Commuting - They are our future

Sometimes, I change up my commute home to include five miles of MUP that goes across North Dallas. In order to hook up with this MUP, I ride down to the light rail station and take the train to where they cross each other.

So last night, I get on the train and there was a group of about a dozen high school kids in the car with me. They were dressed to the nines and there was one adult, who I assume was a chaperone. There were also 7 or 8 working-class, train-commuters in the same car.

For most of the ride, I was just watching the trees go by. The kids were talking, laughing and taking pictures of each other. A few stops before where I was getting off, this kid across the aisle asked, "Lost your license?"

I looked over and he had his eyebrows raised and this smirk on his face. I replied, "No, I haven't lost my license" and was going to leave it at that. However, he then chortled and elbowed his buddy, thinking he was just too clever.

I then said, "You want to know what I have lost? It's my patience for silver-spoon-fed, smart-*ssed brats like you."

The train fell silent.

So the chaperone guy, who was sitting about four rows back, stood up and said, "Now, sir..."

"No." I interrupted. "I was not talking to you. This young man chose to engage me, so this is our discussion, not yours."

Much to my surprise, the chaperone sat back down. The kid was now just looking at his shoes and shifting in his seat.

I continued, "I've also lost the desire to stand at the gas pump and watch my hard-earned paycheck pour into the tank, while it keeps making your daddy's oil-rich mutual funds fatter.
But you want to know the best part? I don't have to fight with that snarled up mess of a road system, every morning. I wake up and think, 'I get to ride my bike, today!' Now, how cool is that?"

We were almost to my stop, so as I pushed my bike over to the door, I concluded with, "No, I have not lost my license, and kids, (I was then talking to all of them), the next time you're driving along and see me pedaling down the street, think to yourself, 'that guy is having one hell of a time.'
Y'all have a great night."

The doors opened and just as I was getting off the train, the other commuters in our car started clapping. All of the students, except for the one I was talking to, joined in. I waved as the train pulled away and a couple of the kids snapped pictures out the window.

I figure, the kid will think twice before he makes assumptions about other people or decides to try and embarrass them. Or, the next time I ride past the high school, he'll run me over, in his dad's Hummer. :p

That made my day!

:beer:

OMG! I wish I was as adapt at conversing as you appear to be.

Most excellent.

Sounds like your mental composition of what you "should have said" after it happened, including the applause :)

Some persons are capable of thinking on their feet. Not I.
I usually flip the bird. Perhaps the OP was in a debate club in High School or College.

Sounds like your mental composition of what you "should have said" after it happened, including the applause :)

Parts of it have bounced around in my head over time for that very reason. Which probably is why I knew what I wanted to say, when this kid decided he wanted to belittle me.

Honestly, I thought the chaperone was going to come forward and diffuse the situation, even after I told him to butt out. When he sat back down, all the stuff that "I should have said" in the past just came flowing out. And the applause surprised the heck out of me. I think if there had not been other commuters on the train, I would have been disembarking in silence. :)



Some persons are capable of thinking on their feet. Not I.
I usually flip the bird. Perhaps the OP was in a debate club in High School or College.

Not in school, but I was a charter member of the Mineola, TX Toastmasters club. :)

Parts of it have bounced around in my head over time for that very reason. :)


:beer:

I'd have asked the kid the same question.

Sir ... fine speakers such as yourself are a rare occurrance. The chaperon did right on sitting back and letting you have a conversation with the kid.

On the other hand ... you totally owned that kid!

Good for you. Well-spoken.

I'm really impressed. That's the type of intelligent response I play over in my mind every time I have a confrontation on or off the bike. Yep, right after my face goes red and I scream "**** you **** bag!" to whoever cuts me off, insults me, throws something at me, cuts in line, hits on my wife while I'm standing there. I have yet to do the right thing and engage someone in conversation. It just feels so good to just cuss them out, right there. I should prepare a few sample speeches on paper and carry it around.

EDIT: Nice subject title. Speaks volumes.

pwned! That is just excellent. I'll have to use your words the next time, instead of, "I have a license and a car. *****!"

Haa haa MMACH5. I ride that same train. I don't think any of those kids father's own hummers or mutual funds, if it's the same area we're both talking about. I've tried catching you a few times and missed. Maybe now I know where you're hiding...on the trains.

