Those infuriating private buses

03.14.13 - 2:02 pm | Tim Redmond |

(140)

Photo from Thetenssf.com

People in the Mission continue to get more and more angry with the private tech-company buses clogging streets and filling up Muni stops; here's a great photo of two of the behemoths forcing Muni passengers to walk out into the street to catch the bus that is supposed to be at the stop.

There's a way to put an end to this, of course. Any other outfit that blocked Muni stops that regularly, with that much of an impact, would not only get repeated $250 tickets (as if Google cares about $250) but would eventually get a cease-and-desist order from the city. I know it's not an earth-shattering problem, but it drives a lot of us nuts -- and at some point, the city attorney needs to make it clear that violating city bus zones on a daily basis is not acceptable.

Comments

No, Tim, we are not "angry" about a few buses that only

appear at very limited times of the day. What si your problem? UCSF buses cause far more problems but of course that is a public sector entity and so somehow magically that makes it compeltely different, right?

It doesn't drive "us" nuts - it just drives you nuts because you hate the kind of people who use these buses, i.e. successful people.

Would you rather 50 people drive to SV every day rather than one bus? Better?

Posted by Anon on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 2:10 pm

You need to live where you work.

Sustainability means living where you work. Move to Sunnyvale, Mountain View, etc. They will welcome you with open arms. Making SF a bedroom community: is the wrong direction literally and figuratively. Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Oracle: build dorms for your workers. That's the sustainable answer. If you provide free food, gyms, napping rooms, etc. you should be providing housing.

Posted by TinyTim on Mar. 18, 2013 @ 1:10 pm

We were made to take the

We were made to take the sustainability bait and offered up corporate welfare, now witness the "oops, sustainability is not practicable "switch in progress.

Posted by marcos on Mar. 18, 2013 @ 1:25 pm

If you care about "sustainability" then you should immediately

argue to have healthcare and pension benefits for city workers reneged upon.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 18, 2013 @ 1:29 pm

Wow, and I thought this was America where people supposedly

have this thing called freewill and choice.

Clearly what we need instead is a government committe of bureaucrats deciding where people should live.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 18, 2013 @ 1:27 pm

is there anything you don't bitch about?

seriously
I like coming to this site to get some SF news and a perspective from the left, but for fuck's sake, all. you. do. is. bitch. about. nonsense.

Posted by GuestD on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 2:25 pm

More proof that those Google busses rock!

This is one of my favorite types of Tim Redmond stories. He begins with with the authoritative sounding "People in the Mission continue to get more and more angry" and then for proof he provides a link to...well a link to his last angry diatribe on the subject.

And then there is the "great photo" of two of the behemoths forcing people to walk into the street...well, okay, it doesn't actually show anything like that, I guess you just have to look at it through Tim Goggles.

Those buses are pure genius, btw. The work staff gets on them, fires up the wifi and does an extra hour or so of work on the way to the office. They make a great wage in Mountain View but they pay RE taxes here (or they help their landlord to do so). And their SUV's stay in the garage.

Do the buses sometimes inconvenience people? Certainly. Has anyone walked more than a block in SF without being inconvenienced by something? But on a scale of 1-10 on the city's inconvenience factor scale it doesn't rate very high.

Those buses rock. The fact that Tim hates them is one sure sign that they are good for San Francisco overall. If they were carrying out of work LGBT struggling artists then Tim would be praising them and disparaging anyone who was not smart enough to see their value.

Posted by Troll on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 2:35 pm

Outstanding post, Troll

Tim is feeling about one inch tall right now, and deservedly so.

Posted by Anon on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 3:02 pm

Sure. "Outstanding post."

... except, for one thing, at the begining I was imagining something that doesn't exist and feeling amused: "Infanite" Kisses

That delay of a Muni bus is of little bearing to some Nazi who'd like the public transit agency privatized and removed. Someone who doesn't use it to get to work and is basically an unfeeling misanthrope wouldn't care one whit whether regular riders had to step into the street to catch -- or see -- their bus.

