Re: Slagging off cyclists article.

Simon Geller said:

"JNugent" wrote in message news:...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Obviously, your use of "unsubstantiated" may well mean no more than
that the phenomenon has not (yet) been the subject of scientific
enquiry and a learned thesis.

Quoted message said:

The assertions in the article can rightly be called unsubstantiated
because they claim to tell us how all cyclists
"feel". Apparently we are self-righteous, have a deep-seated sense of
injustice, feel smug and superior, but constantly humiliated by the
knowledge of their acute vulnerability, we turn into complete nutters,
gripped by a desire for vengeance on a world that has wronged us so
cruelly.

You are right to point that out. And I dare say that the author would
agree with you like a shot.

But does it matter? The article was clearly a humorous - and
well-aimed - piece, with the bare undeniable facts (the observed
behaviour) fleshed out with a proffered explanation for some of it.
Whether it is right or wrong is something that no-one is ever going to
be able to prove either way.

Quoted message said:

As a (presumably) none-cyclist how on earth can Mr Tomkins know how a
disparate group people of "feel"?

He can't.

That does NOT mean that he cannot write a humorous column piece about it.

Blimey, just cast your mind back to the 1980s, and to the way in which
Grauniad journos used to do exactly the same sort of thing to members
of the government all the time, as did the hacks who "wrote" for the
Mirror. I bet you were leaping up and down with indignation, eh? Or
something.

Quoted message said:

I personally don't recognise any of
these emotions in myself, and wouldn't presume to speak for anyone else.

That's fine. But please, don't run away with the idea that bland
denials would ever be enough to assuage the suspicions of others,
though. Like it or not, everyone tries to rationalise the behaviour of
others, if for no better reason than to decide how to live with it.

Quoted message said:

I tend generally to feel pretty happy when I'm cycling, even in traffic,
and only get angry when my personal safety is threatened by the
inattention of others.

There is much to be angry about on the roads these days, for all
road-users.

JNugent said:

There is much to be angry about on the roads these days, for all
road-users.

Your experience evidently differs from mine, because most of my
experience of using the roads lately has been very positive. A few
incidents here and there where people have been less considerate than I
would have liked, but in a city with the traffic density of London
that's scarcely surprising.

That said, my vicarious experience (being stuck behind a computer having
discussions about road use) has on the whole been more frustrating. I
wonder if the people getting wound up about it (and, it appears, going
off to write newspaper articles etc as a result) are for the most part
similarly frustrated at not getting anywhere fast, and really should
consider letting off some steam by going out for a good ride.

-dan