[romanP]

andyt andyt:

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

Soooo they're protesting a done deal under the guise of, "That money could be used to help the poor." Not that it isn't a valid argument BUT, if that is their concern, maybe the time they're taking off work would be put to better use volunteering with the poor.
If you wanna protest the games, fine, but don't pretend yer doing so cuz you "care" about the poor. Go the fuck back home and help the poor in your communities then.

That's all very nice. But if nobody ever challenges the govt on anything, just stays home and "helps the poor." it doesn't really accomplish much, does it?

Actually, it accomplishes helping for the poor. PublicAnimal is right, but so are the protesters. It's all theatre, for sure, but it's important theatre. I would hope that the people who are protesting already spend a lot of time helping the poor, and this protest helps too, because attention needs to be drawn to the fact that the Olympics have become an oppressive event.

It's not just the poor that are affected, it's everyone that lives in Vancouver. People are being told to leave town or stay at home. Teachers are being told to convince children of the value of eating McDonald's food. Almost a billion dollars has been spent on security by the military, as if a massive land attack were going to come out of the Rockies. The whole thing is an overblown, disgusting tribute to decadent people and their petty, decadent lives.

[romanP]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

andyt andyt:

That's all very nice. But if nobody ever challenges the govt on anything, just stays home and "helps the poor." it doesn't really accomplish much, does it? A lot of the protesters are nutbars. But the underlying point, that this just soaks the average joe to make money and have a party for the rich is valid, IMO. You can bet that after the Olympics we're going to hear how there's no money for anything, the kitty's empty. That would include addressing our homeless problem.

I hope the protesters keep it civil. But if the disrupt some events, cause some inconvenience, that sure won't keep me awake at night.

Dude, they already challenged the government when they protested the bidding on the Olympics and lost. This isn't a challenge anymore, it's sour grapes plain and simple.

Really? You think that just because they lost a challenge to the government that they should give up and go home? It's not sour grapes, it's doing what they set out to do.

$1:

And please tell me how going to a protest accomplishes more than actually DOING something other than whining? Is this protest gonna help feed one single homeless person? Doubtful. Is this protest gonna give some homeless child clothes and maybe a few toys? Doubtful. Actively giving a hand will accomplish MUCH more than complaining about it.

Perhaps it won't accomplish anything directly, but it might convince more people to do all of those things.

$1:

I could sit here and wax eloquent about how the government isn't doing enough for the poor, but that won't help them now will it?

No, because screaming on anonymous internet message board accomplishes very little. But that's not what they're doing.

$1:

But if I get off my ass and actually volunteeer, or provide funds or clothing or appliances or whatever else is within my ability, then something has been accomplished.

Informing others of the need to do something accomplishes something too.

[romanP]

Choban Choban:

Typical Anarchists.
I'm not a fan of the Olympics as most of you know, I don't thing travellign across the country to protest them is going to accomplish anything though.
These are the same idiots that are at every G8 Summit ect, just out to make headlinse and get their picture in the paper doing something "anti-establishment"
Put your helmets back on, Get back on the short bus and jusdt go home, dirupting an event that will continue regardless is a waste of time.

Yep, why fight for anything. Let's just let rich assholes steamroll our homes and trample on our rights whenever they want to. Hell, why even bother to vote? No matter who you vote for, government always wins!

I wonder how India was ever freed from British rule.. must have been magic.

[romanP]

Bacardi4206 Bacardi4206:

Yes, let's waste our time protesting something that is already going to happen. Let's not do this when it would have actually mattered... like when Canada was proposing this years olympics come to Canada or before they started spending millions of unnecessary money for a un-important event when as they say.

They were protesting then. And because nothing happened, they must continue to protest now.

$1:

Also I think these people would do a lot better if they actually did something more constructive like help out with the haiti incident. Go around asking for donations to actually travel to haiti and do w/e they can. Being they got a lot of time on there hands.

Yes, because Haiti is the only place in the world where anyone needs help.

[FieryVulpine]

When it comes down to their true motivations, these protesters don't give a damn about the poor. It's all about stroking their egos and self-congratulations.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

romanP romanP:

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

Dude, they already challenged the government when they protested the bidding on the Olympics and lost. This isn't a challenge anymore, it's sour grapes plain and simple.

romanP romanP:

Really? You think that just because they lost a challenge to the government that they should give up and go home? It's not sour grapes, it's doing what they set out to do.

No, what they are doing now is called disruption, not protest. Do you actually believe these morons will accomplish anything at this point? The torch relay has been disrupted along almost every stop and yet the games will go on. The bid for the games was protested every step, yet the games will still go on.

$1:

And please tell me how going to a protest accomplishes more than actually DOING something other than whining? Is this protest gonna help feed one single homeless person? Doubtful. Is this protest gonna give some homeless child clothes and maybe a few toys? Doubtful. Actively giving a hand will accomplish MUCH more than complaining about it.

romanP romanP:

Perhaps it won't accomplish anything directly, but it might convince more people to do all of those things.

