Foo - Do folks seem a tad… adversarial?

It appears to me that a lot of the threads that endure past two pages—especially the "how-to" and advocacy varieties—often lead to conflicting opinion, and some to outright acrimony.

I realize that diverse opinions are the lifeblood of any lively discussion, but offerings like "I got run off the road by a car" almost invariably evoke at least one response suggesting it was the writer's fault.

Offerings like "I got run off the road by a car while wearing headphones" invariably bring out the "What have headphones got to do with it?" crowd.

Some one who posts "Since I got run off the road by a car while wearing headphones, my headphones are now full of gravel. What's the best way to clean them?" soon initiates a clash of opinion as to the proper methods, with people quoting sources, and trashing others' sources as obsolete and elitist. Some maintain, of course, that the writer deserves to have headphones full of gravel.

I guess I expected more commonality. So far the only universal opinion seems to be "Bicycle thieves should get life in front of a firing squad, and I should get to kick them."

Thoughts?

Welcome to America in the 21st century. :(

If I could, i'd murder every single person who disagreed with me. Oh yeah. I would. You better watch out.

Can't say you're wrong. It can be a real mixed bag. Until I read the Advoacy Forum, I never knew people could get so charged up about bike lanes. And don't even think of starting another chain lube war.

But I've also read many thoughtful, hilarious and even helpful posts as well.

On a postive note, I've given away some equipment to young cash-strapped kids on the "Pay It Forward" thread, which made me feel good and helped clear out my bike shed. And I've gotten some good advice and a lot of laughs from some of the regulars (and, um, slightly irregulars) here. And more to the point, how often do you get to interact with a Russian Supermodel from Pottsylvania? That's gotta be worth something. ;)

If I could, i'd murder every single person who disagreed with me. Oh yeah. I would. You better watch out.
oh man, if I only had a dime for every time I agreed with you!

If we all agreed and were always polite, this forum would suck and I wouldn't contribute. I think a lot of others feel the same.

Die.













:p

Bite me!








:D

Nah. Just kidding. But seriously, it seems like the normal amount of animosity. I haven't seen a big zoom of complaints flooding in about other members.

Koffee

it seems fitting though actually. you will always have someone who grinds against the "flow" or established direction of a conversation) and this is for a variety of reason. Namely - their opinion.
Additionally, this place is just like a cross-section of the "real" (non-binary) world, so it would appear normal that there is dissention and separation in longer discussions that are allowed to develop.
I have also noticed how threads tend to drag on, page after page, with nothing of interest to me. So I stop reading them. That is happening a lot lately too. Spring fever? Who knows. Outside is much nicer than inside lately. I get to listen to myself out there.

I noticed the same things as 165. Once a thread, imo, has been answered I stop going there. Then I notice weeks later it is still running...how?...hahaha

I honestly think it is due to the success of the site. So many different types of people from a-types down to pretty submissive people. From Staunch repubs to green party members, from fixies to bents. I think this site works really well for having such a diverse group of people :)...

That and people need to ride more ;) :p

It's sort of like my brother and me. While we disagree on a lot of things. And I tried to beat him up in my youth(even though he was 6 inches taller and 40 lbs. heavier). When push comes to shove we will go bat for one another. Sure he's still a big jerk sometimes. And I tell him so.
It is comforting to go someplace and complain about something. Even if they don't agree with you, you understand they have the same background to understand. That's why this is a communitee.

I would slap your unwashed face with slvoids rotten glove that I picked out of his trash for saying such nasty things.

I also most likely dislike your choice of bicycle, as it is dissimilar to mine.

I had to add 2 nuts to my bars as I stripped one alu thread. :(
I can't find THE only hex key (loose) that unscrews my grips.... :mad:

Q? etiquette ..how best do I treat sores on my prosterior related to cycling do tell?
I hope you're kidding, this is a nice forum ..and you don't want me to invite my friends to hang around here dishing out the 'tough love'.
FIGHT!

If I could, i'd murder every single person who disagreed with me. Oh yeah. I would. You better watch out.

I'd do the same, but then I'd be all alone :(

So at the very least, I'd preserve a few (about 8 or 9) hot, dissenting women to keep me "company". Of course, they'd be in cages though.

I'd do the same, but then I'd be all alone :(



Could be a problem if you were schizophrenic... who'd kill whom first? Imagine that argument inside your head!

It's sort of like my brother and me. While we disagree on a lot of things. And I tried to beat him up in my youth(even though he was 6 inches taller and 40 lbs. heavier). When push comes to shove we will go bat for one another. Sure he's still a big jerk sometimes. And I tell him so.
It is comforting to go someplace and complain about something. Even if they don't agree with you, you understand they have the same background to understand. That's why this is a communitee.

This is at work in the best possible way in Advocacy and Safety right now... with Torrin's situation.

You don't know what you are talking about.

1. Studies show that these forums are not the least bit adversarial.

Smith, John. "All is Fine in Bike Forums", 2003.
Smith, Tom. "I Agree, Everything is Fine.", 2004.
Ping, Li. "Peace and Enlightenment in the Bike Forums. 2005.

2. If you had bothered to do a search, you would find that this topic has been addressed a number of times before.

You should hang up your cell phone while you're driving your 4X4 SUV and pay attention.

