Windrush Square used by We Train commercial personal trainer company

[discobastard]

*This* is embarrassing eh?

 

[Gramsci]

On "We Train". Its very unlikely that this would have happened without paying Council a fee for using the square. Its all about advertising.

And I am not happy about the intrusion of advertising in the square.

Whoever dreamed this up probably thought they would make it appear to be some kind of spontaneous flash mob event as that how advertising type think. Making it more vibrant and real. Instead its just more irritating.

 

[cuppa tee]

Care to expand? I'd like to understand why you think people who excercise are wankers.

I did not say people who exercise are wankers
but there is an element who I have encountered that seem to think exercising gives them moral superiority
and sense of entitlement over others....the type of attitude expressed in the post I quoted is a good example.

 

[Gramsci]

dont do threads about it then, mines as valid.

you should be a bit more proactive about this problem.

The use of public spaces for advertising purposes/ money making purposes has come up on Brixton Forum before. In relation to Windrush sq and Brockwell park.

Council do consult on this. Its a contentious issue. With people voicing concerns to Council about this.

Council say increase in use of public spaces for commercial purposes is necessary as its cash strapped due to cuts.

 

[Gramsci]

one thing worse than a spontaneous flash mob is a commercial fully licensed faux flash mob

I believe in the Soho media circles this is the cutting edge of advertising. "Guerilla advertising". You obviously don’t get how clever it is.

 

[alfajobrob]

As a matter of history a peaceful green anarchist group some years ago set up on Sundays a stall on Windrush square giving away vegan food for a few hours. After a few weeks of this Police turned up using a rather interesting interpretation of ASBO legislation to get rid of them. There argument being that whilst these people were peaceful they encouraged those who might break the peace loitering in the square.

Police accept political stalls outside Tube station and Iceland- to there credit - have never complained about stalls outside there shop.

My point being that whilst Windrush Sq was set up as a public space its actually policed to discourage activities that may be seen as political.

I'm surprised...you don't often see the yoga\vegan lot fucking up buses and being cunts.

 

[Gramsci]

this is exactly what I find annoying about nu exercise culture, a post industrial version of strength through joy
with nasty social Darwinist undertones....

You are right about this. Reminds me of reading the Frankfurt Marxists years ago. Need to give them another look.

Looking at the FB page its all about "motivation", "willpower", being a "bit" competitive but working with others.

All values that fit in with the post industrial capitalist world of the West. As the Frankfurt Marxists pointed out back years ago what appears to be outside capitalist work ethic gets incorporated into it.

 

[Gramsci]

I'm surprised...you don't often see the yoga\vegan lot fucking up buses and being cunts.

As I said this was peaceful green Anarchist group. Who were trying to spread there message in a way that was not disturbing other people.

I was there and saw them. Asked police about it and they said they were using ASBO legislation- in a way that I thought was perverse use of it. That is the Anarchists were guilty of ASB even though the police couldnt really find anything directly AS about there behaviour.

I see your point now. I was not surprised. Anarchists raise alarm bells with Brixton plod. There were a lot of them around Brixton at one point ( 121, squatting) and police really want to nip in the bud any foothold they might try to get in Brixton.

 

[cuppa tee]

You are right about this. Reminds me of reading the Frankfurt Marxists years ago. Need to give them another look.

Looking at the FB page its all about "motivation", "willpower", being a "bit" competitive but working with others.

All values that fit in with the post industrial capitalist world of the West. As the Frankfurt Marxists pointed out back years ago what appears to be outside capitalist work ethic gets incorporated into it.

there was a corporate team building fitness thing in the park a few weeks back, 20 or so people basically took over a big chunk of grass, you could spot the "alphas" a mile off, when it came to a circuit race round the perimeter they were scattering mums with prams, old people and dog walkers with scant regard, some were physically pushed out the way.....

 

[Gramsci]

there was a corporate team building fitness thing in the park a few weeks back, 20 or so people basically took over a big chunk of grass, you could spot the "alphas" a mile off, when it came to a circuit race round the perimeter they were scattering mums with prams, old people and dog walkers with scant regard, some were physically pushed out the way.....

