Comment: Bristol protestors not tuned into reality
For the average Bristolian, do the antics of the so-called Co-Mutiny group matter? Of course they don't.
They are a minority so out of touch with the lives of most of us that they might as well have just landed from Mars.
The fact is that for most people, their rantings will pass by unnoticed. Few will witness or read about their demonstrations, a small minority may visit their squat, some will look at their ideas online.
But the number of people who will be touched by their ideas and arguments will be very small.
Most people are too busy to give them a second's thought.
Of course we live in a democracy and they have a right to protest and put forward their views.
They may not like the way society is structured, they may rail against the failings – as they see it – of our elected representatives.
They may also think it practical for society as we know it to be overturned, and for people to govern themselves driven by a form of collective consciousness.
They probably think that under such an arrangement good will out.
Of course in reality, there would be only chaos. For democracy to function, there has to be a system of checks and balances, there have to elected individuals to represent people. Only a very small community can allow everyone to have a say in decision-making.
The system we have at present is far from perfect. But it does deliver a society which provides health care, schools, universities, a transport network, policing by consent and government.
Every day in this city and beyond individuals are responsible for simple acts of kindness towards others. Those acts are what truly characterise our society.
6 Comments
by Ivor, Bristol
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 1:21PM
“This article was obviously dashed off in a lazy way- with a straw man argument at its core. I wonder what the writer meant by "a form of collective consciousness"?”
by Co-Mutineer, Co-Mutiny Convergence Space
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 2:03PM
“"The fact is that for most people, their rantings will pass by unnoticed."
Perhaps this maybe true, as Debbie rightly highlights most people are to concerned with their own 'inane distractions.' Ironically, these are usually the first people to start complaining when something doesn't go their way, yet are to lethargic and uninspired because of the monotony they conform to to make any difference.
These people maybe unchangeable, unsaveable even but for some people who come through the doors of Co-Mutiny this week, there will be a feeling of inspiration and a determination to make things wrong, right and that is enough. None of us are claiming that we are going to right all the worlds wrongs this week, it's about informing, educating and inspiring change in the unfortunately small percentage of the population that want to directly have a hand in their own future and not leave it down to the out of touch 'suits' of BCC and the current Labour de'mock'racy.”
by Angry nelson, BRIZZLE
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 9:25AM
“out of touch, ill informed and largely ignored. just like the bristol evening post! would the last person to leave the BEP Office please turn the lights off!”
by Mike Ford, Bristol
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 9:23AM
“Attn: BEP- I could have written this piece about a billion times better, and increased your circulation in the process.
It's time you replied to my e-mail.”
by Debbie, Bristol
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 8:53AM
“"They are a minority so out of touch with the lives of most of us that they might as well have just landed from Mars." - This is no bad thing. The lives that you are all so "in touch" with is a reality manifested by banks and corporations and it is anarchist and other rebellious groups that stop the world falling prey to greed and selfishness.
You may be too busy to stop and listen to what these people have to say, but that is exactly the point. You are too busy with inane distractions that are designed to take up your time so you have less time to THINK about what is going on in your society.
"Of course in reality, there would be only chaos. For democracy to function, there has to be a system of checks and balances, there have to elected individuals to represent people. Only a very small community can allow everyone to have a say in decision-making.
The system we have at present is far from perfect. But it does deliver a society which provides health care, schools, universities, a transport network, policing by consent and government." - I really hate to tell you this, but you should educate yourself on this topic before making the above comments. Your opinions are clearly based on information taken from the mass media/the government-funded education system, which are not balanced, intellectual views. The current system we have is FAR from perfect, but I'm assuming that you have a fairly comfortable middle-class situation that does not require you to think outside of your comfortable bubble. This system is causing a lot of damage and harm to a lot of people and needs to be completely overturned.
Wake up.”
by N, Bristol
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 8:29AM
“If you really think that most people are happy with the way our society is currently run then it is you, Evening Post, which is out of touch with reality: defending the status quo even as it collapses around us.”