John StevensonNov 10, 2022

When I first got here I thought Mastodon's lack of free-text search odd. But you know what I'm really enjoying? The lack of arguments that start when some muggle posts 'cyclists suck', it gets quote-tweeted by someone with a search for 'cyclists', #cycling twitter piles on, football & cabbie twitter pile back, days later people are still fighting with no minds changed or knowledge exchanged.

I've started a few of those and taken part in a few more. Mea maxima culpa.

Show threadRosamundiNov 11, 2022
@CyclingJourno I always used to wince whenever someone started a pile-on like that. Eg innocently mentioning "road tax" and getting brigaded for *days* by people "well akshually road tax hasn't existed since 1937 drone bore winston churchill blah blah blah". Like, how do you think that helps to change minds?
Show threadGary James #cyclingtweepsNov 11, 2022
@rosamundi @CyclingJourno It's easy to dismiss it as pedantry but it needs to be challenged. I suspect that for many they know full well but wilfully maintain the stance to justify motor hegemony.
Show threadRosamundiNov 11, 2022
@Tradescant @CyclingJourno via a pile-on of hundreds of quote tweets and @ mentions? No. I don't see that as remotely helpful and pedantry shouldn't be the opening point in any discussion.
Show threadGary James #cyclingtweepsNov 11, 2022
@rosamundi @CyclingJourno Unfortunately when you are subjected to the same crap every day, which then manifests itself on every journey, it does not always elicit a Mr Spock like response.
Show threadJohn Stevenson

@Tradescant @rosamundi It's understandable, but the problem is that Twitter makes it so easy that it becomes a reflex. Here, not so much, and that's good.

As for 'needs to be challenged' I understand the urge and have succumbed plenty myself, but it does seem to be vanishingly rare that a road taxer changes their mind.

Nov 11, 2022 at 10:44amWeb
Show threadGary James #cyclingtweepsNov 11, 2022
@CyclingJourno @rosamundi It's too good an othering tool to let go.