Fifty Plus (50+) - Where did all the fun go?

This place used to be a pleasant retreat full of light hearted banter, helpful and useful information, and the friendly exchange of cycling and life related experiences.

I'm not nearly as formally educated as most of you all are so my impressions may be very, very wrong. Those impressions are that it now seems more like a war zone here where one dare not post any cycling experience other than an occasional ride report for fear of starting a political flame war where everybody preaches and nobody listens and the mods need to step in. It doesn't seem fun any more.

If I ever loose a bike or fall off of one or get chased by a dog or almost hit by a car, I most certainly will not be sharing the experience here.

Now like I said, I'm not overy bright so it could just be that the cerebral level of this forum has just left me in its dust. If that is the case then I can understand why my level of enjoyment has decreased so much and I'll just read and try to learn and keep my keyboard quiet.

+100! Thank you, Cranky! I've been feeling the same thing. Some of the Francises 'round here need to lighten up and stop being so pompous.

You two are going to get in trouble......

Make that 3 of us. Not that I try not to get involved in the controversial threads but The "light hearted" side of 50+ does take some finding sometimes.

Of course some threads do go off track occasionally and there are a few still current that bear no relationship to the original post. They do bring a few intersting slants on the original topic---Occasionally.

The fun is still here and it hasn't changed much from what I have seen. Yes there may be people with stronger opinions than there used to be but even heated debates hardly ever sink to the level they do in some other forums. What most of us can learn from the 50+ group is, there is no best saddle, there is no best brand of bike, there is no best material for a frame, there are no best riding position, there are no best pedals.

However that being said no forum should stay stagnate and when new people join it takes time to become part of thsi 50+ society. But many do have a 50+ jersey, many have joined the 50+ Strava site and many have formed an E-mail connection with people we respect. There are enough topics we can avoid the contentcious ones. In what other forum would someone actually want to meet and ride with so many of the other members like they do in the Annual 50+ ride?

Huh? I thought things were pretty civil around here... :geek:

+100! Thank you, Cranky! I've been feeling the same thing. Some of the Francises 'round here need to lighten up and stop being so pompous.

Spoken like a true Jersey Girl(best in the world!)

Make that 3 of us. .

Four. Too many people taking themselves and their opinions too seriously. Jesus Christ, we're pretty much talking about bicycles here. I loved it the other day when somebody told me a conventional butt-up, head-down cycling position wouldn't, either, make some people's necks sore. If only I'd known that when I started riding in 1970, I could have saved decades of what I foolishly thought was discomfort...

Huh? I thought things were pretty civil around here... :geek:

Yes, I agree with teachme, I think it's pretty civil around here too! Now true, I don't even participate in the "war-zone" threads at all so perhaps I'm insulated, but overall . . . I still think 50+ is an excellent forum with lots of wonderful riders/writers.

And, I'm happy to wear my 50+ jersey on rides!

Rick / OCRR

+5 Cranky.

Never thought I'd block folks here, but have found myself doing so in the last month or so.

+6, Agreed Rick, on your point and wearing the 50+ jersey. That's Representin'

+7

Seems like just in the past few months the tone of this forum has changed. Maybe the young ones (50 somthings) just have a different attitude than some of us really old folks. IMHO, If you want to flame someone, do it in another forum and let's keep this one friendly and helpful.


+100! Thank you, Cranky! I've been feeling the same thing. Some of the Francises 'round here need to lighten up and stop being so pompous.

The fact that we are more civil than the other forums isn't really saying much, nor is that, IMO, particularly relevant. We should know better, and not let the tone degrade.

By the way, the racing thread here is consistently good-humoured, and at the same very informative.

+8

Sometimes the hardest thing for someone to do is simply STOP posting on a topic. LET IT GO, Learn to ignore and just STOP your side of the silly srgument. Amazingly, it will go away and one year from now you won't even remember it.

I know I have decreased my postings here lately.

This place used to be a pleasant retreat full of light hearted banter, helpful and useful information, and the friendly exchange of cycling and life related experiences.

I'm not nearly as formally educated as most of you all are so my impressions may be very, very wrong. Those impressions are that it now seems more like a war zone here where one dare not post any cycling experience other than an occasional ride report for fear of starting a political flame war where everybody preaches and nobody listens and the mods need to step in. It doesn't seem fun any more.

If I ever loose a bike or fall off of one or get chased by a dog or almost hit by a car, I most certainly will not be sharing the experience here.

Now like I said, I'm not overy bright so it could just be that the cerebral level of this forum has just left me in its dust. If that is the case then I can understand why my level of enjoyment has decreased so much and I'll just read and try to learn and keep my keyboard quiet.