Haa haa MMACH5. I ride that same train. I don't think any of those kids father's own hummers or mutual funds, if it's the same area we're both talking about. I've tried catching you a few times and missed. Maybe now I know where you're hiding...on the trains.

Actually, these were not the usual kids I see using the light rail. They were all giddy about being on the train and a few of them had on their maroon, letter jackets. Definitely part of the West Plano, country club crowd.

Sweet, sweet pwnage. One to remember!

That was great! Thanks for sharing your story, MMACH 5!

Actually, these were not the usual kids I see using the light rail. They were all giddy about being on the train and a few of them had on their maroon, letter jackets. Definitely part of the West Plano, country club crowd.
Just curious, is there a difference between your assumptions about the financial status of the teenagers by their appearance (and your set of stereotypes), and the one teenager making assumptions about your status based on your appearance (and his set of stereotypes)?

Just curious, is there a difference between your assumptions about the financial status of the teenagers by their appearance (and your set of stereotypes), and the one teenager making assumptions about your status based on your appearance (and his set of stereotypes)?

What is your problem? Do you even like cycling or do you just troll all day long? I can't remember any time you actually contributed to a post. The kid was being a brat, not just making assumptions.

NICE! Good job!

Just curious, is there a difference between your assumptions about the financial status of the teenagers by their appearance (and your set of stereotypes), and the one teenager making assumptions about your status based on your appearance (and his set of stereotypes)?

Point taken.
My diatribe could have been somewhat shaded by growing up in a not-so-wealthy part of town and being looked down on, in school, by the kids with new cars from nicer areas.
Yes, I made some assumptions, but I would have still been making the same point, whether the kids were wealthy or not. I.E. - If the kid was poor and treated me the way he did, I would have given him much the same speech, save the 'silver-spoon-fed' & 'daddy's oil-rich mutual fund' parts.

Actually, these were not the usual kids I see using the light rail. They were all giddy about being on the train and a few of them had on their maroon, letter jackets. Definitely part of the West Plano, country club crowd.


Ahhh, well...that crowd definitely needs an earful. Poor lil ba5tards had to give up the sports/luxury cars and monster trucks for a day huh? "Wow, this train is fun wheeeeeeeee!!!!" followed by the airhead "heee hee"

What is your problem?
My problem? I can read what is written. And see attitude displayed even in the process of dissin' somebody else's attitude. Being a cyclist doesn't give stereotyping and hypocrisy a free pass.

Apparantly you read what you want to see, Jack.

Point taken.
My diatribe could have been somewhat shaded by growing up in a not-so-wealthy part of town and being looked down on, in school, by the kids with new cars from nicer areas.
Yes, I made some assumptions, but I would have still been making the same point, whether the kids were wealthy or not. I.E. - If the kid was poor and treated me the way he did, I would have given him much the same speech, save the 'silver-spoon-fed' & 'daddy's oil-rich mutual fund' parts.
Fair enough. Presumably the teenager's comment about you were shaded by his previous experience with other cyclists who were people down on their luck (or worse.) Neither set of assumptions justifies insulting strangers.

...Or, the next time I ride past the high school, he'll run me over, in his dad's Hummer. :p

hehehe... That's the part I was waiting to hear. :)

Nice work; I bet they will have a different perspective in the future.

My problem? I can read what is written. And see attitude displayed even in the process of dissin' somebody else's attitude. Being a cyclist doesn't give stereotyping and hypocrisy a free pass.

Apparantly you read what you want to see, Jack.

Um, ok. So I take it that since ALL your posts have the same ring, you write what you want to write? Wow, it does sound deep when I write silly things like you. But who's Jack? And since when do they use dissin' in Iowa?

And since when do they use dissin' in Iowa?
Maybe you'll learn what "they" do when you discover that some people don't spend their whole life in one place or in one closed mind loop.

Well, wiggity wiggity whack, yo!

Plano country club types. Hah.

I don't know Texas but I recall that in It's Not About The Bike Lance Armstrong talks about just those same people (probably their parents now) and their attitude as being fuel to his competitive fire.

