Boris Johnson

David is that you?

must be the same driver that apologised and admitted liability when he knocked me off last week!!

photoben Hey a Black Cab shouted at some muppet for me today who cut me up without indicating! He then looked at me and said " what an idiot" rolled his eyes and drove away. I nearly fell off my bike.

My world has been turned upside down.

Bloody Cabbies.

bloody politicians!

Bloody girls!

(once a month)

Angus and I. Strictly Re-creational.

velocity boy I'm trying to avoid the flame wars rather than what affects us.

Politics on the internet, much like religion on the internet. I don't believe that any amount of word diarrhoea is going to make another person change the views they already hold. The argument would be a waste of energy and just create animosity where none needs to exist.

Is londonfgss some sort of ivory tower that exists in a parallel universe?

Argument and discussion aren't the same thing. And what about the people who haven't made up their minds yet? And isn't it a little presumptuous to say that everyone on this forum holds fixed views that they will never change?

Does that mean that if I posted a thread on this forum asking people to write to their MEPs about blind-spot mirrors for HGVs you would sink the discussion because it was 'political'?

I'm feeling left out. Maybe I should vote?
Oh wait.. no politics. Maybe I should peel the stickers off my CXP33s?
Yeah, that'd be cool. Important Poll: To peel or not to peel? Vote Now!

Peel.

Buffalo Bill [quote]velocity boy And isn't it a little presumptuous to say that everyone on this forum holds fixed views that they will never change?

I think you meant to say fixed and single speed views...

Buffalo Bill Is londonfgss some sort of ivory tower that exists in a parallel universe?

Yes

Does that mean that if I posted a thread on this forum asking people to write to their MEPs about blind-spot mirrors for HGVs you would sink the discussion because it was 'political'?

That's a bike safety issue. It has nothing to do with which candidate you want to vote for.. just because the letter is addressed to a 'tician don't make it a "political discussion".

peel

have peeled the stickers of me secondhand cxp30 rims - can't quite bring meself to peel off the harry rowland stickers though...

Peel them back Mr

typical tory comment from boris - no respect for the working class artisan

haaaa

yeah boris,piss off!!

hippy I'm feeling left out. Maybe I should vote?
Oh wait.. no politics. Maybe I should peel the stickers off my CXP33s?
Yeah, that'd be cool. Important Poll: To peel or not to peel? Vote Now!

I think the issue here is not to peel or otherwise, but whether the stickers should have been there in the first place.

hippy [quote]Buffalo Bill Is londonfgss some sort of ivory tower that exists in a parallel universe?

Yes

Does that mean that if I posted a thread on this forum asking people to write to their MEPs about blind-spot mirrors for HGVs you would sink the discussion because it was 'political'?

That's a bike safety issue. It has nothing to do with which candidate you want to vote for.. just because the letter is addressed to a 'tician don't make it a "political discussion".[/quote]

So having written to the MEP and received a reply that s/he was voting against the legislation that you favoured, you then wouldn't post back to the thread this information, with the note that you would be voting for a candidate who had promised to support it?

Come on, get real. I don't like the political system that we have, and I don't like the manner in which politics is conducted, but if I take my ball (vote) home with me, who is the loser?

And yes, I know the nihilist motto: if voting changed anything they would make it illegal.

My reply is: vote early, vote often.

Buffalo Bill [quote]velocity boy I'm trying to avoid the flame wars rather than what affects us.

Politics on the internet, much like religion on the internet. I don't believe that any amount of word diarrhoea is going to make another person change the views they already hold. The argument would be a waste of energy and just create animosity where none needs to exist.

Is londonfgss some sort of ivory tower that exists in a parallel universe?

Argument and discussion aren't the same thing. And what about the people who haven't made up their minds yet? And isn't it a little presumptuous to say that everyone on this forum holds fixed views that they will never change?

Does that mean that if I posted a thread on this forum asking people to write to their MEPs about blind-spot mirrors for HGVs you would sink the discussion because it was 'political'?[/quote]

Damn right Bill! We shouldn't take this lightly.... The vote is only in part about cycling - to vote for either on the bike policy only is silly. Boris, likes bikes - but everything else he stands for is bullsh*t tabloid style crap. We ought to behind Ken, as a cycling unit in London, and show him support that he can then give back to us (perhaps) in the future. As great as cycling in London is, homes, jobs, hospitals, infrastructure to name but a few are more important!

Good on you Mr B.Bill
Boris for Couriers Union. Thats what we need. Those boys (and girls) need it desperately.
signing out

The ivory tower comment has me in stitches. There was a great flamewar on another forum in which that comment was made, and it's just made me think of that, and it's funny.

No, no parallel universe.

And no I wouldn't sink any discussion regardless of what the subject is. And nor have I or would I censor (except for the removal of spam or anything that could jeopardise access from a work place like hardcore porn). I'm very much of the opinion that forums should be open places in which anything can be discussed.

That said, I also think the argument and discussion and debate are different things.

The beliefs and thoughts of an individual about politics tend to be grounded in the past experience of the individual, socialisation and so many other factors. They are strongly held ideas, everyone has an opinion that they hold dear even when they may not have a party or person they wish to follow. I'm not saying that politics should have no place at all, but that the pointless flame war on right vs left, this vs that is just silly and changes nothing.

An enlightened and serious debate on something would be very welcome indeed, as would be awareness of the things that directly affect us.

There's also a very big difference between tabloid level name-calling and a well-researched & presented piece on a specific thing that affects us all directly.

I guess it's hard for me to explain why this thread seems daft to me as I'm not especially eloquent, but it's mostly that instead of having a debate we've gone straight down to what does resemble an argument. It's not researched, considered, informed, it looks and smells like a flame war, and not a debate.

There's a big difference between a campaign to write to MEPs (why would it be European Parliament btw?) and a 'debate' in which emotive and silly terms like "red Ken", "Tory fop" and the virtues (or lack of) of the Evening Standard are being bandied about. One has a lot of value, the other is hot air.

did i mention that i haven't smoked in 3 days:)

velocity boy
There's a big difference between a campaign to write to MEPs (why would it be European Parliament btw?) and a 'debate' in which emotive and silly terms like "red Ken", "Tory fop" and the virtues (or lack of) of the Evening Standard are being bandied about. One has a lot of value, the other is hot air.

I plucked that one out of the air because there is a bit of legislation that is going through the EP right now which I am following

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/retro-fitting-blind-spot-mirrors-could-save-up-to-100-lives-a-year

I agree that 'tory fop' (which makes him sound sort of cuddly, which he definitely is not) and 'red ken' (which makes him sound sort of socialist, which he most certainly is not, if you look at some of the incredibly business friendly measures he has taken) add nothing to a serious debate.