I Hate Berkeley So Much

"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
11/13/2016 at 00:38 • Filed to: None

I’ve been working on a side project for work today that required me to drive around to several places in Berkeley. It has the closest OfficeDepot and closest used record store. But it’s Berkeley and weird comes with the territory.

First off, driving in Berkeley sucks. Why you ask? The roads are Europe-narrow, full of drivers who look confused, and the bicycle to car ratio is way off. Oh, and parking is a nightmare.

I managed to find a parking spot in the OfficeDepot lot (miracle that they have one) and went inside. A hippie looking lady is in front of me in line. She turns around, and without saying a word, smiles and hands me a business card with a pin attached.

Now there’s some undertones here about Trump not being inclusive and blah blah blah. Look, I get it. You’re a pacifist and you don’t know what to do with your anger. The rest of us simply mash our right foot into the thing that turns hydrocarbons into dopamine. People of Berzerkeley, you need a track day.

On a brighter note, the project is coming along pretty well. We moved into a new office this week and I happened to start a bit of an internal meme using pictures of my coworkers in fake album art. So popular in fact, that people want the art on the walls. Let the framing commence.

In retrospect, I should have some some small ones with CD’s. WAAAAY easier.

DISCUSSION (19)

MrDakka > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 00:48

It’d be weird if you weren’t handed a pamphlet, flyer, etc for some cause at Berkeley. There’s always some kook trying to recruit.

Oh and if you thought the bike to car ratio was bad, try driving around Davis during the week. Granted the streets aren’t as narrow, but there are way more cyclists.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 00:49

The safety pin thing has been blowing up. It started as a silent protest to Brexit, now the people that didn’t get their way on this side of the pond have picked it up and turned it into something else (because they couldn’t comprehend the original, but it was easy and sounded good).

I might get one to blend in where I live. It’s just not safe to be there if you don’t have something that at least makes you look like a bleeding heart socialist.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 01:10

“Im safe, i have a concealed carry permit”

DipodomysDeserti > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
11/13/2016 at 01:21

You’re in Mexico right and you’re afraid of PNW liberals? Better stay in the resort. Definitely don’t wear your Trump shirt into town.

Berang > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 01:43

me mad people care

arrrgh

so annoying people care

uuurrrrrggghhhhhhhhhhhh

why other people care when i no care!?

rrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

world stupid bad!

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Berang
11/13/2016 at 02:18

well said

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 02:19

In light of the increase in hate crimes, it seems pretty reasonable

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
11/13/2016 at 03:52

Right? I think my natural response would have been, “Actually, YOU’RE safe with ME, because I am wearing something far more effective at stopping someone from harming you.”

But being a New Mexican resident of Texuhhhs makes that an easy call. I’m sure that saying that ANYWHERE in California, Berkeley especially, would result in an immediate police search-and-seizure.

Frenchlicker > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
11/13/2016 at 04:45

I’m buying a specially coat for that this week. I don’t believe I would have been welcome at the protest my friends attending this weekend. Nobody likes a right leaning liberal.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 07:45

The only appropriate response is:

wat.jpg

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Berang
11/13/2016 at 08:58

Why say lot word when few word do trick?

wiffleballtony > Nick Has an Exocet
11/13/2016 at 10:39

In Berkeley, mashing that right foot is environmentally irresponsible.

Nick Has an Exocet > Berang
11/13/2016 at 13:12

Oh wow. How did you know that I make those sounds when I talk?! That’s uncanny.

Wearing a pin is not action. It’s passive aggressive. If you want change, you need to be able to have an open conversation not a passive aggressive disagreement. These people are part of the problem.

Nick Has an Exocet > Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
11/13/2016 at 13:14

Yeah that would get me tackled by “concerned citizens”, beaten by people screaming “he voted Trump!” (I didn’t), and an uncomfortable night explaining things to the police.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > DipodomysDeserti
11/13/2016 at 13:49

You don’t know how well they control any dissent at this point. I consider the group an active hate group.

I’m not even entirely opposed to them. My political position is socially liberal and fiscally conservative, which doesn’t align with any major party.

I’ve experienced them getting genuinely violent when faced with things that didn’t fit in their world view. See the riots that have been going on for further examples. I have no fear of Mexicans; I grew up among them. I probably understand them better than white people.

DipodomysDeserti > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
11/13/2016 at 14:18

If you’re afraid of PNW liberals and think what’s going on now are riots, I have a hard time believing you grew up in the rough areas of LA. These aren’t even riots by PNW standards.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > DipodomysDeserti
11/13/2016 at 22:29

I lived through the LA riots after Rodney King. Not to that level, for sure, but it’s rioting.

That type of thing basically doesn’t happen anymore. Still, the near-universal mentality is hard to understand. I had similar problems in UT, except conservatives (or whatever you call them) are less ... violent ... than socialists. They disagree, but they don’t escalate. They still know how to discuss and respect others with differing opinions.

DipodomysDeserti > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
11/14/2016 at 00:48

Conservatives in my state take over public lands and point rifles at federal agents. They also assemble outside mosques holding rifles and wearing camoflage. Some of them form militias and try to hunt down migrants at the border. I doubt the white officers who beat up Rodney King were liberals. Ask some of your Mecican hosts what conservatives have done in their nation (they gunned down student protestors from helicopters). Maybe go a little further south amd ask some Central and South American farmers what conservative paramilitaries have done to their families.

You come from a nation where the “liberals” are really conservatives. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Enjoy whitewashed “Mexico”. BTW, taquerias are for gringos. Anyone from the “rough side” of LA would know that. Of course no one from the “rough side” of LA would ever call it that. Buenas noches.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Nick Has an Exocet
11/15/2016 at 17:03

Wouldn’t it be easier to make the people that are “not safe” just wear their something instead? Their hoods, for example.