3 Responses to “The Problem”

1. jdm Says:
   February 21st, 2024 at 8:01 am

   I gotta think there’s a backstory here.

   Not only that, but when I see a busker in a NYC subway station playing a cello that costs hundreds if not a few thousand dollars, surrounded by, out of reach, a cello case full of money, a computer, various musical/performance hardware, and cameras, I can’t help but wonder what the heck are you thinking, man? But I’m a rube like that.

2. John "Bigman" Jones Says:
   February 21st, 2024 at 8:26 am

   Speech is protected by law. Protected speech is not strictly verbal. Gestures like giving someone The Finger convey meaning and are a form of protected speech.

   Even some forms of physical violence may be protected speech. The nun who raps your knuckles with the ruler when you’re talking in class. Or burning cars downtown because your team won The Big Game, or burning down part of the city, that’s just a “mostly peaceful protest.” Everybody knows that.

   Smashing the artist over the head with his own water bottle to critique the artist’s performance may be an unpleasant way to receive criticism but it’s still protected speech. It says; “No, no, no! This piece is allegro dummy, you need to work on your fingering. Tempo! Tempo! Go home and practice!”

   I don’t know how much plainer she could have made it.

3. bikebubba Says:
   February 21st, 2024 at 1:21 pm

   jdm, I tend to your side, but it strikes me that until not that long ago, Gotham City did take quality of life crimes seriously enough that those who would have bopped people over the head with a metal water bottle would have thought twice. So it’s not entirely unforgiveable that this individual would have thought he was relatively safe.

   That noted, I did look up “Subway performance rules”, and while you don’t need a permit, electronic amplification is not allowed, and the volume must be no louder than 85dB. Moreover, you can’t be in the way of people getting on and off, and his case is awfully close to the line that riders are supposed to be back of. So he was blocking pedestrian traffic to a degree.

   It doesn’t excuse assault, IMO, but the guy was breaking the rules.

   https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/music/subway-performance-rules

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.