Watering down the effect!

**The Joka** · 24th November 2009, 19:02

I think everyone that has posted on this thread needs to take a long close look at what has happened this far and what has had the most effect...Positive & Negative.

I am gutted I couldnt be at the meeting tonight in Manukau as I would have voiced this clearly.

There is way way way too much action going on....

I had nothing but positive comments about the Wellington protest and people were genuinely interested in what was going on and why we were protesting.. providing good open ended questions where you could arm them with information! They talk to someone else and our story gets heard.

Believe me when I say I am all for creating havoc and disruption... but this vigilantly one off stuff is pretty crazy and it is pissing people off to say the least! Whangamata is one example, taking one park per bike in Mission Bay on a Sunday... they are protests but think about the message it sends and the impact it has for people! Some more thought into these ideas needs to take place... I would rather attend one protest a month that hits the right note (sends the right message) then 5 protests a month that have no point, rhyme or reason.

My thoughts:

Mission Bay Protest: The message I got was a group of pissed off people seeking attention... Now if this had been done on a Weekday in Auckland city it says if ACC charge me this increase, I will be bringing my car to work and will take this park.

Whangamata: The message I got from this: WTF???? Now if 10, 20,30 or 1000 bikes showed up with banners that pointed out what was happening or asking what ACC levies boats, jet skis and surfers are paying (not sure if they are).. and didnt show mass disrespect to people passionate about boating, fishing or the marina it would have had a much better response.

My suggestion: Stop and think about your action before doing them... think big picture stuff.

My suggestion for the next protest is a simple one...

On the next Fund Raising / Charity ride you go on wear a vest, fly a flag or have banners that state if ACC put up the levies on unjust figures that this charity is going to suffer! Then let your media outlets know about the charity ride... This shows bikers in a postive light and shows that if the Government do this that the wider community suffers not just the bikers. I know that I will be Flying my flag on the toy run.

ONE LAST POINT: This is not targeted at any individual I think that what you are trying to do is great, you just need to look at the big picture a little more.

**James Deuce** · 24th November 2009, 19:42

Couldn't see through all the shouting what you were trying to say.

You're not getting any action or something. The ratio of chicks to blokes on KB is pretty poor so you won't be getting action from a shouty post.

**sinfull** · 24th November 2009, 20:00

Originally Posted by The Joka

I think everyone that has posted on this thread needs to take a long close look at what has happened this far and what has had the most effect...Positive & Negative.

Who ? You and JD ?

Oh and me lol

**The Joka** · 24th November 2009, 20:00

Okay after consulting a computer geek found out what shouting on a keyboard means... my mistake!

The point is clear... THINK

**StoneY** · 24th November 2009, 20:03

Originally Posted by sinfull

Oh and me lol

And me...where are we again?

**sinfull** · 24th November 2009, 20:09

Originally Posted by StoneY

And me...where are we again?

Nooooo Don't quote me Stoney ! Your an activist, they*re liable to be watching you !

*powers that be, who would see common folk controlled in a police state !

**Elysium** · 24th November 2009, 20:12

What? Speak up!!

**The Joka** · 24th November 2009, 20:28

hahahaha funny fuckers arent ya! Sorry I dont sit infront of the computer day after day.. talking to virtual friends in virtual language!

Just read the post and shove your shit head comments!

**swbarnett** · 24th November 2009, 20:42

The Joka makes a very good point. I've been talking to the guys at work (non-bikers) and they're starting to get pissed off at what they see as attacks on non-bikers. We are in danger of forcing public opinion back to an "us and them" mentality.

**DidJit** · 24th November 2009, 21:11

Did you explain to them that their wallets are going to be affected by this as well?

**The Joka** · 25th November 2009, 05:38

"Did you explain to them that their wallets are going to be affected by this as well?"

It doesnt matter... they are losing interest through retarded action that is nothing more then mindless attention seeking.

Like the shopping mall idea... what message are you trying to send?

**The Stranger:Me** · 25th November 2009, 06:42

Originally Posted by The Joka

Mission Bay Protest: The message I got was a group of pissed off people seeking attention... Now if this had been done on a Weekday in Auckland city it says if ACC charge me this increase, I will be bringing my car to work and will take this park.

There was a protest at Mission Bay?
How did that work? there were no cars to piss off and all the cafes were full of paying customers thanks to us. The local business owners will welcome us back anytime after that "protest", we must have saved them thousands.

Boy we showed them.

**DidJit** · 25th November 2009, 07:35

Originally Posted by The Joka

It doesnt matter... they are losing interest through retarded action that is nothing more then mindless attention seeking.

Originally Posted by The Joka

My suggestion for the next protest is a simple one...

On the next Fund Raising / Charity ride you go on wear a vest, fly a flag or have banners that state if ACC put up the levies on unjust figures that this charity is going to suffer! Then let your media outlets know about the charity ride... This shows bikers in a postive light and shows that if the Government do this that the wider community suffers not just the bikers. I know that I will be Flying my flag on the toy run.

So do you think that your suggestion is enough to change John Key's mind?
John Key doesn't give a shit about charity except for the personal tax breaks it gives him.

As has been mentioned a few times before by others more learned than I, the only thing that will stop these ACC changes is if National and John Key believe the political fallout from privatizing ACC is so great (read. they're out of a job) that the changes are not worth pursuing.

Yes, there will be people who get sick of hearing about ACC protests — there are already plenty of bikers who are sick of it! — but the only way we can keep the proposed destruction of ACC in the public eye is by maintaining media coverage of the proposed destruction of ACC. Because that's the only way you can educate the masses in this modern age.

This is a war, not a single battle. There are many battles to be fought and many skirmishes to engage in before the war is won. National, Nick Smith and John Key are counting on the fact that people are apathetic and have short memories. We need to prove them otherwise.

If there is a way that we, as a collective, can keep intense pressure on National, Nick Smith and John Key without protesting, without the media, that we haven't thought of yet, please feel free to add your suggestions to the mix.

I'm not knocking your suggestion thus far — wearing protest messages in a visible, passive manner that gets people asking questions and keeps the issue top-of-mind is good — but is it good enough?

**Ixion** · 25th November 2009, 09:37

Originally Posted by The Stranger

There was a protest at Mission Bay?
How did that work? there were no cars to piss off and all the cafes were full of paying customers thanks to us. The local business owners will welcome us back anytime after that "protest", we must have saved them thousands.

Boy we showed them.

Front page of the Harold.

That worked!