London tonight

[egadfly]

This isn't one of the promised updates covering recent months; it's just about tonight. Apparently, since I have started journalling again, I am journalling again

Comments

[jester_nine]

I am largely in agreement. That is a function of my size not my level of agreement. It is too soon to prophecy the doom that too many seem too intent on predicting. The wide distribution of event locations are possibly of concern but the total (apparent, at this stage) lack of organisation, motive beyond looting, or co-ordination between the groups means that this is still firmly in the 'idiotic thugs' territory rather than the 'genuine societal change' bracket. Such outcomes are not impossible of course but I think them highly unlikely at this stage. Being angry enough to take to the streets for many nights in a row requires a higher motivation than a desire for a new television.

Your complexity comments highly worthy, and I would add that what we are seeing is a symptom of something rather than the thing itself.

I hope weekend plans will still result in our conjunction.

[egadfly]

It's the ironic, almost inevitable consequence of the distribution of power. Those who are able to participate in society have little incentive to fundamentally transform it. Those who want the social order turned upside down are powerless to achieve it. The violence is shocking, but it's only a threat to society if the have-nots can overwhelm the haves; and currently they can't.

In a fair society, all people would be given the opportunity to participate. In a resilient society, you only need enough people to participate. Our society is not fair but it is pretty resilient.