Originally Posted by Koffee Brown
Ummmm, elitist how? Because by me saying I was clarifying a position others were taking? If that's elitist, what group am I distinguishing myself with? The people who understand? That last statement you made makes absolutely no sense.
As I clarified before, I do not think we are morons here. There are definitely people who want to ride alone, who have worked a long day, who prefer to get into the zone.... I wouldn't bother them either. I don't see ONE post written by anyone inferring that those people are snobs. Again- if you look into someone's eyes and they are SNEERING at you, or if you are riding past and someone makes a nasty remark, if someone is rolling their eyes at you as you are observing them, if someone makes a nasty comment about how slow you ride (as a group of cyclists did to me when I stopped to talk to them one day), if someone is mocking you about your lack of cycling knowledge (as I see happening often on the forums), if other members mock the newbies (as I see happening often on the forums)- THESE are the elitist snobs I'm referring to. I'm sure this is what the members are also complaining about in this thread. I think, Tim, that somehow, you either are not understanding what we mean by elitist snob, or you see yourself in someone else's description of the snob. I don't know which one you identify with, but for the CLARIFICATION, this is what I think we are referring to. Simply out riding and wanting to have some peace and quiet and not communicating with others is not what I would classify as a snob. If you do, then this is your own preconceived notion that you need to work on, because there's no one here that is complaining about the cyclist who's doing their own thing. And as I pointed out, I also ride alone and prefer getting into my own zone and keeping to myself, and I respect the others that do the same. This is NOT the problem we are discussing.
Snobs will always be there- can't wait until at least the triathlon ends so I can ride in a more isolated environment, and when winter sets, I'll finally have a bit of peace. I am truly an isolationist by nature when it comes to riding.
Koffee
i do see myself in some of the descriptions that people are giving here, that's what i'm saying...now your kind of getting it. i'm saying that it's very easy to be labeled a jerk unfairly is all. this tread is about snobbery and insularity, i'm trying to offer a position where i'm not calling somebody a snob but where i'm percieved as one unfairly. maybe it's not a point that people had brought up before, but i think i'm entitled to bring up a new point once in a while. and if you read a couple of the posts below my original one, there are a few forum members that agree with that. as for the elitist problem - if you don't recoginze that, you need to take a look at this sentence:
"I personally avoid the elitists like the plague- they aren't worth the ground I spit on, nor are they worth my time." Koffee Brown.
this is the most elitist dribble i've ever heard!! this is no better than anyone else who sneers or makes comments. i'd say it's much worse actually because it has some serious anger behind it. saying that somebody isn't worth the ground you spit on is disturbing to read. and i think if your involvment with cycling leads you to arrive at such hateful conclusions, you should take a vacation and find something else to do. i'm being very serious about that.