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SF Anarchist? Bookfair: A Cautionary Tale
Anarchist get-togethers should not be spaces that breed competition. Rather, they should encourage compromise and cooperation. Apparently the organizers in SF have a different vision.
Members of Redwood Curtain Copwatch and Richardson Grove Action Now!, a direct action coalition which has been taking direct action to stop the CalTrans plan to widen the highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park, traveled 6 hours south to the Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair this past weekend. They arrived with the intent to make connections with Bay Area activists and find common ground in struggle, but instead what they experienced was name calling, personal attacks and a stifling of their political message.
Two members of this Humboldt county anarchist crew arrived in the morning, and the rest showed up mid-day Saturday. When they attempted to set up a table that afternoon outside the bookfair, the trouble started. The “designated” outdoor area was full of others who had come to participate in the event, so they found an open spot about 15 feet away. Within minutes bookfair organizer Joey Cain swooped in with his first attack. He told them they had to move to the other side of what could be called the “foyer” of the faire. RGAN and RCCW were advised to “follow the rules” of the bookfair and were offered a spot way back in the corner of the front area, where nobody could or would be walking by. In an attempt to compromise, they moved the table to a spot where a band had set-up earlier in the day. This position was still not acceptable for the organizers of the event. Cain came back out and called them all “ASSHOLES” then, with his finger pointed directly at one of the comrades and his body in a definite violation of her personal space, he called her a “BITCH”.
A young female organizer from Bound Together Books came to Cain’s aid, and repeatedly told the anarchists to “OBEY” the rules of the bookfair. Then she picked up a stack of fliers from the table (about resisting police interrogation) and threw them towards the front gate. After this, the Humboldt anarchists attempted to compromise by folding up the table and putting the literature on the ground which was apparently the correct protocol for participation.
However, the position of their plot was still an issue. Kindly, some of the other participants moved their zines and allowed RGAN and RCCW to squeeze into the “designated” anarchy area. However RGAN still had a posterboard near the spot from which they had just moved. Cain came back AGAIN, picked up the three part posterboard, and ripped a third of it off (He later claimed that Richardson Grove Action Now! ripped their own sign in order to “cause a scene”).
Humboldt group members were also criticized for supposedly thinking that their issue was more important than anyone else’s’ and also that they thought they were “privileged.” When the participants tried to explain to the organizers that there was simply no room in the “designated” area, but that they still really wanted to participate, the organizers’ response was simply that they should have come earlier.
The problem RGAN and RCCW find with this reaction is that if they had come earlier, and set up in the correct area, someone else would have been in their position. Also, the sexist “BITCH” comment is a sign that organizer Cain needs to check his white male privilege and patriarchal tendencies. Additionally, it should be noted that if the HumCo crew had paid the exorbitant $200 tabling fee, they would have been inside and none of this would have happened. They did not pay this fee due to a lack of funds. The oppressive comments and actions they received because of this is probably why one of the Humboldt anarchists called Kane a “FASCIST.”
After these events, police presence at the faire was heightened. In my opinion, the heat brought to the faire was a result of the actions of the event’s organizers. They will surely blame the participants, who left at noon on Sunday because the event had turned out to be policed by more than just the park rangers and SFPD. What do you think?
Anarchist get-togethers should not be spaces that breed competition. Rather, they should encourage compromise and cooperation. Apparently the organizers in SF have a different vision.
Let these events be known. Let Anarchy live on. In solidarity.....
Two members of this Humboldt county anarchist crew arrived in the morning, and the rest showed up mid-day Saturday. When they attempted to set up a table that afternoon outside the bookfair, the trouble started. The “designated” outdoor area was full of others who had come to participate in the event, so they found an open spot about 15 feet away. Within minutes bookfair organizer Joey Cain swooped in with his first attack. He told them they had to move to the other side of what could be called the “foyer” of the faire. RGAN and RCCW were advised to “follow the rules” of the bookfair and were offered a spot way back in the corner of the front area, where nobody could or would be walking by. In an attempt to compromise, they moved the table to a spot where a band had set-up earlier in the day. This position was still not acceptable for the organizers of the event. Cain came back out and called them all “ASSHOLES” then, with his finger pointed directly at one of the comrades and his body in a definite violation of her personal space, he called her a “BITCH”.
A young female organizer from Bound Together Books came to Cain’s aid, and repeatedly told the anarchists to “OBEY” the rules of the bookfair. Then she picked up a stack of fliers from the table (about resisting police interrogation) and threw them towards the front gate. After this, the Humboldt anarchists attempted to compromise by folding up the table and putting the literature on the ground which was apparently the correct protocol for participation.
However, the position of their plot was still an issue. Kindly, some of the other participants moved their zines and allowed RGAN and RCCW to squeeze into the “designated” anarchy area. However RGAN still had a posterboard near the spot from which they had just moved. Cain came back AGAIN, picked up the three part posterboard, and ripped a third of it off (He later claimed that Richardson Grove Action Now! ripped their own sign in order to “cause a scene”).
Humboldt group members were also criticized for supposedly thinking that their issue was more important than anyone else’s’ and also that they thought they were “privileged.” When the participants tried to explain to the organizers that there was simply no room in the “designated” area, but that they still really wanted to participate, the organizers’ response was simply that they should have come earlier.
