Vancouver 2010 Olympic official countdown unveiling turns nasty

[SpitFire40]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

Plus, what's wrong with hippie central? You got a problem with weed cafes and nude beaches dude?

I'm strongly against drugs, even weed for many different reasons.

Nude beaches are good though..

Anyways, I was just playing... I just don't like protestors in general. I suppose they have the right to protest but protest the right way, don't vandalize proprty with Eggs and Water baloons.

I have more respect for people walking with signs, quietly than a bunch of "hippies" yelling, screaming, vandalizing property.

The message remains the same without those negatives.

[Flames Fan in West Van]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Have to admit that there's no trouble in China!
Their Olympics are done, they could actually host it this summer instead of next. Do you think there are any protests in downtown Beijing?

It's because it's totalitarian, they're not allowed to protest even if they wanted to. Hello?!?! Tianemen?

So, what you're saying is we should just get rid of individual rights so there would be no protests? Yeah.... that's messed.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

True, I concur. Giving people free houses isn't going to solve anything. But, you have to admit, the cost of living in Vancouver is ridiculous! I mean, I thought it was bad in Calgary... Something should be done for affordable housing, not free housing, at least.

But, maybe, investing that money into WHY these people are homeless, which a lot of the time is because of drug problems, would be beneficial too. What is leading these people to drugs? Prevention programs and rehabilitation programs so these people get off the streets. That sounds like a good place to start.

P.S. Woooooo! I love living in hippie central! I am an "us" instead of a "them"... yay!

Good point, I'm not a Social Worker myself, and I don't have any idea what the solution could be (Drug addition/Mental lissues/etc). What the original point is, is what causing a riot will do to help their situation. Absolutely nothing.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

It's because it's totalitarian, they're not allowed to protest even if they wanted to. Hello?!?! Tianemen?

So, what you're saying is we should just get rid of individual rights so there would be no protests? Yeah.... that's messed.

I was being sarcastic.
There are no rights there, people have been so poor that they are thrilled as heck to have an "Olympic" job and workers are mostly housed together to do the job. And they have national pride. China will put on the best show ever.. but it's just a facade that hides the inner truth. But they will profit since they are paying their workers peanuts.

Vancouver on the other hand will in big debt.

[Flames Fan in West Van]

Originally Posted by Scrambler

Good point, I'm not a Social Worker myself, and I don't have any idea what the solution could be (Drug addition/Mental lissues/etc). What the original point is, is what causing a riot will do to help their situation. Absolutely nothing.

Nope. It brought awareness.

I went in expecting absolutely nothing but a big hoo-rah for the Olympics in three years, because I'm a geek and get really, ridiculously excited about the Olympics... but I left totally shocked at all the problems associated with it. I was completely unaware that there was such a problem amoungst the native community. I never even for a minute thought about the cost of hosting the games in relation to the housing problem. Let alone the ecological repercussions, such as expanding the highway to Whistler... ouch. Plus, I don't want to see Coca-Cola, Rogers, or whatever crappy logo everywhere I go.

I don't know. I think that there HAS to be a middle ground somewhere here. I am sympathetic to both sides. I agree though, that it completely SUCKED having those protesters there when it could have been a cool celebration, but why do people protest in the first place? Because that's the only way people listen.

[SpitFire40]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

Nope. It brought awareness.

I went in expecting absolutely nothing but a big hoo-rah for the Olympics in three years, because I'm a geek and get really, ridiculously excited about the Olympics... but I left totally shocked at all the problems associated with it. I was completely unaware that there was such a problem amoungst the native community. I never even for a minute thought about the cost of hosting the games in relation to the housing problem. Let alone the ecological repercussions, such as expanding the highway to Whistler... ouch. Plus, I don't want to see Coca-Cola, Rogers, or whatever crappy logo everywhere I go.

I don't know. I think that there HAS to be a middle ground somewhere here. I am sympathetic to both sides. I agree though, that it completely SUCKED having those protesters there when it could have been a cool celebration, but why do people protest in the first place? Because that's the only way people listen.

It didn't bring awareness, it makes the general public despise those idiots. Like I said, you can protest and get your message across without causing trouble.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

Nope. It brought awareness.

I went in expecting absolutely nothing but a big hoo-rah for the Olympics in three years, because I'm a geek and get really, ridiculously excited about the Olympics... but I left totally shocked at all the problems associated with it. I was completely unaware that there was such a problem amoungst the native community. I never even for a minute thought about the cost of hosting the games in relation to the housing problem. Let alone the ecological repercussions, such as expanding the highway to Whistler... ouch. Plus, I don't want to see Coca-Cola, Rogers, or whatever crappy logo everywhere I go.

