Advice & Dissent

► Many Boston.com readers were skeptical of the idea. “One more museum,’’ ghany wrote, “has a big ‘so what?’ factor. . . . Stick with the wonderfulness of open space, fresh air, the smell of the nearby ocean. Please no more museums, not now.’’

► Another reader questioned how often locals would visit the proposed museum. “I think the Greenway should be green,’’ samsample wrote, “not a series of cement flower pots and buildings a resident will go into once in their lifetime here with out of town guests.’’

► Similarly, DougWatts wrote: “I walked the entire Greenway last spring while waiting for a bus . . . and by far the most beautiful and successful part of it was the section at Chinatown with the bamboo trees and the flowing brook. It was so surprising, so seemingly out of place, and so perfect. . . . The rest looked in comparison like cold, over-wrought, and over-thought postmodern urban glop.’’

►A market proposed for the first floor intrigued reader commentor. “What is needed here is not a giant museum but an amenity that will serve the residents and workers. The market concept is right on. A real market - not upscale - but a place where you can go for local veggies, meats, seafood, and so on.’’ This reader went on to argue against imitating Seattle’s famous Pike Place market. “It would just be another Faneuil Hall tourist trap. Remember the Great Pumpkin: only attracted by sincerity.’’

► Reader 2old2Bayuppie expressed doubts about the organizers, noting that they have considered other sites and were designated to use a site directly on the Greenway. “This idea is no closer to being realized then it was when I first heard about it over a decade ago. They should give it up until they can pay for it!’’

► Other readers were more sympathetic. “The parcel is not in the Greenway; it is along the Greenway and is slated for development either way,’’ tangent wrote. “The choice is between more public space or more exclusive private development.’’

► And cyberdialog urged Bostonians to use their imagination. “We can call ourselves a ‘world-class city’ till we’re blue in the face, but methinks all the world-class bluster reflects a lack of real vision [and] an inability to rise above petty politics. . . . There are tons of brains here in Boston but sometimes we just can’t get out of our own way.’’

► Cujo disagreed. “There is no need for a quasi-mandatory test for a disease that affects a small portion of the population. It is this kind of thinking that has driven health care costs out of control.’’

► But Danielsan thought the proposal should go further. “The majority of people with herpes below the belt do not know they have it, and testing will prevent the spread. But controlling this disease might make sex less scary, and we can’t have that.’’

► One reader noted the difficulty of getting elected even to a district office. “I had a wonderful young man come and campaign door to door last fall,’’ toots wrote. “My neighbors and I talked to him about what issues were important to us. I voted for him, as I had no idea what my current rep had done for me, and it seemed like an eager, fresh voice might be a good thing. But he got [something] like 2 percent of the vote.’’

►Pete5 wondered how many critics of the status quo would ever seek office. “It’s far easier to complain than take action. If being a legislator is such a great deal, it’s amazing not many folks want to run for office. With a little organization and help from your friends I’m sure you could win and then you’d be on easy street for the rest of your life. Let’s see which of the talkers step up.’’

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