The problem RGAN and RCCW find with this reaction is that if they had come earlier, and set up in the correct area, someone else would have been in their position. Also, the sexist “BITCH” comment is a sign that organizer Cain needs to check his white male privilege and patriarchal tendencies. Additionally, it should be noted that if the HumCo crew had paid the exorbitant $200 tabling fee, they would have been inside and none of this would have happened. They did not pay this fee due to a lack of funds. The oppressive comments and actions they received because of this is probably why one of the Humboldt anarchists called Kane a “FASCIST.”
After these events, police presence at the faire was heightened. In my opinion, the heat brought to the faire was a result of the actions of the event’s organizers. They will surely blame the participants, who left at noon on Sunday because the event had turned out to be policed by more than just the park rangers and SFPD. What do you think?
Anarchist get-togethers should not be spaces that breed competition. Rather, they should encourage compromise and cooperation. Apparently the organizers in SF have a different vision.
Let these events be known. Let Anarchy live on. In solidarity.....
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I don't know the details of this incident since I was inside the building for almost the entire day on Saturday. But it sounds to me like you folks from Humboldt are sore because the bookfair organizers wouldn't accommodate your demands. Yes, demands. You can sugar-coat your position and attitude all you want to make it appear that you did nothing wrong but there are a couple of issues that you must acknowledge before anyone can take your complaints seriously.
1. The bookfair organizers, as renters and holders of liability for the space, are bound by the rules for all people and organizations that rent park property. In order to maintain their ability to continue to hold the bookfair at the county building, they must accept, and unfortunately enforce, those rules. That's the price the organizers and the vendors and others who attend must pay. Including those who set up their stuff outside the gates.
2. Joey is a long-time and massive queen, which seriously undercuts whatever patriarchal privilege you allege he pulled. He is also known for his enduring patience in dealing with assholes, which means that he was already at his limit by the time those photos were taken.
3. You sound like typical whining freeloaders, who think that the responsible folks who organize events owe you something for your alleged adherence to anarchism. But guess what? We don't owe you shit. Go cry on someone else's shoulder.
1. The bookfair organizers, as renters and holders of liability for the space, are bound by the rules for all people and organizations that rent park property. In order to maintain their ability to continue to hold the bookfair at the county building, they must accept, and unfortunately enforce, those rules. That's the price the organizers and the vendors and others who attend must pay. Including those who set up their stuff outside the gates.
2. Joey is a long-time and massive queen, which seriously undercuts whatever patriarchal privilege you allege he pulled. He is also known for his enduring patience in dealing with assholes, which means that he was already at his limit by the time those photos were taken.
3. You sound like typical whining freeloaders, who think that the responsible folks who organize events owe you something for your alleged adherence to anarchism. But guess what? We don't owe you shit. Go cry on someone else's shoulder.
Maybe it's time to go back to one day for the event. Better to have a one-day event people really care about than to have speakers speak to rooms with less than ten people in attendance on a second day.
It would reduce costs for the event, for organizers, for tablers, and travel expenses for those who might want to attend.
I felt kind of sad for tablers and speakers on the second day. It's like they all were trapped there and had to go on with the show regardless of turn-out.
It would reduce costs for the event, for organizers, for tablers, and travel expenses for those who might want to attend.
I felt kind of sad for tablers and speakers on the second day. It's like they all were trapped there and had to go on with the show regardless of turn-out.
Joey and the bookfair crew work hard and do a good job creating the biggest anarchist get together in North America every year. They deserve our respect.
Folks in Humbolt do really solid organizing around community justice, cop repression and ecological justice fights up north. They deserve our respect for their organizing and a welcome for coming down to join the bookfair.
Sorry to hear it ended up a in a bad dynamic. Hope folks can reflect a bit-- rather than fan it with an indybay post--and do better to avoid unnecessary conflict among comrades.
Folks in Humbolt do really solid organizing around community justice, cop repression and ecological justice fights up north. They deserve our respect for their organizing and a welcome for coming down to join the bookfair.
Sorry to hear it ended up a in a bad dynamic. Hope folks can reflect a bit-- rather than fan it with an indybay post--and do better to avoid unnecessary conflict among comrades.
Have you all ever organized a large event? Ditto the comments of the first poster. Overstretched folks dealing with a zillion issues don't have time to hold your hand. Getting any large enough spaces to accomodate events more than can fit in our anarchy bookstores almost always entails a bunch of bullshit rules. You all couldn't afford a table, I dig that. At the same time understand just rolling up to something having talked to no one beforehand to just do your thing, which by all accounts sounds like it initially violated the conditions organizers have to have for space utilization, is often going to not people in the best of moods. For you, it's the first interaction of your day and you're all like hmm just talk to us blah blah. For something who has to drop what they're doing to deal with your lack of knowledge it can be a pain in the ass. And when people do take that time and then folks gets cutesy about it all- we'll just move part of the way, we'll just leave our sign there, we'll just etc, it gets real old real fast.
Children, we must follow the rules. They are the rules. If you don't follow the rules we will have to call the police. Yes, the police - because we have to work with authority - this is america. insurance and stuff like that you know. And Joey's a queen and been around a long time - he's "established." Don't criticize the "establishment." follow the rules, please. don't make any waves - this is not truly an anarchist fair. And it sounds like you were really trying to disrupt a controlled, organized event for which we should be so grateful to those who do all the work - that's cause in this anarchy we have these people who do all the work and make the rules (the leaders, the establishment) and the rest of you had better follow along. If you don't follow the rules you can't have the event here - so compromise please, please, please.
