Wheel Questions

[crenshawseeds.livejournal.com]

I'm Ashley Taylor, a reporter for the Somerville News writing a story about John Monsarrat's Wheel Questions installation currently at Davis Square in front of the 7-11.  

What do you think of it?  

Have you posted questions, and did you appreciate the answers?  Or do you just read it?  

Or have you never heard of it or seen it?

Particularly, as members of an on-line community, what do you think of the idea of having a community based around a physical structure, "the Wheel"?  

Please let me know  explicitly, when you reply, whether or not I can quote you in my article. 

Thank you.

 

Comments

[ron_newman]

minor correction: that's a Tedeschi's (formerly a Store 24), not a 7-11

[ohnoestheydidnt.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be giving him any personal information, even in the form of anonymous questions.

A bit of a dumb idea, IMO

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

It perpetuates the mindset that somebody else can answer our questions, which is part of the problem in our society. I'd be for an "anti-wheel", where people write down something they discovered through hard work.

Re: A bit of a dumb idea, IMO

[cynickalone.livejournal.com]

i like that idea.

[contradictacat.livejournal.com]

It's a cute concept, but the format (how only he can answer the questions) and the fact that he's a bit of a jackass in his answers is disappointing. He also seems to think this project is bigger and more important than it actually is.

The wheel is actually quite big...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

In the sense of "bulky" :)

[cold-type.livejournal.com]

I think forums like this are much more valuable for actual information or advice.

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

I believe it was on this forum that I read about one of his previous projects, MIT Match-Up. I found that creepy enough to not want anything to do with this one.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's that creepy stalker guy? I'm sorely tempted to ask if he's developed a conscience since then. . .

[ron_newman]

When this project was located on Elm Street near Porter Square last year, this discussion occurred here (followed quickly by this one) and your newspaper published an article about it.

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

It's an eyesore and I would like to know what kind of permit is needed to put in a private semi permanent installation up in the public square.

discussions of JonMon aside...

[rmd.livejournal.com]

this question strikes me as odd: Particularly, as members of an on-line community, what do you think of the idea of having a community based around a physical structure, "the Wheel"?

that's kind of a weird question to ask about online vs physical communities given that you're talking to the davis square lj community -- a community based around a physical structure, "davis square"

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Particularly, as members of an on-line community, what do you think of the idea of having a community based around a physical structure, "the Wheel"?

What does that question actually mean? There is no community "based around" the structure. There is a community around it, of course, but that's only because it was put in the middle of one that already existed Neither have anything to do with each other.

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

The wheel has its own online presence here: http://wheelquestions.org/blog/, but it doesn't really seem like a community to me, as it's centered on answers from one person.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought anything about it one way or another. But now that I know who set it up, I'll be staying away from it. A number of my friends have been harassed by that guy, and I'm not interested in feeding his ego.

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

I agree with the people saying it's a little self-important, but I also think it's all in good fun and a very creative way that one guy has come up with for interacting with his community. I loved it when he had the wheel set up along with a meditation labrynth in his yard across from Porter Square. When he moved and the new owner immediately tore it all down and put up a big, ugly "NO TRESSPASSING" sign (as was his/her right to do, of course), I felt like a little piece of the neighborhood's character had died.

[contradictacat.livejournal.com]

Is that why it disappeared? Good to know.

Also, I'd think it'd be better and more of a "community interaction" piece if it were possible for the general populace to both ask and answer questions, instead of having him be the only person who can answer questions (especially since he can be kind of a jerk to the people asking).

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

It seems like yet another vanity project to me from someone who's constantly trying to make himself the center of attention.

I also think it's visually ugly. If I were doing an "art installation" I would put some effort into making it look attractive and well-crafted instead of bunging it together sloppily.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

And yes, you may quote me on that.

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

Today's Globe:

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2009/07/24/wheel_questions_installation_offers_advice_and_inspiration/

[purgatori84.livejournal.com]

Feel free to quote:
I feel that a project like this exists to enlarge the ego of its creator. Also, I hope people consider the character of said creator and take it into account when reading his answers. Someone with numerous publicly recorded harassment allegations against him is not someone I would wish to receive advice from.
As to the community aspect of the project, I don't think there is one: it is centered around one person. Only if the project was interactive in both asking and receiving questions would it truly be a community project.

Please do not quote: I also have personal misgivings against the creator, as I ended up living in a house with him from a craigslist advertisement. I do not believe he should be in the position to give out advice based on my day to day dealings with him.

[ron_newman]

I feel that a project like this exists to enlarge the ego of its creator.

Leaving aside the character of this particular creator ... isn't the above statement to some extent true for any piece of art?

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I pretty much echo what others said. When I first saw the wheel I thought it was for anyone to ask AND anyone to answer, and I thought that was pretty cool. But when I realized it was just one person doing the answers, that kind of ruined it for me. Still, my 6-year-old enjoyed writing a question and putting it in the box. I don't think it has occurred to him to wonder whether his question got answered. (just looked on the website and found it, so maybe I'll show it to him later.)

I particularly agree with the poster above who said that it's misleading to refer to a "community" based around the Wheel. There is no such thing as far as I can tell. Just a bunch of people writing questions and one guy answering them. That's not a community.

