Interview: Andy Lin, Creator of Anti-MassPirg T-Shirts

Hey, remember way back when, last week, when we told you how you could get an "I Hate MassPirg" t-shirt? Well, the creator of NoMassPirg.com, Andy Lin (not pictured at right), had the good graces to respond to our e-mail questions. Now, without further commentary and in the interest of giving you the full story while simultaneously doing very little work, we offer you our questions and his answers:

Bostonist: Who are you? Where are you from, where do you live, what do you do for a living?

Andy Lin: I am a grad student who has lived in central square for a few years.

Bostonist: Are you earnestly irritated by the MassPirg canvassers (a lot of people are, we've learned) or is this a tongue-in-cheek way to make people feel guilty about being irritated by the MassPirg kids? We ask because we've notice that most of the folks we've talked to already feel sheepish about the fact that the MassPirg folks annoy them and actually tend to be in favor of MassPirg, in theory, anyway.

A.L.: I am earnestly and honestly irritated by the Masspirg canvassers, as I
think many others do as well. Their guilt tactics by asking if you have fifteen minutes for the environment seems to me unfair. Masspirg is simply too aggressive. More so than their New York and California counterparts.

It is true that most people are in favor of Masspirg in theory. Who doesn't like the environment, after all? However, I have engaged the canvassers in conversation and they do not seem to always have full understanding of the facts and information, returning often to how the environment is a good thing and the Bush administration is a bad thing (and who doesn't agree with that?).

Bostonist: Are people buying the shirts? Do you wear one of the shirts? If so, have you had occasion to try it out when walking by MassPirg canvassers?

A.L.: I actually made the shirt for myself at first. I wear it around all the time. At a bar once, a girl slipped me a note, which I thought to be a phone number, but it was even better. It said: "Hooray for special interests. Nice shirt, jerk off. We work our asses off." Well of course she works her ass off; she works on commission. I was surprised she didn't realize how many people find MassPirg annoying. But anyway, after I made some, a bunch of friends wanted them as well and suggested that I try selling them. Hence the website. When I have time, my plan is to stand next to a canvasser and sell them simultaneously while they are canvassing.

I only put the fliers up a few days ago, but we have begun to get some orders. I would love to lower the price but it is difficult because I am unsure of the demand and can't have them made in large quantities. Hopefully, word gets out about them.

It is quite amusing to wear, as I get many varied reactions. Mostly positive, and mostly pointing and laughter.

Bostonist: What is that thing that the woman in the picture on the website is holding in her right hand (see above)?

A.L.: The girl is holding a "bang" gun, the type that shoots out a little flag that says "bang" on it. We were taking a bunch of pictures, and I just thought it was a funny prop. Unfortunately, I didn't end up using any
pictures where the "bang" is engaged.