For those from out of town, San Francisco is no longer the city that it used to be although some like to say it is. It is a gentrified, upscale community that has in many fundamental ways lost its soul. Sad but true. And a name is just a name is just a name.
For those from out of town, San Francisco is no longer the city that it used to be although some like to say it is. It is a gentrified, upscale community that has in many fundamental ways lost its soul. Sad but true. And a name is just a name is just a name.
so there were fewer people this year? For about the last 2-3 years, I noticed that they stopped advertising. Around 2005-2009, that place was just packed. That was why they made the decision to change to two days. They could go back to advertising the event in more places.
Miles on the mark quote: "You sound like typical whining freeloaders, who think that the responsible folks who organize events owe you something for your alleged adherence to anarchism. But guess what? We don't owe you shit. Go cry on someone else's shoulder."
That's right the organizers don't owe you shit. Grow up.
That's right the organizers don't owe you shit. Grow up.
i wasnt there, i dont know the details. two things to add though.
1. cooperating with/using the police is unacceptable (if that is what happened.)
2. voluntary association, which has long been an anarchist tradition, means people can kick you out of their event. if they set up an event, and dont want to associate with you, you should respect that.
1. cooperating with/using the police is unacceptable (if that is what happened.)
2. voluntary association, which has long been an anarchist tradition, means people can kick you out of their event. if they set up an event, and dont want to associate with you, you should respect that.
All liberals including Anarchists are now under the Obama trance and are too politically correct to participate/resist/protest the system. No one can challenge Obama unless they want to be looked at as a racist right-wing Tea Bagger. Why do you think the system appointed Barack Obama?
Everyone is getting hustled right now. Had Bush still been in office the numbers would have steadily increased which shows the deradicalization of all liberals is working just great as planned. Had it not been for the piss poor turnout, a police presence would have started a riot. People are in-fighting out of despair and confusion. "Why the low turn out?" "What happened to all the anarchists?" "What does this mean for the future of anarchy?"
It means the future is very bleak for we have no willpower and are very weak minded. It means we are willing to fall on our deaf eras and numb hearts. It means we are powerless to look beyond our own political correctness to beat the system. It means we've been beaten psychologically by the elite. It means most anarchists have no principles and ther efor have resorted to compromise with the devil it self/authority so long as liberals believe they are getting a better deal than before even if the better deal is an illusion.
Even if we all know all politicians are spokesmen and women for the corporations and the military industrial complex, WE FAIL TO OVERCOME USING THE ELECTION SYSTEM. No one can beat the system for it is too smart and there for we are too dumb. We have been had by a great deceiver and we're too closed minded to look at it.
DOOM HAS PREVAILED!
Everyone is getting hustled right now. Had Bush still been in office the numbers would have steadily increased which shows the deradicalization of all liberals is working just great as planned. Had it not been for the piss poor turnout, a police presence would have started a riot. People are in-fighting out of despair and confusion. "Why the low turn out?" "What happened to all the anarchists?" "What does this mean for the future of anarchy?"
It means the future is very bleak for we have no willpower and are very weak minded. It means we are willing to fall on our deaf eras and numb hearts. It means we are powerless to look beyond our own political correctness to beat the system. It means we've been beaten psychologically by the elite. It means most anarchists have no principles and ther efor have resorted to compromise with the devil it self/authority so long as liberals believe they are getting a better deal than before even if the better deal is an illusion.
Even if we all know all politicians are spokesmen and women for the corporations and the military industrial complex, WE FAIL TO OVERCOME USING THE ELECTION SYSTEM. No one can beat the system for it is too smart and there for we are too dumb. We have been had by a great deceiver and we're too closed minded to look at it.
DOOM HAS PREVAILED!
Anyone else miss nessie?
Please don't think everyone in Humboldt is this rude and inconsiderate. I'm also from Humboldt (but not involved with the RCCW or the RGAN). Our "crew" had a good time and really appreciate the hard work and difficulties in putting this thing together. Miles is right. I didn't witness any of this drama but I am appalled at what I've just read and it's, unfortunately, not surprising!
Not mentioned in this is that ALL anarchist groups are tight on funds and had to scrape together the $200 to have a table! The Humboldt crew are either freeloaders or outright COINTELPRO provocateurs looking to stir up shit. Take your pick. Either option sucks.
I miss Nessie.
in case anyone missed the gossip about the hot sauce pie attack on Lierre Keith last year by the three rude folks (plus audience supporters) - it looks like the Portland primitive skills enthusiast, Urban Scout, deduced who that probably was :
http://www.urbanscout.org/calling-the-cops-vs-rewilding/
http://www.urbanscout.org/calling-the-cops-vs-rewilding/
Miles said it,
"The bookfair organizers, as renters and holders of liability for the space, are bound by the rules for all people and organizations that rent park property. In order to maintain their ability to continue to hold the bookfair at the county building, they must accept, and unfortunately enforce, those rules."
This has been their policy for a number of years, it's not personal, real-live Food Not Bombs (not Keith McHenry's spendy merch table) and a number of SF organizations have been forced change their setup or move a ways outside the gates, it's what comes with using the city's space.