Actions speak louder than words. People acting like idiots rarely cause others to think civic-mindedly.

$1:

I could sit here and wax eloquent about how the government isn't doing enough for the poor, but that won't help them now will it?

romanP romanP:

No, because screaming on anonymous internet message board accomplishes very little. But that's not what they're doing.

Yer right, they're complaining to get their 15 seconds of fame so they can say, "I was on TV protesting the games and it only cost me 2 grand and 2 weeks off work to get a 5 second sound byte." Instead of saying they spent 2 weeks volunteering with and helping the poor.

$1:

But if I get off my ass and actually volunteeer, or provide funds or clothing or appliances or whatever else is within my ability, then something has been accomplished.

romanP romanP:

[Informing others of the need to do something accomplishes something too.

Maybe, but in this case what I see is a bunch of idiots blowing thousands of dollars to protest the games under the giuse of standing up for the poor. I guess it's easier to cry about something rather than actually get involved.
I'll say it again, all that money being spent on travel and accomodation could have fed a LOT of people, opened up new beds at shelters, provided winter clothing etc etc.

[romanP]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

romanP romanP:

Really? You think that just because they lost a challenge to the government that they should give up and go home? It's not sour grapes, it's doing what they set out to do.

No, what they are doing now is called disruption, not protest.

Disruption is a form of protest.

$1:

Do you actually believe these morons will accomplish anything at this point? The torch relay has been disrupted along almost every stop and yet the games will go on. The bid for the games was protested every step, yet the games will still go on.

And the protesters will continue to protest for as long as the games continue in the way that they do.

Look up the definition of struggle sometime, perhaps that will help you understand.

$1:

romanP romanP:

Perhaps it won't accomplish anything directly, but it might convince more people to do all of those things.

Actions speak louder than words. People acting like idiots rarely cause others to think civic-mindedly.

You can call people names all you want. It only betrays your own lack of maturity, and has nothing to dowith anybody else's willingness to fight for something they believe in.

$1:

romanP romanP:

$1:

I could sit here and wax eloquent about how the government isn't doing enough for the poor, but that won't help them now will it?

No, because screaming on anonymous internet message board accomplishes very little. But that's not what they're doing.

Yer right, they're complaining to get their 15 seconds of fame so they can say, "I was on TV protesting the games and it only cost me 2 grand and 2 weeks off work to get a 5 second sound byte." Instead of saying they spent 2 weeks volunteering with and helping the poor.

You don't know what they'll say. They're all individuals, and you certainly don't speak for them.

$1:

But if I get off my ass and actually volunteeer, or provide funds or clothing or appliances or whatever else is within my ability, then something has been accomplished.

If you think that will accomplish more, why aren't you doing it? Is it because that would prove to you that they've accomplished something?

Be the change you want to see in the world.

$1:

romanP romanP:

Informing others of the need to do something accomplishes something too.

Maybe, but in this case what I see is a bunch of idiots blowing thousands of dollars to protest the games under the giuse of standing up for the poor.

If they didn't believe they were doing something good, do you really think they'd spend thousands of dollars on wasting time? Most of these people are not rich and do not have thousands of dollars to throw away.

$1:

I guess it's easier to cry about something rather than actually get involved.
I'll say it again, all that money being spent on travel and accomodation could have fed a LOT of people, opened up new beds at shelters, provided winter clothing etc etc.

There is close to a billion dollars being spent to use our military as an overkill security force which could have done much more than what these people are spending to speak about it in the street. And here you are complaining about how people spend their own money while your tax money is being wasted so that a bunch of rich assholes can feel safe from a bunch of harmless drunks and heroin addicts.

[ShepherdsDog]

$1:

It only betrays your own lack of maturity

pot meet kettle. Do you think that most here don't remember your online tantrums when you went by another username.

On a serious(semi at least) note it will be interesting to see what ensues, when the unlimited stupidity of these 'protesters' meets gov't sanctioned unlimited force.

[PimpBrewski123]

There are ways to protest without people making fools of themselves.

The disruption at all cost is simply ignorant. Some are only there to provoke more than anything else. Evenmore, some are there for the pure pleasure of stirring up crap more than supporting any causes.

Sort of immature and accomplishes nothing at all. As are most protests.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

RomanP: I'm not pro-games by the way. I think it's a collosal waste of resources.
But don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining. Considering that ppl from all over the world are showing up to Vancouver to protest, I'd say that these ppl DO have money. IF they have money to blow to travel to a protest, they have money to help the poor and unfortunate.
And btw, I DO contribute and help out when I can. I've been on the other side of the coin and the Sally Ann saved my ass. It kinda gives me an obligation to help out when and where I can.
How about you? Do you give where it REALLY matters or do you just go along with mob mentality? Are you a protester or a doer?

[Xort]

The military presence is rather small when compaired to the police and private security. I can only guess that most of the money being spent is on overtime wages for the police, and their accommodation. The military isn't paying anything extra other than providing food and shelter; Which while far ahead of regular tents in the mud wouldn't be exceptable to anyone but the military.

