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top 200 commentsshow 500

[–]martyfarty 74 points75 points ago

this is the facebook event for the 'reenactment' outside of parliament http://www.facebook.com/events/239966289383165/?ref=ts

and this is the huffington post article on it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/anonymous-guy-fawkes-day_n_2078929.html

[–]Lite-Black 48 points49 points ago

It should be fine, as long as their reenactment doesn't include a ridiculous amount of fertilizer and fireworks, oh and it stays away from the subway Underground.

[–]Thegreatergatsby 46 points47 points ago

Legal disclaimer: We will NOT blow up parliament.

[–]Relvnt_to_Yr_Intrsts 13 points14 points ago

Disclaimer disclaimer: The above disclaimer is for legal purposes only

[–]kuzniap 8 points9 points ago

I wonder how necessary that was.

[–]Hrethric 212 points213 points ago

Is this a protest, or just a Guy Fawkes day celebration?

[–]Avien 267 points268 points ago

Warner Brothers fundraiser, actually.

[–]CaveDweller12 60 points61 points ago

Actually if you ask around a bit, you'll find a growing number whose masks are knockoffs made from china that aren't made under the warner bros license.

[–]sixsidepentagon 78 points79 points ago

China fundraiser then

[–]gumpythegreat 46 points47 points ago

The world is now a china fundraiser

[–]acken 6 points7 points ago

America fund drainer then

[–]tossedsaladandscram 2 points3 points ago

This whole argument is ridiculous. It's not like anyone has any real beef with warner brothers. They made a good product. Now they make money off of it. You can believe in government transparency and still be fine with warner brothers getting a tiny sum of money for a piece of plastic you've bought

[–]pinkfloyd873 91 points92 points ago

I'm probably going to get downvoted to shit for this, just like OP, but it's a protest. An effigy of Guy Fawkes is burned every year on November 5, in remembrance of the failed Gunpowder Plot in which Fawkes (along with several accomplices) attempted to destroy the British Parliament building. Fawkes wasn't seen as a hero for a long time, he was a usurper. Nobody started wearing these masks until V for Vendetta and Anonymous made them popular, so this obviously isn't the ordinary 5th of November celebration. This is an image from a protest organized by Anonymous, which (probably intentionally) coincides with Guy Fawkes Night. It's been posted a million times already in this thread, but if ^ all this ^ isn't enough evidence for you, here is the link to the article on the protest. Now bring on the onslaught of ignorance and downvotes.

[–]Derptad 20 points21 points ago

Guy Fawkes shouldn't be considered a hero, seeing as he was basically a religious terrorist

[–]PlacidPlatypus 17 points18 points ago

If it's a protest, then what are they protesting?

[–]OneGotBetterAnd 5 points6 points ago

Occupy London is for

1) Citizens not to be personally liable for government debt as a result of the 2008 banks’ crisis.

2) Supporting public spending on health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop public spending on wars and arms dealing.

3) A positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations rather than the current system that pollutes the land, sea and air.

4) Opening the City of London Corporation - the local authority for the UK's financial centre - to deeper scrutiny, including the end of business and corporate votes in elections and the transparent reform of City institutions along with a commission to examine allegations of corruption.

5) Demanding corporations end tax evasion.

Hope this helps.

[–]jeepdave 11 points12 points ago

Ask Occupy, I'm sure they will have a good answer.........

[–]gobacktosleepamerica 17 points18 points ago

Repost from another discussion about the perceived "lack of direction in Occupy," which was the most common criticism we encountered then and still continue to encounter:

Our list of grievances was massive. We took issue with income inequality, the idea that 1% of the global population controls somewhere between 50 and 80% of all wealth. The widening gap between rich and poor was another major issue, the lack of social mobility for people born in the projects or other disenfranchised areas, who would probably never rise out of their circumstances due to heavy-handed drug laws, gang violence, the lack of accessibility to higher education and healthcare. We took issue with mortgage fraud and the sub-prime mortgages which were bundled together (Securitization) and resold as normal loans to investors, causing the collapse of the American real estate industry and thousands of unlawful foreclosures. We had protests against GMO food, the drug war.

