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West End Messaging All Tangled Up In Green Tape

By Jill

xmarksthead.jpg
Antifiti* rebel Xoro* was out in full force in the West end last week, marking any sign that might be interpreted as commercial advertising with an easily removable green painter’s tape X. Many locals have expressed appreciation of the universal appeal of the X as well as the general sentiment of sticking it to outdoor ads. This Torontoist has also been noticing a side-effect of the gesture: most of these ads are so predictably located, we don’t even notice them anymore, but Now With Green Xes!, we’ve actually been reading the ads. Reverse psychology or unintended consequence? Only the X knows.
Also dabbling with green tape this weekend was a group of Active 18ers, who staged a left-of-message “queer-in” demonstration outside that building we’re not even allowed to link to anymore, to welcome new condo buyers to the neighborhood. Not only did they bring plackards and megaphones and tape the word “fag” to their hoodies, these activists brought something to the corner that would improve almost any neighborhood vista: lesbians skipping brunch to make out on the sidewalk.
*(both names made up right here)

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  • http://www.boyreporter.ca Ron Nurwisah, Boy Reporter

    I love you Jill Murray. Platonically of course, yes, platonically.

  • Michael

    Interesting photo choice. I guess even ads for public, commercial free radio are a target for the Xoro. That’s dedication.

  • Michael

    My mistake, thought it was radio 2. I hate mondays.

  • Christina

    “these activists brought something to the corner that would improve almost any neighborhood vista: lesbians skipping brunch to make out on the sidewalk.”
    *snicker* Obviously a male wrote that.

  • http://www.jillmurray.com Jill

    Yeah, I am SUCH a dude.
    If men come make out on the sidewalk, I’ll enjoy that too. But there were only women there when I was there, and I’m not going to hold that against them.

  • http://brokenengine.blogspot.com brokenengine

    Wait, I’m sorry, I missed something. Why aren’t you allowed to link to that site anymore?

  • http://www.jillmurray.com Jill

    Because it makes the trolls tell me I’m boring. I’m kind of kidding, since I did link to it, and I probably will again.

  • http://brokenengine.blogspot.com brokenengine

    Oh, I thought the developers had threatened you with legal action for bad mouthing or something, and I felt all rabble-rousy and ready for a fight.
    But thats just me. For instance, I’m blogging about the TTC this morning, as that is my axe to grind for the next little while…

  • http://brokenengine.blogspot.com brokenengine

    Oh, if you care to read it, it’s Here.

  • http://brokenengine.blogspot.com brokenengine
  • http://www.newmindspace.com kevin bracken

    Oh Parkdalliamsburg, there are lessons to be learned from other cities, but it looks like you’re going to tower someday. It reminds me of some graf from home:
    “Supersize Brooklyn? Fuhgettaboutit!”

  • http://www.jillmurray.com Jill

    Nah. The developer seems to like the attention.

  • Michael

    But the tower! She is horrendous!
    I have always said, at risk of being boring, that gentrification over here is just the beat of time, the beat that must go on…..(lifted)
    But a part of me wonders, we’ve already got a yorkville. Do we need a “funky” one?

  • Rocks

    I saw those “x”s when I was out walking dogs with my boyfriend the other day, and our reaction was “what kind of pussy-assed retard thinks they are making a statement by doing that?” It’s completely and utterly pathetic. Masking-tape “x”s are not going to jam the culture. If you’re really concerned with consumer culture, which is a by-product of an economic and political system, you have to work to make changes to that system. last time I checked, the system could not be changed with a roll of masking tape. Does Viacom or whatever company owns that space give half a shit if someone they’re paying $7 an hour to maintain their boards has to spend an extra 10 minutes cleaning off some tape?
    I’m all for *activism* and I fully support ad-free spaces in my city. I contribute my time, money, art and writing to this end. I reject the deluge of ad-related crap that crowds our cityscape. But I’m so tired of “activists” who think that doing one step up from nothing at all, outside of any organization and outside of any conflict within political and economic systems, is the same as being active.

  • http://www.myspace.com PARKDALE RESIDENT 666

    UH THIS IS GAY! WHAT AN PRETENTIOUS / PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE WAY TO ‘MAKE A STATEMENT’ IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT, USE A MORE PERMANENT METHOD OF DESTROYING PUBLIC PROPERTY
    FUCK OFF!
    -PARKDALE RESIDENT 666

  • Nick

    i can’t beleive they used GREEN masking tape. they didn’t even use the real sticky normal masking tape. hi, its called balls. grow some.

  • Queen West Man

    This Xoro ROCKS! He or she is cool in my book. What a great way to kid yourself about the “massive change” you’re bringing to the world! You go, Xoro – Ralph Nader’s got zilch on you!

  • Pile On

    96.3 Classical radio? Oh, yeah – I HATE THOSE GUYS! Stop spreading your f***ing global domination adoration of Mozart and Beethoven and Delibes around MY city, mofu!!!