# Flat tire + Mocking Swine on a bicycle = DIE-DIE-DIEEEEEE! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 26, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330 "2007-12-26T23:37:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/101 "2007-12-29T01:02:22Z")
> [@fisha](#): > > Larry, that post was in response to Dutchman. Hence my quote tags. Though I did laugh at the Hitler ref, and was tempted to ask about a burning car, and a gun. In general, I tend to get annoyed when one person brings up X and asks if he should have done A, and then someone else says “Well what if Y and Z were involved? Then what?” But your post wasn’t that off topic so I might have over-reacted. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/102 "2007-12-29T02:46:04Z")
I lost all sympathy for the guy about the third time he went to the giant font. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/103 "2007-12-29T02:52:54Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] If you are walking down the street with your child, and a “verbal harasser” comes by and starts “verbally harassing” your child, you would do what? Whisper softly (to make sure you’re not overheard) to “ignore the idiot” and blithely walk on like nothing happened? Make sure there was no eye contact? Slump lower so create a lower profile? Even when he was following you, riding circles around you, trying to intimidate? [/quote] Of course not. I’d probably share my view loudly with my child that the perp is not to be taken seriously because he is retarded. I believe in being in control of your situation and part of that is understanding the context and degree of the offence. I agree that any sense of victimization is to be avoided and that can be acheived by properly assessing your own attitude and feelings as well as the motivation of the perp. > [@](#): > > If this is such a minor thing, just a little talkin’ smack, why did the OP need to vent in big letters, wishing death? Embellishing this incident that he wished to share for the appreciation of the rest of us? > [@](#): > > What a blathering pussy. [QUOTE=fisha] Listen, I am 5’6, 130#, 38 years old, and a woman. There’s not a lot of physical confrontations I am going to win. I still wouldn’t have taken it lying down. If it was an off color remark as someone drove by, yeah, whatever. But this? No way. [/quote] What a blathering pussy? Fuck you! Better not come anywhere near me in person or I’ll shove my boot right up your ass into your mouth. And I’m pretty sure I can do it too 😃 Do you think you might be suffering from a Napoleonic Complex? > [@](#): > > Maybe I am different because I am a contractor, and am used to dealing with big asshole men on occasion, but I am no victim. I’m a contractor too for boat restoration. Took over a failed business because my predecessor had a baseball bat handy to deal with difficult clients. I’ve had very few difficult clients and they’ve all been women, but I’ve been able to eventually reason with them. I’m no victim either, doing very well thankyou. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/104 "2007-12-29T02:55:45Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] If this is such a minor thing, just a little talkin’ smack, why did the OP need to vent in big letters, wishing death? [/QUOTE] Because, based on prior posting history, he’s the evidently type of person to get all worked up over practically nothing and blow things all out of proportion to their actual effect on him, that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/105 "2007-12-29T03:11:13Z")
There’s a difference between an adult harassing a child and an adult harassing another adult. The adult can handle it, the child cannot. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/106 "2007-12-29T03:31:12Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] I believe in being in control of your situation and part of that is understanding the context and degree of the offence. I agree that any sense of victimization is to be avoided and that can be acheived by properly assessing your own attitude and feelings as well as the motivation of the perp. [/QUOTE] Is this not what I am saying? Repeatedly? [QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] What a blathering pussy? Fuck you! Better not come anywhere near me in person or I’ll shove my boot right up your ass into your mouth. And I’m pretty sure I can do it too 😃 [/QUOTE] Hmm, now that he knows I’m a little chick, he gets all pushy…\* [QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Do you think you might be suffering from a Napoleonic Complex? [/QUOTE] No, I’m just compensating for my lack of penis. I drive a big truck, too. Vroom, vroom. [QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] I’m a contractor too for boat restoration. Took over a failed business because my predecessor had a baseball bat handy to deal with difficult clients. I’ve had very few difficult clients and they’ve all been women, but I’ve been able to eventually reason with them. I’m no victim either, doing very well thankyou. [/QUOTE] I was going to take exception to the women comment, but I’d have to agree. Almost all homeowners that are a pain in the ass are women. They can turn on you like _that._ See, we are a microcosm of successful interaction. It ain’t that difficult. \*If I was a poster who used smilies, I would’ve inserted a smiley one here. As I am against them in principle, I won’t ever put them in, upon pain of death. Hence this indication of humor, because I know someone, somewhere will take this sentence the wrong way and think I am threatened and over reacting. Fuck you! ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/107 "2007-12-29T03:35:01Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] There’s a difference between an adult harassing a child and an adult harassing another adult. The adult can handle it, the child cannot. [/QUOTE] Either way, it’s still wrong, and it sends the wrong message to the perpetrator. Just because an adult can handle it, doesn’t mean he should. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/108 "2007-12-29T13:24:43Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] Either way, it’s still wrong, and it sends the wrong message to the perpetrator. Just because an adult can handle it, doesn’t mean he should. [/QUOTE] If you can’t handle some loser on a bike being a jackass, then you obviously need help. Dude, the guy isn’t even worth “sticking up for yourself”. Jesus, talk about a thin skin. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/109 "2007-12-29T15:38:38Z")