Such a creature wouldn't even consider that auto traffic could get snarled up when Muni "busses" are forced to board passengers while double parked.

Let nothing interfere with the bootlicker's savory delight! Hail Google!

Posted by lillipublicans on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 5:14 pm

Why aren't you beefing about the UCSF buses?

Oh wait, they're public. That makes sooooo much difference. No, really, it does.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 5:36 pm

Troll Language

Pleb, you only used, "oh wait." Have you tired of using the perfunctory and ubiquitous use of "wow" and "hilarious" as part of the routine tiresome rhetoric of your amateurish troll act?

International Troll Society Member #12360969212

Posted by International Troll Society Member #12360969212 on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 2:24 pm

ITSM = SFASC = Lilli

Further proof, as if any were needed.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 2:42 pm

The SFASC laughs at "Guest's"

proof and his obsessive attempts to identify the growing ranks of thoughtful commenters. As if it matters.

And from a person who uses the loose standards here (no registration, no email address required, etc.) to sometimes post antisocial comments that he wouldn't express publically or personally.

Down with stupidity!!!

Power to the thoughtful!!!

Posted by San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 17, 2013 @ 2:52 pm

The SFASC

takes itself too seriously.

Down with seriousness!!!

Power to the thoughtless!!!

Posted by The REAL San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 17, 2013 @ 5:42 pm

Outstanding post, lillipublicans

Onan is probably feeling one inch tall right now.

Posted by Greg on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 6:42 pm

Hey Greg, here is an idea, why not make it personal?

Always a good idea when you clearly lack the ability to make a cogent argument.

Posted by anon on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 5:53 am

The SFASC brings attention to anon's mode of

operations on this website. Pay attention to the quotations from above comments.

"Outstanding post, Troll Tim is feeling about one inch tall right now, and deservedly so": Posted by Anon on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 3:02 pm

"Outstanding post, lillipublicans Onan is probably feeling one inch tall right now.": Posted by Greg on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 6:42 pm

Note Greg's use of anon's exact language to spoof Anon's personal attack on Tim Redmond.

Anon's reaction to Greg's satire--unrighteous indignation. Thoughtful readers see through anon's deceptions.

Down with stupidity!!!

Power to the thoughtful!!!

Posted by San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:19 am

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

But originality is worth something too.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:30 am

You have got to be the

You have got to be the dumbest person in San Francisco

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:40 am

Yes, SFASC appears to have lost his last marbles and is

now just foaming at the mouth and ranting at anyone else who posts here, rather like the crazy, homeless guys on the street.

Posted by anon on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:45 am

The SFASC

remarks that we realize we have taken ourselves too seriously. And as an unregistered, non-accredited, self-appointed guardian of public discourse are now aware that we're totally full of shit.

Up with thoughtlessness!!

Up with stupidity!!

The REAL San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign

Posted by The REAL San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 17, 2013 @ 9:46 pm

I'm not against the buses

They keep cars off the street. Good. Rather have one big bus than 30 tech workers driving private cars.

But they don't belong in Muni stops unless they (a) get permits from the city and (b) pay something and (c) coordinate with Muni, which must get first priority for those stops.

Honestly, most of the tech workers are young and able-bodied. Not all, but most. There are a lot more older Muni riders who have problems with mobility, and asking them to move out into the street because a Google bus is in their stop is just unfair.

Posted by tim on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 5:01 pm

Tim, the first step is to be honest with yourself

Seriously, with all the inconveniences in the street every day you constantly pick on these buses that run in the early morning and late rush hour (they have about an hour drive). So if Google paid the city $5,000 per bus per year to use the bus stops would it really make a difference to either Google or Muni or the riders?

And the concept of these buses 'coordinating' with the haphazard Muni system is a joke.

And the people riding on the bus...rich people...that has nothing to do with your obsession over these buses?

Like I said, the first step towards recovery is to be honest with yourself.

