Assemblies.

Just an idea to consider. I might not be able to make it to tomorrow's GA, so if anybody would like to formalize this as a procedural vote, please feel free.

[MeredithN]

Another benefit to the human microphone, which hasn't been brought up yet, is the way it aides the minute-taker for the night's/day's meeting. With the extra allotted time that the human microphone gives, we, the minute takers (myself being one of many) is able to type out/write as correctly as possibly everything that occurs in the meeting. The only thing that has ever gotten in my way (speaking personally) from taking down exactly what/the very heart of what a person has to say is when others in the community (that are not the speaker) want to have a side conversation right by my ear, so I'm attempting to transcribe something I hear as I am hearing an entirely different conversation. Try that, it's hard. The human microphone gives us an opportunity to be as exact as possible within our minutes, so not only every voice wanting to speak in the GA is heard, they are also DOCUMENTED. I believe this documentation is important.

[Nicole_Secretary.Outreach]

Great point about note taking.

 

Regarding side conversation, it is best if you need to discuss something that you step away from the GA. This isn't currently happening, and it is extremely distracting whether taking notes or just participating.

 

In addition to legal limitations on the level of amplified sound, another point to consider is as our movement (and the GA) grows, it will be harder and harder for everyone to hear. If you watch the livestream of other occupations that utilize the human mic, you see the benefit as it waves through the crowds of thousands of people. That said, the speakers maybe be a good alternative if you want to look into the power usage so we can figure out if it is currently feasible with what we have available. Not sure best contact to coordinate that as I know nothing of amps...