Too many humans in too small a space.

I don't think we were ever meant to live this way.

Mental illness is all around us.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Web Link

Road Rage, Sidewalk Rage, rage rage rage

qq

If you don't want to be the victim of rage, don't bring it on by intentionally antagonising others.

Actions like Critical Mass are intentional dares to the general public. That such a dare is occasionally taken should be no surprise. The anonymity of the masses doesn't work out for some of the mass.

Back in aught 5 or aught 6 (I'm trying to bring the use of "aught" back into fashion), I went to a Giants game at AT&T park. There was some kind of critical mass type event, and hundreds of cyclists were riding around the stadium. It seemed like an endless line of them, and it was preventing me from crossing the plaza and getting into the ballpark. This was at 3rd street, right past the bridge.
I was carrying my 2 year old daughter. I was so annoyed, and didn't want to miss any of the game, so I said "screw it - let 'em TRY and hit me and my kid!" So I held my breath, and walked across the sidewalk, staring the oncoming cyclists in the eye. A bunch of them slammed on their brakes and almost caused a huge pileup and I made it safely across, laughing about it, but also wondering if it wasn't such a great idea.

Giants Fan

I would prefer "nought" myself, but this is what wiki says Web Link

I like the idea of calling the decade the "the noughties"!!

:)

Of course, the Tea Partyers are supporting the murderer. So much for "pro life".

???

"I like the idea of calling the decade the "the noughties"!!"

Now, for a dreadful topic, that's awfully funny! Well done, resident.

Heckuva lot funnier than teabagger apologists who try to condone the actions above.

OO and WW: do you condemn the murderous act, or not?

I condemn both acts - the Critical Mass disregard for law and courtesy and the rage response. The former is a dare, the later a response. A pox on both their houses.

I look at critical mass participants in the same way I look at graffiti vandals.


Both are sociopathic acts of self-aggrandizement at the public expense.

Walter:

Thanks for making yourself clear.

Personally, I'm glad to know that you condemn the violence *at least* as much as the protest.

OO: Really? Your inability to make a simple declarative statement denouncing violence stands out.

Violence is part of the behavioural repertoire of all predators.

No amount of denunciation can change that.

Those who hold an unrealistic view of violence are the ones likely to be the recipients. Case-in-point, the critical mass participants.

anon, I condemn violence and I condemn anti social violations of good conduct conducive to violence. Critical Mass is an affront to everyone's right to go peaceably about their own business. Like any mob action, Critical Mass is penultimate to violence. To condemn only the violent response and not the pre-violent act would be fatuous.

>> Critical Mass is an affront to everyone's right to go peaceably about their own business.

Traffic is too, your typical irrational argument works well to justify road rage.

Critical mass is the intentional blocking of traffic - traffic is just traffic.
Critical Mass and murderous response are equally evil.

"Critical Mass and murderous response are equally evil."

Peaceful protest, even agitated protest, is equal to murder?

No such things as "shades" from Walter - it's all black and white!

Hate to see what he would like done to folks who let the meter expire.

A peaceful protest does NOT prevent people from going about their daily tasks. A peaceful protest does not force you to pay attention. A peaceful protest does not hold you hostage. Agitated protest = mob rule = chaos.

"A peaceful protest does NOT prevent people from going about their daily tasks"

I am not defending it, but it is not uncommon in North California to have people sit in an intersection and chain themselves together to prevent car movement. It is obnoxious; it inconvenieces people, but it is peaceful, no violence is involved.

Yes, go out there and stand up for your right to block traffic on your bike, and then act all surprised when someone gets infuriated by it.

"...then act all surprised when someone gets infuriated by it."

so are you defending that cowardly act? Being annoyed does not justify assaulting someone with a car. They didnt deserve what happened to them.

Or are you somene that says things like
"A woman that dresses like that deserved it."

The obnoxious demonstration imprisons those impeded, albeit briefly. They have NO RIGHT to do so. There are two crimes here, on easily identified, the other diffuse and less easily punished but nevertheless a crime. When you stand in front of a car the potential for a slip is ever present. The cumulative rage of the mass opposed to the concentrated rage of one man? I repeat, a pox on both their houses.

"Critical Mass and murderous response are equally evil."

protests = murder

False equivalency. A stunning example, actually. Gadaffi, Mubarak, the Saudi royals and the Chinese would be proud.

"They have NO RIGHT to do so"

So condsdier a driver that exceeds the speed limit, I assume you think it would be unjustified to escalate beyond a policeman giving him a ticket for the violation.

These bikers possibly deserved tickets, not to be dead.
Or are you suggesting that drivers that violate the law should be pursued by vigilantes with lethal force? Sure would solve the gas price issue quickly.

When a protest becomes a riot, all bets are off, and rioters, safe in the unaccountability of the crowd, know this. They have become a critical mass beyond law enforcement. I do not believe the crowd deserved the car, only that both actions, the crowd and the car were evil. The equivalence was from your mind, not mine.

Walter,

"When a protest becomes a riot, all bets are off..."

Did you actually watch the video?
I suspect not, since you are characterizing it as a "riot".
Those were pretty calm docile folks just enjoying the day.

Walter: your last sentence -

"The equivalence was from your mind, not mine."

your previous comment:

"Critical Mass and murderous response are equally evil."

nice try, bucky, keep backpedaling....

"Those were pretty calm docile folks just enjoying the day."
Enjoying shutting down traffic in defiance of the law.
"Critical Mass and murderous response are equally evil."
Backpedal? Me? The murderous response does not in any way justify the Critical Mess. They are both criminal actions. Both deserving punishment. Neither deserving the death penalty.
I reiterate - NO ONE, HOWEVER VIRTUOUS THE CAUSE, HAS THE RIGHT TO BLOCK TRAFFIC JUST TO MAKE A POINT. Critical Mass is lynch law, and I am against lynch law.

Walter,

Do you agree your characterization of this event as a "riot" was inaccurate?

Walter,

Spell check let you down, or maybe it was a Freudian slip:

"Critical Mess"

Either way, a much more appropriate description. ;)

"Do you agree your characterization of this event as a "riot" was inaccurate?"
No, it was spot on. A massive disobedience of the law.
"Critical Mess"
Precisely what I meant.

"No, it was spot on. A massive disobedience of the law"

A riot by definition requires violence. It would appear you just have a problem with bicyclists in general and will even unfairly exaggerate any situation to cast them in a bad light. Watch the video, there were senior citizens and children in that ride, it was not a just bunch of thugs.

law definition of riot:

"a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a disrupting and tumultuous manner in carrying out their private purposes."

from

dictionary.reference.com

You skipped over the comon definition, let me help.

riot: a noisy, violent public disorder caused by a group or crowd of persons, as by a crowd protesting against another group, a government policy, etc., in the streets.

Intimidation is a form of violence.

Walter:

Earlier in this thread, you seemed the reasonable one, willing to denounce violence.

And lately, you compare, equally, protest with violence.

"Critical Mass and murderous response are equally evil."

I find that incomprehensible. False equivalence.