So how about this idiot?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: *Ivo Vegter* < ivo@hivemind.net >
Date: Nov 12, 2005 8:17 PM
Subject: [hivemind] fckn cyclists
To: hivemind@hivemind.net
We mentioned the Highveld cycling thing.
I actually bothered to find out online that it was next Sunday, because it's not advertised on any radio station I listen to, nor in any of the four newspapers I bought yesterday. Which I think is criminal. But that's not the half of it.
Appended below is how I get from where I am to where I need to go to next Sunday. I tried to enter two street names, as required.
For the first, I tried four different names close to where I am - Joy Place, Willson, Beyers Naude, 7th Avenue. One is where I'm actually coming from. The next (Willson) is the main road through my suburb, is several km long and has a unique spelling. The third (Beyers Naude) is a short little cul-de-sac that starts at RAU and only goes as far as Heia Safari. Can't expect a 30km arterial to show up on a search, can I?
Anyway, it doesn't know where I'm coming from. But even if it did, I have to get to Albury Crescent. Now sadly, it intersects ONLY with Jan Smuts Avenue. And all of Jan Smuts between Durban and Cairo is closed.
So I'm fcked. Unless I have a helicopter, there is simply no way I can go where I need to go.
I think it is scandalous that a few thousand people are allowed to cause such a major disruption in a city of three million for an entire day, just for fun. Just to show off. If they offered to pay for the Gautrain, fine. If they offered to pay time and petrol and lost revenue compensation, maybe I wouldn't object. But shutting down half the city's main routes just for fun is ridiculous.
I can't for the life of me see why the fcking idiots don't just cycle to Harties. The route is prettier, and it wouldn't cause much disruption.
Instead, they mess up everone else's day. They're like kids begging for attention. All they deserve is a smack upside the head.
Next cyclist I see dies.
Of course this was quick to spark some responses to the small-minded Ivo Vegter, as well as a very lively discussion on the VWCA mailing list. And also at The Hub
So I mail him and question his intentions. And he reinforces his own stupidity:
Nick Coyne wrote:
> You arrogant idiot.
>
> What does "Next cyclist I see dies." mean????
What's it to you? Did I send the e-mail to you?
Amazing how many braindead, humourless, literal-minded people are out there. For the record, I've seen a cyclist since I wrote that, and that cyclist didn't die. Make of that what you will.
So then he posts a story with the publication for whom he writes, ITWeb. Yes, believe it or not he’s supposedly an educated journalist. Unfortunately he misses the point completely and just writes some obvious stuff about freedom of speech. I think this reply sums things up very well though:
BY BRETT GALBRAITH
[17 Nov 2005] Despite your clever and witty justification of the original rant which, no doubt, your friends and forum colleagues will understand and pat you on the back for, the original rant smacked of poor judgement on your part.
Against the backdrop of cyclists being mowed down by motorists with frightening regularity, something us cyclists feel strongly about, the final line of your rant no doubt raised the hairs on the back of a number of necks!
Your private writings and rantings theory is a poor excuse. If you, for the sake of an example, make racist jokes in private, is this to be dicounted in your public life because what you say in private has no bearing on your business persona? The principle is the same, your private thoughts, jokes or rantings do reflect who you are and what you think.
Poor judgement Ivo and no clever or witty justification will clear you of that.
Apologise on that basis and be done with it.