Well, duh...

But those folks with 'issues' are more likely to go ahead and act out if their view of certain people is reinforced and encouraged by those with similar interests on internet sites, or popular cartoon strips, or media commentators...

... or even leaders of nations.

No
 

Taking this cartoon way too far. If someone does you harm because of this cartoon they have mental issues and would get you for any reason because mature adults can distinguish a cartoon character from a real person.

Awesome
 

Thanks for linking that, it was a good read.

That was my first thought as well. Jef would never carry a lock :)

Not really related to this cartoon, but yesterday I passed a cyclist, giving him about 5 feet. Then came to a stop, and while I was making a right turn, this cyclist passes on my right within a foot of me.

Only takes one to give us all a bad name.

Seinfeld, "Humans They're The Worst!"
 

People can be jerks no matter the uniform. But people can't disparage hundreds of thousands of people for the actions of one either. Normal people don't do that.

Control what you can control, how you interact with others will have more bearing on events if we're honest.

And always have the ability to laugh at yourself.

I think Pastis has the arrogant roadie prick down pretty well. Every time I see Jef the Cyclist, I am reminded of past or present riding buddies. My wife says I'm not completely innocent some of Jef's attitudes.

Exactly
 

It's funny because there's some truth in it. That's why good jokes are funny, it's a humorous exaggeration of a truth.

It reminds me of the tongue in cheek Velominati rules. It's a joke but some cyclist actually adher to a few if them :)

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/comment-page-8/

When they started some 9-10 years ago, The Rules helped codify some of the unwritten roadie traditions while also mocking those traditions. It was a tongue-in-cheek joke. Unfortunately, irony and satire are often too sophisticated for the general cycling public. The pompous, self-righteous, self-appointed road cycling mandarins who imagined they were promoting road cycling by protecting its purity and excluding those who did not cycle according to the rules latched onto The Rules as proof that they were right.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/getmytr...nce-begin/amp/

The best part…
"12,412 Replies to “The Rules”"

you are way more charitable of the human race than I am. from celebrities such as Clarkson to the comment section of any newspaper article about a motor-vehicle caused bike accident, this is exactly what an average person does: saying something to the effect that cyclists are nuisances, and implying that it's either their own fault (or worse, that cyclists had it coming). Outside of the comments on places like WaPo and NYT, such comments would actually get the most "likes".


Which brings us to the bigger picture. Your take of the cartoon is by default different from that of the average audience. You, I, and other roadies see the cartoon and recognize that the person illustrated is a caricature. I'm not sure the average audience views it the same way; s/he may think that the phenomenon illustrated is so pervasive, thus causing the illustrator to dedicate a panel to it. Whatever nuances you and I may see gets tossed out of the window.

This strip does nothing but to reinforce the stereotype of cyclists. No, it likely won't result in people coming after cyclists, but are you as certain that it won't result in people having a more negative view of cyclists?

Ha!
 

The irony is that I'm having discourse about people who can't separate a cartoon from reality with people who can't separate a cartoon from reality :)

So go with a drole ad hominem as opposed to debating the merits?

You seemed to have missed an irony of your own making

There Were No Victims This Day
 

To exhibit the conviction of a belief that is unfounded and based on a stereotype is a mirror image of the person you fear that would do exactly the same from a cartoon.

It's a humorous cartoon, adults get it.

OMG you guys it’s a friggin cartoon. It’s 1am and I just rolled in from a 10 hour search and rescue mission. I’m happy that we were successful, wasted because I was humping some 40 pounds of gear about 15 miles and I can’t believe you are arguing over a cartoon.
It’s lampooning and both my cycling and non-cycling friends recognize it. My cycling friends are the ones who really think Jef the cyclist is funny. We need to laugh at ourselves.
Take a slow deep breath. I’ve had more friends die in the mountains than on a bicycle. They’re both dangerous we just do our best to minimize risk.

Absolutely
 

Exactly, it's a humorous cartoon, people!

Of all the things I have to fear as a cyclist, a Pearls Before Swine Cartoon in no way resides among them.

I hope some of these aren't dentist or lawyers, they couldn't handle the jokes :)