Response to the Facebook response to the London riots

[lethargic_man]

I found myself added today to a Facebook group I'm a londoner...i want my city back. Having a look at it, I discovered a friend to have posted:

Benjamin Samuel We don't have enough people in this group to make a difference. Let's aim for 40,000 by 9pm.

Simi Ben Hur thanks benjamin, start adding people and make sure they all write to their MP

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 9:46am

I replied:

Michael Grant What does 40,000 members achieve—or even the current 2094 if most of them have been added en masse by other people? It doesn't even show they care, or are interested. It just shows they (a) are known to other people, who do, and (b) aren't uninterested enough to remove themselves?

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:09am

I thought the ensuing discussion was worth of reposting here (about which I have no qualms, as a Facebook group with thousands of members is scarcely less public than here):

Simi Ben Hur its not about the number, its about solidarity and awareness. Even if people skim reaf the page and find a way to help locally its worth having added them. If 40,000 did write to their MP it would be a massive support for the police

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:11am

Stefan Kerner Simi...well done for doing this page...but I am not sure what writing to one's MP will do right now. The letter won't get there for a couple of day...unless one emails of course. But either way, what can an MP do at this moment in time. Surely, writing to an MP should wait until after the rioting and looting has stopped and make positive suggestions as to what actions should be taken to restore social and order and to ensure that this does not happen again.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:13am

Simi Ben Hur the police ion the streets asked us to write to MP's and yes this can be done by email. They are asking for support as government has cut police officer numbers and resources which is part of the reason they are struggling to cope with whats happening. of course change doesnt happen over night (not good change anyway) but its something constructive for poeple to do and takes a few minutes

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:15am

Stefan Kerner Again, I dont think writing to MPs will bring the numbers of police on the streets up to the correct numbers in time for tonight's riots, I am afraid.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:17am

Simi Ben Hur of course not but if thats what the police have asked us to do to show support, im doing it

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:18am

Stefan Kerner OK..go for it...I just think it would be more effective after the event when people will actually be interested in solutions and suggestions.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 10:19am

Comments

[grumpyolddog.livejournal.com]

Presumably, these people want the police to go shoot somebody else?

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I am not quite sure what this is all about. Sorry for my ignorance. Is it about not having enough police force to stop crime and violence on the street or it something else?

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Only you could have lived through three nights of rioting and looting in the metropolis whose doorstep you live on, and other cities in this country, and been unaware of it. Have a look at any newspaper or news website, or watch the TV or listen to the radio news.

Good grief.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I read it on the internet. It is in London and not even Jewish areas not St Albans. What is that about the 40000 people. What are they supposed to do about riots and crimes?

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I read it on the internet. It is in London and not even Jewish areas not St Albans.

So you're not supposed to care, then, if it's not on your doorstep?

What is that about the 40000 people. What are they supposed to do about riots and crimes?

Exactly.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I do but I cannot change anything nor anybody else who has nothing to do with their education and up-bringing. I just don't bring any children into the world not just because of my own health issues. I would be afraid of them getting involved with all the horrible things teenagers are capable of doing. It is the parents' responsibility to look after these teenagers. They failed so the police has to discipline them.
I still don't know who are the 40000 people Ben is talking about?

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I still don't know who are the 40000 people Ben is talking about?

In the Facebook group.

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

What are you talking about Michael, don't you know that if you get people into a big enough Facebook group, the world changes from the gravitational vortex created thereby? 40,000 people in a facebook group is practically as good as getting a unanimous parliament vote on something.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

You mean, like lowering the price of cottage cheese?

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

cottage cheese is made of cellulite, everyone knows that.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't know; I neither like nor eat cottage nor any other kind of cheese. Nor cellulite. ;^b

Absolutely

[miss-whiplash.livejournal.com]

"What does 40,000 members achieve — or even the current 2094 if most of them have been added en masse by other people? It doesn't even show they care, or are interested. It just shows they (a) are known to other people, who do, and (b) aren't uninterested enough to remove themselves?"

Your point should not be trivialised. It really would open a can of worms if anyone could add us to a list and our very inclusion were to be allowed to be construed as assent to whatever the list was asserting. You could equally be added to the flash-mob circulation for a riot.

Does anyone else wonder if the flash-mobs over the past few years were actually a trial-run (circulation getting exercise) for this sort of thing?

In a lighter vein hatam_soferet's comment reminded me of today's cartoon at Urban Jungle http://www.urbanjunglecomic.com/?p=1852

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