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Will Design for Change...

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allergictobullshit, December 9, 2008 (view all comments by allergictobullshit)
One thing that I guess is important is that there exist cultural alternatives for people, which I think this book shows at least one alternative exists.

Some things bother me about the content even though I think its a good read. One quick example is the electrician (?) landlord part. It bugs me that the author basically makes fun of him. This seems to happen throughout this guys writings. Always making fun of people, humor at someone's expense. A lot of times it is funny, but its simply unfair. Who knows what people are thinking. What about the criticism of homeless shelters? I mean some people that work there actually try, and banning people is a very complicated issue. Can't the author do something without having to talk crap about others who try a similar thing and maybe fail, without then glorifying their efforts?

I used to have quite a bit of respect for these folks, the scam punks. I liked there lack of british punk image and really living the lifestyle. It seemed cooler, more intelligent I guess than 'fuck society'. Now, looking back, quite a few really laughed at others who took their punk with mohawks and tattoos seriously. It is an incredibly uncool, boring thing to engage with others as they are sometimes, those with entirely different belief templates. Indeed, it can be compromising. But it seems more responsible to myself to do so if I have an interest in the treatment of others, like the free breakfast program conveys. I read a letter he wrote once published in a copy of nosedive. I think it was about white privilege. That was a very well-written letter. It was spot-on about the contradictions one must engage in, and the letter did not make fun of anyone. I wish he wrote more like this. Anyway, I guess my feeling about erick lyle is that he's not honest with himself, not on good terms with his life. My impression is that he could not look people in the eye unless he was making a joke, making sarcastic remarks, or telling a story where we are suppose to laugh with him at others. Maybe his own looks will give us something to laugh at eventually. Losing hair? Losing teeth? Whatever, some things are not in our control.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781933368986

Subtitle:

A Secret History of the City

Author:

Lyle, Erick

Publisher:

Soft Skull Press

Subject:

Sociology - Urban

Subject:

Essays

Subject:

History

Subject:

Social change

Subject:

Subculture -- California -- San Francisco.

Subject:

Counterculture - California - San Francisco -

Publication Date:

January 2008

Binding:

Paperback

Language:

English

Illustrations:

Y

Pages:

269

Dimensions:

8.26x5.49x.77 in. .59 lbs.