I stopped posting because of a guy named Al. You try to do somebody a favor and all you get here is a bunch of flack over it. There's a few other people that I could mention, but I'll let dead dogs lie. I do feel what your saying very much.
By the way, I did run into that lady I helped and she was still with her husband. LOL.

I haven't been a member here long, but it seems this happens with all the forums. Things start off in good nature, and then some unsavory characters join, people realize they can rant and say whatever they want because it's the internet, and things take a turn for the worse. This is exacerbated by the fact that certain sects of bikers tend to be the epitome of "bleeding hearts." The best thing to do is just ignore those that are rude or you disagree with, they will get themselves banned or get bored when they realize that not everyone cares what they have to say.

Maybe the young ones (50 somthings) just have a different attitude than some of us really old folks. IMHO, If you want to flame someone, do it in another forum and let's keep this one friendly and helpful.
Hey, I'm one of the young ones (52 - Wow! Found a place I'm considered young!) but don't lump me in with "them". More pie, less petulance!

+1 for more pie.

If you lose a bicycle or befall unfortunate circumstances, I will empathize with you and wish you better luck in the future. I have lost a bicycle and know how it feels. I also know that the disappointment does not need to linger.

I stopped posting because of a guy named Al. You try to do somebody a favor and all you get here is a bunce of flack over it. There's a few other people that I could mention, but I'll let dead dogs lie. I do feel what your saying very much.
By the way, I did run into that lady I helped and she was still with her husband. LOL.

I miss your posts George. We don't get to ride together much due to my schedule. I used to keep up with you from your posts.

If you lose a bicycle or befall unfortunate circumstances, I will empathize with you and wish you better luck in the future. I have lost a bicycle and know how it feels. I also know that the disappointment does not need to linger.

For sure. Although I am 50+ I don't hang around here much, though I do look through the threads. I see no particular reason to berate people for doing or not doing something. What is the point? Make them feel worse than they already feel? Gloat how that would never happen to you?

Things go up and things go down - it's important not to get too bent out of shape about any of it. Certainly nothing at all wrong with steering clear of certain threads once things go downhill.

I AM SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS TOPIC UP. I am sick to death of being afraid of not spelling something right or god forbid not use just the right punctuation. Good grief already. Way to go Cranky.

A lot of it comes and goes with Digital Gee. Very entertaining guy. bk

Cranky, point understood in a good manner. Thumbs up.

Yet, I still find that the biking community has the sharpest sense of humor found anywhere.

Things go up and things go down - it's important not to get too bent out of shape about any of it. Certainly nothing at all wrong with steering clear of certain threads once things go downhill.

I quite agree. Compulsively responding to posts that get us worked up can lead to ugliness.

(But, isn't downhill a good thing, this being a cycling forum?)

Like George, I too have limited my posts and stayed out of threads that are not worth the time to respond. I can't say things have gotten contentous, as I said, I stay out of those threads now, there is no value there.

I agree with the original post, and thank you, Cranky.

Where did the fun go?? It has never been fun!
From the earliest days of my youth there have been cars to contend with. It has only been fun in the deepest of winter, when the ride is only a fantasy, where cars are not a part of the dream.

Anyone wishing to find the fun again, needs to push away from the jelly donuts and the bike. Give it a good rest, but don't seduce yourself. It isn't fun, it has never been fun.

The good stuff is still here. It's just that as the number of people posting has grown, there is more of the not so good more often. There has always been some of that in varying degrees. New people come in, some rub people the wrong way. Some adapt to the more congenial atmosphere, some don't. Some get bored and leave, others hang around and ruffle feathers. The biggest difference I see is that there are more threads that I ignore altogether because I know they are heading for trouble. But then, there are so many threads nowadays that there is no time to participate in all of them anyway. I guess we have outgrown some of what was great about 50+, but it is still one of my favorite stops on the interwebs.

I wish people would take more risk when starting new threads... It seems to be the same topics over and over again.

Maybe it's because I don't read every thread here, but I hadn't noticed any significant falling off of civility. This thread, however, suggests I'm wrong. Or else I haven't noticed because I'm the offender. :eek:

;)

The good stuff is still here. It's just that as the number of people posting has grown, there is more of the not so good more often. There has always been some of that in varying degrees. New people come in, some rub people the wrong way. Some adapt to the more congenial atmosphere, some don't. Some get bored and leave, others hang around and ruffle feathers. The biggest difference I see is that there are more threads that I ignore altogether because I know they are heading for trouble. But then, there are so many threads nowadays that there is no time to participate in all of them anyway. I guess we have outgrown some of what was great about 50+, but it is still one of my favorite stops on the interwebs.

