Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on December 6, 2012 at 10:20am

I did make a sincere offer to him last time he wrote an article about Chicago cyclists.  And, no, sadly he did not take me up on the offer.  Depending on his slant tomorrow, I'll make another offer.

Lisa Curcio said:

Seems to me the last time he was splouting his blather wrote about cycling in Chicago someone offered to go riding with him.  I don't suppose he took anyone up on actually riding a bicycle in Chicago?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 6, 2012 at 10:57am

I don't think it's a matter of advocacy devolving.  I think that enough people are fed up with pseudo journalism that caters to the knuckledraggers (including Channel 5's rabble rousing a.m. piece in this category) that they feel motivated to speak up.  A part of me wants to respond. Another part (which will probably win this internal debate) feels that Kass is not worth wasting time on and would rather put that energy into writing a good letter to the editor - a page of the paper where there is at least some sign of intelligent life.

Kevin C said:

I really dislike John Kass's writing, perspective and the way he frames his theses. My solution is that I never read him. I have no reason to doubt John G's heads up that Kass is writing a column for publication tomorrow regarding the Dearborn PBL. Has advocacy for infrastructure really devolved to the point where people are lining up, or in some cases, already sending emails decrying the column which may or may not get written and may or may not get printed?

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on December 6, 2012 at 11:04am

at the very least, it means cyclists are perceived as a way to generate website hits 

Cameron Puetz said:

Does all this attention from Kass mean that cyclists are perceived as having clout?

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on December 6, 2012 at 11:05am

I wouldn't say that's a devolution of advocacy so much as a capacity for pattern-recognition. 

Kevin C said:

I really dislike John Kass's writing, perspective and the way he frames his theses. My solution is that I never read him. I have no reason to doubt John G's heads up that Kass is writing a column for publication tomorrow regarding the Dearborn PBL. Has advocacy for infrastructure really devolved to the point where people are lining up, or in some cases, already sending emails decrying the column which may or may not get written and may or may not get printed?

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 6, 2012 at 11:34am

So we're doing "pattern recognition" now? Then the dialogue has ended. The battle lines are drawn. And nothing that either side has to say can possibly have any validity or move the respective sides off their position. That's just swell.

Peenworm Grubologist said:

I wouldn't say that's a devolution of advocacy so much as a capacity for pattern-recognition. 

Kevin C said:

I really dislike John Kass's writing, perspective and the way he frames his theses. My solution is that I never read him. I have no reason to doubt John G's heads up that Kass is writing a column for publication tomorrow regarding the Dearborn PBL. Has advocacy for infrastructure really devolved to the point where people are lining up, or in some cases, already sending emails decrying the column which may or may not get written and may or may not get printed?

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on December 6, 2012 at 11:56am

There has never, ever been value in engaging in dialogue with John Kass. I don't know if he constitutes the sum of A Side of The Dialogue. If he does, the Dialogue was over before it began. 

Kevin C said:

So we're doing "pattern recognition" now? Then the dialogue has ended. The battle lines are drawn. And nothing that either side has to say can possibly have any validity or move the respective sides off their position. That's just swell.

Peenworm Grubologist said:

I wouldn't say that's a devolution of advocacy so much as a capacity for pattern-recognition. 

Kevin C said:

I really dislike John Kass's writing, perspective and the way he frames his theses. My solution is that I never read him. I have no reason to doubt John G's heads up that Kass is writing a column for publication tomorrow regarding the Dearborn PBL. Has advocacy for infrastructure really devolved to the point where people are lining up, or in some cases, already sending emails decrying the column which may or may not get written and may or may not get printed?

Permalink Reply by Tim S on December 6, 2012 at 12:02pm

Someone do us a solid and read it tomorrow so we don't have to give Kass clicks on his column.

Permalink Reply by David P. on December 6, 2012 at 1:57pm

What makes me laugh at that Rahm line is thinking of his response to complaints about recent CTA fare increases, where he said, in effect, "if you don't like it you can always drive" !

David

dan brown said:

I love the irony of the last line of this article :
http://chicagoist.com/2012/12/04/emanuel_protected_bike_lanes_on_de...

"Emanuel also said that, like the Kinzie Street and other protected bike lanes, motorists will adjust. And if not, they can always take CTA."

Permalink Reply by Lee Crandell on December 6, 2012 at 5:04pm

Guys, Kass is an opinion columnist and not a reporter, meaning he's just interested in riling up people who agree with him or creating a stir, and not in revealing truth or helping people understand objective information. I don't think it'll do much to respond to him or engage with him except to generate fodder for his column, where he can selectively quote you in a way where his followers will nod their heads in agreement with him.

If you feel the need to write: I'd second Anne in recommending a letter the editor. And I wouldn't even bother responding to what Kass has to say in your letter -- just write your own take on the new bike lanes on Dearborn and elsewhere as if you'd never read his column. Keep in mind most people who read your letter will not have just read Kass' column, so if your letter responds to his points, you'll be playing into his framing of the conversation.

Permalink Reply by maryrachel on December 6, 2012 at 6:42pm

Agreed! He's like Rush Limbaugh. With "The Surge" of bike facility construction in the last 2 weeks, Kass could always tie it into the end of the Mayan calendar. Now that I could read.

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on December 7, 2012 at 2:39am

"Pistol-packing lawmaker deserves a high-caliber nickname--How will Sen. Donne 'Dangerously' Trotter explain his opposition to concealed-carry laws now?"
This is the Jack Kass column on today's Trib web page. Maybe he thought better of riling up the cyclisti?

Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on December 7, 2012 at 3:06am

Looks like Kass will be commenting about Dearborn in print later or not at all. But he should be on WGN this morning with Commissioner Klein. And it certainly couldn't hurt to write a letter to the Trib expressing your support for the new lanes.

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