Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

One must remember that one's in an internet forum, where one's can cunt as much as possible.

cant rep squabbles right now, so will call him a cunt instead

scoble, you're a cunt but you are my kind of cunt

which is probably a worse insult

This morning myself and just one other chap are in the ASL box on Tooley street waiting to cross tower bridge junction road east to west. There are approx 6-8 fellow cyclists in front of us beyond the line waiting for the green...

Tower bridge Road now crossed, I passed some of the cycle traffic in front when next up there is a girl on a racer in the middle of the road going quite slowly. People on the inside behind me so I decided to pass on the right. She glances over her right shoulder and sees me then looks ahead again, so I proceed to overtake.

A second later she's stood up and gracefully turning right across my path (a U turn, presumably to go north over tower bridge) forcing me to slam on the brakes and jump out the pedals. I could only utter the words 'What are you doing?' which was greeted by a slack jawed 'what' expression and look of surprise on her face. I then followed up with 'You can signal' by which point I realised she had headphones in so I just rolled past her went on my merry way.

Failed to notice a small gash on my knee (from kneeing my bars in emergency dismount) so by the time I got to work I had a foot long blood trail running down my leg.

Made me wish my username was nuwanda...

Oh, er yeah. That was me.
Sorry man, was kinda in a hurry to get to ASDA before they shut. Medium sized frozen chickens don't hang around forever you know.

You utter cuntvacuum.

is that an abortion tool?

Ed, how on earth has this comment...

Everybody, stop calling everybody cunts, calm down, you didnt die. Approach the offender reasonably and you might even get an apology.

Got anything whatsoever to do with this one?

Well, I was thinking that. But James said it was

scoble 1, william 0

so I thought it must have been right.

That sounds about cunting right to me.

Couldn't quite see how limited ( or not ) vocabulary and use of language had anything to do with being offensive to total strangers?

I like to get to know somebody before I start to insult them.

But then... how can I argue with a clearly presented scorecard :-/

I notice lots of people justifying their use of the word 'cunt' at people who they feel have done a bad bit of cycling. Is it really nescessary? However right you are, you're not going to improve the situation with a slanging match. We all swear when taken by surprise, but this desperation to be right creates more aggro, and it is aggro that has probably caused the bit of bad cycling in the first place.

Everybody, stop calling everybody cunts, calm down, you didnt die. Approach the offender reasonably and you might even get an apology.
I hate the use of the word in this context too William (in fact most contexts apart from its actual meaning) but I'm certain it's used more 'on here' than 'out there'.

If you are referring more generally to the habit of starting arguments and/or shouting abusive words at fellow cyclists who wrong you, I can't believe either are ever "necessary", as such, but a "bad bit of cycling" can obviously be extremely dangerous and as you say, it's natural to shout out when our safety is threatened.

Personally, I don't think getting in to an angry debate, lecturing, trying to make people feel bad or swearing in the heat of the moment ever teaches them a lesson but instead just pisses them off. It's road rage, isn't it?

When I've seen cyclists doing this, or been unlucky enough to ride with them, more often than not, they make themselves look/sound more foolish than the person they're giving the bollocking to. It's embarrassing and creates stress in other road users.

on the other hand, it can make people safer as riders.... I've been called out and usually it's bull but once or twice i've been given fairly sound advice

^ Were you called out in an aggressive, name calling way though?

I still think the best method of calling out is a pleasant smile and a cheerful "you ride like a total dickhead mate".

I still think the best method of calling out is a pleasant smile and a cheerful "you ride like a total cunt mate".

Fixed.

But then... how can I argue with a clearly presented scorecard :-/

do be quiet, you wheezing a̶b̶o̶r̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶l̶ cuntvacuum

do be quiet, you wheezing a̶b̶o̶r̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶l̶ cuntvacuum

Silly boy.

I still think the best method of calling out is a pleasant smile and a cheerful "you ride like a total dickhead mate".

No, I think the best way is to say hello to the person, in a totally non-confrontational way, smile and nod and say 'alright? you pulled out on me a bit quick back there' or whatever. It takes alot of self control when you are fuming from a near miss, but it's worth the effort, because the person will actually listen to you. The thing is not to approach them assuming that they are an idiot or did it on purpose, even though it may seem that way.

I often shout obscenities and immediately regret it, realising what a total Steven Fry I have been.

Homophobe.

^^ This takes far too long to say while you are delivering a kidney punch to the cunt.

I actually tried talking to one such cunt reasonably when he pulled out on me and he tried to cycle off quickly and RLJ'd. I caught him up when the lights changed and he looked scared. He probably would've been safer if I just screamed CUNT at him and cycled off ahead of him leaving him to wait at red lights so our paths didn't cross again.

^^^Ha.

^^Haha. :)

Yeah, is is rarely possible to behave in the saintly way I have described. The thing I most often want to call people out for is barging through pedestrians. Noone seems to realise that a pedestrian crossing a side road has right of way over traffic turning into that road.

Personally, I don't think getting in to an angry debate, lecturing, trying to make people feel bad or swearing in the heat of the moment ever teaches them a lesson but instead just pisses them off. It's road rage, isn't it?

When I've seen cyclists doing this, or been unlucky enough to ride with them, more often than not, they make themselves look/sound more foolish than the person they're giving the bollocking to. It's embarrassing and creates stress in other road users.

Exactly this, repped.

Funny how the one of the most derogatory words used by a lot of males is one of the most sought after things by well...males.

I don't seek tories.