Alternatives to arguing with the public...

[ben_travis]

The ambiguous title I have used is to lure you in. If you don't like reading, then this post isn't for you! I did put one picture in the blog, but realised pretty quickly that no pictures were really relevant. I thought I would share anyway

Overview;

I recently had a confrontation with a community member in a local town. Following his scathing and ignorant rant at us for riding a particular spot, he wrote to the local paper, with his view of the conversation we had, aiming to further prove his point that we were in the wrong. The transcripts of both his letter, and my response (printed in today's paper) can be seen here;

http://mis-conceptions.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/politically-correct.html

Conclusion;

I look forward to his response, hopefully I don't get accused of damaging public property! UCI for life!

[FamilyBiker]

if its public property we ride on,dont we own part of it too?

thats a problem i thought of several times,millions of people eat at picnic tables while just a dozen of them would ride over them.

in my town its everywhere,you cant ride anything without being annoyed by people.

even riding at sakateparks isnt allowed on ANY bicycle here...

so i end up riding "public property" though,being not a part of the public who owns the stuff...

but well done,your response to his letter was a really good read and an example for us being not grown men riding kids bikes,but people like others are and equipped with rethorical abilities.

Edited September 20, 2013 by FamilyBiker

[swill]

its the same old argument wherever you live I think.

you seem to have responded in a mature and collective manner, which I think is all you can do.

yes in theory as a member of the public you and the rest of us perhaps have contributed towards these kind of obstacles, however any complaint made by another member of the public, whether or not any damage has been caused will always be sided by any authorities.

I have had police turn up stating that public complaints have been made about damage that doesn't even exist, and I have also shown police where I have ridden etc and the response is usually " I love what your doing and I can see its your creative release so to speak but if any damage were to become apparent you will be liable" to which I say I will happily pay but generally ends in "if you don't move on and continue to ride after being told not to you may be arrested for criminal damage.

I think its just the way it is.

[dngr2self]

I might do some weird cyclo-mating/ male bonding ritual myself tonight. It makes me laugh when people assume you should stop riding when you reach a certain age.

[chimpanzyyyy]

Oh my feckin god your my hero Ben

I just CAN'T stand this kind of big headed people trying to put other people down

everytime they come at me they see I m a well educated calm person so they can say whatever they want because they risk nothing

god if my parents had screwed my education, I would have act like a angry chav and have punch them in the face to death!!!!

anyway, I love you Ben, that was awesome of you

[Greetings]

t’s bad enough young kids doing this from time to time, but unbelieveable that grown men should do it.

He's making it sound like masturbation.

I find it rather amusing that he uses certain arguments to reinforce his statement and when the arguments backfire on him, he completely dismisses them.

I thought the response to his letter was very good - no insults, just facts and counter arguments anyone with an open mind should understand. Good job. There's no point in getting into a slagging match with such people. By just being far more civil and mature than him you've completely "disarmed" his accusations.

Edited September 20, 2013 by Greetings

[Ali C]

"You'll get over it" is my usual response to ignorant people.

Loving your response though, hate people who belittle the sport.

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

Was he really the chair of the Stoney council? If so that makes it far worse than your average ignorant numpty having a go!

[Revolver]

Lol, then he's an ignorant, slightly influential numpty. He's in good company then.

[isitafox]

Love it!

[SCOTTY___]

10/10

[pjl1984]

That is a brilliant reply by you and good on you. Sometime i do think we live in a very odd world where it seems to me that the older generation accuse us of being rude and nasty but in reality i seem tothink it is infact the otherway around. I dont juat mean in things like this but in every day life. However some people really do understand i was out on my bike this mornin just hopping about on the local benches and stuff when an older lady with 2 grandchildren (i presume) stood and watched. I was expectin the normal argument but instead she told her grandchildren to watch and see wat i was doing and telling them they would have to practice so they could oneday do the same. I thought this was very refreshing and something different .

[old boy chez]

Well done Ben.

[jigga]

Great post, great topic, great response letter too.

