Juan, that would be three rioters to one cop yes? Certainly that is the footage Sky and Bbc are showing.
Don't make me laugh
First water canon and tears grenade. Then cops get in armed and geared up. Then get on rioter (usuly women) and then given him/her a good kicking.
duckman; I'm not equating the protesters today with any other, on any other demonstrations. I'm merely pointing out that ALL of them have the [i]right to protest[/i]. Forget the reasons for demonstrating, for a second; I'm just on about people's [i]right[/i] to protest.
Seems to have gone relatively peacefully, today. Overshadowed by a bit of mindless hooliganism, and some questionable police tactics. Bit of pushing and shoving, really, not a lot more. I've seen things kick off worse, on my estate!
I would question the point of such a demo, but then, the purpose was to cause 'disruption', so it's certainly achieved that! And at least people will be discussing the issues, as we are, on here....
Job done, it seems. Not the way I'd do it, but it's served a purpose.
Guess the Press to Riotist ratio-
[img] 
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Can't the press be charged with incitement as there has been non-stop "coverage" for days...almost a self-fullfilling prophesy 🙁
Wonder if the guy in pictured above will plead not guilty? 🙂
SSP
I hate to think how long you worked on that to get it to scan so well BD 🙂
I dont think it's in any one groups interest to have a combined April 1st outing. Less opportunity for mayhem and no coherency.
Im quite happy in the knowledge that they will bring about ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGE whatsoever. Despite the bleats of the smelly-side of the political fence that we have a "perfect storm", ripe for an upheaval, it really isnt going to happen.
Just for you lot I shall transcribe a couple of paragraphs from a book I was reading recently. These passages I think rather emphasise how [i]Plus ça change plus c'est la même chose[/i]
Reading the accounts of the day, and the days after the Panics, you realise that therea are two financial markets. Theres the real-time Walls Street, where the risk takers are anxious and greedy and fearful and devious, and people with the most sensaational psychological disorders that render them unsuited for ordinary social life get rich. Then there;s the other, teoretical after-the-fact Wall Street, in which all these odd human beings, and the chotic events they create, are made to seem more or less rational and easily explanable. Never is this contrast more clear than duing and immediately after a panic. Just before a panic all is well-usually more than well, Then the pani strikes, chaos ensues, and a dramatic upheaval commences. People who were on the top of the financial order plummet to the bottom. People whos opinion was most valued are now ridiculed. Others who were on the sidelines race onto the fields of play. The guy out in the wilderness who ha dbeen saying for the past four years that the good times were an illusion and a sham is wheeled in to take a bow and then hustled off stage, so that everyone else can regroup, and the whole process can start over again.And so it does with enough of the details changed that, up close, the new madness looks entirely different from any madness that has ever happened before."
He calls it a "madness" (I think, sympathetically), but I think it's a good madness and developmentally no matter how many steps back that are needed to be taken, the number of subsequent steps forward for global well-being is always greater.
[img] 
[/img]
Panic: The Story of Financial Insanity
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panic-Story-Modern-Financial-Insanity/dp/0141042311/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238597832&sr=8-2
(Sorry about any typos, my touch typing is rubbish)
I'm pleased to say that all was well in Knightsbridge. The Corner Shop knocked up a very decent steak, cooked rare of course, and a bottle of claret went down a treat. All quiet on Jermyn Street too. Which was nice.
I had a nice kebab! Dropped me ****ing can of lager, though. Boo.
why has one of the press photographers got a climbing helmet on?
Ever been in a riot? Stuff gets chucked about. Maybe that's why the police have helmets on....?
A couple of tographers have got helmets on. Sensible, I'd say.
what riot? the press riot?
Well, if there's the chance of things kicking off, and stuff getting thrown about, police truncheons flying in, then wearing a helmet woud seem quite prudent.
duckman - Member
Rudeboy, both the Jarrow Marchers (the original ones) and the Miners were fighting(sometimes) to save their livelihoods and their communities. They both behaved with more dignity than any of the protesters on the beeb, despite having none, or very few, of todays lots opps or chances. I find it insulting that you would lump todays protest in with them. Ask the vast majority of todays lot to explain in detail what they are protesting about and I would be suprised if they knew much about toxic debt etc. That is despite three years re-sitting 1st year Moral Philosophy and Cultural studies at poly.Message to Crusties...
STOP PLAYING RADICAL ON DADDY'S CREDIT CARD.
Posted 1 hour ago # Report-Post
well said duckman, i wanted to say something like this, jut that i am not articulate enough.
these ****ers have **** all to protest about. middle or upper class ****er5 just causing trouble.
line em up put em in a field and shoot the bastids........ 😉
these ****ers have **** all to protest about
That's you opinion,and you are entitled to that, as they are entitled to exercise their right to protest.
You can't just pick and choose, which demonstrations are allowed or not, based on your own particular views. That's not how it works.
