Fuck you assembly limit 12.

So, while the new suggested limit of 12 people or less isn't a law, and there's no enforcement, it's defacto law because the police now harrass anyone seen in a larger group. You can't hang out with too many people un public without the officers showing up and "Suggesting" That you obey the 12 person limit.

This has had a major effect on a lot of businesses, such as bars, theatres, nightclubs, which were already realing from the ReDS scare without this. It's not that I care in specific, being the ripe old age of 37 I don't really hit the clubs often. But the Zombie Squad Movie night has been cancelled, as has the Ren Faire. cancelled. Like we didn't already spend enough time alone indoors, as a culture. You can totally work within a a group of 12 people you already know, but it's much harder to meet people when you have to keep your mingling sample size down. It can't be coincidence this happens just as people are starting to organize, can it?

I guess that's why this thing bothers me. This is going to reduce people's chance to interact with each other, make new friends, form tribes and superstructs just at the time when we need it most. I was really looking forward to the RenFaire, because many of the re-enactors have skills, like blacksmithing, that will be valuable. But instead of being in a real space with real people making real things happen, now the only effective way to meet people is online. Virtual space with virtual people doing virtually nothing.

No offense.

So here's what we should do about it. This is where Flash-mobs really come into their own. If you are planning an event, set up an online space where people join up, and learn at the last second where the event is. Go to the event in groups of 12 or less. Converge at the location. Be Mobile. We're trying to rig a trike-mounted sound system and projector like this: http://graffitiresearchlab.com/?page_id=44, only with a movie projector as well. Everyone who signed up will get the phone call and be told where the movie night is.

Just, do something. Don't let yourself get isolated. Not now, when we need to connect the most.