Thisissuch a big issue. I usedto ridelistening to music, partly to not hear the dumb comments about where i was gonna sit, where was the seat and the volume of my brakes. Now i feel ive got to be listening out for security, public, gobby chavs or police firing warning shots before theyre too near.

Most people are genuinely interested and enlightened by watching which helps offset the negativity from others.

Ben's response letter was as good as it could have got and as long as we continue to move on when asked to under reasonable circumstance, it'll help maintain a positive image even if youre spotted riding in more contraversial spots.

[ben_travis]

Was he really the chair of the Stoney council? If so that makes it far worse than your average ignorant numpty having a go!

I researched this Dave and no he isn't the chair of the Stonehaven community Council, although he is on the CC, but it was how he introduced himself. I am hoping he will realise how his letter, and attitude, was like that of a child.

As Ali kind of said, there was no need to base his argument on belittling the hobby we partake in. A simple 'move on' would have sufficed, but alas, some don't have the ability to listen rather than simply talk.

[dann2707]

Just sounds like a Charlie Brooker impersonator. Excellent reply

[dezmtber]

found that on another forum,sick idea.

is this what that old fella expects us to do

[Blake]

It's stupid how people think once you become older you should just get boring and good at nothing like they are. It's far more productive to do something useful with your lives like trials.

Also agree on the public property thing, I wouldn't give a shit if someone rode their granny bike around some picnic benches.

[dave33]

I just hope he was wearing a cycling helmet.

It really bugs me when people can't ask in a polite manner.

You should have pointed out that you could be sitting on his beloved bench and abusing your self with drugs or drink rather than doing some thing more constructive to your helath. Normaly shuts them up.

Personally iv found that just smile and not getting into an argument works best. Then soon lose interest and bog off

[bing]

I'm old, people tell me I should pack it all the time. I say go and tell horse riders the same thing, cos once you've invested time effort and money into, you can't just pack it in. It's the narrow minded individuals that cause all the bother, most people just stand and watch, and occasionally ask if you can do a backflip

[robbie-woods]

Had a simular problem like this. Got told I should bugger off to the skate park as that's what it's designed for. You can all guess where I told her to get off. Silly bitch.

[Pete.M]

I can maybe possibly almost see why some people react strangely to seeing big guys playing on bikes, but why would they question it? I guess some people forget that having fun is accessible to all ages. Well they're clearly not having as much fun as us!

I wish I hadn't read this whilst in bed. These situations make me rage so I'm gonna struggle to sleep now.

When I'm accused of bashing property or something, I tend to get the f*ck out of there to avoid making things worse. I wish I had the guts to start a reasonable conversation, but I'm always so annoyed that I just can't manage it.

[Little Yoshi]

Loving that ben.

[UK_SPAWN]

I think we dont understand from there eyes what it looks like.

The other day before I snaped my rear axle (hence not being on here much; hi all!)

I was out riding a bench iv rode since beig probably 16 in a town iv lived in my entire life, when an old "unfortunate" slightly drunken man iv never seen before ever, came over and exclaimed "Ill have your f**king guts"...whilst doing a stabbing motion with a gun shape he made with his hand and fingers, and makin "pshh..rrr." noises... despite the hilarity I refrained, and he continued with... (I have a beard).. "Foreign bastards.. *grumble baaa*.. something..."... @ this point I just couldnt hold the LOL anymore and went somthing like "PAHH! HAHA.. I was born 5 minuets walk, even for a person in your condition and state, away from here. Stop wasting what little time you have left moaning about things you dont understand and go back to the pub you just came out of"... whilst hopping around on the back wheel casualy as you do.. wih him making "im going to hit you wih my walking stick" gestures...

All in all, super-fun times! Just rode off.

Although most of the public enjoy seeing it I have found, I do get odd comments but that was by far the most fun.

[GavLawson]

Loved the letter in the paper Ben, had me in stitches.

I also had someone hurling abuse at me for riding those benches a few weeks ago. Apparently I should be in the purpose built skatepark, why don't people get that it's purpose built for skating not trials. And when I try and explain that I'm a cocky inconsiderate vandal. Nice one.