View source for Slogan-Yelling Megaphone Guy

{{trope}}
[[File:Megaphone guy.jpg|frame]]
{{quote|''For instance, I was teaching Sam peace chants for a long time, when he was only two. It was during the war in the Persian Gulf; I was a little angry.''
''"What do we want?" I'd call to Sam.''
''"Peace," he'd shout dutifully.''
''"And when do we want it?" I'd ask.''
''"Now!" he'd say, and I'd smile and toss him a fish.''
|Anne Lamott|''Bird by Bird'' }}

What do we want?

:''A trope about us!''

When do we want it?

:''Now!''

Listen up, All the Tropes! I can't believe you guys forgot about me, the [[Slogan-Yelling Megaphone Guy]], the most important part of any large public demonstration! How are people supposed to know what we're mad about? [[Waving Signs Around|Wave signs around]]? That's lame! Noise is where it's at, the louder the better!

In fictional depictions, the audio quality is inversely proportional to how funny the scene is, so if it's a comedy, the guy standing next to me will always end up with busted eardrums since I'm answering his questions through the megaphone, but when I'm addressing the audience at large, expect a lot of--''{{smallcaps| loud pitched squeals}}''—and don't forget--''{{smallcaps| no sound comes out for whatever reason}}''! ''{{smallcaps| smacks the megaphone a few times}}''

Start listing some examples, folks! This trope isn't about to write itself, you know!

{{examples}}
== Film ==
* ''[[Buckaroo Banzai]]''. Lord John Whorfin uses a public address system to address his Red Lectroid followers.
{{quote|'''Whorfin:''' What is the greatest joy?
'''Followers:''' The joy of duty!
'''Whorfin:''' Louder!
'''Followers:''' The joy of duty!
''[and so on and so forth]''
'''Whorfin:''' Where are we going?
'''Followers:''' Planet Ten!
'''Whorfin:''' When?
'''Followers:''' Real soon! }}
* The Vietnam protesters in ''[[Forrest Gump]]'' get better audio equipment, but it's still sabotaged when Forrest goes up to say something important.
* Not a protest, but in ''[[Spaceballs]]'' Dark Helmet orders his troops to comb the desert via megaphone. Colonel Sanders questions the wisdom of this, only to get a loud "WHAT?" through said megaphone.

== Literature ==
* Reg Shoe from ''[[Discworld]]'' is the go-to guy for protests. He explains the basics of sloganeering in ''[[The Fifth Elephant]]'':
{{quote|'It's got to have bounce. And rhythm. Like "Whadda we want? Dum-dee-dum-dee. When do we want it? Now!" See? You need one simple demand. Let's try it again. Whadda we want?'
The watchmen looked at one another, no one quite wanting to be the first.
'Another drink?' someone volunteered.
'Yeah!' said someone at the back. 'When do we want it? NOW!' }}
* In Anne Lamott's book ''Bird by Bird'', she writes about teaching her young son peace chants, and at one point when she asks him, "What do we want?" he responds, "[[Deadpan Snarker|Lunch]]."

== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* ''[[The Chaser's War on Everything]]'' did this frequently... in random, unaware shops.

== Music ==
* [[Sampling|Sampled]] in [[The Dingees]]' "Street vs State": ''"What do we want?" "PEACE!" "When do we want it?" "NOW!"'' 

== Western Animation ==
* ''[[Carl Squared]]'' Skye is helping Carl protest about... something and a megaphone is used.
* ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' [[Playing with a Trope|plays with]] the trope along in-universe popularity lines.
{{quote|'''Danny:''' What do we want?
'''Sam and Tucker:''' ''[uncertainly]'' ...good music?
'''Danny:''' When do we want it?
'''Sam and Tucker:''' Now?
''[Dash takes the mic from Danny]''
'''Dash:''' What do we want?
'''Student body:''' Good music!
'''Dash:''' When do we want it?
'''Student body:''' NOW! }}
* Parodied and inversed on ''[[Futurama]]'', "Jurassic Bark":
{{quote|'''Crowd:''' What do you want?
'''Fry:''' Fry's dog!
'''Crowd:''' When do you want it?
'''Fry:''' Fry's dog! }}
* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' did it:
** "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge":
{{quote|'''Marge:''' What do we want?
'''Crowd:''' Less and less violence in children's programming!
'''Marge:''' When do we want it?
'''Crowd:''' Now! }}
** "Last Exit to Springfield" ([[The One With...]] SNPP employees on strike):
{{quote|'''Carl:''' What do we want?
'''Employees:''' More equitable treatment at the hands of management!
'''Carl:''' When do we want it?
'''Employees:''' Soon! }}
** Parodied in another episode:
{{quote|''What do you want?''
''The gradual phase-out of animal testing over the next three years!''
''When do we want it?''
''Over the next three years!'' }}

== Real Life ==
* A hilarious counter-protest against the hate-mongering Westboro Baptist Church.
{{quote|''What do we want?''
''GAY SEX!''
''When do we want it?''
''NOW!'' }}

{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Characters As Device]]
[[Category:Protest Tropes]]
[[Category:Self-Demonstrating Article]]