Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, November 29, 2011
Mailbag As Seen at 3rd and Union
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Hot tipper Sarah Anne Lloyd just sent me this photo:
Come to think of it, I probably deserve having Occupy Seattle telling me "fuck you" for all those times I suggested they stop directing their anger at supporters who have constructive criticism and instead focus on their true opposition.
2
No, folks listen to criticism. Most folks at Occupy, anyway. The younger activists and newer activists are all pretty new to this navel-gazing effort by older activists and partisans to offer "constructive criticism" over absolutely everything so they're going to lash out when they see it the first few dozen times. And the media? Well, it's hard to get the specter of the evil, terrible and demonic corporate media out of your head when you see it in action elsewhere.
I'll point out this, though: saying "their true opposition" is probably a part of the reason why some of your criticisms aren't well-received. This isn't about picking enemies, it's about pointing out how this whole system is screwed up. In most movements it's when the system is attacked that change begins to happen. Sure, having a big name target is inspiring to some (like Anita Bryant or George Wallace) but it's all about pointing out that it isn't the actions of a few, it's the actions of everyone. That's why many of the complaints issued by Occupy aren't just complaints for the general public to hear, they're for the other occupiers. An occupy member that shops at Westlake on Black Friday is going to get the same shit that a non-occupier will get.
Anyway, the person who wrote that graffiti is either an older generation activist with an ax to grind or a newer activist that isn't aware that the media is made up of people and not machines. That being said though I feel like now might be a good time to write a piece on the media and Occupy. Divorce yourself from the system and explain to others how the media is acting and how reporting in some places is more even handed and where it sucks. It will offer a better context for readers and it might shake some media figures out of this mindset that they absolutely must tote water for the corporate side and it might make the newbie activists reassess how they react to media portrayals.
Oh, and absolutely everyone in the liberal blogosphere will pick it up and run with it.
More...
I'll point out this, though: saying "their true opposition" is probably a part of the reason why some of your criticisms aren't well-received. This isn't about picking enemies, it's about pointing out how this whole system is screwed up. In most movements it's when the system is attacked that change begins to happen. Sure, having a big name target is inspiring to some (like Anita Bryant or George Wallace) but it's all about pointing out that it isn't the actions of a few, it's the actions of everyone. That's why many of the complaints issued by Occupy aren't just complaints for the general public to hear, they're for the other occupiers. An occupy member that shops at Westlake on Black Friday is going to get the same shit that a non-occupier will get.
Anyway, the person who wrote that graffiti is either an older generation activist with an ax to grind or a newer activist that isn't aware that the media is made up of people and not machines. That being said though I feel like now might be a good time to write a piece on the media and Occupy. Divorce yourself from the system and explain to others how the media is acting and how reporting in some places is more even handed and where it sucks. It will offer a better context for readers and it might shake some media figures out of this mindset that they absolutely must tote water for the corporate side and it might make the newbie activists reassess how they react to media portrayals.
Oh, and absolutely everyone in the liberal blogosphere will pick it up and run with it.
4
Just proof us commentaters are teh pretenderz and you are teh famous. Thank you for posting self-criticism; it made me laugh. Nothing says love to a journalist like public displays. Let us know when t-shirts are avail.
5
More than anything, they're probably angry at you for the followup on the Jennifer Fox hoax, expressing doubts about her claims.
Whatever happened with that? Has Fox disappeared? It's "next week". Has anyone attempted get her to release her medical records?
Whatever happened with that? Has Fox disappeared? It's "next week". Has anyone attempted get her to release her medical records?
7
Dominic, I would read it instead as an invitation or an aspiration. Remember: "everything" in "Occupy everything" includes "Dominic Holden's crotch."
8
@5 I too, would like to know what happened with the followup to 'the cops killed my baby to death' hoax.
9
@5) I've tried unsuccessfully to track her down (she said she'd get her medical records on Sunday or Monday). I even went to the Occupy Seattle site this morning but couldn't find her.
11
Do you make $507,000 or more EVERY YEAR?
No?
Then you're not a 1 percenter, and they are getting very very rich off of you.
The bottom 40 percent of Americans are losing 16 to 20 percent in real income, every year.
No?
Then you're not a 1 percenter, and they are getting very very rich off of you.
The bottom 40 percent of Americans are losing 16 to 20 percent in real income, every year.
12
Or you know, your lack of ability to record the truth about the occupy movement. Either way, fuck you.
13
Actually, that's a message from
Jennifer Fox's boil.....or maybe her fetus.
Didn't you her, Holden thinks this is a revolution!
@11 and for those if us in the top 25%, why should we kill capitalism, embrace socialism and twinkly fingers?
Jennifer Fox's boil.....or maybe her fetus.
Didn't you her, Holden thinks this is a revolution!
@11 and for those if us in the top 25%, why should we kill capitalism, embrace socialism and twinkly fingers?
14
@11 Their getting very very rich, that's for sure. However, the 'off of you' bit is highly debatable.