[turil.livejournal.com]

You can quote me.

I find it inspiring. I find it challenging. And I hope that others will similarly choose to go out on a limb and do something creative with themselves, for their community, and for themselves.

Also, as a general suggestion, this community is packed full of snarl lovers, who make it a hobby of being obnoxious. So this probably isn't the best place to find honest, healthy opinions. But maybe that's not what you're looking for? I know lots of news media likes to play up the drama of stories. In which case, the Davis Square Snark LJ community is where you want to be. :-)

[turil.livejournal.com]

Heh. I meant snark lovers. Not "snarl". Though they probably love snarling too.

[rumpleteasah.livejournal.com]

you can quote this: This "traveling art installation" definitely misses the point. Having ONE person answer all the questions not only gives a limited view on the situation, but also exacerbates the problem that the creator CLAIMS to be trying to solve, which is that people don't solve their own problems. If it were a FULLY interactive, with the option to ask AND answer questions, it likely would have been better recieved. As a note, I've read a number of the "answers" the creator has put up, and have been continually skeeved out by them. I'm also troubled that this man is referring to himself as a life coach.

do not quote this: I am against it. I always have had misgivings about it. I was one of the people who helped to build the original, which I ALSO considered an eyesore (I somehow convinced him to let me put plants into the garden, however.) This is a man who has alienated almost everyone who I know has had contact with him, and I don't think that he's qualified to be giving ANYONE advice.

I know some have asked how long we can hold someone to their past mistakes, but the issue isn't ONLY in his past. Less than a year ago, there were numerous incidences involving him that got to the point of my being completely unable to come close to the house while I was with one of the people who lived there, out of fear of having to deal with this man. He is socially manipulative and not above using his stature to get his way (though to my knowledge he has not used actual violence.) While I was living there, I was never comfortable having any of my female friends come over. The one time I did was when I was moving out, and he leered at her so hard that she told me she was going to go wait by the car rather than re-enter the house.

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

JON MONSARRAT IS A CREEP

here are some resources:

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Jonmon
http://media.www.hlrecord.org/media/storage/paper609/news/2003/04/17/News/Dating.Service.Creator.Accused.Of.Harassing.Students-419629.shtml

everyone i have ever known to have ever dealt with him personally will tell you. he has no business harvesting the imagination of youth.

[exsplusohs.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. The more you know.

[bluesauce.livejournal.com]

I find it to be incredibly arrogant, and would find it so even if the installation weren't run by a creep and a sexual predator.

[rumpleteasah.livejournal.com]

amen

[ron_newman]

by the way, to the OP -- you can use anything I've said here, but I haven't said a whole lot. I do think that the cited past incidents are relevant when evaluating both the installation and its creator, and I'll be interested to see how you integrate that information into your article. This may be more than you originally signed up for.

Same here

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

OP, you can quote my first post here:

"It perpetuates the mindset that somebody else can answer our questions, which is part of the problem in our society. I'd be for an "anti-wheel", where people write down something they discovered through hard work."

[mihmo.livejournal.com]

I would like the installation a lot more if it only was a display of the questions people asked, not the answers. It could then be kind of documentation of the questions folks in the physical proximity of the thing had on their minds. Of course, then, I don't know there would be much incentive to leaving a question. But it reminds me maybe of how people throw nickels and dimes and pennies into water fountains for luck. Maybe they ask the questions more to get it out in the open anonymously rather than to actually get an answer. Grouphug.us is an online site that's been around for at least a couple of years that serves just that purpose, and can be at times humorous / entertaining / sobering / lose-your-faith-in-humanity-depressing to read.

I do question from what authority the answers come from. As many folks have pointed out, it's a bummer the community itself can't answer the questions - I've noticed since it's been in Davis Square people have tried to contribute answers and have been scolded.

It does remind me a bit of this feedback setup we had at the cafeteria at my university, RPI. The cafeteria had these cards where you could ask questions or provide feedback on the food and service. The manager of the cafeteria would answer every card and tack it up on this huge corkboard at the exit of the cafeteria. Usually the cards had mundane questions like: "Can we have sushi one day of the week?" or "The meatloaf was gross today." But sometimes people would ask questions like "Should I change my major?" or "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" and the cafeteria manager always answered them nicely. :) Those kinds of more personal cards were only occasional though.

The thing is...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

If it's all anonymous then... Why not just do it online? The point of doing it in RL would be that you may get to know some people who live near you better. Perhaps see the problems they are having or what they are trying to achieve and feel a bit closer to them. If that is not possible, then there is no point at all in having a physical installation...

The Internet Oracle

[ron_newman]

For a similar idea, but done entirely online since 1989: The Internet Oracle (originally 'The Usenet Oracle')

Re: The Internet Oracle

[mycroft.livejournal.com]

But the Oracle doesn't take itself seriously; it's supposed to be funny. (As a priest on sabbatical, I admit it sometimes fails at that...)

[antimony.livejournal.com]

I think it's ugly, and fails both as community-building and as art. I do like the idea in general of installation art in that space, but I'm not at all fond of this piece. When I first saw it, I expected it to be open-ask-open-answer, which it wasn't. And the handful of questions I saw were juvenile (I didn't bother looking to see if they had answers.)

Quotable.