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AIBU?

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Original poster

to support extinction rebellion - more London action tomorrow

996 replies

54321nought · 19/08/2021 23:40

I am not sure what, but I have seen their previous demonstrations, and support their cause.

We were given badges at one event, and travelled home on public transport wearing them, and received absolutely nothing but 100% support from other travellers, which was nice, as I expected some hostility, publicly wearing their badges while roads in London were closed by them

OP posts:
knittingaddict · 20/08/2021 08:11

@Darker

That may be your experience Simon and obviously that’s very unpleasant but it isn’t what I’ve observed. I also live and work in London and have dropped into a few events in passing. There is often free food and recycling facilities on site. Obviously it’s harder to be litter free when very large numbers of people are there and the police are moving people on.
They can't do what the rest of us do when we don't want to litter - take it with you? Pitiful problem solving if they can't work that out.
MadisonAvenue · 20/08/2021 08:12

If you had spoken to them they would have transported you

How were they transporting people?

On the bandwagon they’ve all jumped on

pinkcircustop · 20/08/2021 08:13

YABU. ER are nothing more than a bunch of selfish vandals.

SimonJT · 20/08/2021 08:15

@Darker

Next time I go to an event I’ll take photos of their recycling and rubbish management. OK?

It’s individuals who litter, not the XR movement. Obviously littering is wrong.

I do actually have eyes, I don’t need pictures, those individuals are part of the XR movement.
Darker · 20/08/2021 08:15

I’m not excusing anyone for littering. Where are you getting that?

I’m interested that most critics on this thread are busy pointing out everyone else’s failings and making negative generalisations about people who support XR.

I’m very much on the edge - I have been to a couple of meetings and have attended a couple of events - but my experience is that they are mostly decent ordinary people.

Mousetown · 20/08/2021 08:15

@Nitgel

Extinction Rebellion to me seem a bit useless. They only seem to appear now and then to jolly through london as if on a lovely day trip then they piss off again and you never hear from them. Remind me of the middle class ravers of the 90s and new age travellers.
That’s weird because they are very active on social media, both globally, nationally and on a more local level. Maybe you need to pull your head out of the sand and take more notice.
Mrsjayy · 20/08/2021 08:17

Middle class people with their badges wailing and crying whilst lying on roads and trains preventing people getting to work and their day whilst getting the bus home 😂

SimonJT · 20/08/2021 08:17

@Darker

I’m not excusing anyone for littering. Where are you getting that?

I’m interested that most critics on this thread are busy pointing out everyone else’s failings and making negative generalisations about people who support XR.

I’m very much on the edge - I have been to a couple of meetings and have attended a couple of events - but my experience is that they are mostly decent ordinary people.

Obviously it’s harder to be litter free when very large numbers of people are there and the police are moving people on.
DismantledKing · 20/08/2021 08:18

Obviously it’s harder to be litter free when very large numbers of people are there and the police are moving people

No it isn’t

LadyLaSnack · 20/08/2021 08:19

I support them 100% and am grateful to them for fighting for our children's future.

Mrsjayy · 20/08/2021 08:19

I mean didn't Emma Thompson fly to a demonstration to show her support!

Marikali · 20/08/2021 08:19

[quote PineapplePanda]**@Marikali* @Whattheflecker* Just because people don't agree with the actions of the yobs that are Extinction rebellion doesn't mean they aren't concerned with Sustainability!

Get off your high horses.

You have no idea what sustainable lifestyle some posters on here have compared to the rebellions. I for one don't like printing and wasting paper - the rebellions have littered my neighbourhood with posters! Yet they are holier than thou?![/quote]
It's surprising change ever comes about when there is so much criticism around. XR have already managed to push change through. It's easy to write them off as privileged, middle class etc but until and I am sure they are getting some things wrong but at least they are trying (and succeeding to be honest). Do you think the suffragettes or the civil rights movement pleased everyone all the time. Sometimes if you feel like its the right thing to do you have to make a stand and of course some people won't like it. I'm so ready to piss people off so my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren can have a future worth living.

Binnaggy · 20/08/2021 08:21

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

newnortherner111 · 20/08/2021 08:22

They lost my support when they started disrupting electric train services and protested in a place where almost no-one goes there by car. Good cause, wrong methods.