We weren't just mad about one thing, but it all starts with income inequality. The rich buy the elections so we can't elect leaders who have our interests at heart and there's no chance for anyone to be elected who's not a Democrat or Republican with all the money and resources those parties offer to their candidates. We wanted Glass-Steagall reinstated and Citizens United overturned, and yes we obviously wanted more oversight, but do you really think that if we got Glass-Steagall reinstated, we would've just packed up and left? And how would we have even gotten it reinstated when the most major obstacle everyday was making sure everyone in the park got fed and clothed, making sure food wasn't stolen from the Kitchen by crackheads and that nobody got shanked by a drunk or arrested for climbing a statue?

Do your research and don't tell an Occupier, a member of De-Escalation and the Finance Committee, why he went to DC in October 2011 when you probably didn't even leave your room. If you really want to talk about the failure of Occupy, and I will freely admit that we failed, let's talk about it and don't make assumptions that you can't back up. The whole idea of Occupy was "let's get together and figure out who's really at the bottom of all this, and then hold them accountable." If you had come to our General Assembly and started talking in vague terms about "big corporations being able to make laws" we would have laughed you out of the park. We wanted the robber barons in prison and the plutocracy to be dissolved. Where you say something general like "big corporations," we say, "JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Conoco Philips, IBM, BP, Viacom..." Get it? When you try to distill a movement down to a single issue platform, you lose sight of the bigger picture. Here is our Declaration of Occupation, unanimously supported by the GA in Zuccotti on September 29. Do yourself a favor and read it before you reply.

And here's some relevant documentaries:

American Autumn: An Occudoc

The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power

[–]Laced 19 points20 points ago

Income inequality & money influencing US politics were probably two of the biggest issues Occupy was protesting.

[–]jeepdave 4 points5 points ago

Two things that are not solved by camping in a public park. But here is the rub, even you said probably. You ask 5 occupiers and you got 5 different answers.

[–]Laced 13 points14 points ago

We're mentioning those issues now when we otherwise wouldn't be, so I wouldn't say Occupy was totally useless. Unlike television protests, real grass-roots movements don't start with leaders and clear messages, those emerge over time.

[–]ambitlights 2 points3 points ago

Ask 5 Republicans what are the the biggest issues and would you get 5 different answers?

[–]99Faces 18 points19 points ago

5 hours later after many public assemblies and drum circles the answer is definitely.... something, man. 'Cuz if you don't stand for something, you'll like.. fall for stuff.. you know?

[–]skantman 2 points3 points ago

Apparently they've been heard chanting, "Down with this sort of thing."

[–]TheMikenator 7 points8 points ago

i've been waiting for someone to mention to the real history of Guy Fawkes Day. Thank you!

[–]larrykins 7 points8 points ago

What is hilarious is Guy Fawkes was attempting to blow up Parliament in order to replace one religious theocracy with another.

[–]FrankManic 2 points3 points ago

But that's not the point. Government likes to project the idea that it's monolithic and unassailable. That government is an invincible edifice that cannot be changed, altered, or opposed. That it is all knowing, all seeing, all wise, and all powerful.

Of course the truth is some idiot Catholic with a poor understanding of chemistry came this close to blowing one of the more powerful governments in the world to hell. And nothing has really changed.

That's the point. People shouldn't be afraid of Government. Government should be afraid of people.

[–]Apathoid 3 points4 points ago

Fine! I wasn't gonna but you keep insisting.

[–]makerofshoes 134 points135 points ago

Things to remember: 1. The Alamo 2. 5th of November

[–]StaceyKingRules 172 points173 points ago

  1. The Titans

[–]srd178 14 points15 points ago

  1. Isaly's Chipped Chopped Ham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeU2wzxLe0E

[–]dsoltesz 7 points8 points ago

  1. Bastille Day

[–]sgthombre 12 points13 points ago

The French thing or the episode of Battlestar Galactica?

[–]SteamyConnor 18 points19 points ago

Actually the song by Rush

[–]Veganerin 31 points32 points ago

The Sunwell

[–]Jacko87 9 points10 points ago

Baladash Balanori

[–]GDHepcats 16 points17 points ago

  1. To drink your Ovaltine

Why does my 3 keep turning to a 1?

[–]RichardHuman 4 points5 points ago

4. To use a backslash in front of your period.

[–]mediocratic 10 points11 points ago

Remember Reach.

[–]halotwo2 25 points26 points ago

9/11 1973

[–]IAmNotAPerson6 7 points8 points ago

Ah, the first 9/11.

