Despite having now been involved in years of "street politics" I'v never got entirely over the discomfort of shouting slogans. It is so remote from the kind of reasoned argument that should persuade citizens how to cast their votes.
Yet once one has decided to join in it is astonishing how satisfying it can be to out-chant the opposition, and how easy it is to disregard the leaching away of wit after the first few repetitions of what might initially be a witty slogan or retort.

Yes and how indifferent you can become to the neighbours who complain about the impact of the noise on their quiet enjoyment of their property and the effects on their children.

When the guy mocked me last time, when I politely asked them to lay off the siren being put through the megaphone continually, a few protestors looked shocked at his behaviour but then as some of the others didn't it did not take them long to all begin chanting at me.

The groupthink phenomenon is extremely powerful.

This post, your bullying post and a school event I attended today all reminded me of the same thing:

People are sheep.