Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 2:05pm

Nice spin Heather. So your answer is "not that important to you." Interesting. Why is it not important to you? The Oil spill isn't important to you either? Car usage? Bike safety?

I'm showing stats that might give a reason why a town way smaller gets a HUGE turnout. Could be any two towns. And It's not us VERSUS them it's why do they have it and we don't?

And since you didn't come you can't speak to the atmosphere - It's one of the most electric events you won't be at.

You never heard that people don't want to hear about their weakness's? They don't wanna face their own weakness? Never heard that aye?

And if someone is so fat that they can't get off their ass then they should be ashamed. Obesity is a HUGE problem. If someone is big and is trying to do what they can to be active then awesome! Maybe there are other reasons they are big, or they let themselves go and now they want to be in shape. But if they are just fat and don't care then they are a huge drain on the health care industry and I'm under no obligation to be nice.

Permalink Reply by Old Tom on June 21, 2010 at 2:32pm

Gabe said:

So your perspective is that riding to protest oil use makes you a screwball? Riding for bikers rights makes you a screwball?

Interesting perspective but i think you've missed the point all together.


I think the point was exhibitionism not protest. Don't act like you're doing us all a favor. Just go out and be a screwball and let it go at that.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 2:32pm

Was always intended to be constructive. And both's Q's are important for a healthy protest. So now that we are back on track.

Why didn't other people come?

Permalink Reply by heather s on June 21, 2010 at 2:33pm

“Nice spin Heather. So your answer is "not that important to you." Interesting. Why is it not important to you? The Oil spill isn't important to you either? Car usage? Bike safety?”

Oh sorry, I didn't realize that you guys were solving the oil spill crisis! Silly me.

I don't care about this particular bike ride. Doesn't mean I don't care about the oil spill, or about car usage, or bike safety. Don't put words into my mouth.

“I'm showing stats that might give a reason why a town way smaller gets a HUGE turnout. Could be any two towns. And It's not us VERSUS them it's why do they have it and we don't?”

Cycling is more established in Portland. Maybe it's true that they have a younger and more-willing-to-get-naked population than we do. “Why do they have it and we don't?” is a GREAT question regarding cycling infrastructure, and one we should be posing to CDOT and Active Trans, but I fail to see the connection to the WNBR.

“And since you didn't come you can't speak to the atmosphere - It's one of the most electric events you won't be at.”

I didn't say anything about the atmosphere of the ride. I imagine it was electric! I was referring to this discussion thread about the ride, which is pretty negative and does not encourage me to want to go next year.

“You never heard that people don't want to hear about their weakness's? They don't wanna face their own weakness? Never heard that aye?”

Don't know what you're referring to, at all. Be more specific. Most people don't want some random internet message board person informing them about psychological problems, though.

“And if someone is so fat that they can't get off their ass then they should be ashamed. Obesity is a HUGE problem. If someone is big and is trying to do what they can to be active then awesome! Maybe there are other reasons they are big, or they let themselves go and now they want to be in shape. But if they are just fat and don't care then they are a huge drain on the health care industry and I'm under no obligation to be nice.”

I thought this was a body positive atmosphere! I guess those fatties who just don't care about their effect on the health care system aren't invited. How are you going to tell the difference between those who are trying to do what they can to be active, and those who are ok with being fat and don't give a shit what you think?

You're not under obligation to be nice or respectful, but if you're promoting a ride based on healthy body image, you should think about your marketing techniques.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 2:38pm

Yep you missed the point all together. thanks old dude!

Old Tom said:

Gabe said:

So your perspective is that riding to protest oil use makes you a screwball? Riding for bikers rights makes you a screwball?

Interesting perspective but i think you've missed the point all together.


I think the point was exhibitionism not protest. Don't act like you're doing us all a favor. Just go out and be a screwball and let it go at that.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 2:47pm

Yeah Howard he did. Not looking at nobility, looking at actually getting attention. Apparently Old Dude thinks anything not a part of his 401K is screwball.

See Heather's post for what I'm responding to. She's long winded. In reverse order for ya.

I can tell the difference between the fat guy that doesn't care and the person that does cause the person that does care is at the ride. Tada - MAGIC! ;-)

You don't know what I'm referring to? Do drug abusers wanna face their problem? Do alcoholics? If you are afraid of getting naked do you wanna face it? Better for ya?

So far I haven't seen anything negative I've seen people that have hang ups they won't admit. And I've seen honesty.

