What’s Guaranteed to Set Me Off

Well if you must know, it’d be, for example, when a well-meaning employee emails a link to "Bike To Work Day" to all employees. Here’s the touchstone of disgust:

Throughout the Bay Area, dozens of local events taking place during the month of May will get people excited about bicycling and the benefits it provides for public health, traffic reduction and our environment.

The best description I can think of on the fly is that of a smiley face telling you how great your sacrifices are going to be for everyone and everything else but you.

I love bikes. We got bikes. I use mine often, particularly so since the weather has warmed up. Why do I use the bike? Because it’s the best thing for me, according to the context of the particular facts of the specific event in which I intend to use it. I live downtown, and it’s usually far more pleasant, for me, to take the bike — not the least of which is parking. And, it’s just plain fun.

You know, it’s always about guilt, isn’t it? Either you’re vermin who’re messing up god’s perfect universe, or you’re more sophisticated — not so weak minded as to believe in anthropomorphic gods. So, now you get to be vermin infesting mother earth. At root, it’s the same formula: repent of your sins, and atone through self sacrifice.


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Free The Animal is an eclectic writing project about everything since November 2003. 23 years, 5,500 posts, 5 million words.

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3 Comments

  1. Steph on May 16, 2008 at 08:01

    Thank you! Finally someone said it.



  2. stephen on May 21, 2008 at 10:50

    I don't see the harm; mere fact- more bikes and less cars is good for everyone- even the ones who don't want to ride a bike to work, less traffic for them.



  3. Richard Nikoley on May 21, 2008 at 11:06

    "…is good for everyone…"

    Oh, I see. You've assumed yourself spokesman and arbiter of values for literally everyone.

    That clears it right up.