I don't know. I think that there HAS to be a middle ground somewhere here. I am sympathetic to both sides. I agree though, that it completely SUCKED having those protesters there when it could have been a cool celebration, but why do people protest in the first place? Because that's the only way people listen.

Sorry, I guess 'Nothing' was the wrong word. Awareness I think is the wrong word too. 'Anger' on the other hand might be the best way to describe it.

[Flames Fan in West Van]

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

It didn't bring awareness, it makes the general public despise those idiots. Like I said, you can protest and get your message across without causing trouble.

Not EVERYONE protesting was throwing eggs and causing trouble. A lot of them were just standing there with signs, like you said. That's how I learned about why everyone was so upset.

The Police were jack-asses too. Man, seriously, I even yelled "STOP!" to one of them while they were attacking this protester.

This is ****ed. I'm still kind of shaken up... I skipped class.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

Not EVERYONE protesting was throwing eggs and causing trouble. A lot of them were just standing there with signs, like you said. That's how I learned about why everyone was so upset.

The Police were jack-asses too. Man, seriously, I even yelled "STOP!" to one of them while they were attacking this protester.

This is ****ed. I'm still kind of shaken up... I skipped class.

Sorry you had to go through that.
Sometimes it's a real eyeopener to us sports fans that

a) people dont like sports
b) people dont like the olympics
c) the police really go after protestors, even the innocent ones

[SpitFire40]

True, not everyone may have been acting like clowns but you do understand that even if 1 person of 20 does something like that it reflects the entire group right?

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

Not EVERYONE protesting was throwing eggs and causing trouble. A lot of them were just standing there with signs, like you said. That's how I learned about why everyone was so upset.

The Police were jack-asses too. Man, seriously, I even yelled "STOP!" to one of them while they were attacking this protester.

This is ****ed. I'm still kind of shaken up... I skipped class.

Well the Police were fairly out numbered and did basically what they had to do when someone tried to agressively cross the line to where normal people were trying to enjoy what they came for.

Pretty low when they keep screaming and swearing when everyone else is trying to sing the fricken national anthem!

I don't blame you for be shaken up though, I not exactly getting much done here this afternoon either.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by SpitFire40

I'm strongly against drugs, even weed for many different reasons.

I hope you don't drink.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I hope you don't drink.

I don't mean to start and off topic ****ing match but...what's that supose to mean???

I'm sorry but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if that's his opinion so be it. You don't know his reasons so you're in no position to judge.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

It is quite possible that the Olympics will do a great deal of good for the city of Vancouver, just look at the Sea to Sky Highway as it is right now (well at least before construction), it was one of the worst highways in Western Canada, through the expansion they are making it much safer which will hopefully result in fewer deaths on the highway. It really isn't just money that is being spent on the Olympics, it is money that is being spent on public saftey.

Are there problems in Vancouver related to homelessness and drug addictions, there sure are, but just throwing money at the issue as seems to be the common answer with many of the protesters isn't going to do anything to help their situation... people need to want to help themselves before help can truely be effective. I don't know if this is unsympathetic towards the drug abusers and I am sure many people will find it to be but the state can't coddle everyone who is down and out... There is only so much that can be done, and I personally have a problem with giving someone who hasn't done anything to earn a house a house.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

Yes, why don't we have the Olympics in Awesomeville instead?

Jackass.

We already had them in '88.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan in West Van

This is ****ed. I'm still kind of shaken up... I skipped class.

I saw a dead bunny on the side of the road on the way to work today. I called in sick and went home to cut myself.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

We already had them in '88.

hehe ###

[fanforever1986]

What a lovely thread.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Pretty crazy situation.
I like Flames fan in West Van, feel for both sides. And I also will be a Flames fan in West Van soon. Wierd, are you my twin?

I think overall the Olympics will benefit the city and even those who are homeless.
The reality is, that the protestors probobly saw this as an opportunity to be heard and are using the Olympics as their battleground because of the spotlight it gives, and no so much because they hate the olympics.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

The reality is, that the protestors probobly saw this as an opportunity to be heard and are using the Olympics as their battleground because of the spotlight it gives, and no so much because they hate the olympics.

It was completely innapropriate. The Olympics do not and have never had anything to do with homelessness. This is the kind of bull**** that save the world hippie college kids do right before they go buy some weed off of one of the people they are supposedly protesting for.