No wonder online discussion forums like BF so often give rise to heated debates over nothing. The tiniest punctuation can make a world of difference in meaning and tone. It's like the game, "Telephone". Ever tried having a debate through a line of people in that game? Neither have I, but from reading BikeForums, I think I know about how it would turn out!

Rule of thumb in email or online communication: Always give the other person the benefit of the doubt, because at every point where a misunderstanding is possible, it's also likely. At every point where humor or sarcasm is intended, insult or offense may be taken. At every point where friendly advice or observation is offered, arrogant or pedantic lecturing may be heard.

Multiply the possibility for misunderstanding by the number of interactions, and you have a tried-and-tested recipe for inferno!

Wow someone else online understands that about forums and email? Im seriously suprised. Its something most seem to forget about forums when reading a response. In irc and other forms of live chat its not nearly as bad as you can always say no no i didnt mean it that way or add a j/k a lone or 2 after and do so right when the person who took offence took offence to it. On forums theres always a time lag between posts some times it could be a hour or more before you reply to let them know you was kidding.

Today, for the first time in my riding career in Seattle, I encountered a motorist who was clearly outraged to have to share the road with a bicycle. I did nothing wrong; I followed all traffic laws, and did my best to be respectful and predictable. Even so, this man, who was with his young son, honked at me while I rode in a bike lane, and made obscene gestures while I pulled into a left lane to make a left turn, all without obstructing traffic. At the traffic light, he quietly uttered obscenities, and though they weren't loud enough for me to hear what he said, he wanted me to understand that he was uttering them. The reason I bring this up is because of my own reaction, which still surprises me. I became totally enraged by his attitude, and had his son not been in the car with him, I am certain that at the traffic light I would have pulled up to the driver's side widow of his Ford Ranger, reached in, and kicked his fat ass. (I used to be an Army Ranger, but being a teacher now makes me reluctant to act like an ***hole in front of children.) I had to content myself with sharing hateful glares with this person, while keeping my mouth tightly shut, for the sake of the kid. Even now, several hours later, I'm probably more irritated than I have a right to be. I'm astounded, and furious, that a sh**head in a car thinks I don't even have a right to be on the road, but, still, I'm kind of surprised that I got this pissed off about it. Has this happened to anyone else?

bragi: I haven't encountered anti-bicycle parents quite like you describe, but I find that when I do encounter anti-bicycle drivers, I have trouble not letting it get to me, and my irritation often lingers for several hours. On reflection, I find this to be true with apparently stupid, ignorant, or rude peope I encounter in all situations -- through their writings on the web, nonsense-spewing on TV (though I rarely watch TV), or overheard fragments of conversation in a coffee shop. As time passes, I become more detached from it, and often rage or irritation turns to pity or indifference. I tend to be a pretty calm person, so I'm sometimes surprised at how easily, and for how long afterwards, I'm bothered by such things myself.

I got that beat. Last week a guy shouted "I can see your vagina!" at me as he drove pass. That really hurt. I mean if that was the case... how come he didn't see my giant clit?

pics pleez.

Today, for the first time in my riding career in Seattle, I encountered a motorist who was clearly outraged to have to share the road with a bicycle. I did nothing wrong; I followed all traffic laws, and did my best to be respectful and predictable. Even so, this man, who was with his young son, honked at me while I rode in a bike lane, and made obscene gestures while I pulled into a left lane to make a left turn, all without obstructing traffic. At the traffic light, he quietly uttered obscenities, and though they weren't loud enough for me to hear what he said, he wanted me to understand that he was uttering them. The reason I bring this up is because of my own reaction, which still surprises me. I became totally enraged by his attitude, and had his son not been in the car with him, I am certain that at the traffic light I would have pulled up to the driver's side widow of his Ford Ranger, reached in, and kicked his fat ass. (I used to be an Army Ranger, but being a teacher now makes me reluctant to act like an ***hole in front of children.) I had to content myself with sharing hateful glares with this person, while keeping my mouth tightly shut, for the sake of the kid. Even now, several hours later, I'm probably more irritated than I have a right to be. I'm astounded, and furious, that a sh**head in a car thinks I don't even have a right to be on the road, but, still, I'm kind of surprised that I got this pissed off about it. Has this happened to anyone else?

Yes.

Today, for the first time in my riding career in Seattle, I encountered a motorist who was clearly outraged to have to share the road with a bicycle. I did nothing wrong; I followed all traffic laws, and did my best to be respectful and predictable. Even so, this man, who was with his young son, honked at me while I rode in a bike lane, and made obscene gestures while I pulled into a left lane to make a left turn, all without obstructing traffic. At the traffic light, he quietly uttered obscenities, and though they weren't loud enough for me to hear what he said, he wanted me to understand that he was uttering them. The reason I bring this up is because of my own reaction, which still surprises me. I became totally enraged by his attitude, and had his son not been in the car with him, I am certain that at the traffic light I would have pulled up to the driver's side widow of his Ford Ranger, reached in, and kicked his fat ass. (I used to be an Army Ranger, but being a teacher now makes me reluctant to act like an ***hole in front of children.) I had to content myself with sharing hateful glares with this person, while keeping my mouth tightly shut, for the sake of the kid. Even now, several hours later, I'm probably more irritated than I have a right to be. I'm astounded, and furious, that a sh**head in a car thinks I don't even have a right to be on the road, but, still, I'm kind of surprised that I got this pissed off about it. Has this happened to anyone else?

Yep sure has Unlike you i didnt back down i just went off on them. No kids in the car though and id not say nothing in front of the kids if they were If it was illegal what they did (cutting me off running a stop and cutting me off etc) i might call the cops and file a report. With luck maybe the cop would pay them a visit and their kids would over hear the cop explaining the law.

"Lady, you should be talking on your cell phone, not looking at the road."