Comments on: Critical Mass is Not a Bike Gang http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107 collectively working for a cuter, happier, sustainable world Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:17:34 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Becky http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107&cpage=1#comment-264 Becky Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:47:33 +0000 http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107#comment-264 I think it's very sensational and strikes me as deliberate. The word gang conjures images of folks who are dangerous...like a group of thugs. You can't say that word isn't biased. They could have called them any number of things...group? activist group? club? I don't buy for a second that a journalist - a <i>writer</i> - didn't choose that word deliberately to make the story sound more dramatic. I think it’s very sensational and strikes me as deliberate. The word gang conjures images of folks who are dangerous…like a group of thugs. You can’t say that word isn’t biased. They could have called them any number of things…group? activist group? club? I don’t buy for a second that a journalist – a writer – didn’t choose that word deliberately to make the story sound more dramatic.

]]> By: codymc http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107&cpage=1#comment-263 codymc Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:40:57 +0000 http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107#comment-263 yeah it's a bit sensational -- although i'm not completely convinced that calling a group of 100+ bikes cruising around town a gang isn't that inaccurate. What would you call them? yeah it’s a bit sensational — although i’m not completely convinced that calling a group of 100+ bikes cruising around town a gang isn’t that inaccurate. What would you call them?

]]> By: Becky http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107&cpage=1#comment-262 Becky Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:23:14 +0000 http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107#comment-262 But that's totally the point! They say these sensationalist things just to get clicks and ratings. Meanwhile, folks are reading that headline and getting a false impression. It's irresponsible, and journalists should know better. Yea, I totally agree with you on the rules of the road. We can't expect motorists to treat us as equals while we blow red lights and whatnot. (Though I have been known to walk my bike up the sidewalk and past a traffic jam. But that's technically legal, right?) But that’s totally the point! They say these sensationalist things just to get clicks and ratings. Meanwhile, folks are reading that headline and getting a false impression. It’s irresponsible, and journalists should know better.

Yea, I totally agree with you on the rules of the road. We can’t expect motorists to treat us as equals while we blow red lights and whatnot.

(Though I have been known to walk my bike up the sidewalk and past a traffic jam. But that’s technically legal, right?)

]]> By: codymc http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107&cpage=1#comment-261 codymc Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:29:40 +0000 http://www.shinyandfuzzy.com/blog/?p=107#comment-261 I woudn't read too much into the bike gang thing -- they're trying to get people to click on it -- and i doubt meant to make it negative (however it may appear). It seems the mass has toned down it's 'causing congestion talk on its site -- which i think is a good thing. I'm of the opinion that the more cyclists show how cars and bikes can get along the more harmony there will be. (and you already know how I feel about cyclists that don't follow the rules of the road -- they should apply to all, equally :) ) I woudn’t read too much into the bike gang thing — they’re trying to get people to click on it — and i doubt meant to make it negative (however it may appear).

It seems the mass has toned down it’s ‘causing congestion talk on its site — which i think is a good thing. I’m of the opinion that the more cyclists show how cars and bikes can get along the more harmony there will be. (and you already know how I feel about cyclists that don’t follow the rules of the road — they should apply to all, equally :) )

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