OWS

Occupy Boston’s Slow Decay

Posted by on July 11, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Much of Occupy Wall Street has been quiet lately. Even the National Gathering in Philadelphia on July 4th didn’t pull in the numbers they had expected or hoped for. What little focus Occupy had dissolved when the tents were torn down across the nation.

Occupy Boston certainly hasn’t been the exception, either. While they still may hold the occasional general assembly, they seem to be taking little direct action, if any. Most of their energy seems to be spent hosting a weekly Sunday afternoon whiffle ball game on Boston Common.

Sundays at 1PM. All comrades get a trophy.

What outwardly seems a fun-loving group of individuals seems to be decaying from within. Members past and present are becoming more and more vocal about their dissatisfaction with the way the group is run, and the people that seem to be taking control.

[tweet https://twitter.com/sunflwer1975/status/220119729644388353 align='center']

 

In this tweet, @sunflwer1975 is most likely talking about herself. The group that once vowed to help the homeless in Boston seems to be leaving a bad taste in their mouth. Maybe they took notice that @sunflwer1975 didn’t really need the help of OB, but should rather take steps to help herself. After all, she spends a lot of time tweeting from her Android phone begging for money. She mentions getting money from her uncle and using it to pay her wireless bill. One may argue that she needs that fancy smartphone to help herself get a job, but she doesn’t seem to have a lot of luck holding one down. That information can be seen on her blog, where she writes about her plights in being homeless. Looks like she even sprung the extra cash for a domain name. Whatever her actual financial situation may be, she doesn’t seem to care about Occupy Boston anymore.

Occupy Boston’s chronic sex offender problem doesn’t seem to be winning too many fans, either.

[tweet https://twitter.com/SarahBTweets/status/216187116730859521 align='center']

[tweet https://twitter.com/SarahBTweets/status/216187528636665856 align='center']

[tweet https://twitter.com/SarahBTweets/status/216189683837841408 align='center']

 

The problems with sex offenders is ongoing, and has even drawn the attention of Twitchy.com.

Agree with her politics, or not, one really has to appreciate the candor of Robin Jacks, one of the first to step foot in Dewey Square at Occupy Boston’s beginning. An obvious Twitter addict, she has no problems talking about her issues with OB’s general assembly, or the rift caused by the disagreements over the sex offenders.

[tweet https://twitter.com/caulkthewagon/status/222900366092681220 align='center']

[tweet https://twitter.com/caulkthewagon/status/222901335006253056 align='center']

[tweet https://twitter.com/caulkthewagon/status/222904372085010432 align='center']

[tweet https://twitter.com/caulkthewagon/status/222912802740912128 align='center']

[tweet https://twitter.com/caulkthewagon/status/222903503666950146 align='center']

 

Robin Jacks spends less time on Occupy Boston these days, and is more involved with exposing the offensive nature of the Boston Police union newsletter, the Pax Centurion. Ironic to be marching with unions one day and then exposing one’s racist rhetoric the next, but at least more focused than Occupy Boston.

Others have opined that OB’s issues stemmed from the fact that “anyone” is allowed to speak.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Occupy_Murph/status/216273423750529024 align='center']

 

Whatever the problem may be, it looks like Occupy Boston is slowly decaying. For those that wish to relive the glory days, there’s always the Sunday whiffle ball game. You just may want to think twice before bringing the kids.

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Author: Editor-in-chief, MPI. Twitter:@tjbynes
  • girlact75

    It’s a shame that we’re using Twitter to determine whether a movement is alive or not. It’s a terrible shame that we allow our movements to be co-opted by technology, because social media has done a serious amount of damage.

    Due to the ease with which you can make complaints, accusations and just spew garbage, on Twitter and Facebook, we as an organization have not been able to deal with conflict and the personal interactions that conflict needs in order to be resolved. Instead we use social media as a weapon against our own, sending out wanted posters and accusing folks of evil deeds while we wax philosophical about political ideals on the ground.

    Is Occupy Boston dying? Possibly. Luckily there are cycles to everything, and I believe there can always be rebirth. Possibly by the folks that have been working very hard towards productive ends and projects, leaving behind those that only came for the publicity, money and power.

    It hasn’t even been a year, Occupy is barely old enough to be a movement and yet we talk about it not succeeding, we discuss it not surviving. When the nails are in the coffin, we can discuss a burial, until then may I point out that Occupy Boston Radio, the Occupier, and many other folks have been working through the bad times and marching forward with hope and idealism.

    Peace and thanks!
    Sarah Francis
    Producer
    Occupy Boston Radio

    • http://mypoliticalintervention.wordpress.com TJ Bynes

      Social media may have co-opted your movement, but it’s what birthed and sustained it, as well. To blame your sex offender problem (or conflict, as you like to call it) on Twitter and Facebook just shows how dismissive you’re willing to be about it. That’s the real shame here.

      Social media isn’t destroying your movement. It’s only exposing the reality you’d rather ignore.