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Marc2b -> RE: Critical Mass (7/29/2008 10:51:17 PM)
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The problems with the Critical Mass folks is the same problem way to many others have. They may have a legitimate message (in this case: please keep alert to, and be respectful of, cyclists) but they fail to understand that deliberately mistreating people is the worst way to get your message across. Your victim doesn’t focus on your message. They focus on the fact that you are mistreating them and your message becomes ancillary to that. In fact, your message becomes the trigger (because of the remembered mistreatment) for negative feeling toward the group with the message. It’s a complete backfire.
Given the obvious deficiency of the Deliver the Message via Mistreatment Method, why then do so many people (and I make no claims of innocence for myself) employ it so often? Alas, I believe, that it is human nature to enjoy inflicting fear and pain on our enemies (real or perceived). For some there is the added bonus of getting to play the victim – a sort of low level Munchausen Syndrom. The Critical Mass folks in the videos certainly seem to be afflicted with it.
As for the cop who pushed the bicyclist over, well it doesn’t look good for him. Sanity has a good point that there may be something we didn’t see. I’m always leery of short video clips. A short video clip can make an attacker who is losing look like the victim of a defender who is winning. I’m not saying that’s the case here, I’m just saying that – as a rule – the shorter a video clip, the more skeptical you should be about what you think you see. Not knowing the full details on this case, I am going to withhold judgment except to say (and by no means excusing the cop for any wrongdoing) that this is the kind of thing that happens when you promote antagonism. That which you sew...
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