Fair enough. Presumably the teenager's comment about you were shaded by his previous experience with other cyclists who were people down on their luck (or worse.) Neither set of assumptions justifies insulting strangers.

True.
Had this kid had asked, "Why do you ride your bike?" or even asked about my driving/car situation without being condescending, I would have gladly had a much less soap-box-standing discussion with him. As it was, he was not looking for information. He was looking for a chance to entertain his buddies at my expense.

Maybe I should have turned the other cheek and just ignored him. In many similar situations, I have done just that.

Did I accomplish anything with my little tirade? I'll probably never know, but I do hope it had an impact on some (or even one) of those who were there to hear it.

My wife brought up an interesting possibility.
Some of the kids taking pictures were using digital cameras and many of those cameras now have video capabilities. She said she's hoping my speech ends up on somebody's blog so she can see it. That would be a hoot. :p

Holy crap. That sounds amazing. I need to think of all my potential comebacks now.

I don't know Texas but I recall that in It's Not About The Bike Lance Armstrong talks about just those same people (probably their parents now) and their attitude as being fuel to his competitive fire.
Wow, Lance knew those same people's parents? It is a small world isn't it?

My wife brought up an interesting possibility.
Some of the kids taking pictures were using digital cameras and many of those cameras now have video capabilities. She said she's hoping my speech ends up on somebody's blog so she can see it. That would be a hoot. :p
I'm not familiar with the capabilities of editing the pictures of digital cameras, but if there is a digital equivalent of Photoshop, your "speech" and your "impact" might come across differently than you remember.

The fact that the chaperone did sit down makes me kind of wonder/hope that it was in fact this kids parent. Strikes me as the sort of thing a good parent would do, stay out of it precisely because the kid thinks mommy and daddy will come to his defense when he offends people with his lack of understanding about the world (despite his initial kneejerk reaction to defend the little brat). If so maybe he'll find himself with a new bike and a rail pass as a birthday present when he turns 16, rather than a Drivers Liscense.

Holy crap. That sounds amazing. I need to think of all my potential comebacks now.
Don't forget to keep a list of stereotyped insults (comebacks) handy for the various types of "other" people whom you might want to impress.

Just curious, is there a difference between your assumptions about the financial status of the teenagers by their appearance (and your set of stereotypes), and the one teenager making assumptions about your status based on your appearance (and his set of stereotypes)?
First time I've agreed with you. Maybe I'm too kind but I think the kid was a pretty soft target.

First time I've agreed with you. Maybe I'm too kind but I think the kid was a pretty soft target.

Maybe so. However, the kid was 17 or 18 and he made the decision to have some fun teasing the crazy, old guy who rides his bike around town. Every decision has consequences. If you poke a dog with a stick, you might get bit. The kid got an earful and maybe a little embarrassment but that was it. I didn't assault him or challenge him to a fight, for crying out loud.

Don't forget to keep a list of stereotyped insults (comebacks) handy for the various types of "other" people whom you might want to impress.

I thought you and I had a fairly civil exchange over our points of view on this. Yet, here you are, still stirring the pot. Was chajmahal correct about you just wanting to troll?

I thought you and I had a fairly civil exchange over our points of view on this. Yet, here you are, still stirring the pot. Was chajmahal correct about you just wanting to troll?
My comment was directed at recursive's post,
"Holy crap. That sounds amazing. I need to think of all my potential comebacks now".
Recursive seems to admire your original "comeback" (stereotypes and all) as posted in your OP; a response which apparantly on reflection you are not as proud of as at first.

If I had not "trolled" (your term) presumably you would still be basking in the glow of the electronic high fives from all the other members of the group think clique.

My comment was directed at recursive's post,
"Holy crap. That sounds amazing. I need to think of all my potential comebacks now".
Recursive seems to admire your original "comeback" (stereotypes and all) as posted in your OP; a response which apparantly on reflection you are not as proud of as at first.

If I had not "trolled" (your term) presumably you would still be basking in the glow of the electronic high fives from all the other members of the group think clique.

At no point did I make any apologies for my stereotyping. I even stated that the point of the OP was still intact, even without them, (just less controversial, I suppose).

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some more basking to do. :rolleyes:

At no point did I make any apologies for my stereotyping.
Excuse me for thinking you had second thoughts about your own prejudices.

