This opinion of Mass is almost exactly what the hand-outs we were handing out last month were about. If we could have put that whole essay and it's corresponding responses on a flyer and made people read the whole thing, we would have. I agree completly about the fact that Mass isn't about blind rage, but it is being taken as such by drivers.
Sure it is really fun to ride down the street and finaly get our revenge against the cars and cork them and make them wait and frustrate them, but it is counter productive.
So pretty much, I think Mass is a great idea, but we need to change the manner in which it happens, make it more festive (see the post about CM in San Fransisco) and less confrontational.

Those hand-outs sucked.

To paraphrase: "how you ride on your own is your business, but here at critical mass, you should do what we say".

Bite me.

Those hand-outs sucked.

To paraphrase: "how you ride on your own is your business, but here at critical mass, you should do what we say".

Bite me.

I didn't get a handout. Anybody have the text anywhere online?

To paraphrase: "how you ride on your own is your business, but here at critical mass, you should do what we say".

Bite me.

That flyer actually made me want to be a huge jerk to every car I went by. Who the crap does someone think they are to tell me how to ride my bike?

and that right there is the problem with not just critical mass, but the i would suggest the supremely individualistic western mindset. "where does someone else get off saying anything to me about my behavior/beliefs?". did it occur to you that there is a slightly larger thing going on? communities of any size or duration can and will automatically enact some amount of expectations on the members, even so minimal as to be almost transparent. think critical mass has never placed any expectations/restrictions on you? try showing up in the suburban and see how welcomed you are by the community.

There is nothing wrong with an individualistic mindset. And expectations or no, that doesn't mean you have to follow suit just because someone told you too.

i contend that there is absolutely something wrong with a rabidly individualistic mindset. i don't want to suggest that conformism is necessary, but this idea of absolute rejection of conformism for it's own sake and independence is a total crock. there is an important tension within community between individuals, and both excessive conformity or individualism are harmful.

we live in communities, constantly surrounded by people and interacting with them, and for the most part we function within them. there are examples of those who are unable to do so - sociopaths - or choose not to - hermits. for the rest of us, pretending like we are 'self made individuals' seems simply delusional. to behave in a contrary fashion just to 'prove my independence' is normal human behavior, yes, but not entirely helpful.

that said, i agree that you don't have to follow suit just because someone told you to, and i'm not the boss of you, etc, etc, i'm not even your real dad. i still don't think it is unreasonable to make requests of other people in a social, communal setting. it's not as if social norms are particularly enforceable without the will of the people behind it anyhow.

i contend that there is absolutely something wrong with a rabidly individualistic mindset. i don't want to suggest that conformism is necessary, but this idea blah blah words and more words to make requests of other people in a social, communal setting. it's not as if social norms are particularly enforceable without the will of the people behind it anyhow.

i, however, AM dean's real dad, and as such, will tell him to do whatever the heck i feel like.

you wish you knew my momma

What I saw was a small group of 3 or 4 people that I have never seen before trying to tell a huge group of people what to do. Say, if Davis or Derrik or anyone else who does their part to try and lead the group, cork cars, or whatever, were the ones passing out the hand bills, maybe I would have looked at it differently, but the kids I saw handing them out I have never even seen on a mass before.. not that they really were n00bs, but people who do nothing but ride along and then complain about it.
Maybe these hand bills were thier effort to 'step up to the plate' or whatever, but I think they skipped a few steps if they actually expected regulars to take them seriously.

i set up the critical mass meetings usually

im going to schedule one for a week or so before mass, havent picked a time and date yet. i will let everyone know via the CM mailing list, and ill also post it here

if it was me, id be putting it on the footer on every page.