“Waymos don’t have human drivers, they’re devoid of humanity,” she said. Destroyed robot taxis are “symbolic of the attempts, throughout the history of this country, by the tech industry to strip us of community.”
That last bit is pretty succinct - the tech industry is absolutely stripping us of community. Modern generations don't know life without Big Tech, but we gen-Xers remember life before the algorithm, and it was beautiful and hopeful.
Thank you for this on-the-scene report--I didn't know these things had happened. Perhaps a result of not reading mainstream press--THERE they probably emphasized this " violence," which will be used as an excuse for the lockdown coming, likely not just of LA but every city with a No Kings protest, which is all of them. I will be in Charleston, West Virginia.
Or in part the cars may have been easy targets, having no humans inside (so no risk of killing someone) and being too stupid to avoid the melee. And the scooters may have simply been available as easy objects to throw around.
I'm not convinced the surveillance aspect is on the minds of many (most will be happy Google users), though in a mob they may easily become that if one person lights the fuse.
I don't think there's a need for anything as extreme as a caltrops to stop a driverless truck. Presumably any driverless vehicle must be designed to stop in its tracks after detecting anything in its way, whether it's another truck, an old lady in a crosswalk, or an orange cone in the street. So stopping these things in a desired place and keeping them there is going to turn out to be extremely straightforward, I'm thinking.
As we are seeing now, it may make the technology useless.
I've always cynically joked about the Waymos in SF being "ghost taxis for a ghost town". (And I lived in SF and loved it for nearly 30 years.)
My bigger peeve is the privatization of public spaces with profiteering corporate robots, which call into question who is in service of what (instead of vice versa). Delivery robots, robotaxis, and even escooters included. And the surveillance angle here in your post would underscore that.
I’m all for protesting, peacefully! By now, the astute observation that violent protestors are helping Trump justify the use of the military is apparent; this can only lead to authoritarianism and Trump being knighted as king. If we arrive at that point, then peaceful protests are useless tools and what happens then will become apparent.
I recall during Iraq war protests, a long time ago, masked protesters (the only protesters who were masked) would vandalize store windows. It gave the peaceful assembly a bad look on the news casts.
Masked with a bandana. Drum stick to cowbell was their signal to each other.
Let me qualify my comment and add a question. I don't disagree that vandalizing shop windows, etc can be counterproductive and hurt the wrong people. But tut-tutting mask-wearing protestors acting from well-grounded rage feels beside the point right now (if I'm misconstruing your post, by the way, apologies. And also thanks for getting me thinking critically). Curious what you and others think - what does "Good Trouble" (RIP John Lewis) look like right now? Targeting Waymos and Limes resonates on some level, for reasons Brian states eloquently above. But it's something I, my partner, and others in our circle have been wrestling with. Peacefully protesting in Boston City Hall plaza does not feel like enough, e.g.
Those seem like innocent times now. Under a surveillance-savvy authoritarian regime, masking up is a must for all who resist. Reminds me of my time in West Belfast in the mid-90s, I can still hear the nonstop drone of British army helicopters. And that was before ubiquitous CCTV
Fascinating observations Brian, thanks. Hopefully of your correct about any of the cars being summoned to be sacrificed, the individual who requested them has a reasoned explanation for what transpired...
My son and I were in Phoenix when we met Waymo for the first time. Several of them nearly rearended us and some cut us off in traffic. We laughed when we saw them being torced! We laughed harder when we saw Limes being thrown into the Waymo fires!! Hoorah!! Fvck autocracy!
Thanks for this take Brian. I remember the odd derelict car burnt up on a Saturday night in Isla Vista. I agree waymo, scooter, (and Tesla) damage is definitely more dialogue than debauchery.
Interesting reading this writeup on the events. I was under the impression that the Waymo cars were left there on purpose because of their surveillance abilities and that they'd be able to capture footage of who was there for the powers that be to use.
I mean, do y’all actually live here? Because I can tell you that vandalizing, looting and setting stupid driverless cars on fire basically gave Idiot Orange and cohorts the excuse to send the military into town. This tactic is neither romantic, heroic, nor targeting the right people in any effective manner. And it’s making it that much harder for our state to be supportive of our immigrants. This dumb stuff needs to stop.
WE HAVE AN URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS IN ALL major urban centers in the USA!
MISSION: make riot police laugh! Much more difficult to shoot someone who is making you laugh! Clowns dodging rubber bullets and flashbangs is much better TV than riot police shooting journalists!
Uhauls full of clowns mocking Patriot Front with drums and fifes are urgently needed.
“Waymos don’t have human drivers, they’re devoid of humanity,” she said. Destroyed robot taxis are “symbolic of the attempts, throughout the history of this country, by the tech industry to strip us of community.”
