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Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   Commuting (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/)
-   -   Some coworkers need to shut up... (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/652965-some-coworkers-need-shut-up.html)

neil 06-10-10 08:26 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cradduck (Post 10939534)
You can probably tell by the title this is rant #2,436,854.58 on BF. Sorry it is kind of long.
We have partial rants? I've never seen one...they all seem to be full on to me. (Or is this some kind of an average over the different forums?)

fredgarvin7 06-10-10 08:53 AM
Tell "Debbie" to have a steaming hot cup of "STFU"!!!

arch2wheel 06-10-10 08:54 AM
My co-workers are pretty supportive of me riding to work (I'm the only one). They even occasionally bring in their bikes for me to fix up. Still, every day as I'm leaving the office on my bike they look at me and they get real serious, kinda doe-eyed, and tell me to have a safe ride as if its the last time they'll see me.

I agree with the earlier poster. Take this girl out for her first commute even if you have to drive to her house and then ride with her. It only takes doing it once. Then she can benefit from riding with someone experienced and learn how to do it correctly and safely.

mustachiod 06-10-10 09:08 AM
+1 for putting personal items on Debbie Downer's desk

rumrunn6 06-10-10 09:20 AM
I hear ya, rant away

njkayaker 06-10-10 09:25 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cradduck (Post 10939534)
When our conversation finally ended and the potential commuter started back to her desk another female employee confronted her… ‘Don’t do it. Don’t ride a bike to work, anyone riding a bike is stupid and you are going to end up stranded somewhere when you get a flat tire. You better make sure your cell phone is charged and hope that no one attacks you while you are riding. What are you going to do if you fall off your bike and get hurt?’ There were a few other things said that I could not hear as the employee followed the potential commuter back to her desk. To be honest with you this made me a little angry. First, this conversation did not even involve her. Second, it was not the place of someone who probably hasn’t ridden a bike in [several] decades to tell someone willing to undertake the task that they shouldn’t be doing it.
Your prospective bicycle-commuter friend was going to hear this kind of stuff from somebody. She will probably hear it from many people (over and over again). If you don't or can't address these kinds of concerns, you aren't really doing a good job of "selling" bicycle commuting.

You knowing about the coworkers's comments is an opportunity!

rumrunn6 06-10-10 09:30 AM
right, she's gonna hear it but its up to her to make her own decisions just like you do

josephjhaney 06-10-10 09:52 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by arch2wheel (Post 10941572)
My co-workers are pretty supportive of me riding to work (I'm the only one). They even occasionally bring in their bikes for me to fix up. Still, every day as I'm leaving the office on my bike they look at me and they get real serious, kinda doe-eyed, and tell me to have a safe ride as if its the last time they'll see me.

I agree with the earlier poster. Take this girl out for her first commute even if you have to drive to her house and then ride with her. It only takes doing it once. Then she can benefit from riding with someone experienced and learn how to do it correctly and safely.
I totally agree here, don't drive there, RIDE there, then ride with her to work. Tell her you just want to make sure she feels supported in her first attempt, then ride home after, and tell her the offer stands if she wants to ride recreationally as well. This will help her with any fears she might have of doing it on her own the first time, and it might just help you with doing it too. ;) Not that you would be angling that way, not at all ;)

Joe

Sixty Fiver 06-10-10 10:05 AM
When I talk with potential commuters I often tell them to expect these kinds of comments from non cyclists as they will either be in awe that you rode your bike to work or be freaking out because you must be suicidal.

I always like the, "but what do you do when it gets cold and it snows" questions.

I will be co-hosting a winter cycling workshop in a few weeks as part of our bike month festivities... :)

wunderkind 06-10-10 10:19 AM
Maybe Debbie Downer and this young girl are lesbians? Mmmm.... ;) Debbie may be cautious that this young girl might take a liking to your manly Lance Armstrong demeanour and "change sides". :)

Kidding aside (unless it's real, then it be weird).Maybe Debbie is genuinely concern. Perhaps the route the young girl has to commute through may take her through some rough part of neighbourhood?
And what if she gets into an accident or a mishap were to happen because she let her gung-ho attitude go ahead of her wisdom/planning. Will you feel guilty about it? Folks may consider you liable even though you didn't force her to ride to work.
Adults can make their own judgment call.

sudo bike 06-10-10 10:46 AM
So did she end up commuting? Or is this still in the future?

noisebeam 06-10-10 11:02 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cradduck (Post 10939534)
...saw my bike gear at my desk. I usually have it hidden since we can actually get written up if any personal effects are at our desks (step one on getting fired for those who don't have ridiculous policies where you work :thumb:).

...This launched more conversation about bikes and gear ...

