20 pages later and you guys still don't get the OP's point. Instead, many of you keep responding with posts that try and justify your reactions by dissecting and asking "what did I say that was so wrong" or "show me where I was mean" rather than seeing the OP's point about the general "tone" in which some of you respond. But that is the prototypical personality trait of some of you obsessive and overly competitive contrarians who don't even want to concede a point in a discussion. You respond for 20 pages to try and justify why it is o.k. to be an *****hole.
I am all for the ribbing if the person is in on the joke. Hell, I listen to Howard Stern and love a Roast where nothing is sacred. But there is an element here and amongst the "Roadie" crowd that obviously touches a nerve with some as this topic keeps coming up (ie, who's a Fred, poseur etc). If it walks like a duck. Being an A-hole on the internet is easy and some of you never dissapoint. Pcad can call me "arrogant" because I confront that element here every now an again but in the grand scheme of things, this is all silly (see our economy and misguided war in Iraq etc.)
Whether you can admit it or even recognize a sense of elitism, arrogance and snobbery amongst this subculture, that is an individual's choice or potential inability to be insightful enough see it, but it exists.
Originally Posted by
BillyD
subtitled: How hard is it to be tolerant of someone not yet up to your standards?
There was a thread started here this morning by a new, young rider asking for comments on his bike. As usual several posters jumped at the apparently irresistible opportunity to blast the guy. Not surprising around here . . . inexcusable, yes, but sadly not surprising. Sure his bike had issues, but what do you expect from a new roadie?
What really appalled me was the excuses -- somehow some guys felt justified in their insensitivities. Somehow some guys feel being mean to other people makes them a man, in their own feeble miscalculations. This too is typical . . . among the weak. They feel that insulting and injuring others makes them feel better about themselves and enhances their masculinity.
You don't need to be a psychologist to decipher this . . . it's transparent, it's glaring, and it's pathetic.
I have a suggestion -- if you find yourself so lacking in self-esteem in your life, do what a real man would do and work on your insecurities. Do some research -- the internet is conveniently at your disposal -- and spend more time working on correcting your shortcomings instead of lurking around internet forums pouncing on the defenseless.
Internet muscles disappear when you're face-to-face.
Disclaimer:
I'm addressing just a handful of individuals, clearly not the majority. I'm adverse to internet conflict so I won't name names . . . they know who they are, they walk around with a perpetual chip on their shoulders.
My apologies to the rest of the forum that these unpleasantries had to be addressed . . . and the Mods mercifully closed the thread before I could get this in.
End of Rant.