[url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7976783.stm ]the revolution is spreading![/url]
ton - Memberduckman - Member
Rudeboy, both the Jarrow Marchers (the original ones) and the Miners were fighting(sometimes) to save their livelihoods and their communities. They both behaved with more dignity than any of the protesters on the beeb, despite having none, or very few, of todays lots opps or chances. I find it insulting that you would lump todays protest in with them. Ask the vast majority of todays lot to explain in detail what they are protesting about and I would be suprised if they knew much about toxic debt etc. That is despite three years re-sitting 1st year Moral Philosophy and Cultural studies at poly.Message to Crusties...
STOP PLAYING RADICAL ON DADDY'S CREDIT CARD.
Posted 1 hour ago # Report-Post
well said duckman, i wanted to say something like this, jut that i am not articulate enough.
these ****ers have **** all to protest about. middle or upper class ****er5 just causing trouble.
line em up put em in a field and shoot the bastids........
Good post.
Where does the theory that these people are "middle and upper class ****ers" come from? Some? Many? may be, but just looking at the photos I am just not convinced these guys spend their spare time hanging around on the Kings Road sipping chai lattes and planning how to renovate their second homes in Tuscany. A significant number of the people in the pictures look thoroughly rough and rather scary.
If people are just out for a ruck I can't see that their class background is of the slightest interest either way. It's stupid, destructive and pointless (although no doubt rather good fun).
If they are protesting genuine concerns then I am unsure why you think people who are not directly affected are not allowed to join those who are. I do not give a flying rat's ass about anyone's right to hunt foxes with dogs. I turned out for the Countryside alliance march to support a cause which is clearly right even though it does not impinge on me personally. In days of yore, the wealthy and enfranchised coming out to join chartist demos would have seemed rather progressive. William Wilberforce et al were in no great danger of being enslaved, etc etc.
What you are I suspect objecting to is that today's protests are rather nebulous. No-one is clear what they are about, and there seem to be a huge number of different agendas wrapped up in, broadly, "you lot have stuffed it all up and we are all going to suffer". As many of us on here share that sentiment, we are just rather picky about who gets to be included in the "them" that we blame, I can't really see that anyone is disallowed from joining in.
🙂
Now [i]that's[/i] a good post.
Unlike some of the selfish, ignorant prejudicial bile spouted by some ostriches here....
A great day for t055ers of all persuasions I'd say. Yob riot police get to crack a few heads. Crusty ****wits get to shout a lot without contributing anything worthwhile to anyone. Anarchists get really dangerous and smash some glass. Bankers keep on doing what they do best, as nothing has the power or inclination to stop them. The press get served up paydirt. The great and good have a bit of a chin wag over a luxury buffet. Internet experts have a blue ribband thread to argue over all day.
Corker.
[chuckles] How did trailmonkey get so cynical? 😉
EDIT: Golly. Two Hundred!
Internet experts have a blue ribband thread to argue over all day.Corker.
It has been.
Fantastic.
Where does the theory that these...... people are "middle and upper class ****ers" come from? Some? Many?............If people are just out for a ruck I can't see that their class background is of the slightest interest either way
Makes a [i]big[/i] difference to me. For many reasons.
I would dismiss the claim that many are 'upper class' but a fair few are 'middle class' there's no doubt about it. Where does the theory come from ? Well I'm perfectly capable of distinguishing between middle-class and working-class people. I find it a bit of a give away talking to them - they often drop clues like what they do for a living 😯
In my experience those who screw things up at these events are invariably middle-class. But that is not to say of course, that all middle-class protesters at these events cause problems - far from it.
Oh btw - there's a big difference between being prepared 'if' things kick off, and 'wanting' things to kick off.
imo.
grizzlygus - Member
Oh btw - there's a big difference between being prepared if things kick off and, wanting things to kick off.imo.
Errant comma notwithstanding, a very good point.
Yeah you've made me very aware of my errant commas in the past Captain - I try and keep them under control these days. I had already edited before you posted.
Did I get it right btw ?
Have you been down there today gus? I am (honestly) curious at how ton and people have arrived at their conclusions about the social background of today's mob.
🙂
I'm in reserve for the final push and the setting up of the Provisional Government BD.
There's a lot of paperwork still to get through ..... compiling lists of 'enemies of the People' ..... you know, that sort of stuff.
.
God, I'm going to [i][b]love[/b][/i] the post-revolution Reign of Terror 😀
I was there today.Only wanted to go for a bit but suddenly I was trapped.The police wouldn't let anybody leave for hours.So many people just wanted to go.Surely they can manage to let people out and not let people in?
Think they were dying for things to kick off and this penning in tactic is perfect for intimidating people and causing more anger and frustration.Then the newspapers and BBC get their shots of "protesters attacking police" for their biased coverage.
doesn't need an comma after the 'off' or the 'and'.
double FAIL
Right, some pics from my walk to the station past the 'activities'
First the obligatory Flickr link http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheesyfeet/
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Looking towards Bank on King William Street. Note the police toilets! Vans on the right contain riot gear
[img] 
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Looking towards bank on Cornhill. Those aren't protesters you can see - they're city workers having a look!
