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#1
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While I agree with this statement, there are those among us (in the greater sense) who only understand violence. Bullies don't stop until they get punched in the mouth. I know a guy who got hit in the back by a half-full beer can. At the next stop light the offender was dragged through the passenger side window and stomped in the gut. Maybe that wasn't the right thing to do, but I have a hard time faulting the man for doing it.
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Old'n'Slow |
#2
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The idea isn't to use violence, but that would be in a perfect world.
I still find it mind boggling that people have this extreme hate for people on bikes. Is it some type of channeling anger fixation with a vulnerable object? My old mentor met me for lunch and he asked about my cycling life, he said "You're one of those people holding me up all the time, taking up the road!" I was like how much time are you going to lose by simply going around us. He didn't even refer to me like I was a human being. Weird. I would love for someone to conduct a study on why people hate cyclists on the road so much. |
#3
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wcrkxOgzhU Buzz Aldrin is old school, from a time when you didn't run your mouth and treat people with utter disrespect lest you get your teeth shoved down your throat. Some might think Buzz was wrong, but I don't. If more people realized their behavior might result in an ass kicking or a punch to the nose, they might think twice about being jerks. Bringing this back to the conversation at hand, civility is often maintained by the threat of violence. With kids being taught "its never ok to punch somebody", "fighting doesn't solve your problems"...well that just isn't true. Adults mind their Ps and Qs because they learned school yard lessons about actions and consequences. The internet emboldens people too, allows them to act in ways they never would in person. Anyway, folks might disagree, and thats OK, but violence isn't the only tool, but it sure as hell is a tool. Last edited by rugbysecondrow; 07-28-2015 at 01:24 PM. |
#4
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We're ruling out the easy accessibility to firearms in today's times. I mean when I was a teenager, it was pretty easy to get a gun, but not super easy to get a registered one where people feel they can carry all the time. any Joe Blow can go into Turners and fill out a paper and swipe his/her visa for a .45 caliber hand cannon.
when I was really young, fighting was the way you solved problems with neighborhood kids, until guns got into the mix. A kid loses his teeth, he walks home and grabs his .380 and opens fire on you. LA life. You run up on some dweeb who cut you off, he/she may have a registered pistol in their car and they damn sure will use it and claim self defense even though they were being he aggressor. Our parents grew up in an era where fire arms weren't easily accessible and everywhere in people's trunks. Fists were all that you had. You have to pick and choose your battles these days. Ask yourself is it worth spending the res of your life, or even a few years in prison for some ass hat who cut you off... |
#5
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It was asked above, why such hatred towards cyclists. I firmly believe it is due to a lack of social conformity. We live in a world that tries to push people into narrow little boxes. When people don't fit they become a pariah worthy of disdain and hatred from one or more "mainstream" groups. Cyclists are for all intents and purposes social pariahs on the roadways and therefore a target.
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Old'n'Slow |
#6
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other |
#7
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https://www.minnpost.com/second-opin...logists-theory
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Old'n'Slow |
#8
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Going viral on FB: video of a guy pushing cyclist off bike from a driving car
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I agree with this. And add my additional theory that as society has become dominated by sedentary fatties, we are viewed as an even greater outlier to society's 'norm'. I've been riding a long time and I hear crap from fat drivers I never heard 20 yrs ago. And my ears are always attuned to the coworker or acquaintance and their often not very veiled comments on being fit & cycling. |
#9
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from cycling instead of driving, to hand tools instead of power tools, to simply choosing a parking spot further away and walking. today i saw a man in a huge truck almost pull out in front of me to turn right onto the road. I mouthed "don't even think about it". no way he heard me speak, but he saw my lips move and gave me a dirty look and put his arm in the air like "what?". he did wait to pull out, but then pulled out like an idiot, spinning the tires a bit and making a huge sound with his huge truck. he held his fist out the window at me as if to say "haha, I'm faster than you". I gave him the thumbs up, because its better than a middle finger. people are jerks, maybe even some of you, and maybe me sometimes too. |
#10
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I second your theory. It sometimes feels like we're living in the world portrayed in the movie Wall-E.
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#11
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But cyclists are an easy group because they are typically smaller, thinner, less threatening looking, and also less ready to kick some ass. Runners don't get it because that person is standing there ready. Weight lifters and other fitness oriented folks don't get it because that fattie would get a hand full. Cyclists, well maybe 6' tall, 165 pounds...that doesn't scare many people. As a 6'2", 225# cyclist, I am well outside the normal range and I rarely got hassled on the road. In fact, I get more flack from other cyclists then I did from motorists.
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#12
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Some motorist do make the mistake of thinking that thin cyclists are not a threat. Sometimes they are very wrong. Now, why do you get more flack from cyclists. |
#13
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They seem fine off the bike and in life, but something about being on the bike turns many into jerks. |
#14
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At least in the terms of bikes in groups and close riding the consequences for mistakes can be quite high. Even a slight momentary lapse can put someone on the ground quickly. I think this reality might cause a brutal lack of tolerance to mistakes. When it comes to drivers making mistakes the same idea applies. Again, does not excuse being a jerk for no good reason.
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Old'n'Slow |
#15
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Look, I'll be honest, this is the one thing about cycling I've never really understood. I've been riding for a long time and I raced for quite a few years, and overall rugby is right. Don't get me wrong, I've met many wonderful people over the years through cycling, but I've also been involved in many sports and cycling was the most unfriendly/snobbish to break into. It's weird but true IMO. My first year of racing I had a cheap Fuji Roubaix and the unending snide comments and looks I would get were crazy. I took particular glee in hammering people and beating them on my cheap bike. And the ones who would say particularly unfriendly stuff during races (and it had nothing to do with bike handling) were always very apologetic or played dumb if I wanted to "discuss" things with them afterward. What is about being on a bike that makes you think you can say or do stuff that you won't have to be answerable to when you get off the saddle? I don't race these days and I mostly solo ride so I don't know if it's still as unfriendly as it was then, but the looks or percentage of non-reaction I get when acknowledging other riders on the road makes me think it's not too much different. As Ruby said, there just seems to be something about cycling that turns some people into jerks. And I say that as a long time cyclist. William |
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