Editorial: Howls of outrage only spur Crow on

OPINION: The already controversial Boobs on Bikes parade has come in for even more public scrutiny after its organiser announced plans to expand the Palmerston North event to include Levin and Whanganui.

Pornographer and parade organiser Steve Crow is copping more criticism from some, and no doubt that's precisely what he was aiming for.

Say what you like about the guy, but he is a clever businessman.

The Palmerston North parade has already attracted plenty of negative attention because of its timing, two days before Anzac Day, and Mr Crow's decision to take the parade to Levin and Whanganui the same weekend will help attract even more. He says "it's a freedom of expression thing", which is fair enough.

Some people will eagerly exercise their right to express their opposition to the parade, but their cause would be better served by silence. While criticism of the Boobs on Bikes parade on moral grounds should be respected, it is a lawful activity and there is nothing to prevent it happening.

The howls of outrage do little more than feed public curiosity and further embolden Mr Crow's determination to push ahead with his plans.

It might be be a "freedom of expression thing", but one suspects the personal satisfaction Mr Crow derives from offending a significant section of society is a more powerful driving force. That force is only fuelled by public scorn.

If no-one had ever protested against Books on Bikes, you can be sure the parade would hold little appeal for Mr Crow. It has enabled him to cultivate the image of a renegade and feed his considerable ego.

The event is clearly popular – thousands of people flock to it – but, as any parent of a naughty child can attest, the response to the behaviour can be as satisfying as the behaviour itself.

Those people who despise Mr Crow and what he stands for only indulge him with their derision. It fills his sails, draws more attention to his events and enables his "freedom of expression" martyrdom.

Ignore him and, just like a child, he'll get bored and shuffle off quietly.

One more thing
Well, in case there was any doubt, this Manawatu summer has been one of the most miserable for years, news in the Weekend Standard that the lowest ever summer temperature in lower Manawatu was recorded last week surely confirmed it.

On Thursday morning, a weather reading from a Landcare Research site at Turitea revealed the temperature to be 0.5 degrees Celsius, beating the previous summer low of 0.7C recorded in 2003.

And as the days get shorter and the end of daylight saving approaches, it's all downhill from here.

Ah well, let's hope we're in for a better summer next time.

- © Fairfax NZ News