Loss of Civility
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#27
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This. Methinks OP may have over dramatized a bit...
Last edited by downhillmaster; 08-25-19 at 11:32 PM.
#28
Banned.
“The West has uniquely been able to create high-trust societies, a feature that is strongly related to Western individualism where reputation rather than kinship is important. So it's interesting that Americans think trust in fellow citizens is declining. America has divided itself into hundreds of ‘special interest’ groups whether those are created by race, religion, sexuality, etc. and it has gotten to a point where too many people are offended by what used to be considered common language, and I think it has made too many Americans ‘afraid’ of speaking and trusting people they don’t know."
https://www.people-press.org/2019/07...ersonal-trust/
https://www.people-press.org/2019/07...ersonal-trust/
#29
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#30
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So I was fixing a flat on the sidewalk by the side of the road yesterday when somebody actually tried to back into the space and run me over while I was working on the bike. Now he absolutely had to see me sitting there, it was pretty obvious.
But it got me thinking just how much the world has changed recently. Not a single person walking or driving by stopped to ask if I was OK. I could have been run over, injured, bike down and sprawled all over the sidewalk but no one even bothered giving me a single look. A couple of guys even laughed at me while walking by saying look at this fool trying to fix his own bike, as if I had a choice. The guy who almost backed into me was the last straw.
Now I’ve always been pretty self-sufficient, carry spares and tools and am able to fix most things on the road.
I don’t expect anyone to ever offer to help me, all I ask is you not harrass me or run me over. Just leave me alone and I’m fine. But like I said, the callousness and loss of civility of a lot of people these days is still shocking.
But it got me thinking just how much the world has changed recently. Not a single person walking or driving by stopped to ask if I was OK. I could have been run over, injured, bike down and sprawled all over the sidewalk but no one even bothered giving me a single look. A couple of guys even laughed at me while walking by saying look at this fool trying to fix his own bike, as if I had a choice. The guy who almost backed into me was the last straw.
Now I’ve always been pretty self-sufficient, carry spares and tools and am able to fix most things on the road.
I don’t expect anyone to ever offer to help me, all I ask is you not harrass me or run me over. Just leave me alone and I’m fine. But like I said, the callousness and loss of civility of a lot of people these days is still shocking.
From my experience, the dumbest people around cyclists are the ones who never practiced sport in their lives - they simply can't understand what it is. If there would be more people like us, there would be less things like that happening.
Last edited by eduskator; 08-26-19 at 07:12 AM.
#31
I live in one of the largest cities in the U.S. and have travelled a lot by bike through small town America. I have seen every type of behavior everywhere. In fact, anti-tax sentiment leading to budget cuts has effectively eliminated police presence in many rural areas. People feel they can get a way with whatever without much risk of getting in trouble. A few years ago, during a tour in the Black Hills, I was camping for a few days in tiny Edgemont, SD. A man camping at the same place told me to watch out for local drivers, many of whom drink and drive, because of the lack of police presence.
When I rode across the country 20 years ago many in our group of 13 were apprehensive about riding through Cleveland because of a fear of crime. Early on the in the trip we camped in the city park in tiny Ione, WA. I found it interesting that no one but myself noticed the drug sales going on in the park. At least 3 or 4 times the same vehicle pulled into the park and waited with its engine running. Each time a different vehicle pulled along side it for less than s minute. I could see exchanges being made and then both would drive off.
When I rode across the country 20 years ago many in our group of 13 were apprehensive about riding through Cleveland because of a fear of crime. Early on the in the trip we camped in the city park in tiny Ione, WA. I found it interesting that no one but myself noticed the drug sales going on in the park. At least 3 or 4 times the same vehicle pulled into the park and waited with its engine running. Each time a different vehicle pulled along side it for less than s minute. I could see exchanges being made and then both would drive off.
Last edited by indyfabz; 08-26-19 at 07:36 AM.
#33
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Last week one of our group mates was fixing a flat off the side of the road. In a ten-minute span three or four groups passed us and every one of them asked if we needed help. So civility isn't entirely lost.