[–]robotmlg 11 points12 points ago

  1. The Maine

[–]REDDIT_HARD_MODE 4 points5 points ago

[–]Incongruity7 6 points7 points ago

[–]Animus_Glitch 5 points6 points ago

It's a good this pepperidge farm remembers.

[–]SeaMenOnTheRocks 3 points4 points ago

100% reason to remember the name.

[–]ffigeman 343 points344 points ago

[–]Blashe 44 points45 points ago

Whenever someone throws this at me, I just counter troll them by pretending I have no idea what "the game" is, and by being way to thick to understand their explanations. I've had a few separate friends try to explain "the game" to me for a good 15 minutes while the others just chuckle.

[–]Niteowlthethird 55 points56 points ago

sounds like you and your friends really cut loose

[–]BIN6H4M 5 points6 points ago

You hooligans!

[–]firefox3d 7 points8 points ago

That's pretty god damned impressive.

[–]lychee-twist 315 points316 points ago

And that's about as seriously as I take anyone wearing one of those masks these days.

[–]UserNumber42 328 points329 points ago

I take people protesting in the street more seriously than random people who do nothing and complain on the internet.

[–]Patecatl 46 points47 points ago

That's burnwang!

[–]Whenthenighthascome 26 points27 points ago

  1. 15. Twenty-Eleven. That's Numberwang!

[–]PantsGrenades 4 points5 points ago

Those who are thoroughly enamored with the status quo feel threatened when people with even slightly differing views take action. It's base protectionism; i.e. "If they gain prestige from their actions it will make me look innefectual in comparison, being that my worldview has been formed from things I've seen on South Park this will not stand."

Remind them of this every time you see it.

[–]zosoknight 16 points17 points ago

Oh, I dunno, I think if you're protesting something that matters good for you, but if you're just standing around in a plastic mask spouting internet memes for shits and giggles, diluting any serious point anybody else is making then you shouldn't be taken seriously. Unfortunately most everybody in an Anonymous mask falls into the internet meme camp. But you keep on being smug, man. It suits you.

[–]Caramel_Chew_Chew 3 points4 points ago

If its not even mentioned in the Guardian, it's not a protest; it's a bunch of wankers wearing masks of a film they like.

[–]mistajones94 0 points1 point ago

ANARCHY!

[–]BigL90 56 points57 points ago

Just waiting for the Halo 4 release...

[–]Jargey 419 points420 points ago

[–]whereswald514 251 points252 points ago

This is a protest by Anonymous on Guy Fawkes Day.

It is NOT a normal British celebration.

EDIT - I'll link these up here too, they should answer most of the questions.

Here is a video by Anonymous promoting "Operation Vendetta"

Here is a video explaining some of the reasons behind "Operation Vendetta."

I am not stating any opinions here, I just got sick of reading the comments bashing the OP for stating facts.

[–]throwaway_architect 41 points42 points ago

i've gone through most of the comments and links.. but still can't find why they are protesting.

any one can shed some light? what is it that they are protesting against?

what did the british gov. do this time?

[–]FreshFruitCup 27 points28 points ago

They want to return a catholic king to the throne.

[–]DreddPirateBob 86 points87 points ago

i don't think it's specific, though i may be wrong. more just to do with the general decline in personal freedom, the killing of the welfare state, removal of benefits for the sick, the support of big business over human beings, killing internet freedom, killing foreigners, the governments cover ups of child abuse by it's own ministers and being one of the most heavily monitored surveilence states in the world.

it could be all the other things too :)

[–]twisted28 33 points34 points ago

Coming soon to America

[–]damn_redditors 9 points10 points ago

the killing of the welfare state, removal of benefits for the sick

I don't think you guys ever had that.

[–]quantumpsych 4 points5 points ago

not if we get off our asses and do something about it.

[–]Vikaroo 3 points4 points ago

That'll happen when it's too late.

[–]captain42 9 points10 points ago

Sounds like America!

[–]Dennis_Smoore 5 points6 points ago

I didn't know Brits had it so bad.

[–]Peritract 29 points30 points ago

We don't.

[–]Cswiseass 3 points4 points ago

This is why they're protesting.

[–]flamingflipflop 45 points46 points ago

thank you

[–]Hopeful_Swine 6 points7 points ago

Great movie...and did anybody else notice what the ass-hat wrote on that brown sign, left of center?

