DnvrFox

So, given your previous thoughts you stated, why did you not say, "the "WHITE (or CAUCASIAN)" animal control officer was cowering in the truck as this huge black guy . . . "

If you are going to racially identify, you need to racially identify ALL races and persons in your story, not just certain ones. I agree with Kerlenbach.

BluesDawg

nonsense

DnvrFox

What is the significance of the "Black" bit except to raise stereotypes in the reader's mind? Really - what does it add to the story if not encouraging a stereotype? Nothing. I know nothing more significant about the story knowing it is a big black guy, then if it is a big guy. Nothing is gained, and prejudices are invoked, by that statement.

10 Wheels

I listen to The Houston Police Department Radio as I read BF.

They ID persons of interest by:
Black
White
Oriental
Hispanic.

The person going Nuts was a black male and a possible threat the the animal control officer.

"huge black guy was in the process of going NUTS!"

DnvrFox

Bike forum mmbers are not anmal control officers in Houston. They are not in danger.

10 Wheels

It is the offical language they use on the radio and in documents.

BluesDawg

nonsense

or more to the point, much ado about nothing.

xizangstan

Remind me not to mention the type, make, style or size of my bike. It's only important that I rode a bike today.

10 Wheels

Did you ride on any black top roads?

scroca

You goofballs have completely ignored the greater part of the story to obsess over something as insignifcant as this.

You must not have anything useful to do with your time.

scroca

Well, don't promote gender bias by insisting you know its a guy.

And what about the feelings of big people, why pick on them.

And I bet the dogs would feel lousy if they read how they were depicted.
Geez.

DnvrFox

To equate "A big black bike" and "Black top roads" as a parallel to "A big black guy" is simply ludicrous.

leob1

Welcome to the modern age.

leob1

Getting back to the DOG, I'm currently listening to a book about dog psychology, "Inside of a Dog" by Alexandra Horowits. She tries to define why dogs do what dogs do, it's worth a read(or listen). Two of the thing I have gotten so far as to why we have a problem with some dogs is that they will react to seeing a human doing something that they have not experienced a human doing before, like rolling on wheel and not walking on feet. And some dog breeds, and part thrown into any mutt, are prone to exhibit behaviors, such as aggressiveness, despite the responsibility, or lack thereof, of the owner. Pit bulls have been bred for generation after generation to be aggressive, that trait cannot be overlooked by just being with a good owner. The owner has to realize that the dog can be aggressive at any time, for only the reason the dog knows. Toss a jerk of a owner in to the mix, and you have a problem dog. I think the OP found a situation that was as bad as possible.

scroca

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
Groucho Marx

AzTallRider

You need to qualify this. SOME pitbulls have been bred for generations to be aggressive. Others have most definitely NOT. SOME dogs can be aggressive at times, regardless of breed. This is generally more predictable than you imply. And aggressiveness for a specific purpose, hunting for instance, does NOT translate into aggressiveness towards humans.

I have a dog bred for generations to be aggressive... towards feral hogs. He has also chased down and killed a jackrabbit. Very aggressive hunter, and totally trustworthy around humans, with amazing bite differentiation. My breed typically hunts alongside pit bulls, who are used as "catch dogs" to hold the hogs my breed has found and chased to a standstill. These pit bulls are extremely aggressive to the hogs, and also very trustworthy pets. They have been bred to hunt, but not to be aggressive to humans.

Considering the number of dogs that are around us all the time, most of us make no attempt to understand their motivations, nor to recognize signs that indicate (to other dogs, and to some of us humans) how they might be reacting to a given situation. If you do your homework, you can anticipate situations that might cause aggression, and recognize the signs that show how a dog is reacting. Interestingly, the same is also true of sharks, which exhibit some of the same signs that dogs use to signal each other. Google "agonistic behavior".

Red Baron

I ricde were I see a sign that says "F*** the dog, worry about Me!!" I find that's good advice in the rural areas of KY. Mess with their dog is worse than messing with their female family members.

FunkyStickman

I see a *lot* of dogs on my route, most are chained or fenced, a few are not. I've been chased once or twice, thankfully by a smallish dog I could outrun. I have blasted dogs with my water bottle when the temps were below freezing, that slows them down a bit (enough for me to get away). I usually speak to them every day in a friendly voice, and most of them recognize me now. Though they will run with me, they don't bark.

I generally am untrusting of dogs in general, I've been charged by several unprovoked. Most of the time it's because they are neglected and desperately in need of attention. Sometimes they're just angry. Unless I personally know them, I don't trust them.

LAriverRat

I treat dogs like dogs. Thats because they are the dog, and they need to know that. I have never had a overweight dog, or one which did not know to follow my comands. This is for the safety of the animal as well as those around it. Part of my job is to measure homes for flooring, draperies, blinds. Usually i look for signs that there is a dog on site if no one will be there. I went to a vacant back house one time, no signs at all, no poop, water/food dish, dog house, nothing. It was set back aways so i opened the gate and got about 40 feet in when 3 big dogs came from the side of the front house, running and barking right at me. I took one or two steps at them and pointed at them and shouted SIT! They stopped and did not know what to do. I slowly backed up to the fence and yelled one more time SIT! I reached the gate and let myself out with out being attacked. One was a pit bull. I respect dogs, but i do not fear them. The only time i suffered any damage was from a house cat. I rang the bell, it was sitting by the door. The next thing i know i had a spitting clawing cat on my chest. I removed it from my chest with out hurting it while i had a torn shirt and some scatches. I was amazed.
When i am on the local mups i see some strays, lots of loose dogs with their owners, which now i slow down or stop if i don't know what the dog is going to do. The strays are usually in poor shape. So far no real attacks.