If you want to “stand up” to moronic verbal taunts, do it verbally. Physical assault is a pathetic response and tends to make you look like a child in an adult’s body. Please note: if you decide to physically assault somebody, you should be mentally prepared to take a life. Sometimes people die from a simple blow to the head; if you catch your taunting cyclist, punch him, and he falls down and strokes out, you’ve committed homicide. Have fun explaining that, no, you weren’t actually defending yourself from a physical attack, but he _did_ make fun of you. Many times in my life I’ve been taunted, mocked, insulted by idiots. I’ve never been physically afraid of anybody, and would not have hesitated to defend myself physically if attacked physically. But I never struck any of these miscreants down with righteous wrath, even though I wanted to, because I’m not vain enough to think I had the right to do so. Even when I was literally seeing red, my moral sense held me back. That’s how strongly I believe in freedom of speech. Also, I can’t bring myself to strike first. Sometimes I’d be mentally praying for the idiot in question to take a swing at me. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/110 "2007-12-29T16:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] **mhendo** , I have never said **Bosda** should have got into a violent physical confrontation. I just said he should have stuck up for himself. That might entail diffusing the situation, trying to engage in conversation, eye contact, firm strong voice telling him to knock it off, better physical body language, a few choice quips sprinkled liberally with expletives calling into question his ancestry, a call to the cops, or clotheslining the guy as he rode past. Listen, I am 5’6, 130#, 38 years old, and a woman. There’s not a lot of physical confrontations I am going to win. I still wouldn’t have taken it lying down. If it was an off color remark as someone drove by, yeah, whatever. But this? No way. Maybe I am different because I am a contractor, and am used to dealing with big asshole men on occasion, but I am no victim. The OP screamed victim. Being a victim is no way to live your life. Ignoring bad behavior does nothing but encourage it in most situations. There are many things you can do to not elicit this behavior, or to diffuse the situation quickly before it escalates. [/QUOTE] You’ll have to forgive me; i misunderstood what your problem is. I assumed, from your belligerent demeanor, that you were a big, macho moron who delights in any opportunity for physical assaults and violence. Now i realize that you’re just an ignoramus who seems not to realize that different people often suffer different consequences for very similar actions. **Scenario A:** 5’6", 130-pound woman tells asshole guy to go fuck himself. **Scenario B:** 5’11", 180-pound guy tells asshole guy to go fuck himself. It may surprise you to know this, but there are plenty of asshole guys in the world who wouldn’t dream of physically assaulting the woman in Scenario A, but who would be happy to beat the guy in Scenario B into unconsciousness. I’ve seen women like you before. Pint sized, with big mouths, who have no hesitation telling big asshole guys to go fuck themselves at the slightest provocation. And that’s great. I’m all for you sticking up for yourself and not taking shit. But i’ve also seen, during my days as a bartender, women who do this, and then act all surprised when the guy they’re hanging out with gets his ass kicked as a result of their big fucking mouth. What you have to realize is that the consequences might be different for someone else. You may never face a physical assault as a result of your willingness to give as good as you get, because most people in our society—even big asshole guys—still frown on men physically assaulting women. But there are plenty of men out there who would beat the crap out of a guy who said the same thing to them. Or worse. Some people carry weapons and aren’t afraid to use them. And unless you’re absolutely sure what type of person you’re dealing with, discretion is the better part of valor in many cases. It’s easy to mouth off to some guy when you’re pretty sure that the worst he’s going to do is call you a bitch. But if you thought he were likely to knock your teeth out, or fracture your skull, or stab you, i suspect that you might be a little more reticent. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/111 "2007-12-29T16:27:10Z")
