Mass arrests 'Critical Mass' cycle ride during Olympics opening

[theclaud]

In other words, if you want to hijack the ride and take it to the destination of your choosing, all you have to do is ride to the front of it.

That's an absurdly alarmist interpretation of the term "hijack", is it not? It seems to me that your description perfectly ties in with DZ's point that it's a not-terribly-organized affair where people have diverse aims and motivations and it's not always terribly clear what, if anything, is going on. This ties in with most protests I've ever been on, which are often aimlessly amiable affairs affairs where occasionally there's a frisson of interest when someone appears to be doing something purposeful, only to die down again when everyone realizes they've been following some bloke on a tea tray who's gone off for a pint of milk. I can only repeat DZ's appeal for everyone to chillax...

 

[MissTillyFlop]

That's an absurdly alarmist interpretation of the term "hijack", is it not? It seems to me that your description perfectly ties in with DZ's point that it's a not-terribly-organized affair where people have diverse aims and motivations and it's not always terribly clear what, if anything, is going on. This ties in with most protests I've ever been on, which are often aimlessly amiable affairs affairs where occasionally there's a frisson of interest when someone appears to be doing something purposeful, only to die down again when everyone realizes they've been following some bloke on a tea tray who's gone off for a pint of milk. I can only repeat DZ's appeal for everyone to chillax...

Okay. Chillax commencing.

 

[middleagecyclist]

That's an absurdly alarmist interpretation of the term "hijack", is it not? It seems to me that your description perfectly ties in with DZ's point that it's a not-terribly-organized affair where people have diverse aims and motivations and it's not always terribly clear what, if anything, is going on. This ties in with most protests I've ever been on, which are often aimlessly amiable affairs affairs where occasionally there's a frisson of interest when someone appears to be doing something purposeful, only to die down again when everyone realizes they've been following some bloke on a tea tray who's gone off for a pint of milk. I can only repeat DZ's appeal for everyone to chillax...

But would it be easy for someone with their own covert and possibly nefarious motives to lead the sheep mass of cyclists where they wanted to put them? The CM ride goes somewhere and whether or not the leader(s) alternate most cyclists just follow along behind. So it could be 'hijacked' and the majority wouldn't even know about it?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

But would it be easy for someone with their own covert and possibly nefarious motives to lead the sheep mass of cyclists where they wanted to put them? The CM ride goes somewhere and whether or not the leader(s) alternate most cyclists just follow along behind. So it could be 'hijacked' and the majority wouldn't even know about it?

True, to an extent - the being north of the river and the presence of the Olympic stadium is something of a giveaway.

My problem with this action is that CM in London is now pretty much done for, as they will now just be targeted by the police at every turn.

 

[CopperBrompton]

That's an absurdly alarmist interpretation of the term "hijack", is it not?

You'll want to take that up with Del, it was his phrase rather than mine, I merely pointed out his claim was false.

 

[dellzeqq]

But would it be easy for someone with their own covert and possibly nefarious motives to lead the sheep mass of cyclists where they wanted to put them? The CM ride goes somewhere and whether or not the leader(s) alternate most cyclists just follow along behind. So it could be 'hijacked' and the majority wouldn't even know about it?

but if you didn't want to go, you wouldn't follow (if you follow me)

 

[theclaud]

But would it be easy for someone with their own covert and possibly nefarious motives to lead the sheep mass of cyclists where they wanted to put them? The CM ride goes somewhere and whether or not the leader(s) alternate most cyclists just follow along behind. So it could be 'hijacked' and the majority wouldn't even know about it?