MM - Like your speech to the kid.
I probably would have kept it simpler. Something like "No. I have a *insert fancy car name here* and a *insert fancy car name here* at home and a company owned *insert fancy car name here* waiting for me at the office. I do this (bike commute) for fun."

and maybe add "If you'll kindly tell me where your father works, I want the buy the company and fire his a$$ for raising such a brat as you."

I don't like the idea of telling someone off by saying that you have a car. To me it implies that if you didn't have a car that, well, they'd be right. I think that saying that you aren't driving at the moment or don't drive period for any reason you like, so long as it is a freely made personal choice, is more than sufficient to explain yourself. After all, a car isn't necessary in order to be a productive member of society - isn't that the point that's being made? Saying that you have one implies that it is necessary, you just choose not to use. I think that the choice is what's important, not ownership of a vehicle.

I-Like-To-Bike, has it occurred to you that your own hostility might make people here as unreceptive to your point-of-view as others might be of the cyclists that you come down on? Cyclists (by which I mean enthusiasts), as a group, are not any more arrogant or stupid than any other group of people. Newsflash: people make judgements and have prejudices that are not necessarily borne out by the facts! This includes your presumption that any cycling enthusiast who talks down to someone else (as you are talking down to the folks in this thread) must be a Big Bad Prejudiced Meanie. Um, no, I think that MMach, like most people, is human and was pissed-off. I'm sorry if he doesn't meet your exacting standards for perfection.

Actually, I sympathize with your position - we would all do well to examine our attitudes toward others and fight our own prejudices. But there is a way to be gentle with criticism (you know, without being a jerk), and despite the fact that I agree with you in principle, your attitude more often than not causes me to not want any kind of association with you, irrespective of the merits of the views you espouse. It's a noble goal you have, so why not be a little bit more noble and a bit less sanctimonious about expressing it?

I-Like-To-Bike, has it occurred to you that your own hostility might make people here as unreceptive to your point-of-view as others might be of the cyclists that you come down on? Cyclists (by which I mean enthusiasts), as a group, are not any more arrogant or stupid than any other group of people.
I would disagree, and the group think displayed by self proclaimed spokesmen of Real Serious Cyclists™ bears out my impression. Any idea not in conformance with the approved "truth" is apparantly a troll or comes from Hicksville and should be shunned by the keepers of the undisputed truth of cycling. But be that as it may your comments are appreciated and we'll just have to differ in out opinions.

Actually, I sympathize with your position - we would all do well to examine our attitudes toward others and fight our own prejudices. But there is a way to be gentle with criticism (you know, without being a jerk), and despite the fact that I agree with you in principle, your attitude more often than not causes me to not want any kind of association with you, irrespective of the merits of the views you espouse. It's a noble goal you have, so why not be a little bit more noble and a bit less sanctimonious about expressing it?
Being "gentle" with hypocrites (who think that their actions/ideas are exempt from criticism, and whose actions/statements are counterproductive to encouraging bicycling amongst the public) is not in my nature. I stick to the facts; the group "thinkers" wail away about their hurt feelings without ever reconsidering their emotional and often irrational statements.

All right. Take the thread back on track. I'll start issuing warnings to members if the nastiness doesn't die down.

No more derailing threads. Back to the original topic, please.

Thanks!

Koffee Brown

Forum Moderator

amazing! that made my day

Watch what you say about "silver-spoon-fed, smart-*ssed brats ". I still have my silver pacifier and prep school was paid by the money Granddaddy made as a V.P. of Gulf Oil.

Three cheers for having the brass to tell the kids what you honestly thought.

It's just my view, but it seems you probably lost major points in their eyes for the diatribe about making their daddy's portfolio bigger, after all it pays for their school. It just made you look poor and jealous of them.

But then you got on track by out-snobbing them and telling them how cool bicycling could be. That will get their attention. They may be rich, but almost all teens are insecure and looking to be cool. Copping the attitude that bikes are cooler than cars was exactly right.

And if you could have name dropped Lance Armstrong... Texas boy made good.

Of course, I was one of the few kids who rode my bike to prep school. ;o)

"I made my money the old fashioned way: I inherited it from my dad who inherited it from his dad who stole it."