🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <702705657.F00001@blkcat.UUCP> Deacon.Maccubbin@f421.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Deacon Maccubbin) writes:

   Even the
   Park Service (notorious for underestimating crowd sizes) says there were
   half a 
   million participants.

I think the park service is notorious for *over* estimating crowd sizes.  I
was there about three hours and I wouldn't guess more than 50,000 people were
there at any one time.  People were coming and going constantly, so maybe
triple or quadruple that for a total attendence closer to one-third of of the
estimate.  Having been to events, such as football games and auto races, with
documented attendance of 100,000 I know what a crowd that size looks like and
it wasn't there Sunday.  Crowd estimates at public events are notoriously
high, partly because everybody who gives the estimates has a vested interest
in making the crowd look large and partly because it is hard to do.

Much as I sympathize with the cause, and understand the need to demonstrate
support, I think you should also be realistic.  And, anyway, even 50,000 or
100,000 is still impressive, and probably compares favorably with the true
attendance at other big marches.

-- mike