If there was a better alternative space that could accommodate so many people, great! But I think the amount of outreach the event does outweighs the compromises it has to make.
"The bookfair organizers, as renters and holders of liability for the space, are bound by the rules for all people and organizations that rent park property. In order to maintain their ability to continue to hold the bookfair at the county building, they must accept, and unfortunately enforce, those rules."
This has been their policy for a number of years, it's not personal, real-live Food Not Bombs (not Keith McHenry's spendy merch table) and a number of SF organizations have been forced change their setup or move a ways outside the gates, it's what comes with using the city's space.
If there was a better alternative space that could accommodate so many people, great! But I think the amount of outreach the event does outweighs the compromises it has to make.
Fuck Urban Scout and Lierre Keith. Malatesta and DeCleyre were both shot and neither of them--or any of their friends--called the cops.
I'll echo what compa said earlier. It's really sad to see people that should be comrades fighting with each other. I guess it's the reality of North American organizing.
"A while back an anonymous person mailed me a giant rock with an insulting remark attached to it." - Urban Scout
Heaven forbid. A rock! And an insult!!
So he called the cops. Really. (Just as the cops were called when Lierre Keith got pied.)
Lots of politically-oriented, public-facing groups and individuals have gotten "bad" mail, some much worse and more directly threatening than that. Some got rocks through their windows not packed neatly in a box. Others have been pied. And they didn't bother calling the police.
Really, what in the hell did this guy expect? That they would call in a full forensic crew, put all of the power of the state to defend this white guy from getting rocks in the mail, and turn their guns toward prosecuting the evil rock-mailing perpetrators in a disproportionate manner??
"Blame it on my obsession with the show Law and Order but I believed that, in spite of their underlying purpose of keeping business and commerce protected, that they still would have to do some kind of protecting and serving of people. I always assumed that they at least protected people in some way or other. When I had a civilian reason to call the cops, an anonymous person harassing me, I called them up." - Urban Scout
Sadly, he had a rude awakening when they basically laughed it off. Gosh, go figure. And this is someone who expects us to take him seriously as a DEEP THINKER?!?
Sorry, but that is just too major of a misunderstanding of The Way Things Are to ever care about anything else he has to say. Same with Lierre Keith. And Derrick Jensen. They want us to think of them as Very Smart People. Then they have an epiphany of whatever sort or whatever merit (cops bad, veganism will kill you, etc) and we are expected to ignore the fact that they previously thought something completely different but NOW they are on the One True Path, just trust that they are really, truly right this time.
This mix of gross naivete, major value reversals, and unflappable self-assuredness is baffling, but some folks eat it up and happily pay $400 to hear Keith and Jensen fart into a microphone. These self-promoting "primitivists" are nothing short of misanthropic, apocalypse-craving, charlatans who call the cops, eat factory-farmed meat, and would tell us all why they are the ultimate, most radical antiestablishmentarians ever, if you'll only pony up a few bucks over and over again for their never-ending stream of self-published books.
Heaven forbid. A rock! And an insult!!
So he called the cops. Really. (Just as the cops were called when Lierre Keith got pied.)
Lots of politically-oriented, public-facing groups and individuals have gotten "bad" mail, some much worse and more directly threatening than that. Some got rocks through their windows not packed neatly in a box. Others have been pied. And they didn't bother calling the police.
Really, what in the hell did this guy expect? That they would call in a full forensic crew, put all of the power of the state to defend this white guy from getting rocks in the mail, and turn their guns toward prosecuting the evil rock-mailing perpetrators in a disproportionate manner??
"Blame it on my obsession with the show Law and Order but I believed that, in spite of their underlying purpose of keeping business and commerce protected, that they still would have to do some kind of protecting and serving of people. I always assumed that they at least protected people in some way or other. When I had a civilian reason to call the cops, an anonymous person harassing me, I called them up." - Urban Scout
Sadly, he had a rude awakening when they basically laughed it off. Gosh, go figure. And this is someone who expects us to take him seriously as a DEEP THINKER?!?
Sorry, but that is just too major of a misunderstanding of The Way Things Are to ever care about anything else he has to say. Same with Lierre Keith. And Derrick Jensen. They want us to think of them as Very Smart People. Then they have an epiphany of whatever sort or whatever merit (cops bad, veganism will kill you, etc) and we are expected to ignore the fact that they previously thought something completely different but NOW they are on the One True Path, just trust that they are really, truly right this time.
This mix of gross naivete, major value reversals, and unflappable self-assuredness is baffling, but some folks eat it up and happily pay $400 to hear Keith and Jensen fart into a microphone. These self-promoting "primitivists" are nothing short of misanthropic, apocalypse-craving, charlatans who call the cops, eat factory-farmed meat, and would tell us all why they are the ultimate, most radical antiestablishmentarians ever, if you'll only pony up a few bucks over and over again for their never-ending stream of self-published books.
The tables inside the bookfair are $160 for 2 days.
But this misinformation is part of the problem. I don't mean to be rude, but maybe you all should stay in Humboldt.
Joey puts countless hours into organizing the book fair, which is a thankless task he does lovingly. I live in the next district over so I know very well that he's the type of person who can walk down the block and hold his head high because EVERYONE in the Haight respects him. I respect him immensely too.
