DnvrFox

There are certain topics that are guaranteed to cause "knee jerk" - and usually never-ending- reactions.

Folks have generally made up their minds, and all the discussion in the world won't change their way of thinking. I can usually predict the course of the discussion, and even who will be on what side of the issue.

I try to avoid these, and sometimes I am even successful at doing that!!

Some that occur to me:

helmet threads
vehicular cycling (which should be posted in the VC sub-forum)
Gun issues
Riding apparel/lycra/shoes
Use of words like "old farts," "geezer," etc.
Almost any "political" discussion (P&R instead)

What others?
Do you avoid these threads?

rydabent

Why not wade in. I do. My opinion is just as good as the next persons. If only the egotistical know it alls only post, they will think they are entitled to run the world.

DnvrFox

Because there is no point to it. It is frustrating. You will not change anyone's opinion or thoughts. I have better (and more fun/worthwhile) things to do with my time. And, mostly, I do not enjoy it.

leob1

Chain lube.

stapfam

Chain lube is a very good example. Everyone has to lube their chain- it is a task that if you don't do- will cost you. But there are lubes and lubes. I use a couple of well known makes and they are only a couple out of many that are suitable. There are also Lubes that are not suitable. But try and tell someone that XZ453***is not a lube but a Water displacement fluid and you are in trouble.

So chain-Lube- Clipless- helmets- Best bike to have and What is the best substitute for Blue berry Pie are best avoided.

There is no substitute for Blueberry Pie by the way.

mymojo

That is correct only because blackberry is superior to blueberry and therefore not a substitute but an improvement.

teachme

Erectile dysfunction... Avoid it like the plague!!

big john

Chainlube is not an emotional issue. Helmets, guns, and clipless pedals are the biggies, although car talk seems to generate a lot of emotion in the road forum. I don't mean car vs cyclist, I mean car lover talk.
It amazes me how emotional people get about car brands on a bike forum.

ahsposo 

So what are we gonna discuss then?

Gosh sure is _______ weather, huh?

How's the family? That's ______, I hope you _______.

Getting any riding in? Oh, that's _____.

Of course I like to argue ethics but that seems to be out of bounds.

Ya'll have a nice day.

RonH

These kinds of topics keep the mods busy. Most belong in P&R, Trollheim, or A&S -- not here. That's why the mods post comments about closing or moving a thread. Just doing our jobs and trying to keep the peace -- which ain't always easy.

And a big thank you to those who try to steer these threads back on course with appropriate responses or pie comments.

BengeBoy 

We should stick to really important topics -- like why did they change the size of Jimmy Dean sausages from 16oz to 12 oz?

Doohickie

Depends on my mood, and the way the discussion is playing out. If I see the thread and all the pertinent points have been raised, I move on. If it's actually a discussion with respectful exchange of ideas, where maybe some new points are being raised, then I'll jump in.

Or once in a while I'll just troll.

ahsposo 

This is what happens when the marketing department gets involved.

"Ooh, ooh! I know! we just call it 'Lite' and charge the same price!"

"What! we're talking sausage, here. Nobody wants 'Lite' sausage! I say we change the package graphics, and say something like 'New Package, Same Great Sausage' and cut the product amount 25%. Our dumb-ass fat boy customers will NEVER notice..."

bigbadwullf

Global brainwashing

John_V 

I will give an opinion until the thread starts getting nasty with the name calling and put downs. When that happens, I no longer read the rest of the thread and go on. I also don't like posting more than 3 or 4 times on any particular thread, except the "Did you ride today?" thread because if my questions don't get answered by then or posters answer my question with a question or sarcastic remark, the thread is going nowhere and it's time to end it. The name calling and sarcastic answers is particularly common in the Road Bike forum.

chipcom 

but, you might actually learn something...you just never know when you might find a jewel in a cesspool.

stonefree

Are you saying that cyclists are generally more opinionated than other interest groups?

Naw, couldn't be.

Jim from Boston

I would add:

Red Light and Stop signs (a subset of VC, I guess)
Listening to music while riding
Rearview mirrors

DnvrFox

Is that comment from experience?

Remind me to never shake your hand.

ArtM

Thread size seems to be relevant to me in conjunction with the topic. The better comments seem to happen in the first few pages of comments. Any thread over 5 pages has likely degenerated. Any thread with less than 10 comments requires a consideration of the topic.

I'm getting close to thinking about looking at this thread .

chipcom 

my hands are fine...but you might want to avoid kissing me on the lips

NOS88

So, you can eventually climb better?

cehowardGS

About 9 out of 10, the topic is not on this issues. Somewhere in the thread, shots get thrown at something a poster doesn't like, then others will reply, and then you got a can of worms.

However, I am a lot better than I was a few years ago. I can type at 60 wpm. I use to shoot back 60 hot replies in less then 5 minutes. Not anymore. Stuff gets too hot, I simply hit the ignore button and move on. That way, I don't piss off other users with my bull, or allow others to shoot bull back at me and piss others off too.

However, we are human, and we all make mistakes. With that said, all forums sites have some bickering/flaming and so forth going on, but BF is one of the nicest forums I ever been on.

BengeBoy 

I may have missed something, but no one has mentioned:

- "Why don't roadies wave at me when I'm riding?"
- "Double crankset or triple?"
- "Will carbon fiber explode?"

TheHen

I agree. It is nice to see where people who have come to different conclusions than I have are coming from. Even if I don't change my mind, I may come away with a less negative view of certain choices.