Posted by Troll on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 5:18 pm

Exactly, Tim decides how he feels about any given bus based

solely on his assessment of the worthiness of the occupants.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 5:37 pm

Why are these bloated techie

Why are these bloated techie plutocrats riding buses to get to work?

They should be driving private automobiles instead!

Bus transportation should only be for the poor!

Posted by Demented, Yet Terribly, Terribly, Persistent on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 3:34 pm

Huzzah, comrade!

Huzzah, comrade!

Posted by Guest on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 3:40 pm

Google employees should only

Google employees should only be allowed to live in San Francisco if they sign an agreement promising to vote only for "progressive" political candidates! (I.e., the candidates that Tim likes.)

Posted by Demented, Yet Terribly, Terribly, Persistent on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 3:41 pm

The photo does not appear to

The photo does not appear to show what you say it shows.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 3:46 pm

The photo DOES show what he says it shows.

Huh, posted something before, but don't see it. Anyway, I took that photo. That's exactly what happened. People trying to catch the 49 had to run to the middle of the street to board. I was worried someone was going to get hit by the bus on the left (a Tesla employee commuter bus). You just can't see the 49 because it was behind that big bus on the left.

Posted by The Tens on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 9:18 pm

Ah, so you admit the photo does not show what is claimed but

that we should just take your word for it anyway?

And even if that were true, so what? It is routine to have to walk into the street to board a bus, for a variety of reasons (cabs, delivery trucks etc.)

Not as much a hardship as if all those Googlers were using cars to get to work.

Non issue, unless of course like Tim you hate successful people.

Posted by anon on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 5:55 am

Tim, why don;t you just write one article along these lines/

Private = bad; public = good

Rich = boring; poor = interesting

White = bad; non-white = good

San Francisco = exceptional; everywhere else = wrong

And then you could devote the rest of your time and life to doing something more valuable than endlessly repeating yourself and whining.

Posted by Anon on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 4:00 pm

The SFASC notes that Anon accuses

Tim Redmond of what he does himself: "endlessly repeating yourself and whining."

The SFASC reminds thoughtful readers that trying to engage unprincipled commenters like Anon in reasonable discussion is impossible. Kudos to those that try. The SFASC applauds Troll Killer for his or her evidence backed arguments and invites him or her to join its ranks.

Down with stupidity!!!

Power to the thoughtful!!!

Posted by San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 4:18 pm

Sez the most repetitively boring poster on SFBG

Credible. Not.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 5:38 pm

SFASC is the best development on the SFBG site in years

The Anti-Stupidity Campaign has been doing an excellent job of keeping it real. But we can sympathize with anon not being very happy with SFASC since anon's posts are often shown to be laced with distortions, prevarications, outright lies, and a fair amount of stupidity. All to try to win meaningless points against such towering intellectual giants as lilli and the other progressive pillars of the community who paTroll this website.

Power to the thoughtful, indeed. And down with the obsessive posters of whatever political stripes. Power to SFASC. May its ranks swell into the millions all across the globe.

Posted by guest on Mar. 14, 2013 @ 6:15 pm

Hi, SFASC, I see you're "doing a Lilli" and posting as "guest"

it order to agree with yourself.

Lilli's meme is "lies" and yours is "stupidity". But in both cases, you are simply trying to save losing arguments by inulting the other party. Classic ad hominem deflections and transparent to all.

Posted by anon on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 5:57 am

The SFASC declares that it did not post

as "guest." Of course, this statement is unprovable so the SFASC asks thoughtful readers to believe its statement.

The SFASC also thanks guest for his or her support and invites him or her into its ranks.

Do thoughtful readers suppose that anon participates in the activity of which he accuses the SFASC--posting under different screen names in order to agree with himself?

Down with stupidity!!!

Power to the thoughtful!!!

Posted by San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:23 am

Even Lilli admitted it when he got caught out posting anon in

an attempt to feign agreement with himself. You could learn from him the art of humility and honesty.

I never pretend to be someone I am not but, even so, half the time you are responding to a post that I did not make.

