LarrySellerz

Last time I mentioned Taylor Swift here I got banned, but I’ll try again, because people are unaware.

Celebrities, actors, and musicians have long been controlled by 3 letter agencies to sway public opinion. With the internet and the “democratization of media” it’s way easier for a random to blow up and get a following. It used to be gatekept by the record agencies and kingmakers, but now a Fortnite streamer can have a bigger following than a titan of the entertainment industry.

naturally, this is unsettling for those who seek to control the media sphere and influence public opinion. The days of Prince, Evis, or other cultural icons being important to large swaths of the public are over. The promotion of Taylor Swift across so many media platforms is a last ditch effort by the media moguls to artificially inflate her popularity. She’s one of the last big names still out there making music, and I won’t get into her history but it’s a deep dive. She’s controlled, and used to influence public opinion.

Also for anyone listening to reports about Q-anon adjacent conspiracy theories regarding Swift helping Biden, it’s a complete lie. Nobody is suggesting that, and the media is clamoring around a fake story to stoke division and increase Taylor’s popularity.

genejockey 

tomato coupe

Yes, this is very unsettling ... but not for the reason you think.

Dave Mayer

Unsettling indeed. Back to disc brakes - specifically on performance road bikes where they are heavy, fussy and unnecessary.

Whenever someone posts an opinion contrary to the current industry trend/fad, there is an immediate pile-on from the paid industry influencers, followed by a flood of irrelevant silly content perhaps designed to dilute the thread or cause it to be terminated? Deliberate tactic so that buyers looking for unbased experienced advice can only see the industry dogma?

Just so we know who is who, can we get a show of hands as to who works directly in the industry or is paid by the industry to spawn social media content? AI chatbots too please.

rsbob 

Does Taylor ride a bike? If not, why is she even being mentioned? Rule to dismiss and exclude immaterial evidence.

tomato coupe

You can never have too many conspiracy theories in one thread.

Full disclosure: I'm paid by the industry to point this out, and I'm also an AI chatbot.

Polaris OBark

I want my goddamn paycheck!

terrymorse 

Yes, although someone gracious sole soul needs to pump her tires.

seypat

According to what I read in the 41, those look about right.

tomato coupe

Notice how that guy in the background has his hand near his ear? That's one of her CIA handlers.

3alarmer

...posting a gif of yet another celebrity, simply plays into LarrySellerz narrative here.

elcruxio

Heavy? Well it has been pointed out that they aren't really that heavy.

Fussy? Changing pads every few years and bleeding couple of times per decade isn't nearly as fussy as centering dual pivots a few times per season.

Unnecessary? Who even dictates necessities for cycling. Technically all you need for a bicycle is a fixie. Everything else is heavy, fussy, and unnecessary. Show us your fixie Dave.

I used to be a lawyer, but the industry payouts were just too good to ignore. Now I make seven figures by occasionally arguing on cycling forums. Big Bike has deep pockets.

smd4

Wonder why you’re having so much trouble keeping your brakes centered?

Polaris OBark

Is that what you kids are calling it now?

Koyote

Dave, please give us your bona fides. What qualifies you to give "experienced advice"? It's an honest question; I'm curious about your riding/racing background.

genejockey 

Sole?

Trakhak

It has just struck me how well you play your role, pretending to be a hippie doofus on Bike Forums. We regulars naturally take nothing you say seriously, so as a consequence, our suspicions about who is controlling us are allayed. I hope the Deep State is paying you well. Theater major?

My only criticism, if your handlers are reading this: he lays it on just a bit too thick. No one could really be that credulous.

3alarmer

...someone from this thread needs to get that woman on a CFRP road machine, with discs front and rear. She's got the wider tires, lower pressure thing going on, so that's good. But there are a loot of Swifties out there in the world, and none of them can fully enjoy the sport of cycling following her lead.

calamarichris

Not funnay. Neither funny, strange; nor funny haha. Simply not funnay. Okay then, I'm glad we're in agreement.

t2p

rubber

3alarmer

...what qualifies anyone to give "experienced advice" ? What would you possibly accept as "bona fides", in a thread where you've already accused at least one person of argument from authority ? Then proceeded to dismiss any experience as "tooting his own horn" ? It's an honest question.

I baked a very outstanding lime meringue pie yesterday. I'm not a cooking influencer. What are my "bona fides" in this endeavor ? I have a recipe from the Farm Journal cookbook, and have repeatedly modified it over the years, until the result is now quite wonderful. But only if you like lime meringue pie.

terrymorse 

Oops.

smd4

It’s just that I never thought someone would ascribe humor, or lack thereof, to banjo playing, or any other instrument (with the possible exception of the kazoo.

Sierra_rider

People make fun of you because your arguments are often hyperbolic, not because they're influencers, industry shills, or AI chatbots. The thing about your tongue hanging out and being shelled off the back of the peleton because you aren't running 1200g tubulars, is BF gold.

PeteHski

I want to know if that avatar photo is really you or just for effect to go with your shtick, clearly designed to wind people up and create the backlash you always receive.

I find it hard to believe that you are being genuine. Do you really think people here are getting paid by Big Bike to argue against your repetitive shtick?