This is where the chillaxing comes in. It's some people going on a bike ride. Some wish to make a particular point about public space, some have strategic protest aims, some are just hanging out for the atmosphere, perhaps expressing a vague notion of solidarity or community, perhaps just hoping to get off with someone. I find it odd that anyone thinks it is suspicious or nefarious that a ride/protest that is serving the above functions would want to go where stuff is happening. All sorts of factors would pull the ride towards the Olympic sites. At the bolder end of strategic protest it might be about deliberately contesting the locations where the privatization of public space is visibly happening. At the aimless hanging-about end it might mean that you would have loved a ticket to the track cycling, but have settled for hanging about in the vicinity and chatting up someone on a nice bike. If the police would refrain from the urge to kettle, harass and intimidate everyone without discrimination, then those who had found themselves somewhere they no longer wanted to be could simply ride off. Unlike CM itself, the police response is organized, and relies on a lot of goons following orders, whether or not they are necessary, proportionate or just. I suggest you are looking for nefariousness and sheeplike tendencies in the wrong place.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

This is where the chillaxing comes in. It's some people going on a bike ride. Some wish to make a particular point about public space, some have strategic protest aims, some are just hanging out for the atmosphere, perhaps expressing a vague notion of solidarity or community, perhaps just hoping to get off with someone. I find it odd that anyone thinks it is suspicious or nefarious that a ride/protest that is serving the above functions would want to go where stuff is happening. All sorts of factors would pull the ride towards the Olympic sites. At the bolder end of strategic protest it might be about deliberately contesting the locations where the privatization of public space is visibly happening. At the aimless hanging-about end it might mean that you would have loved a ticket to the track cycling, but have settled for hanging about in the vicinity and chatting up someone on a nice bike. If the police would refrain from the urge to kettle, harass and intimidate everyone without discrimination, then those who had found themselves somewhere they no longer wanted to be could simply ride off. Unlike CM itself, the police response is organized, and relies on a lot of goons following orders, whether or not they are necessary, proportionate or just. I suggest you are looking for nefariousness and sheeplike tendencies in the wrong place.

I think calling CM nefarious is a bit much, a bit dumb, but that's as far as you can take it. (Apart from those engaged in violence).

The kettling was total overkill by the police, but sadly what you have to expect on any sort of protest these days (unless it's a police escorted one) and I doubt that there would have been the amount of trouble if the police hadn't done so.

But I think some chillaxing could have done with taking place on both sides on Friday.

 

[dellzeqq]

to go back a way.....I'm struck by the sheer terror in the 'no-mates' tendency. Some cyclists really do fear groups, thinking that they can be transformed in to ravening mobs by skilled subversives. Writing as someone with more experience of organising group rides than most of you (well, allright then, all of you) I can tell you that it's a bit like herding cats. If somebody doesn't want to go somewhere they'll do something different. Indeed it's tough enough to get people who all want to go to the same place to go to the same place.

If this cadre of manipulative undercover organising geniuses does exist anywhere outside of the heads of people contributing to this thread, and does ever start a bike club, it'll be a great club!

 

[theclaud]

You'll want to take that up with Del, it was his phrase rather than mine, I merely pointed out his claim was false.

Disingenuous as ever. A potted history of hijacking. A term introduced into the discussion by Arch, Tiberius "Who?" Baltar and Buckfast Boy, and only used by DZ whilst explaining that it wasn't actually possible to "hijack" the ride. Your account is about you whizzing off because you'd had enough, and a few dozy sorts imagining that you knew something they didn't.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Imagine my surprise, when invited to go for a car journey armed with a balaclava and a sawn off shot gun, we actually robbed a bank! I was only there to express a vague notion of solidarity or community, perhaps just hoping to get off with someone. D'oh! My bad!

Bags the sig line?

 

[theclaud]

Reinforcements! I have word that User482 is catching up with this thread. I have nefariously organized for him to hijack it...

 

[middleagecyclist]

I think calling CM nefarious is a bit much...

I didn't lable CM as such and don't think it is either. I just wondered, as they appear to have so little organisation, if someone with nefarious motives might be able to take advantage of them for their own ulterior motives. Still wondering.

 

[theclaud]

Imagine my surprise, when invited to go for a car journey armed with a balaclava and a sawn off shot gun, we actually robbed a bank! I was only there to express a vague notion of solidarity or community, perhaps just hoping to get off with someone. D'oh! My bad!

I know that I say this in vain today, but don't be silly, Smeggers...

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I didn't lable CM as such and don't think it is either. I just wondered, as they appear to have so little organisation, if someone with nefarious motives might be able to take advantage of them for their own ulterior motives. Still wondering.

No, you didn't. Someone did, but it wasn't you.