Fifty Plus (50+) - Topics that cause predictable "knee-jerk" reactions, and never solve anything

There are certain topics that are guaranteed to cause "knee jerk" - and usually never-ending- reactions.

Folks have generally made up their minds, and all the discussion in the world won't change their way of thinking. I can usually predict the course of the discussion, and even who will be on what side of the issue.

I try to avoid these, and sometimes I am even successful at doing that!! :)

Some that occur to me:

helmet threads
vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Riding apparel/lycra/shoes
Use of words like "old farts," "geezer," etc.
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)

What others?
Do you avoid these threads?

Why not wade in. I do. My opinion is just as good as the next persons. If only the egotistical know it alls only post, they will think they are entitled to run the world.

Why not wade in. I do. My opinion is just as good as the next persons. If only the egotistical know it alls only post, they will think they are entitled to run the world.

Because there is no point to it. It is frustrating. You will not change anyone's opinion or thoughts. I have better (and more fun/worthwhile) things to do with my time. And, mostly, I do not enjoy it.

Chain lube.

Chain lube is a very good example. Everyone has to lube their chain- it is a task that if you don't do- will cost you. But there are lubes and lubes. I use a couple of well known makes and they are only a couple out of many that are suitable. There are also Lubes that are not suitable. But try and tell someone that XZ453***is not a lube but a Water displacement fluid and you are in trouble.

So chain-Lube- Clipless- helmets- Best bike to have and What is the best substitute for Blue berry Pie are best avoided.

There is no substitute for Blueberry Pie by the way.

There is no substitute for Blueberry Pie by the way.

That is correct only because blackberry is superior to blueberry and therefore not a substitute but an improvement.

Erectile dysfunction... Avoid it like the plague!! :lol: :giver:

Chainlube is not an emotional issue. Helmets, guns, and clipless pedals are the biggies, although car talk seems to generate a lot of emotion in the road forum. I don't mean car vs cyclist, I mean car lover talk.
It amazes me how emotional people get about car brands on a bike forum.

So what are we gonna discuss then?

Gosh sure is _______ weather, huh?

How's the family? That's ______, I hope you _______.

Getting any riding in? Oh, that's _____.

Of course I like to argue ethics but that seems to be out of bounds.

Ya'll have a nice day. :)

There are certain topics that are guaranteed to cause "knee jerk" - and usually never-ending- reactions.

Some that occur to me:

vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)
These kinds of topics keep the mods busy. Most belong in P&R, Trollheim, or A&S -- not here. That's why the mods post comments about closing or moving a thread. Just doing our jobs and trying to keep the peace -- which ain't always easy. :o

And a big thank you to those who try to steer these threads back on course with appropriate responses or pie comments. ;)

We should stick to really important topics -- like why did they change the size of Jimmy Dean sausages from 16oz to 12 oz?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4RNb3tt0LM

Depends on my mood, and the way the discussion is playing out. If I see the thread and all the pertinent points have been raised, I move on. If it's actually a discussion with respectful exchange of ideas, where maybe some new points are being raised, then I'll jump in.

Or once in a while I'll just troll. :D

We should stick to really important topics -- like why did they change the size of Jimmy Dean sausages from 16oz to 12 oz?

This is what happens when the marketing department gets involved.

"Ooh, ooh! I know! we just call it 'Lite' and charge the same price!"

"What! we're talking sausage, here. Nobody wants 'Lite' sausage! I say we change the package graphics, and say something like 'New Package, Same Great Sausage' and cut the product amount 25%. Our dumb-ass fat boy customers will NEVER notice..."

Global brainwashing :)

I will give an opinion until the thread starts getting nasty with the name calling and put downs. When that happens, I no longer read the rest of the thread and go on. I also don't like posting more than 3 or 4 times on any particular thread, except the "Did you ride today?" thread because if my questions don't get answered by then or posters answer my question with a question or sarcastic remark, the thread is going nowhere and it's time to end it. The name calling and sarcastic answers is particularly common in the Road Bike forum.

Because there is no point to it. It is frustrating. You will not change anyone's opinion or thoughts. I have better (and more fun/worthwhile) things to do with my time. And, mostly, I do not enjoy it.

but, you might actually learn something...you just never know when you might find a jewel in a cesspool. ;)

There are certain topics that are guaranteed to cause "knee jerk" - and usually never-ending- reactions.

Folks have generally made up their minds, and all the discussion in the world won't change their way of thinking. I can usually predict the course of the discussion, and even who will be on what side of the issue.

I try to avoid these, and sometimes I am even successful at doing that!! :)

Some that occur to me:

helmet threads
vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Riding apparel/lycra/shoes
Use of words like "old farts," "geezer," etc.
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)

What others?
Do you avoid these threads?

Are you saying that cyclists are generally more opinionated than other interest groups?