[–]TwoHands 20 points21 points ago

I remembered the date and laughed when I saw the pic.

Though I only remembered because of the rhyme:

Remember, remember, the fifth of november!

[–]System_Mangler 15 points16 points ago

I always found this a pretty rubbish rhyme to remember the date. It works eqaully well for any day in September, November, or December.

[–]scorpion347 53 points54 points ago

The trick is to forget all thouse other days.

[–]EllKayBee 15 points16 points ago

Maybe because that's only part of the rhyme. It was meant as a cautionary tale for anyone thinking of treason.

"Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot..."

[–]Rhawk187 38 points39 points ago

Which is only part of the rhyme, the whole thing is:

Remember, remember, the 5th of November The Gunpowder Treason and plot ; I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'Twas his intent. To blow up the King and the Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below. Poor old England to overthrow. By God's providence he was catch'd, With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip Hoorah ! Hip hip Hoorah !

A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope, A farthing cheese to choke him. A pint of beer to rinse it down, A faggot of sticks to burn him. Burn him in a tub of tar,' Burn him like a blazing star. Burn his body from his head, Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.

[–]CaveDweller12 7 points8 points ago

The Gunpowder treason and plot.

I see no good reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot

[–]Rhawk187 13 points14 points ago

Remember, remember, the 5th of November The Gunpowder Treason and plot ; I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'Twas his intent. To blow up the King and the Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below. Poor old England to overthrow. By God's providence he was catch'd, With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip Hoorah ! Hip hip Hoorah !

A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope, A farthing cheese to choke him. A pint of beer to rinse it down, A faggot of sticks to burn him. Burn him in a tub of tar,' Burn him like a blazing star. Burn his body from his head, Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.

[–]mmPete 10 points11 points ago

Can someone offer me a TL;DR version of this?

[–]SystemOutPrintln 70 points71 points ago

Guy Fawkes tries to blow up parliament on 5 Nov. 1605, called the Gunpowder Plot, he fails and is executed.

In 2005, the movie V for Vendetta was released referencing the Gunpowder Plot ("Remember, Remember, the 5th of November / Gunpowder Treason and Plot") in which the protagonist V fights against a dictatorship in Britain and wears a mask like those in OP's picture.

The movie developed a cult following and the mask worn by V has become a symbol of anonymity and resistance against authority.

ETA: The mask is now referred to as the Guy Fawkes mask.

[–]cya_b 35 points36 points ago

I know most people know V for Vendetta by the movie, but it was a comic first.

[–]DNApolymerase 72 points73 points ago

graphic novel

Cough

[–]Delphiq 46 points47 points ago

I think that means comic for big kids

[–]cynognathus 24 points25 points ago

It was released as a ten issue limited series before being collected into a single volume. Here's what Alan Moore, writer of V for Vendetta, had to say about the term 'graphic novel':

It's a marketing term. I mean, it was one that I never had any sympathy with. The term "comic" does just as well for me. The term "graphic novel" was something that was thought up in the '80s by marketing people and there was a guy called Bill Spicer who used to do a brilliant fanzine back in the sixties called Graphic Story Magazine. He came up with the term "graphic story". That's got something to recommend it, you know, I can see "graphic story" if you need it to call it something but the thing that happened in the mid-'80s was that there were a couple of things out there that you could just about call a novel. You could just about call Maus a novel, you could probably just about call Watchmen a novel, in terms of density, structure, size, scale, seriousness of theme, stuff like that. The problem is that "graphic novel" just came to mean "expensive comic book" and so what you'd get is people like DC Comics or Marvel comics - because "graphic novels" were getting some attention, they'd stick six issues of whatever worthless piece of crap they happened to be publishing lately under a glossy cover and call it The She-Hulk Graphic Novel, you know? ... But no, the term "graphic novel" is not one that I'm over-fond of. It's nothing that I might carry a big crusade against, it doesn't really matter much what they're called but it's not a term that I'm very comfortable with.

[–]GunnedMonk 16 points17 points ago

Is there anything Alan Moore doesn't dislike?

[–]Zandelion 6 points7 points ago

Sex and magic?

[–]oheilthere 9 points10 points ago

Anarchy

[–]SystemOutPrintln 2 points3 points ago

I know that however the whole Guy Fawkes mask thing didn't really take off until the movie.

