londons burning

[CanOWorms]

OK so are they dangerous rioters that will torch olympic events or are they heroic underclass revolutionaries?

Why can't they be both? There are many different groups involved here.

Also, I'm not sure if burning down an Olympic venue is dangerous if nobody is inside there. The Olympics are also one of the reasons that austerity measures have been imposed. It might be a legitimate target for anti-government protestors.

 

[CanOWorms]

The international reaction is really interesting.

London Riots 2011: Sneering Reactions From Around The Globe

The Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesman for the foreign ministry, advising Britain to stop violent confrontations with the people protesting. The British government should "start negotiations with the protesters and listen to their demands," the spokesman said.

Reuters also found an Egyption official ironically suggesting Egypt should send NGO's to London to monitor the situation. This is after Western NGO's were present during the protests on Egypt's Tahrir Square.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I don't think that there is much to lose to just open a negotiation with the protesters. See what exactly their concerns are and then check to see if the concerns can be addressed through social reforms.

Monitors would be ideal as well, considering that UK politicians are making public comments about murdering the protesters.

These are not difficult steps, but could go a long way to make sure that a peaceful resolution is reached.

 

[Wordplay]

This is a plea to everyone in the thread, please stop replying to RabidMongoose and CanOfWorms

------------------Now------------------​

Nice job on following up with your own advice.


Have they stopped these looters yet? Maybe they should call Vancouver and get some ideas on how to handle a riot.

 

[HAL9000]

Nice job on following up with your own advice.

I know, no one was doing it, so I didn't stop either.

Have they stopped these looters yet? Maybe they should call Vancouver and get some ideas on how to handle a riot.

Nope they haven't, still going on. Great quote from Waterstones employees "We'll stay open, maybe if they steal some books they will learn something"...

Genius.

 

[CanOWorms]

I see some headlines that a British far-right group leader is claiming to send 1000 members to the streets to fight the protestors.

 

[werepossum]

Had to post THIS. Very cool.

Cool!

Now we see the beauty of America. "We have come to loot your store to protest the cuts to welfare and student grants!"

"I understand, my brothers. But he who casts the first stone is going to get a face full of double ought. To, um, protest the cuts to welfare and student grants. Somebody lifts a rock, you folks might want to give him some room."

 

[Infohawk]

I know, no one was doing it, so I didn't stop either.

It's fair game to warn others. What you're doing is engaging them. There's really no point arguing specific points with trolls.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Have they stopped these looters yet? Maybe they should call Vancouver and get some ideas on how to handle a riot.

I think that these protests are significantly different than what went on in Vancouver. The Canadians were just rioting really, just in response to a sports team. In contrast, this is a popular uprising spurred on by social unrest, not just a silly riot in response to a sports game. Completely different and I think that it will be much more difficult for the authoritarian British forces to quell such an uprising inspired by social unrest.

Just my opinion, but I'd say that it's on a whole other level than what went on in Vancouver.

 

[HAL9000]

It's fair game to warn others. What you're doing is engaging them. There's really no point arguing specific points with trolls.

I agree, It won't happen again. I'm just so ashamed that these people exist, and that they consider themselves better than others, they need medical help

 

[CanOWorms]

I don't think that there is much to lose to just open a negotiation with the protesters. See what exactly their concerns are and then check to see if the concerns can be addressed through social reforms.

Monitors would be ideal as well, considering that UK politicians are making public comments about murdering the protesters.

These are not difficult steps, but could go a long way to make sure that a peaceful resolution is reached.

It's interesting that some of the sane voices are from Iran and Egypt.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Fucking bullshit.

These fucks are thieves. They have so far only attacked businesses, mostly to steal high value goods. If you are raging against a Government, you attack that which represents power, no matter where it is; Local government offices, law courts, council offices, etc, and you must be on drugs if you think it's hard to get to Westminster...

Of course they have attacked businesses, because they have a more basic understanding of power then you do. To them the person setting the price on a pack of cigarettes, or a loaf of bread, is who has real power over their lives. Politicians and their government is something far away and inaccessible by the likes of the rioters. It is easy to see what real power looks like when you don’t have any of it. They have certianly noticed that government is run by those who have money.

