It was indeed bizarre, but based on later conversations I learned that it's
not all that uncommon.
My impression from the Theatre Manager's behaviour was that it was all about
control.
She had:
- no interest in hearing my explanation regarding why I'd gone downstairs in
the first place,
- no interest in my clarification regarding her misunderstanding of what I'd
planned and what had transpired prior to my going downstairs,
- in fact no interest in hearing a single word out of me and
- no interest in my having been led to believe the other person who'd
suggested I hand out my flyers downstairs, was the Theatre Manager.

The woman took particular except to the last. Beyond anything else, I was to
understand that SHE was the Theatre Manager.

Had a chat with some people from various campaigns afterwards, all of whom
said how increasingly difficult it is to access the public. We've fewer and
fewer public areas and even those can be leased by private concerns.

"How are you supposed to engage with your neighbours and local candidates in
that sort of environment?"

Answer:
You're not. Particularly the neighbours.
How else can politicos control the message? If people start talking with one
another all manner of things might happen.

Among the ironies... Back when WISE existed, our top priority (first in line
of our three goals) was "democratic and electoral reform." We knew that
issues such as poverty, affordable housing, community economic development,
citizen engagement, the environment, war, health promotion, the acute care
system, etc. would not be addressed unless the voices of the people mattered
to our politicians.

Our voices certainly don't matter now. Only 22% of the electorate voted for
another Stephen Harper government. The Conservatives got 19 more seats on
170,000 votes LESS than they received in 2006.

Sandi: I hear you. We experienced this kind of thing a lot when WISE was
still running. But what shocked me this time was how public the incident was
made. Lots of people were walking by in the lobby when I was being accosted
by the Manager. There was literally a crowd of them. While the ACM alone
exceeded 600, the Theatre is part of a much larger recreation complex. It
was embarrassing as well as shocking.

Ocean

WISE Book - Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories from the front
Podcast Channel: http://bcseawalker.podbean.com/
Personal Blog: Challenging the Commonplace - and other irreverent activities
http://challengingthecommonplace.blogspot.com/

See also Fair Vote Canada's home for abandoned, neglected and abused voters
-
http://www.orphanvoters.ca/




On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 11:56 AM, Kalda, Robyn <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> That is interesting -- also bizarre and, as you say, unpleasant. I
> wonder what their problem was?  Was it the cause itself (although Fair
> Vote seems pretty innocuous to me) or was it purely a control thing?  I
> mean - ushers? Security? "Supervisors"? At an ACM?  This was a
> "community" event??? How are you supposed to engage with your neighbours
> and local candidates in that sort of environment?
>
> Side note: I do think democratic processes and engagement are a side of
> health promotion, so I don't think this is off-topic for Click4HP.
> Essentially: how can we ensure ACMs support healthy communities and
> civic engagement instead of discouraging it?
>
> Robyn
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Health Promotion on the Internet
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chrystal Ocean
> > Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 12:46 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [CLICK4HP] Feminists, Poverty-Environment-Health
> > Activists, All: Attention please!
> >
> > Robyn, the entrance to the theatre at all points was blocked.
> > I wouldn't have been able to get past the usher/security if
> > I'd tried. Even as I approached them to ask permission, I
> > could see them eyeing my cloth grocery bag with suspicion.
> > Then after I'd asked, they held me there while someone else
> > trotted off to find a supervisor.
> > When the supervisor arrived, who I'd been given to understand
> > was the Theatre Manager, she suggested I could hand out the
> > flyers in the lobby downstairs. So off I went to do that.
> >
> > Five minutes later, a woman approached me in the lobby,
> > grabbed me, told me I had to stop, must put my flyers in my
> > bag immediately, right that second, and leave.
> >
> > Finally identified herself as the Theatre Manager.
> >
> > She assumed my guilt.
> >
> > So I said I'd go outside. I was told No, and No, and No.
> >
> > Was an extremely unpleasant, eye-opening experience.
> >
> > Ocean
> >
> >
> > WISE Book - Policies of Exclusion, Poverty & Health: Stories
> > from the front Podcast Channel:
> > http://bcseawalker.podbean.com/ Personal Blog: Challenging
> > the Commonplace - and other irreverent activities
> > http://challengingthecommonplace.blogspot.com/
> >
> > See also Fair Vote Canada's home for abandoned, neglected and
> > abused voters
> > -
> > http://www.orphanvoters.ca/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 9:10 AM, Kalda, Robyn
> > <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> >
> > >  > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Health Promotion on the Internet
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> > > > Behalf Of Chrystal Ocean
> > > > Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:24 PM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > For example, at the All Candidates Meeting in my
> > community, I wanted
> > > > to distribute Fair Vote Canada flyers on the seats in the
> > theatre.
> > > > I'd printed off 250 flyers, plus sheets of the FVC petition for
> > > > candidates and audience members to sign (was hoping to ask a
> > > > question at the mic on ER/PR).
> > > >
> > > > When I arrived at the ACM venue, I asked permission of
> > the manager
> > > > to distribute my flyers on the theatre seats.
> > > >
> > > > Denied.
> > > >
> > > > So I asked permission to distribute the flyers outside,
> > at the front
> > > > of the building.
> > > >
> > > > Denied again.
> > > >
> > > > Even the purportedly public sidewalk fronting the building was
> > > > off-limits....
> > > >
> > >
> > > I'm purely curious, so don't take this as aggressive or
> > accusatory at
> > > all: why did you ask?
> > >
> > > In a similar situation I honestly don't think it would've
> > occurred to
> > > me to ask anyone before starting to put flyers on seats, and if
> > > someone decided to get their knickers in a twist about it I don't
> > > think I would've thought to ask about distributing them outside
> > > either.  The sidewalk is, as you say, public space.
> > >
> > > Anyway -- just curious about your thinking, because I'm
> > involved with
> > > hosting ACMs in my riding and I would like to avoid discouraging
> > > people's participation in whatever form (flyers, questions, etc.),
> > > whether deliberately or accidentally.
>

To UNSUBSCRIBE send to: [log in to unmask] the following phrase "unsubscribe click4hp" as unquoted text. To view archives or manage your subscription (and create a password) go to http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/click4hp.html