[–]durtysox 9 points10 points ago

That's because it's not easy for a non-existent object to become a trend. The concept of the mask only existed after the artist drew it for the comic. The physical masks did not exist until after V for Vendetta premiered in theaters.

[–]SystemOutPrintln 0 points1 point ago

Good point, although I suspect it still wouldn't be nearly as popular if not for the movie.

[–]catvllvs 7 points8 points ago

The movie developed a cult following and the mask worn by V has become a symbol of anonymity and resistance against authority.

Fun fact: Warner Brothers makes money on every mask sold.

[–]gryphonlord 8 points9 points ago

A little more background: Guy Fawkes was one amongst a group of people whose aim was to replace the Protestant monarchy with a Catholic one. King James I was to be at Parliament for the State Opening along with several other important targets. The goal was to then revolt and install James nine year old daughter as a Catholic Queen. The plot was ruined when they sent a warning to a Catholic member of Parliament, urging him not to attend Parliament on the day in question. News eventually makes it up to the King, who orders a search of Parliament to be performed, Fawkes is found, etc. and now a religious terrorist is the icon for a group of people who tend to advocate against such things.

[–]justbecausewhynot 1 point2 points ago

Its safe to say I did not remember the 5th of November.

[–]justagirl90210 2 points3 points ago

Seeing stuff like this must be pretty satisfying for Alan Moore.

It must be an incredible feeling to see people actually DOING what you wrote about.

[–]Mogwoggle 9 points10 points ago

I really hope OP knew that, and was trying to make a joke.

[–]whereswald514 68 points69 points ago

This is protest by Anonymous on Guy Fawkes Day.

I really hope you knew that and were trying to make a joke.

[–]MrBulger 8 points9 points ago

Heads up; he didn't.

[–]Im_more_ignorant 21 points22 points ago

Seems like after further investigating, it really is an Anonymous protest...here

Seems like the obvious answer is that it's a protest by Anon started today on purpose in recognition of Nov. 5th. As in, why not both?

[–]6minus16 15 points16 points ago

What are they protesting? Everything I've read just says they are protesters, nothing more

[–]TravestyTravis 13 points14 points ago

Idleness?

[–]sibelliuz 16 points17 points ago

Nobody wears that mask on Guy Fawkes Day.

[–]sailingthefantasea 19 points20 points ago

You're supposed to burn Guy Fawkes on the bonfire, not wear a mask of him.

Though to be honest, the mask is more associated with V than it is with Guy Fawkes. Sure it's supposed to be Guy Fawkes, but it's V you think of when you see it.

[–]Royed 78 points79 points ago

What are they protesting? Link an article?

[–]Frailed 142 points143 points ago

Neck shaving.

[–]Solitarius 8 points9 points ago

Everything

[–]CatLover99 14 points15 points ago

Why are you being downvoted? This is a reasonable question.

Guys, don't get offended by an actual question.

edit: fuck you too.

[–]Fucks_papercups 34 points35 points ago

What are they protesting?

[–]RevanFlash 85 points86 points ago

The oppression of middle class whites.

[–]cardenaldana 21 points22 points ago

And better lunch meat

[–]MAD_JIHAD 4 points5 points ago

They bought masks made in China, the people who made the masks stuck super glue on them. They are protesting against China because China don't care.

[–]AaFen 2 points3 points ago

Masks are too expensive! Down with the establishment!

[–]trinitysun 13 points14 points ago

What do we want? It's a secret. When do we want it? Wouldn't you like to know.

[–]SurprisedSquee 147 points148 points ago

[–]omegawoot 0 points1 point ago

So true.

[–]borkborkbork -1 points0 points ago

Ugh. No, really, it isn't.

[–]ifnspifn 10 points11 points ago

Out of curiosity, what exactly are you countering? That the media misrepresented the various Occupy/Anonymous protests, or that the sentiments expressed in the picture are valid?

[–]halotwo2 8 points9 points ago

I believe borkborkbork is commenting on how a very large amount of the protesters were very eager to share stories of their economic hardships, but were not certain what exact actions need to be taken and who was at fault (assuming, of course, that they did not consider themselves at fault). I think the media fairly accurately assessed that there was no central plan or argument that was well agreed upon by protestors, but instead a vague and broad collection of disgruntlements. I think this is in part evidenced by the slogan "I am the 99%" itself, which does not really incite any reform nor convey any message other than "I am upset".