I also can't help but think that the cost paid is costs that would have been paid anyway. Other than the overtime, all those police would be paid the same.

As for the protesters, I can't help but feel a little pissed off at them. If you don't like the games I fully support your right to say so. But to try and disrupt and ruin the games because you didn't get enough money for your cause, or in the case of most of the protesters didn't get the destruction of the capitalist system, is a dick move.

On the flip side I also have a very strong dislike for the IOC. I think they should stick more to regulating the games, and less demanding 5 star accommodation for IOC members, and telling the RCMP and CF how to do securtiy.

[Proculation]

I really don't understand those anti-Olympics people.

EVERY COUNTRIES dream to have the Olympics. In Quebec City, they lost the bid to Salt Lake City but it's always on the table to bid another time soon and everybody is for it.

Now, we have the Olympics in Canada. In a nice city which is Vancouver. And some persons AGAIN find something to protest against. They are professional protesters. They live to boost their ego and be in the papers. It's like people vandalism and masturbating while they see it in the news the day after.

Get a life ! It's the Olympics ! We are lucky to have them while some countries can only dream about them because they know they never will have them.

[andyt]

Proculation Proculation:

I really don't understand those anti-Olympics people.

EVERY COUNTRIES dream to have the Olympics. In Quebec City, they lost the bid to Salt Lake City but it's always on the table to bid another time soon and everybody is for it.

Now, we have the Olympics in Canada. In a nice city which is Vancouver. And some persons AGAIN find something to protest against. They are professional protesters. They live to boost their ego and be in the papers. It's like people vandalism and masturbating while they see it in the news the day after.

Get a life ! It's the Olympics ! We are lucky to have them while some countries can only dream about them because they know they never will have them.

Do you actually live in Vancouver? Do you understand the issues? Olympics don't make money for a city. A recent study found they break even at best. But that doesn't consider all the infrastructure we built, in a hurry, during a construction boom (ie expensive) and mostly the wrong stuff. Eg the Canada line that serves the airport - very nice and all. But, the Evergreen line, that they keep talking about building, would actually serve the areas where the population growth is, take way more cars off the road so we don't have to keep building roads. Whistler highway - very nice, needed improvement. But, the owners of Whistler ski area are going broke - it's a recession. Convention center. Budget - 500M. Real price 1B, cause it was built in a hurry, with poor oversight. Meanwhile, convention business has tanked. So a lot of money was spent on projects that were not the best use of the money. When the Olympics are over, the govt will cry poor, can't afford to build housing, and put more sorely needed money into health care or transit. But the developer buddies of Gordon Campbell, they're happy. The rest of us schlubs get to pay the freight.

I guess somebody that wants to nuke the whales tho, doen't think about stuff like that, is just an anti-protester protester.

[Proculation]

andyt andyt:

Proculation Proculation:

I really don't understand those anti-Olympics people.

EVERY COUNTRIES dream to have the Olympics. In Quebec City, they lost the bid to Salt Lake City but it's always on the table to bid another time soon and everybody is for it.

Now, we have the Olympics in Canada. In a nice city which is Vancouver. And some persons AGAIN find something to protest against. They are professional protesters. They live to boost their ego and be in the papers. It's like people vandalism and masturbating while they see it in the news the day after.

Get a life ! It's the Olympics ! We are lucky to have them while some countries can only dream about them because they know they never will have them.

Do you actually live in Vancouver? Do you understand the issues? Olympics don't make money for a city. A recent study found they break even at best. But that doesn't consider all the infrastructure we built, in a hurry, during a construction boom (ie expensive) and mostly the wrong stuff. Eg the Canada line that serves the airport - very nice and all. But, the Evergreen line, that they keep talking about building, would actually serve the areas where the population growth is, take way more cars off the road so we don't have to keep building roads. Whistler highway - very nice, needed improvement. But, the owners of Whistler ski area are going broke - it's a recession. Convention center. Budget - 500M. Real price 1B, cause it was built in a hurry, with poor oversight. Meanwhile, convention business has tanked. So a lot of money was spent on projects that were not the best use of the money. When the Olympics are over, the govt will cry poor, can't afford to build housing, and put more sorely needed money into health care or transit. But the developer buddies of Gordon Campbell, they're happy. The rest of us schlubs get to pay the freight.

I guess somebody that wants to nuke the whales tho, doen't think about stuff like that, is just an anti-protester protester.

I don't think people known about the recession when Vancouver bid on the Games.

Also, the Olympics are an opportunity. Sure, if you have bad management and you loose money in the adventure, it's not the Olympics' fault. We know that here in Montreal (1967, the first Olympics who lost money). We just finished paying for the Olympic Stadium some years ago.

As for the whales, according to the statistics, your chances of being killed by a whale get higher every day. I don't know about YOU but ME, I prefer nuking them instead of being eaten ALIVE by one... Maybe you don't mind being killed by a whale but I DO.

[andyt]

Nuke the whale was cute when if first came out. It's 2010 now, try some other cliche.

Who's fault is it if you lose money in the adventure? You're happy about the big owe, are you?