And stop lying: Joey is one of the most fair and patient people I've ever met in my life. If you Humboldt wingnuts got Joey to flip you off and call you names, YOU must really be dicks. Next year please stay up north and keep San Francisco free of liars and cheapskates. The Bookfair Collective didn't raise the rates, the fucking neo-liberals who run SF Rec & Park (and its hatchet man/privatizing leader Phil Ginsburg) did.
Did you notice the $7 fee for non-residents to go into the Arboretum? Do you know that people in the neighborhood like Joey and my neighbors and I have been fighting that since the onset of the current economic crisis? Hear about how HANC is being driven out of the neighborhood? If not, either inform yourselves about how San Francisco is being neo-liberalized -- or please stay in Humboldt next year.
Thanks,
SFred
But this misinformation is part of the problem. I don't mean to be rude, but maybe you all should stay in Humboldt.
Joey puts countless hours into organizing the book fair, which is a thankless task he does lovingly. I live in the next district over so I know very well that he's the type of person who can walk down the block and hold his head high because EVERYONE in the Haight respects him. I respect him immensely too.
And stop lying: Joey is one of the most fair and patient people I've ever met in my life. If you Humboldt wingnuts got Joey to flip you off and call you names, YOU must really be dicks. Next year please stay up north and keep San Francisco free of liars and cheapskates. The Bookfair Collective didn't raise the rates, the fucking neo-liberals who run SF Rec & Park (and its hatchet man/privatizing leader Phil Ginsburg) did.
Did you notice the $7 fee for non-residents to go into the Arboretum? Do you know that people in the neighborhood like Joey and my neighbors and I have been fighting that since the onset of the current economic crisis? Hear about how HANC is being driven out of the neighborhood? If not, either inform yourselves about how San Francisco is being neo-liberalized -- or please stay in Humboldt next year.
Thanks,
SFred
Some in the RCCW or the RGAN may be "freeloaders or outright COINTELPRO provocateurs" but not the people from Humboldt in general. It's more likely the result of the same stupidity and warped logic that gives rise to formal activist platforms and organizations like these in the first place. Definitely not something all that anarchist despite Humboldt Grassroots' uncritical use of that label.
It's already happened. San Francisco is an exclusive playground for rich hipsters. Scores of creative and activist types got run out ten years ago. SF is just putting the finishing touches on it now.
Maybe it's time to look for venues in Oakland. Or you can just continue to subsidize, and demand vendors subsidize, this ongoing liberalization of which you speak. Are you feeding the beast?
Maybe it's time to look for venues in Oakland. Or you can just continue to subsidize, and demand vendors subsidize, this ongoing liberalization of which you speak. Are you feeding the beast?
if you are so upset with the way things are done, organize your own book faire and you can set the prices for tables and be responsible if the authorities show up, and you can be the dick that has to enforce some regulation as to prevent unproductive chaos. i think you will find its more work than you thought and you wont follow through with it.
Well this is in full spirit of the bookfair! It seems that there is always some controversy at the fair each year, whether it is: The RCP table getting run out and water thrown on their literature, Lilian Keith getting pepper pied and now this. Well, honestly it seems like a bunch of drama to me and these sort of little spats need to stop because it just creates division amongst our movement( period) I was not there, but it seems to me from the article, pictures and comments, that Joey Cain is somewhat out of control. I don't think that he has the right to be some sort of tabling cop and loose control when someone is not following the rules to the utmost perfection. He surely doesn't have the right call a woman a 'bitch'.
"Joey is a long-time and massive queen, which seriously undercuts whatever patriarchal privilege you allege he pulled. He is also known for his enduring patience in dealing with assholes, which means that he was already at his limit by the time those photos were taken."
This argument by Miles is total BS! Just because he is gay or a 'massive queen' as you put it, does not give him a right to use the B-word towards a woman. It is sexist and he should not get away with it because he is not a straight male. As if only straight men can be sexist or misogynistic towards women; Give me a break! Total straw man argument! That was a slur he used and directed towards that woman because of her gender, and it was wrong of him to do it( period).
I also think that his apologists need to stop coming out for him saying that he usually is a patient guy who was somehow provoked by the Humboldt crew. He has pictures of him flipping the bird and pointing the his finger at people with a nasty scowl on his face. I wasn't there, but from the pics, he is obviously out of control and I think that probably the dispute could of been handled in a calmer, more cordial and better way. Usually the people who point their fingers( like Joey in that one picture) at others, are pointing their fingers at themselves.
He shouldn't get a free ride or a pass when he behaves like that because he is the lead organizer of the fair. No one should get that right and privilege. Yes it is privilege Miles, sorry your wrong! What is going on with the bookfair? Is this really anarchist? It seems that people's basic dignity as human beings are being trampled on when they want to participate in the fair, such as getting a space or a table. The event should be open to all, not just those who have the ability to pay for a table. Honestly, if the fair is just going to be for those who are looking to make buck( I am sure that Joey is getting a nice slice being an organizer), then maybe REAL anarchists should revolt and start something new next year. Something that is about anarchy, and not just some capitalistic book shopping event. How about an event where certain individuals are NOT attacked for not going by the rules that the organizers lay down for the fair, or if they have views that do not fit in with grand narrative or the norm of the bookfair. I would think that those basic things should not be an issue, especially at an anarchist event. But apparently, we have alot to work out amongst ourselves before we move forward. =[
"Joey is a long-time and massive queen, which seriously undercuts whatever patriarchal privilege you allege he pulled. He is also known for his enduring patience in dealing with assholes, which means that he was already at his limit by the time those photos were taken."