There are many anonymous posters here, including you and Lilli with your tedious and ad hominem stupidity/lie nonsense.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:33 am

No, Lilli and SFASC are one and the same person.

Evidence:

1) They always agree with each other
2) They both post as "Guest" to agree with each other
3) They both stalk anyone who disagrees with them
4) They have the same MO - Lilli goes with "lie" and SF with "stupid" but it's the same tactic - abuse anyone with a better argument
5) They contribute no substance to the topic but rather say the same thing on every thread

Posted by anon on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:43 am

The SFASC urges anon to re-engage

with the real world. The SFASC is not lillipubicans and prefers to use quotations from comments as evidence rather than the speculation anon uses.

In any case...

Down with stupidity!!!

Power to the thoughtful!!!

Posted by San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 8:08 am

Not sure what to make of this interchange;

the baseless ad hominem and false imputation against me is pretty straightforward and typical, anyway.

Posted by lillipublicans on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 7:50 am

anon, try again. I posted it and I have no ties to SFASC

I posted support for the exciting addition of SFASC to this website. I don't like wasting time or energy on stupid, counterproductive personal attacks, which are often the main form of "communication" on this site. Since SFASC has added an encouraging voice for posters to stay on track with thoughtful posts, and has provided a very useful service pointing out glaring lies by some posters here, including many by you, I wanted to express my support for SFASC's effort in response to a hateful post cast at them by "Guest" (often known as anon and Anon).

I view the SFBG as one of the key assets the dwindling population of progressive activists have left at their disposal and strongly support respecting this website by ignoring stupid, unproductive personal attacks and keeping discussions focused on policies and programs. I'm from the "old school" that firmly believes "progressive ideas are better" and I dislike seeing interesting discussions get sidetracked by obsessive posters who can't learn to let the personal insults slide and can't ignore obvious trolls who are merely trying to rile up the likes of lilli, marcos, guest, Guest, and other posters who supposedly identify as "progressive."

My posts are usually roundly criticized by lilli, Troll Killer (whose posts I generally like reading and is a welcomed addition to this site), and others as "right-wing troll lies." Apparently my lame attempts at nuanced thinking and "unsanctioned" thoughtfulness are not well received by the few self-identified progressives who paTroll this site 24/7.

As far as using insults to "win" arguments, you may want to check the mirror to locate someone else who often uses these tactics to discredit posters they don't like, with comments such as, "you live in a dump on the worst block in the Mission," among many other degrading insults.

And if you think posters like lilli are standard bearers of progressive thought, I'd gently remind you that anyone who posts here more than a few times a week obviously is a very lonely individual without a lot of productive activities to keep them grounded. I’d like to think most of us distrust and mostly dismiss any ideas and comments from such ungrounded and unproductive individuals. Again, check that mirror.

It may surprise you, but not everyone who disagrees with a comment is automatically a member of the "other team." I'll never be invited to join the progressive island since nuance, understatement, and thoughtful consideration of opposing viewpoints do not seem to be highly valued there, but if you think it's only the progressives who need to vanquish to achieve your self-serving goals, you may want to reconsider. If I were you, I’d be much more concerned about what “non-progressives” such as David Chiu and Jane Kim are thinking than I would worry about the few obsessive “progressive” commenters here who think bashing people over the head they don’t like somehow wins them supporters and allies.

Long live SFASC. And Greg. And Troll Killer. And a few of the informed and thoughtful "guests" and "Guests" who sometimes post here. And continued thanks to the SFBG and their many talented, thoughtful writers who provide the stories and commentaries on important issues facing the city, state, country, and world at large.

Posted by guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 9:16 am

Its a concern troll.

The ploy is to credit some progressive commenters while insulting others.

Classic "divide and conquer."

It's not an ad hominem to say "fuck you very much" -- is it?

Posted by lillipublicans on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 9:49 am

The SFASC notices that lillipublicans

and marcos, both "progessive commenters" on this site, often argue with each other over seemingly unsubstantive issues, sometimes devolving into insults.

