On: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, the...

[asdfs]

Even in the context of social movements it's rather meaningless when used as a form of argument for something.

[sliverstorm → asdfs]

Seriously. I still can't figure why anyone would believe that being ignored was proof you were on track to winning, but folks try to make the argument all the time.

[MichaelApproved → sliverstorm]

The expression is not meant as proof that you're on the track to winning, it's meant to encourage you if you're currently being ignored.

Sure, being ignored is part of the losing process but it's also part of the winning process. Don't get discouraged just because you're being ignored.

[smallblacksun → MichaelApproved]

I agree that Gandhi didn't mean that it as proof, but many, many people on the internet use it to mean precisely that.

[sliverstorm → smallblacksun]

Yup, something alone the lines of, "YOU SEE THAT!? SEE HOW THEY ARE IGNORING US!?! THAT PROVES WE WILL CRUSH THEM!"

[mgkimsal → sliverstorm]

Upvoted. I hear this sentiment quite a lot.

[jamesrcole → smallblacksun]

I've heard that this quote doesn't come from Gandhi. See for example http://www.dailywritingtips.com/16-misquoted-quotations/