Bike Theft and Street Justice
 

I am pretty much a pacifist until I witness things like robberies, muggings, molestations, and Bike Thefts!

Hearing about it is one thing...Actually witnessing it take place with your own personal bike, just might be another story!

Watch this:

http://vimeo.com/6475675

- Slim :)

he deserved more than that.

Would you call the police if you saw someone with a bolt cutter attacking the lock on your bike? I would tell the thief that the bicycle he is trying to steal is mine and I'd tell him to get his hands off it. Better don't use violence unless really needed.

Ever been so pissed, you just plain lose it?

- Slim :)

I'm just say'n...

Pacifists don't champion 'street justice' or mob violence.

They could have grabbed the guy and held him for LEO.

I know! I know! I know!

...............It's just that I know how these guys operate. It's like a job to them!

While I don't think I'd be inclined to hit this guy at first. It wouldn't take much for me to nail 'em if he cursed me or something. Any provocation at all, would be enough, I think...I don't know...Maybe not?

- Slim :)

Do you know what Pacifist means?

Thanks for asking this question DCrowell!

You've challenged me to take a really deep and introspective look into myself...

I could easily replace my bike a hundred times over. I could never replace another person's pain or suffering. Material things can always be replaced. However, human suffering, pain, and trauma is haunting...forever!

Thanks DCrowell!

You made me think and search deep inside myself...

- Slim :)

PS.

It's not really within me to hurt anyone, really...

I guess all those Tae Kwon Do classes were for nothing, huh?

I presume use of the contraction "bro" (brother), as in "Don't steal bikes, bro." in the context of this attack is facetious, as the term "pal" might have been used similarly in the past. In attacking the thief, I would have been more inclined to say, "Hey pal, don't steal bikes." I guess that dates me?

No...I'm afraid that words and names are nothing when it comes to violence and brutality. Names and words are dwarfed and shallowed by the inhumane treatment that one human being can impose upon another...

You're not dated... You're reminded!

- Slim :)

I am surprised he didn't, 3 on 1 in NYC getting caught stealing someones bike usually ends worse than that, he got lucky.

Steal my stuff I might kick your a$$ depending on what it was.

Harm my family or close friend it will be a ............vendetta......against you and yours.

Old video is old.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ats-bike-thief
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...teal-bikes-bro

"Don't steal bikes, bro" was all over the internet when it was posted two years ago. Welcome to the now.

Damn Nightshade!

That's sounds just like the mentality of the Crips and the Bloods! Certainly we're above urban barbarianism!

- Slim :)

I hope you weren't wishing violence upon the guy!

- Slim :)

LOL I never said I was the pacifist!

It is all fine and dandy to speak in the abstract.

I too agree that violence should only be used as a last resort.

If it was my bike, however, that was stolen I might be inclined to administer more than just a little street justice.

No false bravado or street gang mentality at all. I meant what I said.............

Steal my bike.......big deal since I've got insurance for that and most everything I own.

Messing with my family or close friend is a whole different story...........

That is all I'll say on the topic.

Violence breeds violence. People with tough guy syndrome are often as bad as criminals and often meet a "humbling" experience. Get tough with a bike thief and you might find they can be every bit as organized as any gang. That video could just have easily been one vigilante cyclist victim who decided to rough up the thief and then got jumped by the thief's lookout partners. Unless threatened with immediate bodily harm it is beyond stupid to take a simple problem/crime to physical altercation these days.

That's right, HokuLoa!

A G R E E D !

- Slim :)

Got to agree. Some a$$wipe trying to steal my bike and acting likes it's no big deal- I'd be looking to land a kick in the ribs with intention to break at least one. I'm a calm & gentle soul. I'm also human.

Yes, Flying Merkel!

However, in this society, if we're to evolve, we must take a higher road and not resort to the lowest form of human interaction____ and that's violence!

- Slim :)

Sure. A pacifist is a person who doesn't believe in violence - till the wind shifts and he hoists the Jolly Roger.

God! I want you to be so wrong about that assumption!

- Slim :)

LOL! Yo ho, yo ho the violent life fer me!!!

Seriously though, it IS awful tough to take the correct, high road when one gets "hot." There is a time and place for violence (I think) but unless there is a real physical threat to "you and yours" escalation is a foolish decision. MUCH better to involve a sanctioned authority rather than go pirate and risk death and/or prosecution for a non-threatening crime.

(The jolly roger image does amuse me greatly though!)