The Urbanist Cult

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking, I have little issues with most "urbanist" concepts or policy suggestions, but I have noticed that over the past couple of years that many self proclaimed urbanists have swarmed upon every single bit of social media, both nationally and locally, in the most obsessive, vile troll behavior that I have not seen since the 2016 election. It's like 4 chan gamers got bored and transformed into urbanists.

What amazes me is that most of them are grown ups with master degrees and professional jobs. Some are even professors and government employees. Which also makes me wonder how they do their jobs since they seemingly are the internet 24/7.

It is awful how they will descend upon certain posts, even by the most random person, then berate them for having an opinion that differs from their own. While all the while, creating a cringing circle jerk of how wonderful they are and how horrible that everyone else is.

The internet being the internet is one thing, but many of these people have managed to weed their way into political circles. I have no idea how deep their influence is with our local politicians, but we should all be concerned that people as ravenous as this have any influence on public policy. It's as if greater greater washington has become Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto and anyone who gets in their way are to be eliminated.

Do these people even look at the way they behave for one second? Especially since they deem themselves to paragons of virtue?

[Anonymous]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

They cannot, because their supposed persecution only exists in their head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

+1

+2

Maybe you need to get out a little more?

[Anonymous]

Get off Twitter. You’ll feel much better.

[Anonymous]

I've done a lot of weeding in my time, but always in gardens, never in political circles.

[Anonymous]

OP can you give some clear examples of what you’re talking about? Your post is somewhat vague.

[Anonymous]

“Different opinions” is a strong word, and not the word I would use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, I have little issues with most "urbanist" concepts or policy suggestions, but I have noticed that over the past couple of years that many self proclaimed urbanists have swarmed upon every single bit of social media, both nationally and locally, in the most obsessive, vile troll behavior that I have not seen since the 2016 election. It's like 4 chan gamers got bored and transformed into urbanists.

What amazes me is that most of them are grown ups with master degrees and professional jobs. Some are even professors and government employees. Which also makes me wonder how they do their jobs since they seemingly are the internet 24/7.

It is awful how they will descend upon certain posts, even by the most random person, then berate them for having an opinion that differs from their own. While all the while, creating a cringing circle jerk of how wonderful they are and how horrible that everyone else is.

The internet being the internet is one thing, but many of these people have managed to weed their way into political circles. I have no idea how deep their influence is with our local politicians, but we should all be concerned that people as ravenous as this have any influence on public policy. It's as if greater greater washington has become Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto and anyone who gets in their way are to be eliminated.

Do these people even look at the way they behave for one second? Especially since they deem themselves to paragons of virtue?

I ostracize bigots. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

OP, definitely get off the internet, and go breathe some fresh air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

https://twitter.com/alexbaca

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

https://twitter.com/alexbaca

This is a pretty liberal city full of millennial policy wonks. I think snarky comments just underscore the generational divide in communication styles. I’m 40, but am pretty socially liberal. I still don’t so much densification for the purpose of densification. I don’t really care about unaffordable housing. I don’t think about has a right to live anywhere they can’t afford. I do agree with her about bike policy. We need more fully protected bike lanes. Either way, Twitter brings out the worst in people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally speaking, I have little issues with most "urbanist" concepts or policy suggestions, but I have noticed that over the past couple of years that many self proclaimed urbanists have swarmed upon every single bit of social media, both nationally and locally, in the most obsessive, vile troll behavior that I have not seen since the 2016 election. It's like 4 chan gamers got bored and transformed into urbanists.

What amazes me is that most of them are grown ups with master degrees and professional jobs. Some are even professors and government employees. Which also makes me wonder how they do their jobs since they seemingly are the internet 24/7.

It is awful how they will descend upon certain posts, even by the most random person, then berate them for having an opinion that differs from their own. While all the while, creating a cringing circle jerk of how wonderful they are and how horrible that everyone else is.

The internet being the internet is one thing, but many of these people have managed to weed their way into political circles. I have no idea how deep their influence is with our local politicians, but we should all be concerned that people as ravenous as this have any influence on public policy. It's as if greater greater washington has become Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto and anyone who gets in their way are to be eliminated.

Do these people even look at the way they behave for one second? Especially since they deem themselves to paragons of virtue?

Urbanism is an old concept. I think the people who you’re talking about are proponents of market urbanism, a term coined by a developer to describe a set of policies that differ little from trickle-down economic theory and work just about as well. The theory holds together if you’re interested in making as much money as possible from the financialization of housing but is completely ineffective in delivering affordable housing. I think the only reason they even talk about affordable housing is so they can shut down conversations about how flawed their rationale is by making allegations of racism. Their other favored tactic is to ask for proof of assertions made that run counter to their ideology, only to disappear when proof is offered or to argue that the original assertion doesn’t matter. You’ve seen both of these tactics deployed in this very thread.

Fortunately, the half life of planning fads is diminishing, and market urbanism’s horrid track record of producing affordable housing will catch up with it soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Can you proviso some examples of what you are referring to?

https://twitter.com/alexbaca

I don't see any of what you described in the OP.