The SFASC discourages such unproductive activities. The SFASC does not expect or desire unanimity of opinion among "progressive commenters,"
but dislikes petty bickering.

Down with stupidity!!!

Power to the thoughtful!!!

Posted by San Francisco Anti-Stupidity Campaign on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 10:53 am

Lilli and Marcos fight a lot because they are very similar

Both are rigid, intransigent and intolerant of any disagreement. Doubtless they are both under-achievers vocationally, and have reach a mid-life crisis kind of age where they identify with their beliefs instead of having the ability to still learn and grow them.

You get a better standard of debate from Greg and Eddie. Those four represent most of the Progressives here; the rest are moderates like Lucratia and the various people who post as Guest and Anon.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 11:12 am

I generally post as Guest and I am a progressive

That is, I use my name on the first post and then post as Guest thereafter. It's a way of being honest about my identity, while cutting back on the amount of attention that gets focused on me rather than my ideas. Also helps to discourage ad hominem attacks by the trolls.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 1:26 pm

Using a real name means you get stalked in a place like this

So I too am "Guest".

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 1:36 pm

SFASC, lillipublicans has noticed your commentary on this forum

and has found it to be predominantly satisfactory (a classification we might even allow to be an understatement), but in regard to the above stated perception, at this time we find no better option than to credit it simply as being in need of further analysis.

lillipublicans does not know for how long and under what other possible identifiers that the SFASC may -- or may not -- have followed interchanges on this forum, but we believe an examination of past activity demonstrates that lillipublicans has actually excercised great forebearance with marcos.

In fact, lillipublicans had maintained a demeanor towards marcos ranging from introspective reticence to gentle prodding with exhortations to be more positive even after multiple instances of being personally being attacked by marcos("stupid," "creep"); after seeing him repeatedly compliment and validated the comments of well-known reactionary trolls here; and after seeing him habitually pick apart the comments and character of every other progressive; while occasionally even citing reactionary websites or philosophers to back up his scattershot attacks.

It wasn't until after lillipublicans witnessed marcos exhibiting the ineluctibly troll-like behavior of the wanton misquote that lillipublicans finally decided the time had come to take the gloves off.

lillipublicans, has attempted to excercise the greatest reserve with *every* commenter, and this can be verified in the record except in cases where multiple and/or generic identifiers were obviously being used -- including impostering others -- and thus when identities of miscreants were only surmised, but lillipublicans does not believe any mistake has been made in that regard.

Though lillipublicans may be criticized for occasionally employing too much coarse language or too much ad hominem in our commentary -- just, perhaps, as a bold chef might be criticized for over-seasoning what some of his fans might otherwise consider a perfectly crafted dish -- lillipublicans uses such rhetorical tools as an adjuct to-- not a replacement for-- factual analysis of topics in question.

lillipubiicans favors positive discussions and critical thinking, but lillipublicans believes that the trolls on this forum are in effect rewarded if they are treated with a degree respect that is so completely undeserved. An complete understanding of their rhetoric is only possible through an understanding of how little intellectual integrity they have.

A final word:

Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky wrote Manufacturing Consent. There they posited that different levels of news media are formulated for different strata within the society. That concept continues to present itself as one potential schema by which to explain some of the commentary which takes place here.

Posted by lillipublicans on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 12:54 pm

Talking about yourself in the third person is pretentious and

fools nobody if you are seeking thereby to disguise your true identity and your many doppelgangers and noms de plume here.

Just stick to the topics and avoid all the self-absorbed BS, yo.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 1:01 pm

It's hilarious how he drones on and on and on

What is it with deluded leftists like lil' lilz? He takes after Castro and Chavez in so many ways - one being their penchant for taking hours and hours to say what could be said in 2-3 minutes.

Posted by Lucretia Snapples on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 1:12 pm

Lilli has a ridiculous amount of time on his hands and a

seemingly limitless propensity for mental masturbation.

It's the classic progressive stereotype - over-educated and under-achieving.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 15, 2013 @ 1:22 pm