Naw, couldn't be. :)

There are certain topics that are guaranteed to cause "knee jerk" - and usually never-ending- reactions...I try to avoid these, and sometimes I am even successful at doing that!! :)

Some that occur to me:

helmet threads
vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Riding apparel/lycra/shoes
Use of words like "old farts," "geezer," etc.
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)

What others?
Do you avoid these threads?
I would add:

Red Light and Stop signs (a subset of VC, I guess)
Listening to music while riding
Rearview mirrors

but, you might actually learn something...you just never know when you might find a jewel in a cesspool. ;)

Is that comment from experience?

Remind me to never shake your hand.

Thread size seems to be relevant to me in conjunction with the topic. The better comments seem to happen in the first few pages of comments. Any thread over 5 pages has likely degenerated. Any thread with less than 10 comments requires a consideration of the topic.

I'm getting close to thinking about looking at this thread :).

Is that comment from experience?

Remind me to never shake your hand.

my hands are fine...but you might want to avoid kissing me on the lips

We should stick to really important topics -- like why did they change the size of Jimmy Dean sausages from 16oz to 12 oz?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4RNb3tt0LM

So, you can eventually climb better?

About 9 out of 10, the topic is not on this issues. Somewhere in the thread, shots get thrown at something a poster doesn't like, then others will reply, and then you got a can of worms.

However, I am a lot better than I was a few years ago. I can type at 60 wpm. I use to shoot back 60 hot replies in less then 5 minutes. Not anymore. Stuff gets too hot, I simply hit the ignore button and move on. That way, I don't piss off other users with my bull, or allow others to shoot bull back at me and piss others off too.

However, we are human, and we all make mistakes. With that said, all forums sites have some bickering/flaming and so forth going on, but BF is one of the nicest forums I ever been on. :thumb:

I may have missed something, but no one has mentioned:

- "Why don't roadies wave at me when I'm riding?"
- "Double crankset or triple?"
- "Will carbon fiber explode?"

but, you might actually learn something...you just never know when you might find a jewel in a cesspool. ;)
I agree. It is nice to see where people who have come to different conclusions than I have are coming from. Even if I don't change my mind, I may come away with a less negative view of certain choices.

Because there is no point to it. It is frustrating. You will not change anyone's opinion or thoughts.

But you might change someone's opinion or thoughts if those happen to include "Everyone else must think just like me!" I'm always happy to dive into the fray if for no other reason than I think it's important for people to realize that things that seem "obvious" or "self-evident" or "common sense" to them might not be to other, rational & well-reasoned people.



I have better (and more fun/worthwhile) things to do with my time.

But you do seem to spend an awful lot of time starting new threads here in the 50+. Seems like a pretty fine line to me: Start Threads That I Think Will Cause Predictable Reactions versus Start Threads That I (presumably) Don't Think Will Cause Predictable Reactions. Meh, it's your time, carry on.



And, mostly, I do not enjoy it.

Well, there ya go. Don't do anything you don't enjoy. I hereby allow that luxury.

I may have missed something, but no one has mentioned:

- "Why don't roadies wave at me when I'm riding?"
- "Double crankset or triple?"
- "Will carbon fiber explode?"

Do I wear underwear under my shorts?
Which is better Shimano or SRAM? (missing of course the superior component brand)
Why would any one ride anything but a steel bike?

for some reason any thread that involves dogs always deteriorates. Mostly because someone always mentions their plan to shoot a rabid dog. And then a dog owner doesn't like the thought of their little fluffy getting shot. In fact, any thread about anyone getting in a wreck has a very good chance of getting heated. I always thought if a fellow cyclist gets injured that I should show some compassion for them, even if they were being an idiot. I usually wait to tell them what they were doing wrong until they ask "what did I do wrong?" This actually does happen on occasion, but usually people do know what they did wrong, if anything.

I urge anyone that's going to get upset by reading a thread to not read it. And if someone annoys you, put them on your ignore list. Makes this place a lot more tolerable and the mods' job a lot easier.

I haven't noticed as many topics in 50+ that cause that knee jerk reaction simply by the topic, and if we have been here for any time we know what ones to avoid when we see them. It is the innocent topics that surprise us. Some simply can't seem to leave politics out of it and sooner or later the topic has to be locked. Of all of the sub forums this is normally the least political of those I have visited.

I was going to ask about those old farts in lycra that wear helmets and guns while riding in the street and listening to Rush Limbaugh on their iPods. Are you suggesting I don't start that thread?
Maybe I should just ask people if they thought it was a good idea to start such a thread... :)

Some that occur to me:

helmet threads
vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Riding apparel/lycra/shoes
Use of words like "old farts," "geezer," etc.
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)

What others?
Do you avoid these threads?

Whiney roadies getting passed by triathletes.

Whiney roadies getting passed by triathletes.

:lol: good idea.