When our conversation finally ended and the potential commuter started back to her desk another female employee confronted her…

... this made me a little angry. First, this conversation did not even involve her. Second, it was not the place of someone
I guess I can see why there is such a policy, look at the conversation and conflict it can lead to! ;)

IanHelgesen 06-10-10 11:06 AM
Do you have a spare multitool and patch kit? You could put together a field kit for the potential commuter, and tell you had some spare stuff lying around that will help her get started. That might help relieve any worries from the conversation (although the stupid comment probably help discredit the rest).

AlmostTrick 06-10-10 11:15 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by josephjhaney (Post 10941878)
I totally agree here, don't drive there, RIDE there, then ride with her to work. Tell her you just want to make sure she feels supported in her first attempt, then ride home after, and tell her the offer stands if she wants to ride recreationally as well. This will help her with any fears she might have of doing it on her own the first time, and it might just help you with doing it too. ;) Not that you would be angling that way, not at all ;)

Joe
+1 for taking her on her first ride. :love:

wildergeek 06-10-10 11:18 AM
Debbie Downer has the hots for you and is threatened by you having anything in common with the younger cutie.

Sirrus Rider 06-10-10 11:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by stringbreaker (Post 10940722)
Find that picture of Albert Einstein riding a bike with a really goofy grin on his face like he is the happiest he has ever been in his life and ask her "does this guy look stupid?"
The one problem with that is that she might be young and clueless enough to have never of heard of Einstein.:rolleyes::D

no motor? 06-10-10 12:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by josephjhaney (Post 10941878)
I totally agree here, don't drive there, RIDE there, then ride with her to work. Tell her you just want to make sure she feels supported in her first attempt, then ride home after, and tell her the offer stands if she wants to ride recreationally as well. This will help her with any fears she might have of doing it on her own the first time, and it might just help you with doing it too. ;) Not that you would be angling that way, not at all ;)

Joe
Sounds like good advice to me.

I regularly heard horror stories about people being horrible injured when I rode motorcycles, and just tune that stuff out now. Those people mean well, but usually don't think things through before they start talking. Don't worry about the Debbie Downer, concentrate on the cute one.

cyclokitty 06-10-10 06:02 PM
I recall the Debbie Downers when I was working and I did my best to never listen to their advice. They were typically bossy know it alls who really were very clueless and adept at living a dull existence. Your bike commuting interested co-worker maybe interested enough in trying bike riding to ignore her too, especially if this particular Debbie Downer has offered her crummy, boring, killjoy advice in the past. Since Debbie Downers looooooove to hear the sound of their own screechy, whiney, irritating voices ring out loud and proud, odds are your new friend has heard loads of "wise words" from her and automatically filters it. I did at any rate.

wunderkind 06-11-10 11:21 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by stringbreaker (Post 10940722)
Find that picture of Albert Einstein riding a bike with a really goofy grin on his face like he is the happiest he has ever been in his life and ask her "does this guy look stupid?"

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword...0on%20bike.jpg

Pee Wee seems joyous on the bike too. Your point?

emperorcezar 06-11-10 11:25 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by wunderkind (Post 10948042)
Durr durr durt durr durrrrrrrr
Point is that people who ride bikes aren't "stupid" by pointing out an example of one such person.

sggoodri 06-11-10 11:47 AM
The best approach, for so many reasons, is to stay positive and not respond with any negative reaction to the unwanted advice she received. Go high road.

I suggest that you encourage the potential commuter to view the choice to bike as one best made from a position of knowledge and empowerment. Underscore your offer to assist her with the knowledge and required preparation, especially if you can help limit her initial costs. Then, she can try it and see if she likes it, and decide for herself. If she doesn't like it, she hasn't risked much.

Encouraging the commuter by pointing out how she is perfectly capable and independent will win more points than getting into arguments with another coworker. Just don't pressure her.

noisebeam 06-11-10 11:51 AM
I'd guess the interested coworker is wise enough to know better so all you have to do is just politely ignore the other individual.

echotraveler 06-11-10 12:14 PM
What would Yoda do?

cruiserhead 06-11-10 12:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathan84318 (Post 10939554)
Was the debbie downer fat ?
LOL!

Seriously, there will always be naysayers. Confronting them will only reinforce their opinion.
You do what you do and lead by example.
If someone wants your advice, they will ask you.

They have to want to bike commute for themselves, not because of you or Jenny Craig

Kimmitt 06-11-10 12:43 PM
It's not worth confronting Debbie Downer. She's on her own path, and it's not compatible with yours.

The big thing is not to get defensive. If you blow her off in a low-key fashion, you imply that her opinion is uninteresting. If you engage her, you imply (correctly) that you feel threatened by her, which gives her opinions implicit strength. It's no different from dealing with forum trolls.

Your friend's looking to bike commute. You're looking to help her. There's just no reason to care what your coworkers think, other than to maintain a civil and professional demeanor with one another.


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