Smug, arrogant, holier-than-thou, perfect

[thefollen]

Guess many people go with their stereotypical preconceptions in numerous aspects of life. Reckon most are guilty of it to a certain degree. Journalists should be completely unbiased (although we know this isn't always the case). As for drivers- well, we can only lead by example and hope that those who harbour such views will come around.

Then again, personally, I don't really care what preconceptions people have of me, that's their problem.

Hmmm perhaps those journos/drivers have a point

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

To the extent that driving is considered a norm, anyone choosing to get about differently challenges that norm. This makes cyclists appear as the Other to the car driver. Those character traits we tend not to embrace in ourselves - smugness, arrogance, etc - are also displaced away from the self to the other. The cyclist is simply a convenient place to hang these inconvenient attributes. Drivers inculcated into a sense of car entitlement, that is, drivers who have arrogated privileged road use to themselves, will see cyclists who choose to challenge that privilege as being arrogant. Their unconscious arrogance finds a two-wheeled home. The holier-than-thou attribution is more to do with guilt but follows the same process.

The journalist who manages to project the the full house of negative attributes onto cyclists will also have tinted windows.*

*This is personal prejudice and has nothing to do with basic psychology.

 

[Bassjunkieuk]

I'll except being called smug, it's hard not to be as you fly past hundreds of cars during the rush hour. All the while having a pretty damn good time and safe in the knowledge that's is costing you relatively little (taking into account for maintenance....) and saving you a shed load of time.

Not so sure about he rest though although as pointed out above I think it's more a reflection on the feelings of those who are stuck in cars feeling a tad jealous.....

 

[beastie]

Seeing as tongue in cheek ironic is his standard style, I think we can be. I could of course be wrong and in a boy crying wolf style his serious message is lost this time.

I thought the sarcasm in MY post was pretty clear, but it seems not. :n)

 

[BentMikey]

Maybe becasue many cyclists are.

I don't think I know any cyclists who are anything like those preconceptions????

 

[CopperCyclist]

In the same way probably that when we picture a bad driver, we imagine a fat male.

They use those terms when they want to 'hate' cyclists, but have no real reason to, so they pick certain negative attributes to attach to them. It's similar to the way some people assume every BMW driver is bad.

 

[Jezston]

Why is it that so many drivers and journalists seem to attribute cyclists with these sorts of things, at least the anti-cyclists versions of them? Is it a deep-seated insecurity and defensiveness?

Its not just cyclists.

Its the same with any kind of out group that is doing something that can often be attributed to them trying to make things better in some way. Environmentalists, vegetarians, vegans, feminists, social justice activists, keep-fit entheusiasts, healthy eaters, health and safety officiers, compliance officers etc etc etc

It's the same psychology as people who pick on the smart kids at school, and perpetuate an attitude that being smart, successful etc is a negative.

Rather than confronting their own inadequacies, people just lash out instead. Rather than bring themselves up to their level, they try to bring them down to theirs. It's far easier.

 

[beastie]

Its not just cyclists.

Its the same with any kind of out group that is doing something that can often be attributed to them trying to make things better in some way. Environmentalists, vegetarians, vegans, feminists, social justice activists, keep-fit entheusiasts, healthy eaters, health and safety officiers, compliance officers etc etc etc

It's the same psychology as people who pick on the smart kids at school, and perpetuate an attitude that being smart, successful etc is a negative.

Rather than confronting their own inadequacies, people just lash out instead. Rather than bring themselves up to their level, they try to bring them down to theirs. It's far easier.

I fail to see how "Vegetarians and Vegans" can be attributed with making things better. They should be shot for crimes against humanity and bacon.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I fail to see how "Vegetarians and Vegans" can be attributed with making things better. They should be shot for crimes against humanity and bacon.

Yeah, but don't they leave us with MORE bacon?

 

[jdtate101]

To the daily mail "journalists" (i use that word lightly) the word 'cyclist' can be freely interchanged with any of the following:

Immigrant
Welfare Recipient
MP
Any Racial Minority

Basically anything they can use to raise a few hackles, it's all fair game to them, doesn't even need to be true!!!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Its not just cyclists.

Its the same with any kind of out group that is doing something that can often be attributed to them trying to make things better in some way. Environmentalists, vegetarians, vegans, feminists, social justice activists, keep-fit entheusiasts, healthy eaters, health and safety officiers, compliance officers etc etc etc

It's the same psychology as people who pick on the smart kids at school, and perpetuate an attitude that being smart, successful etc is a negative.

Rather than confronting their own inadequacies, people just lash out instead. Rather than bring themselves up to their level, they try to bring them down to theirs. It's far easier.

you forgot those who don't drink (says the vegan, no alchohol cyclist ) I ditched the feminist thing as soon as I left home.

 

[Jezston]

you forgot those who don't drink (says the vegan, no alchohol cyclist ) I ditched the feminist thing as soon as I left home.

Bloody straight edgers, think they are so much better than the rest of us etc etc etc!

Also thanks to Beastie for confirming my point

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Bloody straight edgers, think they are so much better than the rest of us etc etc etc!

Am I allowed to confess to missing my Audi A4 2.8L quattro yet? this VW passat 1.9TDI is just nowhere near as fun to drive!

EDIT:
Am I allowed to confess to missing my Audi A4 2.8L quattro yet? my husband's VW passat 1.9TDI is just nowhere near as fun to drive!

 

[Maz]

To the daily mail "journalists" (i use that word lightly) the word 'cyclist' can be freely interchanged with any of the following:

Immigrant
Welfare Recipient
MP
Any Racial Minority

Basically anything they can use to raise a few hackles, it's all fair game to them, doesn't even need to be true!!!

What if you're a cyclist and a racial minority? Journalist's dream, that is!

 

[Glow worm]

If breaking the rules while cycling upsets Melanie Phillips and the Hate Mail brigade so much, I might just start jumping red lights for the hell of it