This whole business about “standing up for yourself” smacks of giving a shit what some punk kid thinks of you in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/112 "2007-12-29T17:10:51Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] You’ll have to forgive me; i misunderstood what your problem is. I assumed, from your belligerent demeanor, that you were a big, macho moron who delights in any opportunity for physical assaults and violence. [/QUOTE] Where did I say I delight in physical assaults and violence? The closest I came was mentioning clotheslining, and that was after 6 other suggestions, and previous posts, none of them mentioning violence. I think where you are confused are the words “Sticking up for yourself”=brawl. [QUOTE=mhendo] I’ve seen women like you before. Pint sized, with big mouths, who have no hesitation telling big asshole guys to go fuck themselves at the slightest provocation. And that’s great. I’m all for you sticking up for yourself and not taking shit. But i’ve also seen, during my days as a bartender, women who do this, and then act all surprised when the guy they’re hanging out with gets his ass kicked as a result of their big fucking mouth. [/QUOTE] Thanks for pigeonholing a complete stranger-from what, 4 posts? I tend to be the mediator, the one people go to help iron out conflicts, the voice of reason. Nice guess out of your ass though, Kreskin. Again, if you reread my posts, you’ll see that I have repeatedly advocated not getting to the point of confrontation in the first place. [QUOTE=mhendo] It’s easy to mouth off to some guy when you’re pretty sure that the worst he’s going to do is call you a bitch. But if you thought he were likely to knock your teeth out, or fracture your skull, or stab you, i suspect that you might be a little more reticent. [/QUOTE] Maybe the bike rider would think that, too. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/113 "2007-12-29T17:29:05Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] Again, if you reread my posts, you’ll see that I have repeatedly advocated not getting to the point of confrontation in the first place. [/quote] Huh? You said: > [@fisha](#): > > That might entail diffusing the situation, trying to engage in conversation, eye contact, firm strong voice telling him to knock it off, better physical body language, a few choice quips sprinkled liberally with expletives calling into question his ancestry, a call to the cops, or clotheslining the guy as he rode past. If you think that this advice constitutes “not getting to the point of confrontation,” i submit that you should probably look up “confrontation” in the dictionary. For the sort of moron who would take the time to taunt a complete stranger on the street, “a few choice quips” might be the exact opposite of “diffusing the situation.” And “clotheslining the guy” would probably get you hit with an assault charge. I can see your courtroom testimony now: “but he was taunting me about a flat tire!” Good luck with that defense. [QUOTE=fisha] Maybe the bike rider would think that, too. [/QUOTE] Ideally, yes. But we’re not putting ourselves in the shoes of the asshole bike rider here—or at least i’m not. We’re putting ourselves in the shoes of the normal, rational person who is taunted by the asshole bike rider. I agree with **cricetus** that responding to such people as if we care what they think gives them more consideration than they merit. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/114 "2007-12-29T17:42:44Z")
Sorry, bad post. Point of \*physical \*confrontation. If you notice, the quote had a certain curve as to level of response, starting at mild. Again, it wasn’t just taunting. The biker was \*following \*him, all the way to his house. Obviously, there are ideological differences here. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/115 "2007-12-29T18:11:23Z")
Small point–the person on the bike was male, adult (18+). And again–the incident began within 75 feet of a parked Police car. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/116 "2007-12-29T22:38:18Z")
[QUOTE=fisha] Either way, it’s still wrong, and it sends the wrong message to the perpetrator. Just because an adult can handle it, doesn’t mean he should. [/QUOTE] My point is, if I see an adult harassing a child, I will likely step in, depending on the situation. Similar if a man is harassing a woman. Two grown males? I’ll let them handle it however they see fit. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/117 "2007-12-30T15:42:00Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] If you had gone ahead and changed the tire, you would have had a tire iron in your hand. [/QUOTE] I like the way you think. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/118 "2007-12-30T17:59:50Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] It may surprise you to know this, but there are plenty of asshole guys in the world who wouldn’t dream of physically assaulting the woman in Scenario A, but who would be happy to beat the guy in Scenario B into unconsciousness. I’ve seen women like you before. Pint sized, with big mouths, who have no hesitation telling big asshole guys to go fuck themselves at the slightest provocation. And that’s great. I’m all for you sticking up for yourself and not taking shit. But i’ve also seen, during my days as a bartender, women who do this, and then act all surprised when the guy they’re hanging out with gets his ass kicked as a result of their big fucking mouth. [/QUOTE] The number of women I’ve met _who don’t know this_ absolutely astounds me. Some might say it’s pigeonholing or stereotyping or what not, but I’d bet a fair percentage of street fights start out because some smaller person who won’t be involved in the fight starts some crap. Personally, I’d like to see the loud mouthed bar fight end like the opening of Way of the Gun. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330/119 "2007-12-31T13:23:17Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] And again–the incident began within 75 feet of a parked Police car. [/QUOTE] I’m glad that you reminded us of that point. So then, why didn’t you swap a piece of pizza for a donut? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flat-tire-mocking-swine-on-a-bicycle-die-die-dieeeeee/431330.md?page=5)