[img] 
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Looking at the Bank Of England at the Royal Exchange
Some participants this side of the Police line, most the other side
[img] 
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More Riot gear vans. There were lots & lots of these. Inside, they are kitted out with racks for sheilds, helmets, etc
So, all in all it was very contained which was a good thing. Those that wanted to protest could, those that didn't could go about their business (mostly)
BigDummy -
you know as well sa i do and most on here.
these protesters are the same ones that protest at
hunts
testing laboritories
gm crop fields
union disputes
poll tax rallies
or just about any protest going.
most are ex university students
usually over qualified to get a proper job, they feel they are worth a better carry on than most.
**** all common sense is the norm.
and with far too much time on their hands.
😉
think there were prehaps more cameras up town today than 'protesters'.
all a bit of a joke really (as shown by chessy's pics).....
Ton, those that I saw predominantly looked like students 😆
ex or present university students than............... 🙄
alpin - Member
doesn't need an comma after the 'off' or the 'and'.double FAIL
Bollox. I'll never get me head round this 'Written English' malarkey 🙁
Thought I'd cracked it and all ............. next step, "learn to talk proper", I'd said to me self 🙁
I was there today.Only wanted to go for a bit but suddenly I was trapped.The police wouldn't let anybody leave for hours.
I first witnessed that police tactic in the run up to the Iraq war. It's extremely effective as it seriously screws up demos. Almost certainly illegal though, as you are effectively being detained by the police - with no good cause.
Police say there were 5,000 protesters. Lets double it to be nice.
£7.5m of policing costs, lets say half of that is for the Excel arena.
3.75m/10,000 = £375 per swampy.
They should have offered them each £200 and as much organic tofu as they can eat to stay at home at their parents and we would have still saved a bundle! 🙂
trailmonkey - Member
A great day for t055ers of all persuasions I'd say. Yob riot police get to crack a few heads. Crusty ****wits get to shout a lot without contributing anything worthwhile to anyone. Anarchists get really dangerous and smash some glass. Bankers keep on doing what they do best, as nothing has the power or inclination to stop them. The press get served up paydirt. The great and good have a bit of a chin wag over a luxury buffet. Internet experts have a blue ribband thread to argue over all day
And I'm sure RBS's insurers will be having some interesting discussions about whether they took reasonable precautions to protect their premises. Lots of other places were boarded up: tailors, motor dealers, some near, some further away. AIG took their signs down outside their building. The company was an obvious target, not to mention that branch was right in the planned demo area, and no protection at all. I think (hope) the staff had been sent home. And where were the police? Watch the BBC footage and there's couple of rioters, about 100 journalists/photographers and no police at all.
Given that the government have a controlling share, were they in a position to encourage the building's sacrificial use for some juicy pictures to turn opinion against the protesters?
Ton you are absolutely right! No one has a problem with peaceful protestors especially as we all feel strongly about something but those few minority idiots that like to riot and cause havoc for all the law abiding citizens causes the police to have to react in the way they do penning EVERYONE in.
How much would policing costs have been if there had been [b]no[/b] protestors stoner ?
Unusual for you to be slack with figures innit ? Specially ones concerning money. 😕
Munqe-chick - Member
Ton you are absolutely right! ..........those few minority idiots that like to riot
So how is he right ? He wants them [u]all[/u] shot.
😕
gus, i was kidding, did you not see 😉 and 😀 😆 mate.
No ton, I didn't - I've always assumed that everyone on here says what they think.
Never occured to me that some might be taking the p1ss 😯
but those few minority idiots that like to riot and cause havoc for all the law abiding citizens causes the police to have to react in the way they do penning EVERYONE in.
Wrong. The police began penning people in, before the trouble started. It was clearly show, on the BBC live stream. I've seen this tactic used plenty of times; as Gus points out, it is very effective in screwing up a demo, as the resulting violence will grab the media attention, and detract form the actual reasons for the demo.
Notice how the police 'squeezed' the contained groups at certain intervals, then fell back and let people leave? Deliberate. Designed to get a reaction, and once they'd got a reaction, and the TV crews etc had got their pictures, then they stepped back.
Rudeboy is quite correct. Its a tactic known as the kettle. People are penned into a space and denied water and the use of toilet facilities - there are a number of legal challenges ongoing against this tactic. From first hand accounts from yesterday the police used this tactic very agressively. For them it works on 2 levels - firstly it discourages those on a peaceful protest from continuing and secondly it aggrevates those who are prepared to use direct action. There were a numbers of scenes yesterday where people desperate to break through police lines to leave the protest were denied access and arrested when they tried to run.
some good information here on today's events: http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/992