Attacked

Fuck that.

Fuck the idea that someone attempts to kill your girlfriend while she is riding her bike and you should "make their day a little brighter".

Fuck the immoral Christian nature of the sentiment, if someone tries to injure, attack or otherwise damage me (or anyone) I think it is my duty to show them that this course of action is unacceptable, wrong in every way possible, I think it is immoral to show them respect or make their day a little brighter - as much as I think it might be a poor choice of response to clap a rapist.

Fuck 'respect' in whatever vague nebulous sense you are using it. (all arguments containing the word 'respect' are - by it's use - meaningless.)

Do not give these cunts the idea that not only is it cool to attack or threaten a cyclist, but that doing so carries no consequences.

Every single driver who endangers my life or someone I know, or someone I love gets to find out how their lack of consideration makes me feel.

Really, this whole "hey guys, just leave it" thing is simply counterproductive, to take the sting out of someone's actions is morally ornamental, it may leave you some some 'zen' sense of calm and pious righteousness but you have passed the problem on to the next cyclist.

Action: threaten someone's life - response: respect = bad.

Action: threaten someone's life - response: broken windscreen = good.

Edit to add -

I think violence and aggression very quickly get out of hand, and so should be a last resort.

Tynan, you might be familiar with that whole 'unintended consequences' thing people mentioned when they suggested we shouldn't invade Iraq.

I also think that what you're advocating is mainly for your own benefit - it's pure catharsis, intended to make you feel better in the face of your powerlessness.

Because, face it - you scaring people with your 'Hulk aaaAAANGRY' act is not going to make the streets of London safer. The best you can hope for is that one single driver might slow down a bit - if they're not too pissed off with cyclists.

That's not to say we have to roll over and take it.

I think that if people organised a little more, perhaps we could do things to improve the situation on the roads - engage in a bit of direct action, get some coverage, make drivers aware of the situation. And I daresay it'd touch more drivers and have more effect than raging at some pillock who cut you up one afternoon.