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Permalink Reply by Gecko on June 4, 2011 at 11:43am

Seems like just a continuation of the sad commentary regarding the throwaway society we live in and the unwillingness of the majority to keep anything for a reasonable amount of time, even though it may still be perfectly functional.  It's saddening to a degree, but as long as people are making enough money to buy new stuff, they don't care what happens to the "old" stuff after they put it in the garbage, and usually it's pretty hard to change their minds on the subject.

 

That and the service industry has been expanding so much that most poeple can't even change their own tires these days, why would the lady know anything about training wheels?

 

H3N3 said:

Can you explain what was upsetting to you about this exchange?

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Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on June 5, 2011 at 12:49am

To me it seems the surprise/interest here is simply how clueless people can be. (in this case about bikes where we have the upper hand) What we often forget is that we are all clueless about some things. Many of us about most things---but it is still funny to see it up close and first hand!

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Permalink Reply by wig [ isaac ] on June 5, 2011 at 4:15am

why would you feel the need to post this?

also, why after hearing this did you not take it a few minute or two to help her understand how it works? 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Gecko on June 5, 2011 at 6:36am

Nope, I was just speculating on why he would post something like that.

H3N3 said:

Confused-- "Chris Hainey" = "El Gecko?"

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Permalink Reply by Chris Hainey on June 5, 2011 at 3:25pm

I posted this because the exchange was depressing for two reasons:

1. Getting your first bike as a kid is a huge right of passage. The mom not knowing anything about the bike she was going to use to teach her daughter to ride made me sad for both of them.
2. Back in the “old days” when my mom took me to get  my first bike at Marty’s Schwinn store, the staff took  the time to sell my mom the right bike that fit me, showed me all the details, and showed my mom how to remove the training wheels. Buying your first bike from a Wal Mart will never be the same.

It was a moment where I wished for a do-over . Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Haring on June 5, 2011 at 4:01pm

The real question is, what were you doing at Wal-Mart to begin with?

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 6, 2011 at 12:25am

It's even worse than that it appears. Cow is giving kerosene, Kid can't read at 17...

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 1:16pm

I get that and I understand why you found it depressing.

Chris Hainey said:

I posted this because the exchange was depressing for two reasons:

1. Getting your first bike as a kid is a huge right of passage. The mom not knowing anything about the bike she was going to use to teach her daughter to ride made me sad for both of them.
2. Back in the “old days” when my mom took me to get  my first bike at Marty’s Schwinn store, the staff took  the time to sell my mom the right bike that fit me, showed me all the details, and showed my mom how to remove the training wheels. Buying your first bike from a Wal Mart will never be the same.

It was a moment where I wished for a do-over . Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 6, 2011 at 3:18pm

You go into these chain places and they can show you where the product is, maybe give a little advice if they are into it, but yeah it's mostly a buy it them try to return it later place.

I've found trying to help/explain something to someone unsolicited is usually met with hostility.

And if you're too dumb to turn a nut/bolt counter clockwise... I can't help you.

Anne Alt said:

I get that and I understand why you found it depressing.

Chris Hainey said:

I posted this because the exchange was depressing for two reasons:

1. Getting your first bike as a kid is a huge right of passage. The mom not knowing anything about the bike she was going to use to teach her daughter to ride made me sad for both of them.
2. Back in the “old days” when my mom took me to get  my first bike at Marty’s Schwinn store, the staff took  the time to sell my mom the right bike that fit me, showed me all the details, and showed my mom how to remove the training wheels. Buying your first bike from a Wal Mart will never be the same.

It was a moment where I wished for a do-over . Thanks.

• ▶ Reply