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Yea, there's a lot of the real deal out there, thanks fellas. Robert,
Tommy, Hari, Jeff, maybe Matt & Ari. You guys get what I get, the
other's just don't get it. Sure, I wish Mass was nicer, but I have
seen it doesn't want to change. I have close friends that just don't
understand the position, after explaining it, they just say. "I don't
want to be mean to people". I understand their position, but I don't
want to stop. Sometimes the 'collective' is just a small group of
special interests, doing whatever in their power short of violence.<br>
<br>
I wonder the status of S.F. Is CM part of the regular traffic chopper
report, and therefore do drivers stay at home? We may never know,
because more cars are put on the road each day.<br>
<br>
Now in the thread I read the terms 'Klan' and 'African Killer Bees'. I
assure you, we are neither bees nor ......oh whatever, please don't
exaggerate.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Robert Arnold wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="middada885c0503071518620a119e@mail.gmail.com">
<pre wrap="">Anne, dude, you hate that boombox! I haven't even seen that boombox
guy since, like, July.
Tommy V., you're a saint. You said exactly everything I could have
dreamed of saying. I retract all my messages thusfar and instead
replace them with exact quotes of what you said.
On Mon, 7 Mar 2005 14:16:06 -0800 (PST), Anne Wolfe <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:goannego@yahoo.com"><goannego@yahoo.com></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I think that CM as a display of bike strength would be wonderful in terms of making
Boston more bike friendly. I think that if CM was friendlier, starting with to other
CMers, not only would those who've ridden before and have been put off (and there are
many of us) come back, but they would bring people with them. And I think that if CM for
a start only occupied one lane of traffic, rather than blocking all lanes, so as to back
up car traffic for miles (and thereby pissing off people who can't even SEE CM, much less
decide if it might be a good thing), it would be seen by more people as a "bikes and cars
can coexist" rather than an either/or proposition the way the argument gets cast now.
I also think that the chanting of "two wheels good, four wheels bad" doen'st help, and
neither does the boom box.
--- tony siddall <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:anthony_siddall@hotmail.com"><anthony_siddall@hotmail.com></a> wrote:
---------------------------------
To rephrase- I'd be interested to hear people describe a plausible theory of change that
describes how critical mass brings the goal of making Boston, the US, or the world more
bike friendly closer to fruition.
Moz's description is irrelevant here, since CM represents only a tiny fraction of the
people who ride their bikes in the city. Moreover, though Moz might be an anarchist and
ride CM, not everyone who rides CM is an anarchist--many, I'm sure, believe that
organizing is the best method to bring about change.
I genuinely would like to discuss this- I'm not trying to challenge anyone's right to
ride CM. I'm just interested to hear whether people think that riding in it advances a
cause the believe in, and how.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">From: Moz <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:list@moz.geek.nz"><list@moz.geek.nz></a>
Reply-To: Boston Critical Mass <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org"><list@bostoncriticalmass.org></a>
To: Boston Critical Mass <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org"><list@bostoncriticalmass.org></a>
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Observation
Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 07:53:56 +1300
tony siddall wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Turil started to get at this, but I would be interested to hear
someone articulate CM's theory of change;
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">Can I just ask that people try to remember that Critical Mass is not
an
organisation, does not have a viewpoint, does not have a purpose,
and
cannot speak with one voice? Please, it's not that hard: critical
mass
is a bunch of anarchists on bikes[1]. That's it. Simple, really.
So when you ask "what does Critical Mass want", the question
inherently
cannot be answered. Perhaps replace "critical mass" with "everyone
in
america" if that helps.
So ask "what is everyone in americas theory of change?" Does that
make
it more obvious that there is no one answer?
Personally, my theory is that Critical Mass as an agent for change
works
in a very simple, very direct way. It is purely an answer to the
allegation that "no-one rides a bike in this city". Anyone who says
that
can be told "so what about the 300 riders in Critical Mass every
month?" at which point suddenly lots of people ride AND THEY MUST BE
STOPPED.
Which leads nicely into "how do you stop critical mass" and the
answer
seems to be mass arrests/shoot a few of them; or build bike
facilities.
Christchurch, New Zealand crushed Critical Mass out of existance by
making the city cycle friendly and responsive to cyclists soncerns.
It's
a lot easier than the other way...
And FWIW there seems to be no way to make Mass acceptable to people
as embedded in the system as Anne is. Even Sydney where Mass is
legal and supported by the cops (and riders are friendly and helpful
and give out happy fliers to motorists) still gets people like her
saying "if you'd just stop being disruptive..." You can't win.
Moz in Sydney, Australia
[1] anarchists, meaning people who want not to have an organisation
rather than as a generic term of mindless abuse. But hey, take it as
you
will.
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">-------------------------------------------------
I know exactly what I want right now. I want a hot shower, and I want the Clash. - me. 3/4/05, 7:42 a.m.
NEW E-MAIL! <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:goannego@gmail.com">goannego@gmail.com</a>
__________________________________
Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->_______________________________________________
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</pre>
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