Dear all.
One thing I have noticed about the negative replies to postings about
Reclaim the Streets etc. (both on this list and sent to me personally) is
that there seems to be a general presumption that the people writing
positively about RTS are 'moaning', and should not express their views
because they are middle class academics.
Leaving aside the huge assumptions made about social origins, positions
within academia and personal activity, this strikes me as a huge abdication
of repsonsibility. We, as academics, are in a priviledged postition in so
far as we have access to information that the general public do not. We are
also well-educated (for whatever reason). What the 'anti-RTS view' (excuse
the shorthand) would ask us to do is to ignore this and not to bring to the
attention of other people (including themselves perhaps) difficult and
disturbing issues. I have not got to where I have (which is relatively low
in the academic food-chain anyway) to use my training and access to
information to prop up the status quo, and to hide issues away from people.
Precisely the opposite - research should be part of process of widening the
scope of information available to all members of society (and this works
both ways between society and academics). This is what I would say that a
'critical' geography is all about.
In addition, calling legitmate comments and views about the state of the
world 'moaning' says more about the 'anti-RTS view' than about the
proponents. It is the same discourse that is used by conservative media and
politicians against anyone who wants change. It implicitly attempts to
stiffle debate by degrading the status of the argument to something below
rationality.
Thoughts?
David.
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David Wood
PhD Research Student ('Intelligence Sites in Rural North Yorkshire')
Centre for Rural Economy
Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
0191 222 5305
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