this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2025
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[–] AlfredoJohn@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

I assume the original memorial crosswalk had reflective paint used on its markings, if people are just using chalk or regular paint now it would end up reducing the reflective properties of crosswalks which would effect low light visibility. Im not sure if people have been doing this for other crosswalks but if that is the case the person you are responding to does actually have a bit of a point, we are better off just painting walls, steps, or making signs as they originally suggested, considering the state isnt just going to accept and standardize rainbow crosswalks under this administration. That also removes the hiding of motivation for the police from this being a safety act to being purely bigoted which is important. Don't allow the fascists some reasonable cover to do what they do, force them to do it with their motivation on clear display.

[–] BussyGyatt@feddit.org 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

the crosswalk was painted at some point with highly the reflective white paint commonly found on american roads in the expected pattern for a crosswalk, but the paint has not been maintained for some time. it is dirty and not a very good reflector, even in places where chalk and standard-issue road grime has been washed off. I base this analysis exclusively on the image of the chalkwalk in the OP article. when you go back to review that image in the article, please observe the flooding overhead light directly illuminating the entire crosswalk. I would be willing to grant that, in the event of a power outage or service interruption on that light, the chalk would probably not be significantly more effective at catching a car's headlights than plain asphalt- or cracked, broken, flaking, dirty, generally neglected 'reflective' paint.

and yes you're absolutely right. there are plenty other crosswalks and walls for that matter in florida. They want that particular crosswalk to not be flamboyantly homosexual? well. there's more of us than there are of them, put it that way.

edit: and in looking up the government's line on this: ron desantis is plainly displeased with the fact that public property is being used for political speech. stop carrying the fascist's water for them. this argument is not made in good faith by the people actually carrying out the erasure.

https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1958583393714667572

We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

The possibility that a random person would go to the lengths of adding micro-beads, or go to the trouble of procuring reflective pavement paint of the colors used seems a bit far-fetched to me. Could be, but unlikely in my view.

[–] AlfredoJohn@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

Yeah, like your point was reasonable, which is why i wanted to step in. I dont think that its tuning into reddit per say but I do think people are just getting extremely tired of this administrations rhetoric, which is completely understandable, but if we have any chance of fighting it we all need to be able to take a step back and view others with out the bickering or they win out easily and allow us to be fractured to easily. Plus your point of using other means for memorials or painting is better as it removes the administration's ability to just act like this is being done for safety reasons and forces them to admit its out of bigotry. Eh I'm probably preaching to the choir by saying this to you. Hopefully we all can take the steps back when needed I know even I fall into the trap sometimes. Have a good day, though.

[–] BussyGyatt@feddit.org 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

No, I'm sorry but no.

For any movement to cohere they have to fundamentally agree about the nature of reality. As long as you continue to insist that the artwork in this image displays some legitimate traffic risk, we're not living in the same reality. until the day that you understand why i can't pretend you didn't just say two incompatible things about the nature of this erasure: that it's an excuse to exercise bigotry and also a reasonable point about safety, we are not on the same side. it's past time to figure out which reality you're living in.

say what you will about conservatives, they struggle to see the world differently than how they are told to see it. They share a very firm consensus reality.

[–] BussyGyatt@feddit.org 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

removes the administration’s ability to just act like this is being done for safety reasons and forces them to admit its out of bigotry.

a. they don't need an excuse. they have power. if you are in doubt of that, please check the actual reasons ron desantis and co. are saying out loud with their words directly that they are doing this for.

b. the fact that the chalk was colored inside the lines of the crosswalk after this supposed safety issue was pointed out and the chalk still being removed is sufficient to give that lie its character.

with the notable exception of observing basically, 'you don't have to place the memorial directly on the spot where a tragedy occured,' yall are just carrying water for ron desantis.