Cyclist Hating, Like a socially acceptable racism/zenophobia?
- Thread starter Garjenkins
- Start date
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marzjennings
Legendary Member
- Location
- Houston, Texas, USA
No I think there's a huge difference between saying,"I'm not BLANK" or "I'm glad I'm not BLANK" and "At least I'm not BLANK". The first two either stating a fact or a preference and there's nothing wrong in expressing a preference to how you want to be. The last is offensive because it implies a hierarchy that should not be tolerated.
So of course when someone proclaims they're NOT something, the folks that are that something immediately jump to the stereotypical negative connotations that are associated to that something as the reasons why a preference was expressed.
So,
I'm glad I'm not ginger.
Because I like my brown hair and over the years I've not had to put up with any additional verbal abuse because of my hair colour.
It should be ok to proclaim you're glad you are not something, it's the reasons why that will expose prejudices, but of course no one bothers to ever go to the next level.
So of course when someone proclaims they're NOT something, the folks that are that something immediately jump to the stereotypical negative connotations that are associated to that something as the reasons why a preference was expressed.
So,
I'm glad I'm not ginger.
Because I like my brown hair and over the years I've not had to put up with any additional verbal abuse because of my hair colour.
It should be ok to proclaim you're glad you are not something, it's the reasons why that will expose prejudices, but of course no one bothers to ever go to the next level.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
very-near said:
There are exceptions - let me think - perhaps you've come across a few 16ists.....
Sam Kennedy
New Member
- Location
- Newcastle
Not every BMW driver is bad, but 9/10 isn't far off! 
swee'pea99
Squire
"Boardman? You must be mad. He's a xxxxing cyclist. xxxxing cyclists hate xxxxing cyclists!" - Malcolm Tucker
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
User3143 said:
No they weren't, they were "no, still not ginger!". Which is different.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Ah, now I see I was beaten to it. As a matter of fact, he also queried for a moment whether he was a girl, and I saw no offence in that, being one myself.
With regard to the OP, though, yes, it's 'ok' to mouth off about cyclists, because most people aren't cyclists. But it is funny how people will rage on to a cyclist, about all the things cyclists do, even when that person patently does none of it themselves. They say "all cyclists" and then when confronted breezily say "But you're different..." with apparently no concept of the contradiction....
With regard to the OP, though, yes, it's 'ok' to mouth off about cyclists, because most people aren't cyclists. But it is funny how people will rage on to a cyclist, about all the things cyclists do, even when that person patently does none of it themselves. They say "all cyclists" and then when confronted breezily say "But you're different..." with apparently no concept of the contradiction....
andrew-the-tortoise
Swarfega Abuser
ChrisKH said:I understand there's a hate group for cyclists on Facebook. I shall being paying it a visit tonight.
There are quite a few - many condoning violent acts; if anybody uses facebook it is worth reporting these groups.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=32374
hambones
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Waltham Abbey
During a recent discussion about 'cyclists' at work a couple of colleagues bad-mouthed pretty much everyone but concluded rather nicely that I was an exception because I ride fast enough not to hold cars up!! Bless 'em! 
stephenjubb
Über Member
bah! I recently camped in London for a month and commuted 40 miles a day to get to work.
everyone called me mad, crackers etc. Just agreed with them, can't be bothered to explain my position now, have to do it to too many people (and have done in the past and got tired of it).
So now any comments go over my head and I don't care because I love cycling and camping and occasionally I say to people politely of course "what you say is going to go in one ear and out of the other" and people give up.
I am in the fortunate position with being happy with all most aspects of my life and it's too short to worry about peoples opinions(as long as I am not doing any harm)
To the OP if they get the impression you don't care or saying anything is pointless people soon give up.
everyone called me mad, crackers etc. Just agreed with them, can't be bothered to explain my position now, have to do it to too many people (and have done in the past and got tired of it).
So now any comments go over my head and I don't care because I love cycling and camping and occasionally I say to people politely of course "what you say is going to go in one ear and out of the other" and people give up.
I am in the fortunate position with being happy with all most aspects of my life and it's too short to worry about peoples opinions(as long as I am not doing any harm)
To the OP if they get the impression you don't care or saying anything is pointless people soon give up.
XmisterIS
Purveyor of fine nonsense
TBH, I don't give a sh1t who hates me when I'm on my bike. I keep myself to myself, ride defensively (mostly!) and (almost) never gesticulate/shout at drivers. If someone "hates" me for just riding down the cycle lane, keeping out of their way and minding my own business, then that's their problem.
If someone starts with the, "I hate bloody cyclists" rant at me when they hear I'm a cyclist, I patiently wait until they are finished, and calmly say, "I hear that you hate cyclists. That is interesting", in a very neutral tone, and just leave it at that.
If someone starts with the, "I hate bloody cyclists" rant at me when they hear I'm a cyclist, I patiently wait until they are finished, and calmly say, "I hear that you hate cyclists. That is interesting", in a very neutral tone, and just leave it at that.
stephenjubb
Über Member
+1