MajesticallyAwkward · 20/08/2021 08:23

I support them in theory... the cause is a good one but the way XR go about it is counter productive. The way to get support is not to inconvenience an entire city and act like dickheads.
I'm sure plenty of rational people go too but the ones who act recklessly get all the attention and negate any good these protests could do.

Mousetown · 20/08/2021 08:23

@Mrsjayy

Middle class people with their badges wailing and crying whilst lying on roads and trains preventing people getting to work and their day whilst getting the bus home 😂
Are middle class people not allowed to participate in activism?

I’m working class and have recently started following ER or social media and plan to attend a local meeting. From what I can see my local group is a wide variety of people from very different backgrounds.

With attitudes like these we are definitely all fucked.

nanbread · 20/08/2021 08:24

They could assist consumers in making better (and realistic choices).

@SimonJT your post shows you don't really know what Extinction Rebellion stands for, which is slightly worrying, either because you've really not grasped it, or because the message hasn't been well communicated...

Extinction rebellion very clearly targets government to take action, NOT individuals. Individuals can't (or won't) stop governments investing in fossil fuels or take other drastic steps to help stem climate change. Promoting a bit more recycling or a different laundry liquid ain't gonna cut it. People who give a shit about the environment already know this and can find the info they want.

They target govt through civil disobedience because well, what else is there?

I don't agree with all of their methods but I also haven't got a better idea of something they could try instead that would grab govt attention.

Passmethefrazzles · 20/08/2021 08:26

Stupid buggers “protested” here marching through fields full of ground nesting parent birds sitting on eggs. Not one of these “conservationists” had any idea about conservation. So much good conservation work ruined in one day by these effing idiots.

HasaDigaEebowai · 20/08/2021 08:28

This is a sad thread.

OhGiveUp · 20/08/2021 08:29

They all need chucking in the Thames!
Environment my arse.
How many flew in last time? How many travelled down by car?
How many of them travelled back to their homes by the same method and then put their central heating on?
How many stayed behind to clear up the mountain of shit they left behind?
Shove the bloody lot of them. They stopped people going about their lawful business, cost people financially and hospital appointments etc.
They're yobs who should be treated as such, and I certainly don't need spoilt cry babies like that brat Thurnberg telling me what to do.

Marikali · 20/08/2021 08:30

@newnortherner111

They lost my support when they started disrupting electric train services and protested in a place where almost no-one goes there by car. Good cause, wrong methods.
To be honest I think the majority of xr was also pretty horrified by this decision which was made by a handful. I think this is a risk with any big non hierarchical organisation but mass civil disobedience on the whole works so well.
SimonJT · 20/08/2021 08:30

@nanbread

They could assist consumers in making better (and realistic choices).

@SimonJT your post shows you don't really know what Extinction Rebellion stands for, which is slightly worrying, either because you've really not grasped it, or because the message hasn't been well communicated...

Extinction rebellion very clearly targets government to take action, NOT individuals. Individuals can't (or won't) stop governments investing in fossil fuels or take other drastic steps to help stem climate change. Promoting a bit more recycling or a different laundry liquid ain't gonna cut it. People who give a shit about the environment already know this and can find the info they want.

They target govt through civil disobedience because well, what else is there?

I don't agree with all of their methods but I also haven't got a better idea of something they could try instead that would grab govt attention.

I’m well aware of what they do, they largely fail, they also don’t seem to twig that governments are made of people and voted in by people. Choosing to essentially ignore populations isn’t particularly wise. They need to twig that working directly with people and encouraging steady change is more likely to lead to a change in voting pattern, its also more likely to lead to a loss of revenue in certain areas. XR thinking people aren’t need as part of change are stupid, that alongside their hypocrisy is their main downfall.
Darker · 20/08/2021 08:31

I’m not persuaded by you either, OhGiveUp

Darker · 20/08/2021 08:32

So what are you doing, Simon?

LynetteScavo · 20/08/2021 08:32

@LoislovesStewie

I suggest that everyone who supports extinction rebellion goes back to a 1950s lifestyle. No central heating, no technology, no replacing clothes until they are really worn out, in fact buy nothing until the item is kaput, walk or use a bike to get around, no car, no foreign holidays, no 'gap years' travelling to exotic places, don't buy a coffee on your way to work (because of the rubbish created), no food that isn't produced locally, (so bang goes the quinoa then). Have I made my point ! Thought not.
The one person I know who supports XR enough to protest with them lives exactly like this. They are also vegan. They are one of the most intelligent, caring people I've ever met.