Yeah, I think that's a good point. It does bother me that the threads about the simple fun of riding seem to die out so quickly, while the arguments seem to go on and on. All too often people go to the trouble to post a nice ride picture (or etc.) and hardly anyone seems to pay attention.

I have tried to get better at staying out of the arguments and contentious subplots that sometimes pop up inside of threads. But I can't tell which treads are headed for trouble until they suddenly seem to get there.

Things go up and things go down - it's important not to get too bent out of shape about any of it. ....

This pretty much sums it up. Like the half-naked fella' in a diaper said a coupla' decades ago, we gotta' "become the change we want to see".

Check out the Road Cycling forum for a short while, see how easily some "slam" others; you might change your mind about 50+;) I have no problem w/ opposing views/opinions, AS LONG AS THE DISAGREEMENT IS CONVEYED RESPECTFULLY.

Check out the Road Cycling forum for a short while, see how easily some "slam" others; you might change your mind about 50+;) I have no problem w/ opposing views/opinions, AS LONG AS THE DISAGREEMENT IS CONVEYED RESPECTFULLY.

^this^

Things go up and things go down - it's important not to get too bent out of shape about any of it. Certainly nothing at all wrong with steering clear of certain threads once things go downhill.

Harumph. I see you are using recumbents as an example. Well, I never . . .!! :)

Cranky,

I agree. People that yell at me only spoil my enjoyment.

I have a brother who will take either side of an argument just to have an argument. He considers it “a mental exercise”. It is one thing he does to amuse himself. The only way I have found to deal with him is either not answer him or just not talk with him. I won’t play his game.

Other people feel it is their responsibility to straighten everyone else out. Again, it is their game.

As a fall back my mother used to quote a line from Bambi. Thumper’s father said “If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.” My wife still has to remind me of this from time to time.

I try not to let anyone spoil my enjoyment just to make themselves happy.

Keep reading, posting and hopefully enjoying.

P.S. We still enjoy your sunrise pictures. Thanks.

there is no best saddle, there is no best brand of bike, there is no best material for a frame, there are no best riding position, there are no best pedals.
Sure there are, but they are all on my bike.



Maybe the young ones (50 somthings) just have a different attitude than some of us really old folks.
Oh, I feel like a 20-something hipster! I might even buy a fixie and then ride it across some cranky old geezer's lawn!

Sure there are, but they are all on my bike.



Oh, I feel like a 20-something hipster! I might even buy a fixie and then ride it across some cranky old geezer's lawn!

GET OFF my lawn :) !!

Check out the Road Cycling forum for a short while, see how easily some "slam" others; you might change your mind about 50+;) I have no problem w/ opposing views/opinions, AS LONG AS THE DISAGREEMENT IS CONVEYED RESPECTFULLY.
Exactly. I haven't noticed any great lack of civility around here, but I guess I grew up in a tougher internet neighborhood. I'm feelin' like a big-city cop patrolling the mean streeets of Mayberry with Andy and Barney. It's not bad around here, really.

With you Cranky:thumb:

Best I can figure from some conversations Bike Forums isn't what it used to be. Guess it used to be a little friendly sharing among friends kind of thing. Of course I could be wrong about that since I wasn't there. Now it is but one web site among many owned by a company whose business is web marketing. At the same time there has been a change in our society. As was posted above there are people who will argue just for the personal entertainment value. In short, life moves on. I do my best to not stress unless the subject is near and dear to my heart.

One thing I don't understand. Well, lots of things but this is one of them. Why "block" a poster? It never occured to me to shut the door to someone just because they were obnoxious or had a viewpoint different than mine.

GET OFF my lawn!!

I'm sure that little saying makes all the newbies feel warm and cozy... :innocent:

Problem is some people can't laugh at themselves...

Always look at the bright side of life....
Monty Python...The Life of Brian

Video link below
WARNING: If you are easily offended by Monty Python's humor(or irreverence) or simply do not like them, do NOT click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

GET OFF my lawn!!



I'm sure that little saying makes all the newbies feel warm and cozy... :innocent:

It was in response to the following and meant in jest. I apologize if it was taken differently. Perhaps I should have added a :)


I might even buy a fixie and then ride it across some cranky old geezer's lawn!

I agree with AZTR. I like the racing sticky and the racing sub forum (33). They stick to cycling. IMO, the biggest change in this forum is lack of cycling content and poor to no moderation to close or move P&R, A&S and other off topic content threads.

Cranky, I like your posts!

It was in response to the following and meant in jest. I apologize if it was taken differently. Perhaps I should have added a :)

Yes, a :) would have been a tremendous help right there. Isn't that covered in Forum Writing 101 ?

Yes, a :) would have been a tremendous help right there. Isn't that covered in Forum Writing 101 ?

Fixed