system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Modern day protests are pointless.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand their importance in a democracy, however I feel like I haven’t seen a protest in my lifetime that has actually generated positive change. Most I see simply solidly people’s own opinions and split the community in to two halves on a topic. 

The media coverage of all protests only ever show the bad apples which of course is going to undermine any message you want to get out there. It just feels like there are people who simple love to protest, and gather in the streets and yell stuff. 

This comment refers to all topics, BLM, anti-lockdown, climate change. I agree with so much of the messaging, (with some of these topics) but find the act of protesting just so counter productive to meaningful change.

CLARIFICATION: ok, I don’t want to reply to everyone because you all have valid points. I knew going into this that I was wrong, I just needed to hear some hope in humanity. 

I guess my frustration stemmed from a conversation I was having with someone after the lockdown riots. They are a hardline conservative in their view and simply see BLM and Extinction rebellion protests as anarchists stirring up trouble, while the lockdown protests were good people who just want to buy their kids some shoes. It just annoyed me that he couldn’t see the difference, and made a thought go off on my head that protest simply locks people into whatever suits their narrative and who they see as the bad guys is totally dependent on pre-conceived political views. 

I guess my point is a protest will give someone who is against a topic, a firm enemy to hate and suddenly the conversations I’m having simply turn into - “look at XX protesters and the horrible things those people did (vandalism, violence etc), you want to support them?”
gpt
Not only have the BLM protests sparked a national discussion on police brutality and racial injustice in the legal system, but they also led to police reforms in dozens of cities across the nation. So, I'd think twice before calling them pointless.