Hi
I like this but
for christsake no smarten up and stuff, just communication that does
not need to be hidden under a `third way` suit [whatever the hell that
might feel like!!]
But in what way is such a store `open` [I know people may feel they/we
`own it`, but ]
Best
David.
On Tue, 16 Nov 1999 17:03:32 GMT dan knox <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> David, David and Others,
>
> Of course, I am with you both almost 80% on these matters (Oh that it
> could be 100%!) The issue of how to communicate these honourable
> intentions to those in whose name they are, to some extent, done is
> indeed the crux of the matter here. Sell it to me ? Sell it to the
> crit-geog-forum ?! Easy !
>
> Now, sell it to my mum ! My neighbours ? All becomes a little bit
> tricky and divisive. It becomes a game of the elite that carries no
> meaning for other members of society. The fox hunting analogy is
> perfect...nobody understands the motivation, the intention, the
> class specific logic. Occupying the streets and shops looks to the
> outsider like an act of hooliganism by the bonkers-in-the-nut
> bourgeoisie !
>
> B&Q, for example, sells itself to the public as a paragon of
> virtue. Nice, young, smiling, shop assistants assure us
> that they will get us the best price in town - and so helpful too !
> Employment of older people who otherwise might not get a job. Hmmm,
> it appears that B&Q occupies the moral high-ground here. Remember
> that, quite literally, you can do it if you B&Q it ! Attacks on
> such institutions can only enrage the public if it is not clear why
> they are taking place. More specifically, there is no need to
> "bumrush" the homebase or whichever DIY store because, of course,
> they are open anyhow !
>
> What precisely do we mean by occupy ? Is it reasonable to traumatise
> members of staff of these places of employment in pursuit of higher
> ideals ? Don't get me wrong, I agree in principle with the idea of
> the reclaim the streets movement but there are numerous problems with
> actually putting such into action. Are we perhaps dangerously
> conceptualising one target (ie global capitalism) that fails to
> recognise the multiple forces to which we are subject. For sure, B&Q
> sucks but....so does Kwik Save, the Bank Of Scotland, Specsavers,
> Greggs Baker etc. The first difficulty may lie in convincing
> anyone that all of these companies are in fact manifestations of the
> same thing ! Or, perhaps not.
>
> Re: Weird gear. Yes, indeed, smarten up ! Look sharp ! Important if
> we really do want to sell this to the wider public that you do a)
> brush your hair, b)dress appropriately (no tie-dye!) and 3) SMILE !
>
> Best wishes,
> Daniel
>
> PS I fear that I am taking an old debate, barely interesting, barely
> alive, and giving it a good kicking in public. All to the good !
>
>
>
>
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>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> Dan Knox
> Research Postgraduate
> Department of Geography
> University of Durham
> South Road
> Durham
> DH1 3LE
> UK
>
> 0191 384 6213
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dgg3dlk/
>
> Tell me what you gonna do,
> When the ending of time comes near,
> Whatever you do,
> Its gotta be funky !
>
> Flava Flav, Public Enemy
----------------------
David Crouch
Anglia Polytechnic University
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