[–]ifnspifn 2 points3 points ago

I respond to bork in much greater detail in his response further down, but I thought I'd also put a link here to an article which I feel accurately describes the sort of nebulous argument in a way which the media chose not to. It comes from a professor of political science, and while it could be argued that the average shmuck in Zucatti couldn't articulate his/her ennui in this detail, I think it's fair to say that this generalizes this generation's populist movement pretty well.

[–]NotlimTheGreat 5 points6 points ago

I'll bite at least in saying I've questioned a few Occupy supporters(as well asked in the subreddits), and I can very rarely get an answer as to something specific they are moving toward. Everything said is incredibly vague and synonymous with the protest signs in the comic.

The whole Occupy thing seems like a directionless mess even when questioning people very in-the-know about it. It doesn't ever seem to focus on anything that could actually change something, rather its all about getting the world out that this and that sucks. We already know this and that sucks, sitting on a corner getting honks for vague signs isn't doing much though.

[–]rabbidpanda 3 points4 points ago

Everything said is incredibly vague and synonymous with the protest signs in the comic.

Those signs are not particularly vague. While they cover a few different things, and do not do so explicitly, I think it's clear that the actions called for are "overturn Citizens United" ("get money out of politics"), reinstate Glass-Steagall ("Wall St. greed trashed economy") and prosecute bankers who institutionalized fraud ("The bank stole my home")

Looking back now, one sign even explicitly mentions Glass-Steagall. If you find them to be vague, I question whether you understand the issue or the joke the comic is making (the joke is that people are leveling a lot of sound criticism, but since there are so many issues to deal with, the banker/suit tells the news to report that there is no real message).

Who were these "in-the-know" folks and how did you judge them to be reliably knowledgeable?

[–]LareTheBear 16 points17 points ago

[–]cuffofizz 5 points6 points ago

CBS: Smithsonian Channel, Jeopardy, NFL.com

That's uhh, ...real impressive CBS.

[–]cryptophreak 3 points4 points ago

You deliberately excluded Showtime.

[–]piclemaniscool 3 points4 points ago

Does... does anyone know why they are protesting? What they are protesting for/against? Anyone?

[–]Northeast2012 3 points4 points ago

ITT: Americans who aren't particularly informed about UK culture and politics, which is fine, so I'll try and explain.

Press TV have a short article & video about it which gives you a better idea of what was going on: http://presstv.com/detail/2012/11/06/270661/uk-anonymous-protest-against-cuts/

The UK, just like most of Europe, has seen significant cuts to various social programs, pensions, wages & so on. It's easy to critique protesters as having no real reason or goals, however this is part of a bigger movement and social awakening in Europe. The European political & economic climate seems on the brink given the goings on in the likes of Greece, Portugal, Spain & Italy to name but a few. I'm writing this message from Greece, and I can honestly say I don't think most people get just how bad things are going and how bleak the future looks.

I agree the masks are a little over the top and most people see it as sort of a fashion statement. On the other hand it is helping to bring awareness to the ideology of Anonymous, which is limitless in terms of membership and political potential. Anything that will make people sit up and take note of the injustices occurring the world over is a good thing in my book.

TL;DR - Believe it or not things are fucking shitty in Europe right now. It's not a bad thing that people are protesting and showing their general ill feeling towards what's going on.

[–]Blamemeta 45 points46 points ago

So much money going to Warner Bros.

[–]TheSelfGoverned 35 points36 points ago

I'm sure someone somewhere has ignored the trademarks and sells a "generic" version.

[–]Blamemeta 4 points5 points ago

this is in London where they give a shit about patents.

[–]TheSelfGoverned 66 points67 points ago

China + internet + shipping.

[–]Blamemeta 20 points21 points ago

Point taken.

[–]DusterHogan 80 points81 points ago

The smell of B.O. must be overwhelming.

[–]paegan 15 points16 points ago

And hot pockets and mountain dew

[–]Owitb 4 points5 points ago

And ditch weed and smegma.

[–]Mezecs 6 points7 points ago

This is England, we don't have them.

[–]imakitty 4 points5 points ago

Reading the comments here has taught me that we have done a FANTASTIC job of convincing people the generally progressive ideas that the Occupy movement was attempting to attain have been largely dismissed by the wider public. Good Job whomever managed to silence that movement.

