Still cracks me up how many comments I get on videos, through messaging, and even here on Facebook that all [I] do is ride around looking for trouble/trying to start confrontations. I have do have 3 or 4 videos were I get into confrontations, yes. Truth is, I am the worlds biggest avoider of confrontation, so I find this image of me to be hilarious. Confrontations sometimes happen, though, so Ive recorded them as part of the riding experience. I have way more videos of meeting random strangers, or helping random strangers, or being helped by random strangers. Or dropping my bike. Yes, I have more videos of dropping my bikes at low speed over the silliest thing (for example, losing my footing on rocks, or laughing too hard to stand up) than I do of exchanging angry words with another person. Out of nearly 600 videos, it is these 3 videos that seem to have defined me to the internet at large. I didnt foresee that and certainly dont like it, but it doesnt mean Im going to take those videos down. They are just as much a part of the bigger picture of my riding adventures as the time I gave a stranger a ride to a gas station, or the time a chicken ran across the road in front of me and I laughed so hard I couldnt breathe. Or, the time I pulled over to talk to a herd of cows and they all came up to the fence. Or, the time I got lost in southern Missouri on a dead end dirt road. There have been so many amazing memories, so many great friendships made, so many hardships endured and triumphs shared. By and large, the vast majority of it makes me smile. Sure, Ive made plenty of mistakes, but Ive learned from them. And its been such a ride. The negativity still baffles me, but does not surprise me. People see what they want to see. The internet seems to be a place where people go to vent, where they go expecting to hate. Their minds and attitudes are already set in stone, determined to judge and practically desperate to feel superior. If anyone dares be vulnerable about their humanity, this invites criticism, rather than unity or camaraderie in the human experience. Its like the internet is stuck in high school. Openness is seen as weakness and is pounced upon and gloated over. This is called bullying. Its childish, ironically, as the ones doing it are usually the first to accuse their target of being childish or weak in some way. We have this great tool of communication literally at our fingertips. We have this incredible chance to bridge gaps and learn from each other and share in our experiences. Why must we squander it with such petty trolling and bullying? Why do we feel the need to point fingers and beat our chests? Rather than bring us together, its driving us apart, and making us less human to one another. There is LESS human connection now, and LESS understanding. I think this is why the perception I get is overwhelmingly one that I am out looking for trouble. I think this is because this is what people are used to seeing on the internet. This is culture that the internet has bred, this is what people have come to expect: confrontation. Why?
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 20:29:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015