15
Jennifer Fox is under no obligation to release her medical records as she is currently in talks with a lawyer.
17
@15 well until she does, we get to call her a boil-faced lying cunt. And that's for the first miscarriage she made up.
Maybe Occupy Seattle got smart and ditched her at a gas station on the way back from Olympia?
Maybe Occupy Seattle got smart and ditched her at a gas station on the way back from Olympia?
18
15, There is no lawyer. Fox already said repeatedly that she'd release the records, (she said it directly to Dominic) yet she has suddenly disappeared. (As I predicted would happen last week.)
20
@ baconcat,
That, in a nutshell, is the sort of attitude that Occupy has to lose if they're going to win. A movement purporting to represent 99% of the population should understand that most of them are consumers and support capitalism.
An occupy member that shops at Westlake on Black Friday is going to get the same shit that a non-occupier will get.
That, in a nutshell, is the sort of attitude that Occupy has to lose if they're going to win. A movement purporting to represent 99% of the population should understand that most of them are consumers and support capitalism.
21
@16 As far as could tell, what that article was saying in it's long winded way, is that the American economy was a lot kinder to the working man from 1949 to 1979 and that we can replicate the economy of those years by replicating the public policy of that time. I do not believe this is so. Every industrialized nation except the US lost most of it's manufacturing capacity during World War II. That meant that in the '50s and '60s the American industrial worker could demand high wages due to the lack of competition. As countries like Germany and Japan rebuilt and places like Brazil and China modernized times changed.
Also, in the last 20 years a lot of low and middle income workers have been replaced by machines. Jobs once done by typists, file clerks, and travel agents are now done by computers. The IT revolution has given unprecedented opportunities to those with the technical expertise or marketing savvy to take advantage of it. Those at the bottom have been left behind.
Also, in the last 20 years a lot of low and middle income workers have been replaced by machines. Jobs once done by typists, file clerks, and travel agents are now done by computers. The IT revolution has given unprecedented opportunities to those with the technical expertise or marketing savvy to take advantage of it. Those at the bottom have been left behind.
24
Be patient with Jennifer. She is currently pregnant with the twins who will grow up to become her lawyers.
25
Maybe it's because instead of covering the actual events, you were shopping at Ross. Just saying. (Was that a candelabra in your Ross bag? Just curious)
26
You're RIGHT! Random graffiti written by someone you WILL NEVER EVER BE ABLE TO VERIFY IS at Occupy Seattle is CLEAR evidence that this movement punishes its supporters!
Also, a writer who takes EVERY opportunity to bitch about every foible and flaw about the movement is CLEARLY a staunch supporter!
<3 You Dominic!
Also, a writer who takes EVERY opportunity to bitch about every foible and flaw about the movement is CLEARLY a staunch supporter!
<3 You Dominic!
27
@25) It was a toilet-paper stand, you'll be happy to know. I bought it at the Ross housewares department--my home away from homo--right after consuming a 1 Percent salmon BLT. Also, I DID cover the "actual events" of that day (and I was nice to the Occupiers). Next time you should stalk me shopping for plungers at Target.
29
@28,
It sounds like he's living in a home so "affordable" it doesn't have built-in toilet paper holders.
It sounds like he's living in a home so "affordable" it doesn't have built-in toilet paper holders.
30
@20 The day changes, but you are still wrong. It's one thing to participate and another to support. Also, capitalism means making profit off of capital. How many consumers do that?
31
@15 You are right, she is under no obligation. Just like I am under no obligation to take her seriously until she coughs the fucking records up. Until then she is lying.
32
@ 30, that's a cute line. Too bad it's false.
"How many consumers make a profit off of capital?" All the ones getting paid do.
The 99% don't want an economic revolution, dirac. They just want a fair shake. Any talk NOT having to do with that drives away support and makes claims of representing the 99% a lie, one that will quickly become a punchline.
"How many consumers make a profit off of capital?" All the ones getting paid do.
The 99% don't want an economic revolution, dirac. They just want a fair shake. Any talk NOT having to do with that drives away support and makes claims of representing the 99% a lie, one that will quickly become a punchline.
34
"All the ones getting paid do."
Haha. Yeah, because we all know this simple truth:
getting paid for working == disposable income of capitalists.
Haha. Yeah, because we all know this simple truth:
getting paid for working == disposable income of capitalists.
36
@5, @8, @9 etc.: I think the classy (and professional) thing for journalists to do in this case is, absent either positive or negative proof, and if Fox doesn't have anything more to say to the media, just let it drop. She's already had discrediting headlines run about her; hounding her further doesn't help any cause but the "Occupy are all commie hippie anarchist outside agitators" one. Including her own personal cause; she's not a villain to be taken down, she's a homeless woman.
37
Following up on #36, yes, I realize that she made some very strong claims. According to some reports, she's probably also facing some mental health issues. Unless she pops back up of her own accord, it's probably wisest to let the whole thing drop.
38
Until this is verified by a reliable source, I refuse to believe that Dominic did not write this graffiti himself as some sort of attention-whoring stunt.
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