It is disheartening to see Occupy so... dismissed in the current policial environment because while they did have some "Core" goals and went about them in odd ways, the overall objective of the movement has been ignored and replaced with "Damned Hippies" despite the fact that they have had serious impacts on bringing up the issue of income inequality.

I personally don't think Occupy was nearly violent enough [though some would argue that by degrading to violence would have greater ideological implications.] Needless to say between the drought and food shortages likely to occur August 2013's going to be a bitch.

[–]antisolo 11 points12 points ago

My cat's name is Mittens.

[–]eatmydonuts 16 points17 points ago

sigh

Goddammit.

[–]hikemhigh 9 points10 points ago

wtf are they protesting?

[–]hot_skillet 2 points3 points ago

they're protesting against the system, maaan!

[–]robbysalz 15 points16 points ago

[–]ThatLaggyNoob 8 points9 points ago

The sad truth: Redditors sit at their computers saying that anons who get out on the streets and protest are neckbearded virigin keyboard warriors without realising the irony of what they're saying.

[–]Apocol0id 28 points29 points ago

This is what happens when our generation thinks it's making a statement.

[–]chthonical 12 points13 points ago

Yes. Because smoking pot, doing acid, playing guitar, and showing off your tits was a far more effective form of protest.

[–]Atario 3 points4 points ago

Haha yeah they should just stay home and do nothing like you

[–]ticktrip 0 points1 point ago

Well on the plus side it got them out of the basement and a little exercise. Now all they need is the actual statement.

[–]myusernameranoutofsp 5 points6 points ago

ITT: People getting corrected about this being a protest by Anonymous on Guy Fawkes day.

[–]sailingthefantasea 2 points3 points ago

And Anonymous does like to sometimes piggyback other things they didn't even do. So who knows.

[–]Phased_and_Amused 10 points11 points ago

ohh those catholic monarchists are so hip.

[–]WNYC1139 7 points8 points ago

As a right-wing Catholic, I'm thrilled to see so many people honoring Guy Fawkes. We'll finish his work and establish a Catholic monarchy yet! Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!

[–]catvllvs 2 points3 points ago

Papist scum!

[–]Konstantynopolitancz 9 points10 points ago

How original

[–]TylerTodd47 0 points1 point ago

Shouldn't that have been last night at midnight?

[–]ImmadeofDragons 2 points3 points ago

very cool

[–]SealRover 0 points1 point ago

what are they on about then?

[–]throwaway_architect 0 points1 point ago

i've gone through most of the comments and links.. but still can't find it: what is it that they are protesting against?

[–]Jc40k 0 points1 point ago

What are they protesting?

[–]Paul_Lazzaro 1 point2 points ago

they're protesting... um... wages. Wait no, labor. Politics, maybe?

[–]zythyl 2 points3 points ago

You lost the game!

Fuck everything about those meme-spouting retards - gives 4chan a bad name.

[–]copiga 0 points1 point ago

for fucks sake. there is little to no solidarity with teachers/posties/other unionised work force but there is for a hollywood mangled comic book reference. nice to know what is important.

[–]HNIJTM 0 points1 point ago

On a related note... parents all over London don't know where their kids went.

[–]SoggyDoritos 23 points24 points ago

Remember, Remember the 5th of November.

[–]Poppinpyroz 10 points11 points ago

The gun powder, treason and plot

[–]jnicoler89 6 points7 points ago

I know of no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

[–]Bloodysneeze 4 points5 points ago

I guess this must be the UK entry in the "most confused and misguided protest of the year" contest.

[–]StraightfromSTL 7 points8 points ago

I like how protesting nothing for the sake of protesting because the internet told them to is going to be how this generation is remembered -_-

[–]Atario 2 points3 points ago

I like how you think you know what this is about from a single photo and can therefore proceed to judge an entire generation

[–]sgtpppr 4 points5 points ago

Mob rule is the new fashion statement.

[–]winterd 6 points7 points ago

Do any of them know that all Guy Fawkes wanted to do was replace the Protestant king with a Catholic one?

[–]TheTruthYouHate1 5 points6 points ago

Why?

Or is this another OWS type deal, where like <10% of the people actually know what they're protesting?

