system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
I believe that the Occupy movement was meaningful and significant: CMV

I honestly don't understand why many point out what a "failure" Occupy was as a protest. I believe that:

1) The mainstream media was a huge driving force for convincing the public that it had no direction or purpose. I think this is intentional, as it's touted as a failure to dissuade the public from trying something like it again. Downplaying it is their attempt at quelling the masses. 

I believe that Occupy WAS significant because it 
2) created a global outpouring of support, galvanizing hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions?) of people all over the world onto the streets. Though we look with envy to Turkey and Brazil at their ability to stand up and cite how we Americans are lazy, we started Occupy! 
3) brought together people from all walks of life for a number of different, yet still related causes. While some claim that it was detrimental that there seemed to be no single cause of protest, the same thing is going on in Brazil--they're protesting not just bus fares, but so many other things from corruption to crony capitalism.
4) highlighted innovative solutions to problems, like the communications system of having entire groups relay messages in unison to overcome loudspeaker rules.
5) brought to light ideas and concepts not often discussed: the barter system, direct democracy, alternative currencies, buying local, the failed two party system... though these haven't yet sprouted, Occupy helped plant these seeds into our collective psyche as to their possibilities. I think the "solutions" aspect of the protest goes largely ignored, but was one of the most powerful parts of the movement. 
6) we better understand what we're up against: before, it was considered absurd to think that the police would attempt to co-opt and infiltrate peaceful protests, or that they'd use violence to such a degree. While this was a painful lesson, I think it helped us wise up to the nature of the government. While their tactics may cause some to believe protests are ineffective, others see it as all the more reason why we NEED to be protesting.

I like having my views changed and picked apart. So here you go. Now, why do you think Occupy was a failure? Are there any lessons to learn, or should it be tossed like an old carcass from our memories, not worthy of resuscitation? 

EDIT: It's midnight here so I'm going to bed. Apologies if statements of mine were unclear. I've somewhat changed my view in that 1) Occupy should have had more tangible results for a protest of its size, and 2) Yes, their over-ambition to implement lofty solutions got the best of them. I'm still really optimistic that the movement could lead to other protests that have learned from its mistakes. I still think the problems of society raised by Occupy are exceptionally valid and in dire need of reform. HOW this will be done on a large scale by the masses... well, not sure. If no such change is forthcoming, then I would view Occupy as an abysmal failure.
gpt
I think you give the mainstream media more credit than it deserves. 

As with any political organization, you have to recognize the trade off between size and appeal. The Occupy movements gained traction and attention because it was spontaneous; Americans all over were congregating to protest and it wasn't being orchestrated by some group in the shadows. In fact, it was more of an idea than an organization, but that was its ultimate weakness.

Without major central leadership, the movement was bound to be hijacked by other groups intent on bringing attention to whatever issue they saw as important. You yourself listed a multitude of issues that you felt the Occupy movement stood for. But the idea of a protest is to gain the attention of the media in order to coherently bring an issue to the forefront of discussion. 

The Occupy movement unfolded like a child crying for attention, only to mumble once the parents were listening. People wanted to support the Occupy movement, but it became too frustrating.

I think the Occupy movement was a failure, and the nature of this discussion is fairly indicative; you didn't ask if the Occupy movement successfully achieved some specific milestone but if the Occupy movement did anything at all. That doesn't mean we can't learn from this. Future movements can definitely learn from this. 

**tl;dr The lack of strong leadership and a coherent message ultimately prevented the Occupy movement from translating its widespread appeal into substantive discussion or change. When you stand for everything, you stand for nothing.**