Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 March 2009 15:45:45
Interesting article in The Observer today detailing why the police response to the Climate Camp last year was "over the top". What comes out, besides the way statistics need to be treated with lots of caution is the way the police/state regard play as dangerous.
One of the key issues related to the items confiscated. According to the article "The police admit that almost all the items seized had a legitimate purpose. The idea that it is appropriate to seize ordinary people's property on the off-chance that it might be used to commit a crime is a dangerous precedent." Examples of the types of things seized include "packets of balloon, tents, a clown's outfit, camping equipment, cycle helmets and bike locks, plastic buckets, bin bags, blankets, soap, banners and leaflets, books, party poppers and nail clippers."
This is interesting because it highlights how protesters were ready to use playand how the police really find play difficult to handle. The problem with play, as various people have pointed out over the years, is that it is based on ideas of creativity and freedom. Playing really is a subversive activity because it has a huge potential for unpredictability.
Playing also involves engaging in a strange combination of pre-meditated risk and pure innocence. Playing also has the potential to cause joy rather than anger. Playing might be dangerous but it's cool.