"[...] as Theodore Rozak, and others have pointed out, media saturation has played a big role in how the events [protests] are reflected back to the 'youthful participants', as well as the general public, through '...the funhouse mirror of the media.'(Rozak), which allows for certain easy and inevitable co-optations. Not the least of which is... 'growing up...'"
What I've learned is that if the media or critics want to trash a protest or demo, they will find some angle from which to hurl ad hominems at the participants.
Yes, as you said, if they're young, then they need to "grow up" or will understand how foolish they are once they do so --
If they're students, well, wait 'til they get into "the real world" (school is apparently the fake world) --
If they're older workers, out of school, well then they actually need to go *back* "to school and take Econ 101 (or something)" --
If they're from out of the area, they are of course "outside agitators" (interestingly liberals are trying to use that one against roving gangs of Minutemen in Houston)--
So, basically, damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Having said that, one really does have to wonder what burning US flags and breaking windows in S.F. is really going to accomplish for anybody. I don't think it does a darned thing productive.
-B.