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Bah. I'm sure if you held a fair vote over the whole affected population, a clear majority would favour the games going ahead. There will always be some who are

Bah. I'm sure if you held a fair vote over the whole affected population, a clear majority would favour the games going ahead. There will always be some who are inconvenienced but that's just a fact of life. It's a numbers game - the greatest good for the greatest number. And the simple fact is that the appearance of your home, especially regarding commercial advertising, is and always has been regulated by local government. Why would anyone think the rules have suddenly changed, just when the media of the world is focussed on the area? There's legitimate criticism and then there's just whining. For me, the attitude you're describing falls pretty squarely into the second column. The Powers That Be have decided that the Olympics will be great for London, a decision with which I tend to agree, so stiff upper lip, eh?

Silhouette 17y ago
> I'm sure if you held a fair vote over the whole affected population, a clear majority would favour the games going ahead. Why are you sure of that? It seems like every time another country wins an Olympic bid, the vocal local voices are those who don't want it at all, not those who are welcoming it with open arms for the benefits it will bring. Maybe that's because those who live in the typically downtrodden regions chosen for Olympic "regeneration" are frequently displaced afterwards, as more wealthy folk move into the newly updated area post-Olympics. > It's a numbers game - the greatest good for the greatest number. Sure, and in surveys, nearly everyone wants a reduction to 20mph speed limits by the parks their kids play in, yet when observed, the majority will happily drive at well over that speed through residential neighbourhoods other than their own. > And the simple fact is that the appearance of your home, especially regarding commercial advertising, is and always has been regulated by local government. You're playing games. There is no law, under normal circumstances, that prevents me from putting a poster in my window advertising a product or making a political statement. > Why would anyone think the rules have suddenly changed, just when the media of the world is focussed on the area? Because the rules have suddenly changed. Indeed, IIRC it is now a condition of winning an Olympic bid, imposed by the IOC, that the appropriate government take steps to prevent ambush marketing, including legislation if necessary. Yes, you read that right: an external, commercial organisation is dictating to an elected government what laws it must pass. > The Powers That Be have decided that the Olympics will be great for London, a decision with which I tend to agree, so stiff upper lip, eh? Our Powers That Be don't exactly have a great track record of doing things that will be great for London, or anywhere else, just lately -- unless you count bailing out those who pursued failing business models.

Silhouette 17y ago

> I'm sure if you held a fair vote over the whole affected population, a clear majority would favour the games going ahead. Why are you sure of that? It seems like every time another country wins an Olympic bid, the vocal local voices are those who don't want it at all, not those who are welcoming it with open arms for the benefits it will bring. Maybe that's because those who live in the typically downtrodden regions chosen for Olympic "regeneration" are frequently displaced afterwards, as more wealthy folk move into the newly updated area post-Olympics. > It's a numbers game - the greatest good for the greatest number. Sure, and in surveys, nearly everyone wants a reduction to 20mph speed limits by the parks their kids play in, yet when observed, the majority will happily drive at well over that speed through residential neighbourhoods other than their own. > And the simple fact is that the appearance of your home, especially regarding commercial advertising, is and always has been regulated by local government. You're playing games. There is no law, under normal circumstances, that prevents me from putting a poster in my window advertising a product or making a political statement. > Why would anyone think the rules have suddenly changed, just when the media of the world is focussed on the area? Because the rules have suddenly changed. Indeed, IIRC it is now a condition of winning an Olympic bid, imposed by the IOC, that the appropriate government take steps to prevent ambush marketing, including legislation if necessary. Yes, you read that right: an external, commercial organisation is dictating to an elected government what laws it must pass. > The Powers That Be have decided that the Olympics will be great for London, a decision with which I tend to agree, so stiff upper lip, eh? Our Powers That Be don't exactly have a great track record of doing things that will be great for London, or anywhere else, just lately -- unless you count bailing out those who pursued failing business models.