They will go far in the the corporate world. Its this kind of drive and determination that this country needs to give its economy an edge on competition in the globalised world.

 

[cuppa tee]

this...... Culture industry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ......touches on what you were referring to Gramsci

 

[alfajobrob]

there was a corporate team building fitness thing in the park a few weeks back, 20 or so people basically took over a big chunk of grass, you could spot the "alphas" a mile off, when it came to a circuit race round the perimeter they were scattering mums with prams, old people and dog walkers with scant regard, some were physically pushed out the way.....

Really....name and shame them!

 

[cuppa tee]

Really....name and shame them!

I can't, they were in plain t shirts

 

[Gramsci]

this...... Culture industry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ......touches on what you were referring to Gramsci

Adorno was what your post brought to mind. I haven’t read Dialectic of Enlightenment but have read Marcuse Eros and Civilisation.

 

[alfajobrob]

I can't, they were in plain t shirts

Then you are bullshitting as no corps go umbranded!

Any other stories you want to make up, were they pissing in the kids playground whilst shouting Brexit slogans and telling the kids to go home?

 

[cuppa tee]

Then you are bullshitting as no corps go umbranded!

.......undercover corporate black ops then

 

[T & P]

This thread delivers. Pure Urban gold

 

[xenon]

There is an army fitness type of thing happens in the park just down the road from here. I presume people pay to join. Mind you I don't go to the park, it's full of fitness maniacs. And kids. Leaving flippancy aside I don't really have a problem with it but there is definitely a question to be asked about use of public space for private gain.

 

[editor]

I think the issue is more about having a licence rather than having specifically rented that space no?

The issue for me is having space in a small public square taken over by a branded commercial enterprise.

Did you hear back?

Nope. Not a word.

 

[editor]

As a matter of history a peaceful green anarchist group some years ago set up on Sundays a stall on Windrush square giving away vegan food for a few hours. After a few weeks of this Police turned up using a rather interesting interpretation of ASBO legislation to get rid of them. There argument being that whilst these people were peaceful they encouraged those who might break the peace loitering in the square.

Police accept political stalls outside Tube station and Iceland- to there credit - have never complained about stalls outside there shop.

My point being that whilst Windrush Sq was set up as a public space its actually policed to discourage activities that may be seen as political.

Yep. I remember the free food people being kicked off the square and arrests made: 2 Arrests at Brixton Reclaim Your Food

No such heavy handedness for the commercial fitness business though.

 

[editor]

This thread delivers. Pure Urban gold

And how nice it is to have you back sneering on the touchline without actually contributing anything. Again.

 

[Mr Retro]

I did not say people who exercise are wankers
but there is an element who I have encountered that seem to think exercising gives them moral superiority
and sense of entitlement over others....the type of attitude expressed in the post I quoted is a good example.

Why not say that rather than the bollox you posted then?

 

[editor]

Seems like a different world now, but here's some pics from 2008 when the cops harassed people giving away free food in the square:

2 Arrests at Brixton Reclaim Your Food

 

[cuppa tee]

Why not say that rather than the bollox you posted then?

I'm sorry, you misinterpreted it.......but it wasn't bollox.......

 

[Pickman's model]

I hope someone will organise a party for the deaths of liz peck and steve reed in Windrush Square

 

[editor]

I hope someone will organise a party for the deaths of liz peck and steve reed in Windrush Square

I hope that they'll soon just be completely forgotten along with their Tory policies.

 

[Pickman's model]

I hope that they'll soon just be completely forgotten along with their Tory policies.

A great philosopher once wrote those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it

 

[cuppa tee]

I hope someone will organise a party for the deaths of liz peck and steve reed in Windrush Square

one party ? so both on the same day then ?

 

[Pickman's model]

one party ? so both on the same day then ?

I am hopeful and have the t-shirts ready to roll at 45 mins notice

 

[cuppa tee]

I am hopeful and have the t-shirts ready to roll at 45 mins notice

maybe a pyre constructed from gym equipment would be appropriate ?