Activities such as blocking intersections until all riders in the group get through regardless of the light are total BS, not to mention illegal. Like it or not, each invidual bike is a vehicle, not the group. This is a prime example of mob mentality. Combined with the people participating who are regular scofflaws, these activities label the entire group, and by extension all cyclists, by the people who don't bicycle and may not be familiar with the intention of CM.
The stigma that CM projects is one of many reasons why all my riding is done solo.
It makes the participants feel proud to ride bikes.
Can't say that I have ever felt proud on a bike. Happy, free, care-free, are all accurate. Even ecstatic at times. Can't say that pride ever accurately fit.
Not scared to ride, like they are for the rest of the month. It's a feeling of relief to know that the cars CAN see you and HAVE to take notice, not cut you up or run you down like normal.
Ride applying VC principles and the fear dissipates with experience.
It galls me to hear 'supposed' cyclists running down CM. Get into the city on your bike, any day of the month. It's no fun. It's bloody frightening in fact. Such intolerance everywhere.
See above.
And yes, some will remember seeing posts made by me about currently riding rural highways, and while this is all very nice, it is something that I caused to happen relatively recently in my commuting.