Extinction Rebellion

[Pickman's model]

It illustrates neatly the limits of XRs current strategy.

You've got everyone's attention.

Now what?

now piss everyone off

 

[8ball]

So you're saying that they're going to disown these protestors?

Well, Ms. Newman...

But it’s a decision they’re going to have to make at some point. Or at lots of points, really.

One problem with never really being able to veto something (so long as it falls in line with some very basic aims), is that it compromises your ability to really take responsibility for anything. So when you get to any negotiating tables, what bargaining chips do you have?

 

[free spirit]

Btw, I’ve just asked someone fairly influential in XR to check, just in case...

Edit: all I have so far is that huge numbers of XR members didn’t want this particular action to happen (not verified directly by my contact, but is part of the discussion I have butted into)

I've seen mention of 70% against the action in an internal XR poll, but XR based on decentralised afinity groups who're able to carry out any actions as long as they're in line with their 10 core principles (or whatever they're called).

Same problems as with previous similar movements, where eventually a small group decide to do something counter productive that overshadows everything else that's happened and becomes what the protest is remembered for, resulting in rapid loss of public support and activists disassociating themselves rapidly until the movement implodes.

The other key problem with XR is that they have no solutions. Any organisation that had solutions would not target the very electricly powered public transport that's got to be a major part in any package of measures to actually get us to net zero carbon.

 

[Marty1]

It was stated on the radio this morning (6 o'clock news) that XR intended to shut down the tube. That did sound like a silly thing to do, but they justified it in that it would draw attention to the whole protest. However AFAIK XR actions are not sent down from above, it is just individuals taking action(s), so some will be more useful than others.

Choosing Canning Town doesn't seem too clever, a more obscure station (like St John's Wood) would have shut down a line and wouldn't have had hoards of people ready to tear them down and duff 'em up...

Perhaps the tube protestors were expecting a round of applause from commuters?

Either way, I think XR may have misjudged the length of their protests against public sentiment.

 

[Spymaster]

At Canning Town!

Silly cunts should have stayed at home in Knightsbridge.

 

[8ball]

Perhaps the tube protestors were expecting a round of applause from commuters?

Either way, I think XR may have misjudged the length of their protests against public sentiment.

They've mainly misjudged the public's commitment to an unstable system. There is a degree of romantic fantasy about a whole load of people suddenly becoming aware of a serious situation, dropping whatever they're doing and joining them.

 

[Spymaster]

They've mainly misjudged the public's commitment to an unstable system.

They've misjudged the entire program and the wheels are coming off.

Stopping regular folk from getting to work is going to kill them.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

The XR press release makes it clear it is "affinity groups" - Disruption of Tube Services beginning 17 October: Information for London Underground Staff - Extinction Rebellion and there are XR accounts publicly disagreeing with it and being retweeted by XRLondon eg



Note that the press release was from Tuesday; were there warnings for commuters from TFL?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

tbf, in April they were lauded by many here and elsewhere when they did the same to a DLR at Canary Wharf.

 

[Spymaster]

The XR press release makes it clear it is "affinity groups"

Yeak, ok!

 

[chilango]

They've mainly misjudged the public's commitment to an unstable system. There is a degree of romantic fantasy about a whole load of people suddenly becoming aware of a serious situation, dropping whatever they're doing and joining them.

The fervent faith of the missionary.

 

[Spymaster]

tbf, in April they were lauded by many here and elsewhere when they did the same to a DLR at Canary Wharf.

Of course they were. People here are happy to see office workers inconvenienced and caused hardship to earn a living. When it's PFWC folk at Canning Town it's a different matter.

 

[Pickman's model]

London Newsletter: Day 10 - Extinction Rebellion

it's rather emetic

 

[chilango]

The aim should surely be not stopping workers going to work. But getting the workers themselves to stop going to work.

 

[8ball]

The fervent faith of the missionary.

Well, the main new thing they have going on is that they don't refer to these sleeping saviours as "the working class".

 

[8ball]

They've misjudged the entire program and the wheels are coming off.
Stopping regular folk from getting to work is going to kill them.

It might well do.

 

[chilango]

Well, the main new thing they have going on is that they don't refer to these sleeping saviours as "the working class".

They still are the working class though, and thus the people who can actually halt capitalism. Whether you refer to them or not.

 

[8ball]

They still are the working class though, and thus the people who can actually halt capitalism. Whether you refer to them or not.

Hallelujah, brother.

 

[Spymaster]

They still are the working class though ...

That's all that matters, comrade.

 

[chilango]

Hallelujah, brother.

Inaccurate.

It's not a matter of faith, or belief or waiting for some glorious day.

It's a cynical look at the cycle of reproduction of capital.

Of course if you aim isn't to halt/abolish/replace capitalism, but merely to persuade it to operate in different ways then other strategies are available.

 

[Spymaster]

It might well do.

Well the one that got dragged off the roof of the train got a good hiding as well.

This is a game changer. Watch the posh twats, who can afford to take time off work to sit on trains and bridges, melt away now.

 

[chilango]

That's all that matters, comrade.

Well, yeah, it is.

No getting around that.

 

[8ball]

Of course if you aim isn't to halt/abolish/replace capitalism, but merely to persuade it to operate in different ways then other strategies are available.

“Hallelujah” is inaccurate.

But yeah, XR as an organisation have no class analysis going on. Some members do, but I’d go with “small
minority”.

 

[Santino]

Well the one that got dragged off the roof of the train got a good hiding as well.

This is a game changer. Watch the posh twats, who can afford to take time off work to sit on trains and bridges, melt away now.

Just heard that Greta Thunberg's caught a plane home and enrolled in sixth form.

 

[Spymaster]

Well, yeah, it is.

No getting around that.

Hopefully it'll be the working class who finally put a bullet in the head of this fucking nonsense once and for all then.

 

[chilango]

Hopefully it'll be the working class who finally put a bullet in the head of this fucking nonsense once and for all then.

What nonsense?

You all seem to be missing the big "if".

If you want to halt/abolish/replace capitalism....

Presumably you don't. You won't be the only one.

The task for folk like you then is coming up with ways to make bosses act against their own material interests.

 

[Spymaster]

Just heard that Greta Thunberg's caught a plane home and enrolled in sixth form.

That revolting child always had a very limited shelf life.

The backlash is in full swing now.

 

[Santino]

Great stuff.

 

[Spymaster]

Great stuff.

How dare you. HOW DARE YOU!

 

[Santino]

It's heartening to see bitter middle-aged men enraged by a teenager.