The IT I was referring to was numbers not infrastructure but that would be great too? Wanna start that thread, write that letter or start petition? I'll sign it! That's being active. And like i said originally you DON'T have to be naked. It's Bare as you Dare. So youth isn't it.

And we cured cancer while we rode too! Boy did you miss out! Save your sarcasm. You said it wasn't that important to you. If i infer that the cause for the ride isn't that important to you as well then i'm not the ass in this discussion.

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on June 21, 2010 at 2:52pm

I didn't attend for any one or more of the following reasons:

A.) Large group events focused on protesting the cause du jour invariably end up morphing into something only vaguely representing their original intent. Just as Critical Mass is currently an excuse for many (though not all!) to get completely blotto and ride around acting like obnoxious buffoons, I forecast that the Naked Ride will eventually attract the skeezy Nudes a Poppin' demographic once it gets enough...err...exposure. Don't be the least bit surprised if you encounter a phalanx of wayward boners pointing skyward like so many fists of solidarity at future rides.

B.) I don't live in Portland. I don't live in Amsterdam, Paris, Tel Aviv, Melbourne, Seoul or Mogadishu for that matter. I live in Chicago, and if this ride had any kind of keeping-up-with-the-Joneses motivation I all the more want no part of it. It's already bad enough that I can't find a decent hot dog downtown anymore; we don't need any more manufactured "culture" polluting what little we have left of our own.

C.) To borrow - and subsequently mangle - a great quote from some high-falootin' military officer, protesting a giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with a naked bike ride in Chicago is like going deer hunting with an accordion.

D.) I may or may not have been out of town that weekend.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on June 21, 2010 at 2:54pm

1. I didn't know this was competition? Who cares about the turnout in Portland?
2. The tv news in PDX estimated the attendance a 8000, according to a friend who lives there.
3. I think it is great that you guys apparently had a good time doing something you like and put all the effort in organizing it. But,
4. I think it is silly and not worth my time. And that is all the reason you're going to get

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 3:06pm

At no point do i ever say competition. I'm asking why a small town can bring more of a turn out then a big city. And so far I'm learning it's people are just more jaded. It's the "Big City" mentality. Or I'm to cool mentality.

And Michael P,(c) does that mean we shouldn't fight at all???

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on June 21, 2010 at 3:23pm

You should take that to mean that I, personally, don't have a dog in that fight. However, anyone that does might consider utilizing more effective tactics if it really means so much to them. Like writing letters to your state's representatives. Or not driving, as I suspect most of us already don't. Or voting come November if you're into that kind of kinky thing. Naked rides are fun, I'm sure, but most people whose awareness you're hoping to raise by participating probably already read the news and know what's going on. It's not like someone will say, "Honey, I saw footage of those poor, grimy pelicans on 60 Minutes last night, but I didn't quite grasp how serious this problem really is until I saw it illustrated on that hirsute gentleman's back."

Gabe said:

And Michael P,(c) does that mean we shouldn't fight at all???

Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 21, 2010 at 3:31pm

I don't own a car, I do vote, i do write letter's to congressmen so I'm with you but do you see where the weakness is in that? It's all I. Far more powerful a statement occurs when you see x1000 people take to the streets in a peaceful and productive protest.

The crackpot politician can ignore 1 person that's why we have the right to assemble.

So it's lazy and jaded, so far, ahead in the race.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 21, 2010 at 3:45pm

I haven't even finished reading all the responses but I am ready to reply already (hope I don't repeat stuff).

I rode this year for the first time and LOVED it (clothed).

But, what does oil have to do with a NAKED ride? I understand a bike ride having to do with oil dependence, but don't see the connection between oil=being naked. I do understand the positive body image part, that was def beautiful.

You make it seem like everyone is crazy for not showing up.

But, I have to say I was uncomfortable being clothed, especially at the pre-ride body painting party and a number of people asked me why I was still wearing my clothes. That was a first!

I have MANY co-workers and clients who live in The Gold Coast/Lakeview/Lincoln Park. I saw 2 co-workers who ran into the ride and got a text from someone else saying they say me. I don't want naked pictures of me showing up on websites.

I bet the weather played a factor in attendance (I thought attendence was amazing though). If you want more people to come you GOTTA schedule it later in the summer. Last year was even colder than this year. I think a better question than "Why Didn't You Attend Naked Ride" is, "Who Didn't Get A Cold at The Naked Ride?"

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