My favorites are, Passed team Garmin on my Next MTB with road tires and paniers while going up hill on my way home from the store.:lol:

I love it... A thread where the subject matter is about subject matter that should never be put in a thread. Sigmund Freud would have a field day with this one. :lol::twitchy:

I was going to ask about those old farts in lycra that wear helmets and guns while riding in the street and listening to Rush Limbaugh on their iPods. Are you suggesting I don't start that thread?
Maybe I should just ask people if they thought it was a good idea to start such a thread... :)

I have many Neutral opinions on this subject... So by all means feel free to create that thread. :)

Hey DF, you also forgot to put Brooks Saddles on your list.

Only point I will make is that debate is not solely about trying to change someone's mind. The discourse has educational and entertainment value regardless of whether it changes any opinions.

Can anybody name one that doesn't.......anybody?

I love it... A thread where the subject matter is about subject matter that should never be put in a thread. Sigmund Freud would have a field day with this one. :lol::twitchy:

Err . . . If we are thinking of the same Freud, he died a number of years back.

And here we have a post - by you - about "A thread where the subject matter is about subject matter that should never be put in a thread."

And next . . . ?

Well, actually, this post is "next." Then, what comes after that?

Maybe we will awaken Freud and he can come after all of us?

I would add:

Red Light and Stop signs (a subset of VC, I guess)
Listening to music while riding
Rearview mirrors

You beat me to it.

Can anybody name one that doesn't.......anybody?

Sure, EVERYONE knows white bikes are the fastest.

Most of these topics, at least the cycling related ones, can be the subjects of useful and informative threads. For as long as a thread can be about how to choose or use clipless pedals rather than whether they are necessary for people who don't race, for as long as a thread can be about how much someone enjoys his new recumbent bike and not about whether recumbent riders are morally superior to those on upright bikes, for as long as a thread can be about an informative discussion about some aspect of cycling and not about how everyone should do just like I do and anyone who doesn't is an idiot, they can be very rewarding to read.

What about the (catholic) dog driving the pick up truck with the shotgun in the rear window the wrong way in the bike lane.

My choice for no. 1 controversial thread would be helmets by a big margin. Bike lanes also cause some controversy, especially if you are conversing with John Forester. Chain lube threads can also cause lively debate but I rather enjoy them. I don't think people get quite as emotional as they used to about clip-in pedals, unless you are chatting with Grant from Rivendell. I hate political threads because the media bombards us with this stuff all the time and puts their own spin on it.

What about the dog driving the pick up truck with the shotgun in the rear window the wrong way in the bike lane.

And what's wrong with that..........as long as he is on a leash?:lol:

Why not wade in. I do. My opinion is just as good as the next persons.

NO IT ISN'T. Your opinion is only worth anything if you know something about the subject being discussed. the idea that an uninformed opinion is as valid as one that is informed, is dangerous nonsense. It's the sort of thing that allows idiots to get elected.

NO IT ISN'T. Your opinion is only worth anything if you know something about the subject being discussed. the idea that an uninformed opinion is as valid as one that is informed, is dangerous nonsense. It's the sort of thing that allows idiots to get elected.

WooHoo... nicely said!

^^^^ WRONG! People give uninformed opinions everyday.....opinions are not facts.Opinions are sometimes based on facts.

o·pin·ion

   /əˈpɪnhttp://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.pngyən/ http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif (http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html) Show Spelled[uh-pin-yuhhttp://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.pngn] http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif (http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html) Show IPA
noun 1.a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.

2.a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

The reason our elected officials get into office is because people think opinions ARE facts!

People give uninformed opinions everyday,that's why it's called an opinion....not a fact.

And you think that means that ignorant opinions are as valid as educated ones? People are entitled to their opinions, but if they don't now what they are talking about, they aren't entitled to expect the rest of us to take them seriously.

As for facts, they're scarcer than they look. Spotting one takes judgement.

There are certain topics that are guaranteed to cause "knee jerk" - and usually never-ending- reactions.

Folks have generally made up their minds, and all the discussion in the world won't change their way of thinking. I can usually predict the course of the discussion, and even who will be on what side of the issue.

I try to avoid these, and sometimes I am even successful at doing that!! :)

Some that occur to me:

helmet threads
vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Riding apparel/lycra/shoes
Use of words like "old farts," "geezer," etc.
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)

What others?
Do you avoid these threads?

You forgot the most deadly topic--way beyond politics and guns--religion!

NO IT ISN'T. Your opinion is only worth anything if you know something about the subject being discussed. the idea that an uninformed opinion is as valid as one that is informed, is dangerous nonsense. It's the sort of thing that allows idiots to get elected.

...Leading to electile dysfunction, another round of which we're all surely going to be subjected to in the coming year. :rolleyes:

... A jewel in a what? I just got finished opening a clog in my sewer. Wasn't a "Jewell" in there..... anywhere... I looked. I use the controversial threads to find those I wish to ignore. I'm sure I'm on some others' lists myself.