How do we improve the quality of debate on this site?

[Gerry Attrick]

It's not a condition. It's a missing eye. It gives me the added skill of "awesome party tricks" and "my prosthetic right eye is cooler than your real one".

My point was that the aphorism you chose to pin to the end of the thread is, when considered logically, a stupid thing to say.

Stupid indeed?

With respect, your response is a vindication of at least part of GC's OP.

I am not posting to goad you or anyone else, but some time ago I almost abandoned the forum as I became disillusioned with the style, quality and tone of some of the posts. The broad response to GC did nothing to give me hope of imminent improvement.

 

[Ravenbait]

Your examples are good ones, and I think the apparent mismatch between GC's view of the foum and our reality is explained by what it was that got people's backs up to start with - posting, verbatim, or very lightly added to, his blog. When that stuff is on his blog, it's aimed at people who are anonymous. He can write that some people despise his Pashley and lack of lycra, because we all know that it's true - SOME people would (and they aren't people I'd like to hang out with). But not, by and large, CCers. By slapping his point down here, he made it false.

Exactly. For instance:

In the real world of wind and road and bikes, I try to console myself that while they scoff, beneath my moleskin breeks there lurks thighs of steel the equal of any of them….but I must confess that in the realm of the internet cycling forum, with its apparent herd like instincts and overwhelming mass of momentum, I have the urge to hide myself away.......in the deepest recess’ of my own virtual saddle bag.

in the context of his blog is fair enough. I've been to certain places on BikeRadar and wouldn't want to go there again. I'm pretty sure there are cycling fora out there where such statements are true. The internet is a big place.


But originally this was posted here, on CycleChat, after GC posted a long essay about how we're all bike snobs who care more about weight than anything else, and quite a few people told him he was talking rubbish. Which he was. I can assure the honourable ladies and gentlemen that my Raleigh Sun Solo weighs more than a spider fart and Fingal is a sturdy bicycle not known for being waif-like.


I do not deny that there were members who were scoffing, however the scoffing was nothing to do with his Pashley. At the very least GC is being disingenuous. He is certainly not being terribly gentlemanly.


One final quote:

Having just taken ownership of a splendid Pashley Sovereign Roadster I am left wondering why others persist in commuting on such inconvenient and seemingly impractical conveyances?

I am left somewhat in awe of the lycra clad, skin tight, legging wearing, middle aged, balding males with beer guts who happily don their pan's people outfits on the 7.21 and waddle up to town on cleated shoes, with weighted back packs and flashing lights dangling from every conceivable strap, topped off by some ludicrous plastic headwear.


Gentlemen do you have any idea how ridiculous you all look?... kitted out in spandex and neon clutching your super lightweight folding monstrosity? You are a figure of ridicule to all those svelte long legged sirens you long to bed as you gaze across the train zipping and posturing......

So it's completely out of order for CycleChat members to mock his Pashley (even though nobody did) but it's just fine for him to make sweeping negative statements about other bicycles or be utterly rude about other cyclists?


Pot. Kettle. Fill in the rest yourself.


Sam

 

[Ravenbait]

Stupid indeed?

With respect, your response is a vindication of at least part of GC's OP.

I am not posting to goad you or anyone else, but some time ago I almost abandoned the forum as I became disillusioned with the style, quality and tone of some of the posts. The broad response to GC did nothing to give me hope of imminent improvement.

My response is a mild objection to the use of a trite aphorism that has no logical basis in fact. Willful refusal to acknowledge something is not as severe a blindness as having no capacity for sight. It was not meant to be taken as an opinion about your relative intelligence.

I've always hated that saying.

Sam

 

[just jim]

Is G.C actually Craig Brown in the guise of say, a cycling version of Simon Heffer? I think we should be told.

 

[PaulSB]

Personally I don't feel the "quality of debate" on the site needs improving and I thoroughly enjoy browsing and very occasionally contributing where I can.

What does concern me is I recall similar reactions to some posters on the old C+ board. That was a great place to visit for a long time until this sort of discussion and reaction raised it's head.

Sometimes it's better not to react or at least just allow people to express their views.

 

[Gentleman Cyclist]

?

 

[TheDoctor]

?

!!

 

[biggs682]

we are all allowed to make comments surely

 

[Gentleman Cyclist]

????

 

[Gentleman Cyclist]

Bravo! Bravo!......we are certainly turning a pedal or two here.....splendid.....errudition...debate....how reassuring....I am genuinely proud of you.

 

[Norm]

I must be a lycra fetishist too then! Ask Arch, she has seen me in my, er glory.

She's seen me in the nude!

Sam

Oh, now that is usually the sort of competition that I positively encourage.

However, I've never met Arch and, given most of the peeps on here that I have met, I think I'm quite happy enough to keep to the more usual form of on-line discussion, for now.

 

[Gentleman Cyclist]

Dear All,

Thank you for your time and for all of your contributions to my posts.

In truth I do not think that this forum or the sort of social dynamic I have experienced on it is really for me.

Doubtless I have upset some people,....and I cannot deny that I have found some of your over reactions utterly hilarious......... and to my shame I have been unable to resist the temptation to stir things a touch.

When I consider this from a more objective point of view,..... I am a little ashamed of myself....from time to time....inbetween the giggles

......Can I thank those who have shown me the sort of consideration that I have found only too readily demonstrated in the world of real cycling.

In short I think it might be better for all concerned if I get out on my bike rather than chew the cud here.(....What? what?...are they resounding cheers I hear?)

It has been an interesting experience.

I wish all of you the very, very, best....may your punctures be few.

Adieu,

GC

 

[wobbler]

About the dots You are doing them wrong ... wrongly ... not right ...

 

[Dan B]

Adieu,

That's flounce #2

Is anyone running a book?

 

[Fab Foodie]

What does concern me is I recall similar reactions to some posters on the old C+ board. That was a great place to visit for a long time until this sort of discussion and reaction raised it's head.

Sometimes it's better not to react or at least just allow people to express their views.

Yep, life's too short to get into lather about this kind of stuff.