[–]ChagSC 15 points16 points ago

I'm protesting CEO salaries, corporate profits, and unfair labor practices.

Sent from my iPhone.

[–]MesaGeek 3 points4 points ago

They are celebrating V's idea from the movie, which is likely in line with Anonymous. I don't think this a celebration of the man himself. It's like a Che Guevarra thing, only this way you can wear that bad ass mask.

[–]PWL73316 7 points8 points ago

So far in this thread I see a lot of stupid Americans thinking Guy Fawkes masks are traditionally used in some positive manner, as in, 'Lets all go dress up like that crazy papist who tried to bring down our nation and have a parade' when nothing would be further from the truth. Additionally, they are downvoting all the people truthfully pointing out that this is a protest organized by Anonymous to lionize and celebrate Fawkes-as-freedom-fighter, when the entire point of the day is to demonize Fawkes and other divine right monarchists.

[–]LawlFish 4 points5 points ago

oh cool! a bunch of want to be un organized script kiddies. ill pass.

[–]A_DERPING_ULTRALISK 2 points3 points ago

Wow you're just so cool! Please tell me how to be cool like you.

[–]Lite-Black 7 points8 points ago

So apparently people wear Guy Fawkes masks to celebrate the 5th of November. I'm British and have never seen that, when did that start?

[–]whereswald514 49 points50 points ago

No they do not. This is an Anonymous protest held on Guy Fawkes Day.

The tradition of burning Guy Fawkes' effigies is hundreds of years old. The masks are for Anonymous. I don't know why everyone is bashing OP instead of searching google. The Calgary Herald, Huffington Post, RT, CP24 all have articles on the PROTEST not the celebration.

[–]Lite-Black 8 points9 points ago

Thanks, rational answer of the day :)

[–]sir5ur 7 points8 points ago

seriously, anonymous announced this shit earlier. Everyone just has to go apeshit on OP though. Like its somehow impossible for anonymous to protest on Guy Fawkes day lol, they adopted his fucking face people, it makes sense that they would protest on 5th of November.

[–]bangupjobasusual 1 point2 points ago

Every. Fucking. November fifth.

[–]bradamantium92 2 points3 points ago

A man attempted (and thoroughly failed) to murder all of parliament. Effigies of him are burnt year after year in remembrance.

And some people think that's a good face to wear. What do you want, Anon, to fail miserably and have the English set you on fire every year?

[–]sailingthefantasea 0 points1 point ago

Not only that but Guy Fawkes was Catholic, the whole plot was about how the King and Parliament weren't tolerant of Catholics so they wanted to get rid of him.

[–]Shyr 2 points3 points ago

Seems to me this is a bit of a joke. Trivializes all the protesters that have made such a difference in the past year.

[–]maximomore2 3 points4 points ago

Who ever owns the rights to those masks must be swimming in money. Warner Bros.?

[–]fausja -3 points-2 points ago

It's Guy Fawkes Day, not Anonymous. I'm worried about the future of all the mis-guided individuals out there.

[–]whereswald514 132 points133 points ago

Wrong. It is an Anonymous protest held on Guy Fawkes Day.

I'm worried about the future of all the mis-guided individuals out there who can't even perform a simple fact check.

[–]vocabulator9000 37 points38 points ago

Thank you.

Simply put, the mask does not mean what it used to mean, Tokens of symbolism remain, but it has become a symbol of a younger generation protesting in a time when they feel their rights being stripped away to the point of needing to protest anonymously. It is not a ski mask to cause fear, it is a relatively intelligent group tactic to mask emotion while demonstrating solidarity in pursuit of those "Self Evident Truths", that people from a distant time wrote about.

[–]BrosephDudeson 13 points14 points ago

Anonymous draws much of its iconography from the story of Fawkes

And by that we mean they use the prop mask from the Warner Brothers movie..

[–]Nsekiil 7 points8 points ago

God you're so ignorant

[–]prewfrock 0 points1 point ago

Stand up citizens. What are they protesting? OP being a fag?

[–]fnkytwn 3 points4 points ago

This is Operation Jubilee (http://www.operationjubilee.in)

[–]NOACeulemans 1 point2 points ago

Looks like the V for Vendetta set.

[–]lalondtm -2 points-1 points ago

what a waste of fucking time. Yea we get it, and none of you knew who he was or the story behind it until the movie came out.