This argument by Miles is total BS! Just because he is gay or a 'massive queen' as you put it, does not give him a right to use the B-word towards a woman. It is sexist and he should not get away with it because he is not a straight male. As if only straight men can be sexist or misogynistic towards women; Give me a break! Total straw man argument! That was a slur he used and directed towards that woman because of her gender, and it was wrong of him to do it( period).
I also think that his apologists need to stop coming out for him saying that he usually is a patient guy who was somehow provoked by the Humboldt crew. He has pictures of him flipping the bird and pointing the his finger at people with a nasty scowl on his face. I wasn't there, but from the pics, he is obviously out of control and I think that probably the dispute could of been handled in a calmer, more cordial and better way. Usually the people who point their fingers( like Joey in that one picture) at others, are pointing their fingers at themselves.
He shouldn't get a free ride or a pass when he behaves like that because he is the lead organizer of the fair. No one should get that right and privilege. Yes it is privilege Miles, sorry your wrong! What is going on with the bookfair? Is this really anarchist? It seems that people's basic dignity as human beings are being trampled on when they want to participate in the fair, such as getting a space or a table. The event should be open to all, not just those who have the ability to pay for a table. Honestly, if the fair is just going to be for those who are looking to make buck( I am sure that Joey is getting a nice slice being an organizer), then maybe REAL anarchists should revolt and start something new next year. Something that is about anarchy, and not just some capitalistic book shopping event. How about an event where certain individuals are NOT attacked for not going by the rules that the organizers lay down for the fair, or if they have views that do not fit in with grand narrative or the norm of the bookfair. I would think that those basic things should not be an issue, especially at an anarchist event. But apparently, we have alot to work out amongst ourselves before we move forward. =[
Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
Everything's under control
Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
'cause you think you're gettin' too old
Don't try to do no thinkin'
Just go on with your drinkin'
Just have your fun, you old son of a gun
Then drive home in your lincoln
Everything's under control
Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top
'cause you think you're gettin' too old
Don't try to do no thinkin'
Just go on with your drinkin'
Just have your fun, you old son of a gun
Then drive home in your lincoln
Wow, there's so much that's wrong in your post, from skewed history to misspellings. To catalog them one by one would be to bring far more gravity to your idiocy than it deserves. Organize your own event you whiny bullshit artist.
It seems like every year there is some kind of drama at the Bookfair. One year it's the Trots, the next year it's the RCP, the next its vegan vs. non-vegan. This year it was this. Not a really good show, but Joey always plays his part well, altho the b-word may have been over the top, but the finger is priceless.
As for Sunday's attendance, it's just a little more intimate. Not every day has to have the massive numbers of Saturday. And plus there was the BASTARD Conference in Berkeley, and an anti-war/anti-repression march in San Francisco and i believe two other major activist events during the day on Sunday. I bet you if you count all the people who went to all the different radical events in the Bay Area, you would have, on that Sunday,
As for Sunday's attendance, it's just a little more intimate. Not every day has to have the massive numbers of Saturday. And plus there was the BASTARD Conference in Berkeley, and an anti-war/anti-repression march in San Francisco and i believe two other major activist events during the day on Sunday. I bet you if you count all the people who went to all the different radical events in the Bay Area, you would have, on that Sunday,
If a International Socialist Organzation or the Party of Socialism and Liberation were holding a Conference and took such a petty buereaucratic attitute especially towards a couple of activists that had driven 250 miles from behind the '' Redwood Curtain '' to attend it would be condemmed without reservation .
Anarchists would denounce it as a example of how the nasty old Authortarian Marxists try to suppress dissent etc.
But if such a action is carried out a Anarchist comrade (or whatever you guys call each other) that's different !
Especially if the Anarchist in question is Gay . ( What the sexuality of the offender has to do with anything is beyond me )
Anarchists would denounce it as a example of how the nasty old Authortarian Marxists try to suppress dissent etc.
But if such a action is carried out a Anarchist comrade (or whatever you guys call each other) that's different !
Especially if the Anarchist in question is Gay . ( What the sexuality of the offender has to do with anything is beyond me )
Conor, your comments are completely off the mark. If some entitled anarchists tried to push their way into a conference -- not a bookfair -- that was organized by Leninists or Stalinists and the anarchists were fucked with I'd say "What did they expect?" The same way when we kicked the RCP out of the bookfair two years ago. What did they expect?
If you had read the initial whining complaint from the Humboldt folks you'd have noticed that a (presumably straight) woman also engaged in monitoring the space, so your focus on Joey is a red herring.
The petulant demands of the Humboldt folks coupled with the legal parameters of using the park space is the issue, not Joey.
If you had read the initial whining complaint from the Humboldt folks you'd have noticed that a (presumably straight) woman also engaged in monitoring the space, so your focus on Joey is a red herring.
The petulant demands of the Humboldt folks coupled with the legal parameters of using the park space is the issue, not Joey.
