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

[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).

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

Well, ok, I should clarify that I am *assuming* that the creator of the wheel moved, based on the fact that someone at the house was leaving out a bunch of stuff for taking shortly before and the subsequent radical change in the yard. There could be another explanation, though.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

the landlord actually caused the move; he was not happy with the liability issues that having a public park on property he was legally responsible for brought him. Hence the removal and the no trespassing signs, as people were still leaving notes even after it was removed.

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Thanks for the information!

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

Oh, and the above (and anything else I say in this thread) may be quoted.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Everything really interesting in the world has to start with the idea that it's important to oneself. No one does amazing things that aren't.

Also, thanks for the update about what happened to it in it's original home. I was so sad when it disappeared. Another interesting, challenging, creative thing gone from the community.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

That yard was a self aggrandizing eyesore. I had thought whoever put it up realized just how butt ugly it was, but clearly I was giving him too much credit.

[usernamenumber.livejournal.com]

Some people, myself included actually liked it. Subjective aesthetic assessments (whether asserted as fact or not) aside, I liked that it seemed a sincere effort to make something useful and available to others with the property, and that it added some eccentric character to the neighborhood. It was unique, and at least to me not ugly, and so I was sad to see it go.