@ the Helm

uh-oh-lympics

I am not very confident that the Winter Olympics are going to go well. It's going to be a volatile mix of idealists, the greedy self absorbed, the compulsively paranoid, the chronically angry, and relatively innocent spectacle seekers.

I should even count neutral uninterested persons into the explosive because the simple act of taking up space in some areas of the city will soon be grounds for confrontation.

There is tension throughout the city and I'm worried that there will be violence, the nature and extent of which will depend on which side blows their fuse first, or perhaps more importantly, which side is perceived as blowing up first.

The anti-Olympic activists can not afford to be viewed as starting any violent action or their credibility and public support outside their own and very immediate network will vanish. Their multiple causes have already lost a great deal of support due to violent disruptions, such as knocking down torch runners and interrupting Olympic events in a few very un-family friendly ways.

VANOC and the Vancouver police should also keep cool heads, if a Yao Wei Wu or Dziekanski-esque incident occurs during the Olympics, the public rage and scrutiny that would follow will pull many in power off their perches.

So stand your ground everyone.

If you're a protester; document everything around you with audio and video. Don't provoke. Don't disrupt (too much). Wait until they slip up on anything that has a direct impact on tax dollars or public health, the two things that are most likely to get you support from the most people.

If you're an Olympic supporter; go by the book and don't do anything even resembling unsportsmanlike behavior. If the protesters disrupt or damage public infrastructure and/or citizens, hit them with the book (figuratively) and then blame them for everything else that didn't go right.

If you're just a spectacle seeker; park your car, transit in, keep an eye on your wallet, get there ahead of time, and don't pack your lunch.

Thank you, but commenting has expired.