I am gonna make this my last comment, because I think that there are already too many comments for this article, which basically is just drama; just like I titled my last comment. I don't want to keep adding to it, and I think that there are alot more important postings and issues here on Indybay to comment on, other than Joey pooing his pants and be an total sexist asshole. Although, I do think it is important to point such sexist behavior out if it is happening at events like the bookfair, and especially by an organizer. I even think that this should be in the Woymn section. Thanks for posting Sovryn, and also for the advice of caution
;-)
I kinda want to respond to Miles( who I kinda have a hunch is Joey), sorry that my quick comment jot doesn't have the correct grammar, or I mispelled Liar Keith's name wrong, or whatever. But I think that the real criticism should be of Joey using words like 'bitch' towards that woman. Also, why do you need to bring in the 'presumed' sexuality of another woman into this? That needs to stop! All you are doing Miles, is adding a sexist charge to this controversy, just like Joey did by calling her that. That is one reason why I think it's you Joey, using this alias Miles. First, you call that woman from Humbodlt a 'bitch', then you try to defend yourself under your alias 'Miles', by saying that calling her that name isn't sexist or doesn't apply to Joey because he is gay( horseshit!). Now, you are once again trying to divert attention away from the b-word remark, by saying the other woman who came in and told the Humbodlt kids to leave, is straight;you think. Whatever you fuck, that has nothing to do with anything, just like your sexuality doesn't, and like Connor said: is beyond me and should be beyond what the actual controversy is about. But you want to take it there, just like you decided to insult that woman's gender by using that slur and turning the dispute into a display of your own sexism. I think your afraid of women Miles, " not Joey', whatever. Oh and by the way, you writing that, is another reason I think it's you. Dumbass, don't give your self away. And I would think before pointing your finger and calling people names like that again, the real asshole and bitch is you. Fucker, enjoy your take from the bookfair you phony anarchist/capitalist book trader elite asshole. The fair should be about the community and not bloodsuckers like you making a buck, and thinking you can just go off and be sexist and discriminate against people because you organize the fair. Your turning into the dictator of the bookfair, and going against the ideals of what the fair should be about, as well as basically what anarchy should be about.
One more thing I want to add, I don't know if you called the cops or what. But if you did over some petty shit like this, then you really don't deserve to be organizing the ANARCHIST bookfair. You know what anarchist's attitudes about the cops are....don't you share the same feelings? Did they really need to be called? Was there a murder, was someone raped? Why was that Park Ranger there? I hope he was just driving by and saw the dispute and decided to stop and no one really called him. Because if anarchists are going to be calling the cops on one another to enforce tabling laws or ordinance, or whatever......then I don't know what this world is coming too. Kinda of the same way I don't know how pretentious bourgeoisie, phony anarchist assholes, who hate and are afraid of women, and display sexist behavior at the bookfair of all places...... get to be a lead organizer of the event. What do you think about that Joey/Miles? You want to check me on my grammar or my spelling, or if I didn't get my history of the bookfair drama right? Thanks Joey for causing that scene, I am sure all the undercover pigs and infiltrators at the fair got a good laugh, because they see people like you are causing rifts and divisions amongst the movement by pulling shit like that. They don't even need to use COINTELPRO tactics to start internal disputes with abrasive morons like you around. Fuck off asshole! :-P
;-)
I kinda want to respond to Miles( who I kinda have a hunch is Joey), sorry that my quick comment jot doesn't have the correct grammar, or I mispelled Liar Keith's name wrong, or whatever. But I think that the real criticism should be of Joey using words like 'bitch' towards that woman. Also, why do you need to bring in the 'presumed' sexuality of another woman into this? That needs to stop! All you are doing Miles, is adding a sexist charge to this controversy, just like Joey did by calling her that. That is one reason why I think it's you Joey, using this alias Miles. First, you call that woman from Humbodlt a 'bitch', then you try to defend yourself under your alias 'Miles', by saying that calling her that name isn't sexist or doesn't apply to Joey because he is gay( horseshit!). Now, you are once again trying to divert attention away from the b-word remark, by saying the other woman who came in and told the Humbodlt kids to leave, is straight;you think. Whatever you fuck, that has nothing to do with anything, just like your sexuality doesn't, and like Connor said: is beyond me and should be beyond what the actual controversy is about. But you want to take it there, just like you decided to insult that woman's gender by using that slur and turning the dispute into a display of your own sexism. I think your afraid of women Miles, " not Joey', whatever. Oh and by the way, you writing that, is another reason I think it's you. Dumbass, don't give your self away. And I would think before pointing your finger and calling people names like that again, the real asshole and bitch is you. Fucker, enjoy your take from the bookfair you phony anarchist/capitalist book trader elite asshole. The fair should be about the community and not bloodsuckers like you making a buck, and thinking you can just go off and be sexist and discriminate against people because you organize the fair. Your turning into the dictator of the bookfair, and going against the ideals of what the fair should be about, as well as basically what anarchy should be about.