Just yesterday we passed a group of women cyclist on the side of the road just as we began our ride. Naturally we asked if they needed help. To our surprise they said yes. So we stopped to help them change a flat. It delayed our ride for about ten minutes, but no biggie. I was both repairing and educating them on how to do a proper fix. They had trouble pulling off the tire from the wheel. They weren't quite sure how to use the CO2 cartridge. They were simply trying to install the new tube without inspecting the tire for the puncture. Turned out there was a long metal shard embedded in the tire and would have caused a second puncture almost immediately.
Afterwards one of them women tried to stick a $10 bill into my hand, for our coffee break, she said. We declined. Her gratitude was enough.
Just yesterday we passed a group of women cyclist on the side of the road just as we began our ride. Naturally we asked if they needed help. To our surprise they said yes. So we stopped to help them change a flat. It delayed our ride for about ten minutes, but no biggie. I was both repairing and educating them on how to do a proper fix. They had trouble pulling off the tire from the wheel. They weren't quite sure how to use the CO2 cartridge. They were simply trying to install the new tube without inspecting the tire for the puncture. Turned out there was a long metal shard embedded in the tire and would have caused a second puncture almost immediately.
Afterwards one of them women tried to stick a $10 bill into my hand, for our coffee break, she said. We declined. Her gratitude was enough.
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#34
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Like someone entering a space that cars would normally attempt to enter. (Parking spot, I'm assuming.) Far safer to avoid such risk and instead opt to work on a vehicle (bike or otherwise) off the roadway, off the parking area, in a spot where it's clearly marked off as a spot where someone is working.
I wish folks were uniformly civil and human, these days. But it's just not the case, everywhere. Where I live, there are occasionally, almost too frequently to be believed, lunatics who'll pull crap like you just described out of sheer spite and petulance to see if they can get away with it.
Glad that you weren't struck, in that spot. That's something.
Last edited by Clyde1820; 08-27-19 at 03:39 PM. Reason: grammar
#35
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If I can, I try to move far enough off that drivers are discouraged from stopping and asking if I need help. I've had as many as four cars stop in the time it took to fix a flat, and I'm not that slow about it.
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Alternatively, if you were actually "in" a parking space, that also seems like partially your fault. No one should try to park in a space where there's a person standing, but again, seems like not the best place to change a flat to begin with...
#39
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The mofos finally got him, poor bastard.
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#40
No contradiction. I can not expect any help but still observe that nobody cares enough to ask. And as I stated all I want is to not be run over or harrassed by passers by. If you’re not going to offer to help then just keep the smart ash comments to yourself and don’t run me over with your car, that’s all.
Last edited by viffer; 08-28-19 at 12:58 PM.
#41
Parking space as in street parking next to a single wide sidewalk. I’m sitting on the single wide sidewalk with my feet over the edge of the curb and my bike and parts on the sidewalk. Car starts backing into the space while I’m sitting on the curb. I should also point out there are plenty of other spaces available in the area, he could have chosen from 10 other spaces. But he chose to back into me. Now it takes me all of 10 minutes max to change out a flat even on a back wheel. So if for some bizarre reason he absolutely positively needed to be in that space and not one of the 10 others available in the area then fine, I could have picked up all of my stuff and moved to another spot to accommodate this guy. But he could have asked first before just backing into me.
Last edited by viffer; 08-28-19 at 01:16 PM.
#42
I have a life, can’t be checking this site constantly for replies. Besides I think my original post was designed to spark discussion and thought which I think I did, not necessarily to generate direct replies to me.
Last edited by viffer; 08-28-19 at 01:13 PM.
#43
Bikeforums is my life. Sad.
#44
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Sometimes it's amazing how much decency still exists, even in a big city. The coffee shop nearest to me has a free lattes with home delivery policy for injured Forrests. Yesterday a former coworker drove 70 miles to take me to the grocery store and carry my stuff home.
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#45
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I got a flat on a dirt road one day. Before I even got the wheel off, a trail runner driving home stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. I told her I didn't need one, but I would be very happy to deal with this at home where it's dry. We talked about favorite trails whole driving to my car.
#46
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#47
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8chan is gone? What is this world coming to?
#48
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#49
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#50
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Sometimes it's amazing how much decency still exists, even in a big city. The coffee shop nearest to me has a free lattes with home delivery policy for injured Forrests. Yesterday a former coworker drove 70 miles to take me to the grocery store and carry my stuff home.