 

[Infohawk]

Of course they have attacked businesses, because they have a more basic understanding of power then you do. To them the person setting the price on a pack of cigarettes, or a loaf of bread, is who has real power over their lives. Politicians and their government is something far away and inaccessible by the likes of the rioters. It is easy to see what real power looks like when you don’t have any of it. They have certianly noticed that government is run by those who have money.

There is zero evidence for anything you're saying. The evidence is merely that they want free stuff. You're projecting some silly Fight Club fantasy on them.

 

[HAL9000]

Of course they have attacked businesses, because they have a more basic understanding of power then you do. To them the person setting the price on a pack of cigarettes, or a loaf of bread, is who has real power over their lives. Politicians and their government is something far away and inaccessible by the likes of the rioters. It is easy to see what real power looks like when you don’t have any of it. They have certianly noticed that government is run by those who have money.

They aren't doing it for some political reason like that, they are doing it because they want to, for fun.

 

[Ns1]

nm

 

[MotF Bane]

It's more likely than not that they are. One person with one or more sockpuppets.

Same worldview, similar beliefs, same threads at the same time, nearly identical join dates... there is much merit to that theory. Although Red has given indications otherwise.

 

[CanOWorms]

They aren't doing it for some political reason like that, they are doing it because they want to, for fun.

London riots: Looter brags "We're getting our taxes back"

The woman replied: "We're getting our taxes back."

Seems like it is for political reasons for some. Maybe they're sick and tired of paying to live in austerity.

 

[Infohawk]

Same worldview, similar beliefs, same threads at the same time, nearly identical join dates... there is much merit to that theory. Although Red has given indications otherwise.

There's a reason proxy servers exist right? On a tech forum of all places you're going to get people that know how to use them. But it's true that they could be two different people. If I were forced to bet I would bet on a sockpuppet scenario though.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Of course they have attacked businesses, because they have a more basic understanding of power then you do. To them the person setting the price on a pack of cigarettes, or a loaf of bread, is who has real power over their lives. Politicians and their government is something far away and inaccessible by the likes of the rioters. It is easy to see what real power looks like when you don’t have any of it. They have certianly noticed that government is run by those who have money.

Excellent post. A lot of the posters here seem to think that the protesters are just doing this for fun, as if protesting for four days straight is a fun activity. The reality is that the people posting here are more likely to benefit from the status quo, whereas the protesters are demanded change in the social order. It's understandable that a lot of people here are attacking the protesters for making their concerns felt all around the country; change is scary to a lot of people.

However, it's important to note that these people are protesting not for fun, but for their dissatisfaction with the government, social positions, and so forth. There are serious problems in the UK that are worth protesting over. Just because the privileged here on this forum don't understand the plights of the more oppressed, doesn't mean that protesting is now 'fun' all of a sudden. This is real and meaningful.

 

[HAL9000]

OK, I'm beginning to change my mind from the beginning of the thread, we need to take our country back, I'm thinking we should start arming the police to take down these morons. They are ruining one of the greatest cities on earth.

 

[Infohawk]

OK, I'm beginning to change my mind from the beginning of the thread, we need to take our country back, I'm thinking we should start arming the police to take down these morons. They are ruining one of the greatest cities on earth.

What made you change your mind? What's the latest over there?

 

[HAL9000]

There's a reason proxy servers exist right? On a tech forum of all places you're going to get people that know how to use them. But it's true that they could be two different people. If I were forced to bet I would bet on a sockpuppet scenario though.

You know when I think about them / him like that, I am inclined to agree, and just pity them / him. They need my pity as they hate themselves so much.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Same worldview, similar beliefs, same threads at the same time, nearly identical join dates... there is much merit to that theory. Although Red has given indications otherwise.

It's ironic that InfoHawk is saying these things since he has a definite alter ego account in Baasha.

But, really, you think that I've been posting here for 10 years for the purposes of being an alter ego account? Come on, not even InfoHawk is that insane, which is why his Baasha account is much more recent.

I've been around this forum for quite some time. Sorry to break it to you.

 

[HAL9000]

What made you change your mind? What's the latest over there?

It's still going badly, riots continue, adding more cities, fires, cars on fire etc. It's awful, some beautiful areas being decimated by these morons.

 

[spidey07]

Well, let's see...there are over a billion peopled in China. Not nearly that many in the UK. So I'd say that a lot more people care about what China thinks about safety of the Olympics than expressly don't care about it.

IIRC there were a few people killed by the chinese during the olympics there. Some coach seems to come to mind.