That last bit is pretty succinct - the tech industry is absolutely stripping us of community. Modern generations don't know life without Big Tech, but we gen-Xers remember life before the algorithm, and it was beautiful and hopeful.
Thank you for this on-the-scene report--I didn't know these things had happened. Perhaps a result of not reading mainstream press--THERE they probably emphasized this " violence," which will be used as an excuse for the lockdown coming, likely not just of LA but every city with a No Kings protest, which is all of them. I will be in Charleston, West Virginia.
Or in part the cars may have been easy targets, having no humans inside (so no risk of killing someone) and being too stupid to avoid the melee. And the scooters may have simply been available as easy objects to throw around.
I'm not convinced the surveillance aspect is on the minds of many (most will be happy Google users), though in a mob they may easily become that if one person lights the fuse.
I only hope my fellow truckers likewise view Robo-Trucks as an 'accountability sink' and pelt the interstate with caltrops every time they see one.
I don't think there's a need for anything as extreme as a caltrops to stop a driverless truck. Presumably any driverless vehicle must be designed to stop in its tracks after detecting anything in its way, whether it's another truck, an old lady in a crosswalk, or an orange cone in the street. So stopping these things in a desired place and keeping them there is going to turn out to be extremely straightforward, I'm thinking.
As we are seeing now, it may make the technology useless.
“accountability sink” is a great description. Great piece
I've always cynically joked about the Waymos in SF being "ghost taxis for a ghost town". (And I lived in SF and loved it for nearly 30 years.)
My bigger peeve is the privatization of public spaces with profiteering corporate robots, which call into question who is in service of what (instead of vice versa). Delivery robots, robotaxis, and even escooters included. And the surveillance angle here in your post would underscore that.
I’m all for protesting, peacefully! By now, the astute observation that violent protestors are helping Trump justify the use of the military is apparent; this can only lead to authoritarianism and Trump being knighted as king. If we arrive at that point, then peaceful protests are useless tools and what happens then will become apparent.
I recall during Iraq war protests, a long time ago, masked protesters (the only protesters who were masked) would vandalize store windows. It gave the peaceful assembly a bad look on the news casts.
Masked with a bandana. Drum stick to cowbell was their signal to each other.
Let me qualify my comment and add a question. I don't disagree that vandalizing shop windows, etc can be counterproductive and hurt the wrong people. But tut-tutting mask-wearing protestors acting from well-grounded rage feels beside the point right now (if I'm misconstruing your post, by the way, apologies. And also thanks for getting me thinking critically). Curious what you and others think - what does "Good Trouble" (RIP John Lewis) look like right now? Targeting Waymos and Limes resonates on some level, for reasons Brian states eloquently above. But it's something I, my partner, and others in our circle have been wrestling with. Peacefully protesting in Boston City Hall plaza does not feel like enough, e.g.
Those seem like innocent times now. Under a surveillance-savvy authoritarian regime, masking up is a must for all who resist. Reminds me of my time in West Belfast in the mid-90s, I can still hear the nonstop drone of British army helicopters. And that was before ubiquitous CCTV
Great work as usual, Brian!
Fascinating observations Brian, thanks. Hopefully of your correct about any of the cars being summoned to be sacrificed, the individual who requested them has a reasoned explanation for what transpired...
My son and I were in Phoenix when we met Waymo for the first time. Several of them nearly rearended us and some cut us off in traffic. We laughed when we saw them being torced! We laughed harder when we saw Limes being thrown into the Waymo fires!! Hoorah!! Fvck autocracy!
Thanks for this take Brian. I remember the odd derelict car burnt up on a Saturday night in Isla Vista. I agree waymo, scooter, (and Tesla) damage is definitely more dialogue than debauchery.
Interesting reading this writeup on the events. I was under the impression that the Waymo cars were left there on purpose because of their surveillance abilities and that they'd be able to capture footage of who was there for the powers that be to use.
I mean, do y’all actually live here? Because I can tell you that vandalizing, looting and setting stupid driverless cars on fire basically gave Idiot Orange and cohorts the excuse to send the military into town. This tactic is neither romantic, heroic, nor targeting the right people in any effective manner. And it’s making it that much harder for our state to be supportive of our immigrants. This dumb stuff needs to stop.
The Clown Army of Resistance is now recruiting!
https://lettersfromruralamerica.substack.com/p/the-clown-army-of-resistance
Please Share!
WE HAVE AN URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS IN ALL major urban centers in the USA!
MISSION: make riot police laugh! Much more difficult to shoot someone who is making you laugh! Clowns dodging rubber bullets and flashbangs is much better TV than riot police shooting journalists!
Uhauls full of clowns mocking Patriot Front with drums and fifes are urgently needed.
If you are asking “why clowns"?
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/transformation/why-are-nazis-so-afraid-of-clowns/