The Chainlink

Worst Possible Thread

Edit: Thanks to Peenologist for the Worst Thread Ever crown.

Edit edit: D'oh! he said Worst Possible Thread, not Worst Thread Ever.

7/17: "was Fight with Gabe" removed from subject line for the sake of beauty, privacy, and security.  Representative images added (too bad threads can't have their own custom avatars):

 

 

Picked up on OPCC listserv per Bill W; presumably posted today.

I don't know why Active Trans didn't put a warning out about the previous incident mentioned here.

===

Authored by Tom McGee and posted on the Oak Park Cycle Club facebook page.  :
Tom McGee
LAKE STREET WARNING: With the warm weather, and newly added bike lanes on Lake Street, there have been more bike commuters heading into the city...unfortunately, there are some rough neighborhoods people need to cycle through and area street punks see the increase in riders as well.

On my way home from the city to Oak Park last night I was jumped by 2 male teens in an attempt to steal my bike. This occured at Lake & Lavergne. One guy was on the sidewalk, the other hidden behind an L pillar. As I was approaching, I sensed it was bad, but it was too late to react. They came at me from the left and right and pushed me off the bike. I was clipped in and went head first over the handlebars, landing on the right side of my face and shoulder. They did not go for anything but the bike, so when I realized that, I wrestled with them and kept my bike. A motorist stopped to help me, and seeing this they ran.

A number of good samaritans stopped to help me, called 911, and paramedics were on the scene within 10 minutes to get me to the ER. I'm stitched and bumped and bruised, but it could have been a lot worse.

I strongly suggest that riders get the word out to friends who commute, try to ride w/others (there are a number of group rides to/from the loop from what I've heard), and try not to ride too early or too late when other people may not be around to help. 

I've already spoken with John Lankford, Bikeways Campaign Coordinator w/Active Transporation Alliance. He said there was a similar incident on Lake the morning of Bike The Drive. So they are aware of the problem, and will be approaching people @ CDOT and the city to try and address it.

Ride safe,
Tom McGee
 

==

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Adam Kitzmann on July 18, 2012 at 2:22pm

I think this thread my be the best thread ever. I think it should be printed (pictures and all), bound, and sold at Urban Outfitters nationwide. Also, I like turtles!

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on July 18, 2012 at 2:26pm

Would look nice hanging from the sale rack with the v-necks and "ironic" Mitt Romney t-shirts.

Adam Kitzmann said:

I think this thread my be the best thread ever. I think it should be printed (pictures and all), bound, and sold at Urban Outfitters nationwide. Also, I like turtles!

Permalink Reply by Derek on July 18, 2012 at 2:27pm

On the plus side this thread spammed my inbox enough to finally setup an RSS feed for the site.  So I'll call it a slight win even though this thread is on par with watching drunken toddlers cage fight.  

Permalink Reply by S on July 18, 2012 at 2:43pm

Actually, I wouldn't mind watching a drunken toddler cage fight.  It sounds like a human equivalent to the puppy bowl.   Presumably the fight would take place in international waters much like monkey knife fights and man vs. horse boxing matches.

Derek said:

On the plus side this thread spammed my inbox enough to finally setup an RSS feed for the site.  So I'll call it a slight win even though this thread is on par with watching drunken toddlers cage fight.  

Permalink Reply by Vilda on July 18, 2012 at 3:42pm
The right sea man might smell like semen. But if ur semen smells bleachy you should talk to a doctor!
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on July 18, 2012 at 4:33pm

The title of this thread sounds like a thinly veiled challenge...

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 30, 2012 at 11:03pm

I've started a database of Chainlink discussion topics that do not result in flamewars.

So far it includes:

1) Plastic vs. metal water bottles.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on July 30, 2012 at 11:36pm

This was a flame war???

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 31, 2012 at 8:49am

Perhaps the Chainlink flame wars are getting out of hand. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 1, 2012 at 7:07am
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 1, 2012 at 7:43am

I did.

Thanks.

Anne Alt said:

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 1, 2012 at 7:53am

 It's just that the Internet's anonymity makes it impossible for them to resist spewing vitriol from the protective cave of cyberspace. Psychologists call it the "disinhibition effect," in which "the frequency of self-interested unethical behavior increases among anonymous people." Non-academics refer to it as "John Gabriel's GreaterInternet Fuckwad Theory": the combination of anonymity and an audience bringsout the absolute worst in people.

"Social psychologists have known for decades that, if we reduce our sense of our own identity -- a process called deindividuation -- we are less likely to stick to social norms," wrote Michael Marshall in New Scientist . "The same thing happens with online communication... Psychologically, we are 'distant' from the person we're talking to and less focused on our own identity. As a result we're more prone to aggressive behavior."

 

Substitute "behind the wheel of a car" for "protective cave of cyberspace."

Online disinhibition ranges from benign -- oversharing of personal information -- totoxic, virtual hit-and-runs in which you call writers stupid racists, or in which youwrite, in response to the shootings in Colorado: "What kind of idiot parent bringstheir 3-month-old to a midnight movie. Morans." Hey, no one ever said you had to be a good speller to be mean.

 

"Morans" is an established internet meme-- maybe author needs to partner with someone with a little more insight.

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