Hahaa eubi.

Good one.

Working on my confrontational skills.

Shut up, all of you.

You don't know what you are talking about.

1. Studies show that these forums are not the least bit adversarial.

Smith, John. "All is Fine in Bike Forums", 2003.
Smith, Tom. "I Agree, Everything is Fine.", 2004.
Ping, Li. "Peace and Enlightenment in the Bike Forums. 2005.

2. If you had bothered to do a search, you would find that this topic has been addressed a number of times before.

You should hang up your cell phone while you're driving your 4X4 SUV and pay attention.

Okay, in the first place, I NEVER search. "Live in the moment," that's my motto. (I think this is an improvement over my old motto, "Live in the basement.")

That being said, I did fail to realize that everything is fine. I didn't even know there were studies. So that's good, then, right?

Finally, the only reason I GOT this SUV in the first place was so that I could talk on my cell phone while driving. And type this on my laptop while I'm stopped at this light. And eat this Egg McMuffin©. Oh, crap, I dropped it. Oww, that burns. Damn. Does egg come out of velour? Oh, hang on, I gotta take this call…

And eat this Egg McMuffin©. Oh, crap, I dropped it. Oww, that burns. Damn. Does egg come out of velour?

Cool! Now you can sue McDonalds. Egg McMuffins shouldn't be hot enough to burn you after all. Don't forget to add in the cost of velour replacement.

bicycle thieves should be vivisected... not killed. they may die when the research is done! ^_^

Okay, in the first place, I NEVER search. "Live in the moment," that's my motto.

Search don't matter. If you post on the thread you find, you get slammed for bumping an old post.

It's all been said. There's no such thing as an original thought. Just search the old posts and stfu already.

Just search the old posts and stfu already.

Well, aren't you precious? Your mom must be so proud.

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?


1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
1 to move it to the Lighting section
2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
5 to flame the spell checkers
3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?


1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
1 to move it to the Lighting section
2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
5 to flame the spell checkers
3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.



Me too!

(You forgot the photos of the lightbulbs...err, lamps!)

Hahahahaha!!!

Well, aren't you precious? Your mom must be so proud.

Should have put a smiley in there. I was trying to make sort of a MERTONesque point that if all folks did was search old posts for answers to questions, the forum would go TU pretty quick.

That said, I'll stfu now. :)

I particularly enjoy the threads which start off "What about those crazy cagers..." which continue on to a generalization. Several thousand cars pass the cyclist on any given day without incident. One is driven a bit to close or an occupant yells something unintelligible. Suddenly the poster indicts the drivers of the thousands of vehicles for the behavior of one. :)

CdCf- I was tempted to "quote you" but Lala beat me too it.
Thanks for the best laugh!! :lol: :lol:

I doubt anyone thought I came up with them, but I just want to make it clear that it's not my work at all. Copied it from an email I was sent a year or so ago.

The sad part is that it's almost too close to the truth... :)

I doubt anyone thought I came up with them, but I just want to make it clear that it's not my work at all. Copied it from an email I was sent a year or so ago.

The sad part is that it's almost too close to the truth... :)


Close? Its more like exact. Sad but FUNNY!

I love this forum. You all are WAY better than the people I see every day in real life.

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?


1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
1 to move it to the Lighting section
2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
5 to flame the spell checkers
3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.
And a whole bunch to say "this was the funniest post ever!"

i love that... "they cannot handle the lightbuld controversy"... the horror!! :eek: :D

again I have to post it:

Real Life vs. The Internet (don't watch this at work, it does get a bit out there, but it's possibly one of the funniest things I have seen in ages)

http://www.jengajam.com/r/RvB-NYC2

Note that this is a 21Mb Quicktime file.

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?



1 to reword and post an OLD joke.
http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/light.htm

I've already made it clear that it's not my work.
I simply copied it from an email I got a while back.
The re-wording is not mine.

1 to reword and post an OLD joke.


And one to point it out! Yay!

1 to reword and post an OLD joke.
http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/light.htm
which brings us back to the title of this thread! hooray for circularity!

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?


1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
1 to move it to the Lighting section
2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
5 to flame the spell checkers
3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

2 or three to comment on using the search.
amazed the fixies haven't posted ooolong in this yet.

And one to say this thread should end. ;)

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?




what do lightbulbs have to do with anything, thread is a about adversarial people!

just kidding, actualy that was an awsome post, you truly have bikeforums figured out.

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?


1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
1 to move it to the Lighting section
2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
5 to flame the spell checkers
3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

I knew that light bult. That light bulb was a friend of mine. And believe me, CdCf, you are no light bulb.

A typical thread goes....



I like blue. It is a cool color.

Reply #1

Yeah, I like blue too.

Reply #2

I agree blue is cool.

Reply #3

I hate blue.

#4
TEchnically it really isn't blue. It's a mixture of red and green.

#5

No it's cyan and magenta, in equal parts.

#6.

No it is cyan, magenta and black.

You notice a real sense of one upmanship. Very prevelant on these forums.

You notice a real sense of one upmanship. Very prevelant on these forums.

Blue IS a pretty cool colour.