One more thing I want to add, I don't know if you called the cops or what. But if you did over some petty shit like this, then you really don't deserve to be organizing the ANARCHIST bookfair. You know what anarchist's attitudes about the cops are....don't you share the same feelings? Did they really need to be called? Was there a murder, was someone raped? Why was that Park Ranger there? I hope he was just driving by and saw the dispute and decided to stop and no one really called him. Because if anarchists are going to be calling the cops on one another to enforce tabling laws or ordinance, or whatever......then I don't know what this world is coming too. Kinda of the same way I don't know how pretentious bourgeoisie, phony anarchist assholes, who hate and are afraid of women, and display sexist behavior at the bookfair of all places...... get to be a lead organizer of the event. What do you think about that Joey/Miles? You want to check me on my grammar or my spelling, or if I didn't get my history of the bookfair drama right? Thanks Joey for causing that scene, I am sure all the undercover pigs and infiltrators at the fair got a good laugh, because they see people like you are causing rifts and divisions amongst the movement by pulling shit like that. They don't even need to use COINTELPRO tactics to start internal disputes with abrasive morons like you around. Fuck off asshole! :-P
Wow, you are truly a piece of work. Not only am I not Joey, but you making this whole dispute about Joey calling someone a bitch is almost too funny for words. I have known Joey for more years than you've been alive. He has plenty of female friends and calls men bitches. He is infinitely patient, but has no time for pushy assholes.
I'm sorry Joey hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry if you find the word bitch to be so horrifyingly violent that it overshadows the authoritarian behavior of your friends from Humboldt.
The park rangers were all over the premises, inside and outside the whole day. When they noticed a commotion, they naturally went over to see what all the hubbub was about.
Nobody from Bound Together gets any money for organizing the bookfair. You're just being stupid, blindly lashing out. Whatever problems exist with the event (and there are plenty), Joey calling someone a bitch is so far down on the list as to be negligible. Up at the top there's the inherent contradiction of forcing the event to be driven by the logic and demands of capitalism--from the organizers shelling out thousands of dollars to rent the space to having vendors pay increasingly prohibitive tabling fees to reducing almost every interaction to business exchanges. Then there's the consistent lack of actual anarchist speakers. Then there's the unwelcome (to me anyway) presence of various marxists and apolitical vendors.
Organize your own event and try to make it a "safe space" for anyone whose feelings might get hurt with careless use of language or a cross-eyed glance. Your complaints are so far off the mark--like your assumption/accusation that I'm Joey--that they make you look even more stupid after your last post than you did after your first one.
I'm sorry Joey hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry if you find the word bitch to be so horrifyingly violent that it overshadows the authoritarian behavior of your friends from Humboldt.
The park rangers were all over the premises, inside and outside the whole day. When they noticed a commotion, they naturally went over to see what all the hubbub was about.
Nobody from Bound Together gets any money for organizing the bookfair. You're just being stupid, blindly lashing out. Whatever problems exist with the event (and there are plenty), Joey calling someone a bitch is so far down on the list as to be negligible. Up at the top there's the inherent contradiction of forcing the event to be driven by the logic and demands of capitalism--from the organizers shelling out thousands of dollars to rent the space to having vendors pay increasingly prohibitive tabling fees to reducing almost every interaction to business exchanges. Then there's the consistent lack of actual anarchist speakers. Then there's the unwelcome (to me anyway) presence of various marxists and apolitical vendors.
Organize your own event and try to make it a "safe space" for anyone whose feelings might get hurt with careless use of language or a cross-eyed glance. Your complaints are so far off the mark--like your assumption/accusation that I'm Joey--that they make you look even more stupid after your last post than you did after your first one.
Do these Humboldt organizations have any publications that explain their particular perspective on anarchism, or did they just get that from F*x News and Glenn Beckkk?
Those kids from Humboldt save trees and keep the activist scene pretty tight up north. Some of the only real activism and protest left in this country, if you ask me. I don't see the same spirit out of alot of people at the bookfair. Most of them are just there for the books and anarchy is some zine to them. I really don't know where FOX News and Glenn Beck came from and why you brought that up, wtf???
I was there on Sat. at 10:30 and tried to set up a 5x5 blanket on the outside of the event entrance and the park rangers told everyone to set up inside the entrance gate or pack it up. When I moved inside the gate area I was told to move my away from the left side over to the wide shaded area to keep the space free for people to sit and mingle (as if there wasn't plenty of space inside the building or out on the front lawn) and we would be blocking the entrance way (which I wasn't in the small space I picked out). Cain was an asshole about it saying "You should be thankful I don't charge you!" Yeah...when pigs fly out of my ass, then I'll pay. But we moved. I did notice that some of the free sales folks were taking up HUGE sums of space.....with zines and felt as though more people could have been accomodated (sp?) if we had been more thoughtful of how much space we each took up. I notice the cement area was really dirty w/ branches, pine cones and debris and made it a challenge for people to set up.
I am sorry that the event has to be run by an iron-fisted and rude ass like Cain. I think it was sad that anarchists don't show much love and solidarity to support as many tablers by giving up a little space. Not that this matters to the conversation, but I was pretty disgusted by the amount of trash that was thrown down and left all over the outside tabling area. Being a pig isn't a requirement of being an anarchist and I think showing disrespect for mother earth won't get people to consider that maybe we have something more to offer than the fucked up system we are living in now. I don't have much of a desire to attend this event next year.
I am sorry that the event has to be run by an iron-fisted and rude ass like Cain. I think it was sad that anarchists don't show much love and solidarity to support as many tablers by giving up a little space. Not that this matters to the conversation, but I was pretty disgusted by the amount of trash that was thrown down and left all over the outside tabling area. Being a pig isn't a requirement of being an anarchist and I think showing disrespect for mother earth won't get people to consider that maybe we have something more to offer than the fucked up system we are living in now. I don't have much of a desire to attend this event next year.
My name isn't nessie, but that doesn't mean it's not true.
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