Everyblock Bike Bashing Thread/Flame War

Hi All

What are your thoughts on how to handle negative flame wars against bikers on threads such as the one below (everyblock)?

 

http://chicago.everyblock.com/announcements/jul09-bikers-watch-you-...

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Butterfield on July 11, 2012 at 5:58pm

ignore them? read through the entire thing, its not uniformly anti-bike. in fact, a lot of what's said i agree with: we do need to be aware of our surroundings and conscientious of the needs of others, moreso than most, as vulnerable as we are to physical injury. there's a lot of really stupid people bringing their bikes up out from their basements at this time of year. at any rate, that flame war turned into a complete shitshow, as they all do. not really to be taken seriously. a person, face to face, will typically be pleasant enough, but people, in an anonymous setting, are dickheads, one and all.

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 11, 2012 at 6:54pm

I recommend ignoring it. It has 101 comments and less than 15 people are actually subscribed to the thread. Which suggests that it's roundabout conversation with 15 people. You'll never get a word in. 

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on July 11, 2012 at 11:50pm

Every Spring and Summer there are tons of articles, opinions and blogs that bash cyclists. When Winter comes, these disappear. I just ignore the majority of them or if I feel I have something valid to say I'll try to say it in a neutral manner. Since there are more people out and about during the Summer, there are also more people who dangerously break traffic laws (cyclists and motorists alike).   Even the original poster also mentioned: 

This thread was made for a simple reason. To tell bikers to start being more cognisant of what's going on around them. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. Obviously there are very good bike riders who do obey the laws. 
Stop insulting one another like children.

The bashing will continue, no matter what, because so many people love to complain. I would just ignore the thread as responding to it would only serve to stoke the flames. This thread has been moderated quite a bit, which to me says that Everyblock is censoring many of the inflammatory comments to keep things down to a small flame, instead of bonfire.  

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 12, 2012 at 1:22am

Everyblock has become worthless as a social media site.

Pro-bike posts are minused down until they get censored/deleted.  I don't understand why anyone would waste their time there any longer. 

Permalink Reply by igz on July 12, 2012 at 2:15am

ya, everyblock is starting to become spam in my inbox. and every firework is interpreted as gunfire.

explosions! ah! terrorists blowing up m ukie village block? no...its fireworks!

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on July 12, 2012 at 2:26am

Ha! I've noticed this, too. It seems like every post is either:

 

"Did anyone else hear gunshots in the alley at 2PM today?"

 

or

 

"Saw some shady looking people on the corner today. Should I call 311?"

 

Thanks to the advent of the internet, I now see how many people just aren't cut out for life in a big city. If these are the things that concern you enough to post to everyblock, you need to move to Winnetka.


 
igz said:

ya, everyblock is starting to become spam in my inbox. and every firework is interpreted as gunfire.

explosions! ah! terrorists blowing up m ukie village block? no...its fireworks!

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on July 12, 2012 at 2:39am

I have to agree with igz- I laugh every time I see one of the "I heard a loud noise. What should I do?"  posts, then people call 311 and 911 to report someone sitting on the grass outside. 

I used to like the site, but it is starting to get annoying.


igz said:

ya, everyblock is starting to become spam in my inbox. and every firework is interpreted as gunfire.

explosions! ah! terrorists blowing up m ukie village block? no...its fireworks!

Permalink Reply by Richard on July 12, 2012 at 3:05am

I think a better use of one's energy would be to let their elected representatives know how important safe biking is to the voting public.

I bike. I walk. I vote.

Permalink Reply by Jared on July 12, 2012 at 3:19am

The Tribune now requires Facebook for comments.

Cameron Puetz said:

It could be worse, it could be the Tribune's comments. Actually they're probably about equally bad.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 12, 2012 at 3:21am

That's a fail.

Facebook is  not the internet any more than AOL was the internet 10 years ago.

Jared said:

The Tribune now requires Facebook for comments.


Permalink Reply by Scotto 6.8 on July 12, 2012 at 3:25am

Yes, the Tribune comments are now few and far-between - I guess no one wants their crazy internet postings tied to their real name.

James BlackHeron said:

That's a fail.

Facebook is  not the internet any more than AOL was the internet 10 years ago.

Jared said:

The Tribune now requires Facebook for comments.


Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 12, 2012 at 3:29am

I have a feeling the trib is going to darwin itself in today's new economy and media reality with their new paywalls and other idiotic self-destructive policies.

And frankly I won't shed a tear for them.   Get me the tiniest violin and I will play a dirge at their passing. 

LOL legacy media...

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