Kass' Friday column and why sometimes the silent treatment is best
The latest Kass column on biking today is a great example of why sometimes it may be best to ignore. Responding to him or engaging with him may not do anything 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. 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.
If you really feel the need to write: consider a letter the editor that just focuses on your own positive message. Don'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 you respond to him point-for-point, you'll be playing into his framing of the conversation.
- Lee Crandell, Active Trans
Views: 540
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on
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Best advice there is for things like Kass.
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Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on
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Finally someone see's the light. Good advice for navigating these forums, too. See also: notoriousDug.
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Permalink Reply by Jason W on
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He's fighting the inevitable. I don't see why anyone "in the know" in the bike community would get upset with his antics. But for some reason people have quoted that article in about every thread I've read today. Go figure...
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Permalink Reply by Bob on
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jerry springeresque writing ,,,,,all you need is people shouting KASS !!! KASS!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on
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Well said. The only way you could have improved on this would be NOT linking to his column and giving him page hits.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on
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This is consistent with the new Chainlink policy of posting multiple threads on a single topic without regard for, or reading what's already here.
Anne Alt said:Well said. The only way you could have improved on this would be NOT linking to his column and giving him page hits.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Allison on
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John Kass(hole) is a veritable fountain of monumental and unrelenting idiocy.
And I learned that long, long ago, way back before his recent bicycle tantrums.
Remember the old days when the trib actually mattered and they employed talented, thoughtful columnists like Mike Royko? cest la vie.......
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Seeing this jacKass remain in print makes me miss Royko more every day.
Dan Allison said:John Kass(hole) is a veritable fountain of monumental and unrelenting idiocy.
And I learned that long, long ago, way back before his recent bicycle tantrums.
Remember the old days when the trib actually mattered and they employed talented, thoughtful columnists like Mike Royko? cest la vie.......
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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on
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You may want to nail me up, but I kinda liked the column linked to in the initial post. I rode over the summer along the LFP and I had several close calls. People, pedestrians, as well as too many cyclists, seem to think that the rules of the road, as well as common sense, don't apply where vehicular traffic is not allowed. Riding along the LFP on a nice summer afternoon, particularly on the weekend, can be very risky, which is one of the benefits of winter riding. Winter riding separates the serious riders from the amateurs. If the city wants me to pay for a licence, as long as it's not too onerous, then I'm cool with that. Hopefully, at least some of the additional revenue will fund more bike infrastructure.
As I've said before, along with rights comes responsibility. I consider it a privilege to be able to live, work and ride my bike in this fair city. One of the founding principles of this great country is no taxation without representation. If we become obligated to pay for our bike riding rights, then we will also have a louder voice.
I'm not a fan of the critical mass rides, yet I agree with what they are trying to accomplish. Does the means justify the ends? No, not always.
My $0.02.
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