Safe Speed Forums

jomukuk


Yes it does make me wonder why all these public servants jobs are being created and they just happen to coincide with all the unnecessary road changes that seemed to have sprung up in the last few years. It almost seems that people in the Highways depts of councils have to come up with some "airbrained" scheme every few months just to justify their inflated salaries and worthless jobs.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

That raises an intersting point: can peyote/weepej etc. tell me if there is an equivalent "numpty cyclist", and what the characteristsics are? Note I am not being sarky, or setting up a riposte etc, etc.

Incidentally, I don't personally think the definition of a numpty is someone who doesn't enjoy driving.

I do think the definition could be someone who doesn't take any pride in their driving.

In fact, could I have stumbled on a global definition of numpty?

Ny the same rationale: a numpty cyclist is someone who takes no pride in their cycling?

I'm struggling to think of another purpose for a car than for getting from A to B. Other than
"blocking off the driveway" and "showing off", I could only come up with one real reason - driving
around in circles. So is a numpty a person who doesn't drive around going nowhere?

Perhaps I'm a little harsh on myself, but I'm proud of accomplishments that are
difficult, like speaking a foreign language, getting a post graduate qualifcation or
or playing a musical instrument etc.

Driving is pretty straight forward. Isn't it a little narcissistic to be "proud" of our driving? Or
should we go about glowing with pride that we can work our indicators and obey the speed
limit etc?

Maybe this assumption is the problem.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Fair point. Driving just seems pretty straight forward. There's been a good show about it lately; about Swarms actually. Did you see it - I figured it out. Drivers are Swarming, believe it or not. The collective intelligence is greater than the individual intelligence - yes, that's it. What we call Numpties are "Bees who are not getting with the program", i.e. not swarming properly, you see. But there's something else. It is essential, for progress, that some humans don't Swarm. The vast majority must; that's how civilization works. But some must not.

Hmm, I suspect it is just semantics, but I'm not sure that I'd say I take pride in my cycling or driving. Though I think I understand what you're getting at, I just can't put my finger on the correct word. It's more to do with recognising responsibilities, awareness and things like that, rather than pride.

RE: Numpty cyclists, sure, I reckon "numpty-behaviour" can be displayed across the board!

Why only driving? Why single it out over other things?



OK, not pride. Umm... making a concious effort to do something to the best of their abilities then?

e.g. a numpty cyclist is one who makes no effort to cycle to the best of their abilities, rather than one who takes pride in it.

You could regard it in the same way as taking a pride in one's appearance. Some people aren't bothered about egg-stains on their shirts, most are.

And much work is pretty straightforward, but people should still take a pride in it rather than being happy to do it in a slovenly, incompetent manner.

Taking a pride in driving doesn't mean doing it in a flash, ostentatious way, it just means being concerned about doing your best to get the basics right.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

No there is a difference. Some people cycle because they have to. E.G. to get to work or the shops because they can't drive/afford to run a car daily. Other people drive because they have to but only drive a few miles and don't really enjoy it. Others drive/cycle and enjoy it. These are the people who buy "better" equipment and go out at weekends just for the love of it, they may take an interest in motorsport or cycle racing, probably buy the odd magazine or watch a T.V. programme about it. They spend money on their Car/ bicycle above the basis "neccessities". That is the difference between a basic (and perhaps) "numpty" Driver/cyclist and one who takes a pride/interest in their means of transport.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

A keen driver/cyclist will take the long way to work or his destination, because the roads are more twisty/scenic/challenging, often avoiding motorways for a better country road. When I was at college one of the lecturers used to cycle a 70mile round trip EVERY day of the college term (over some very hilly roads too) instead of the "short cut" 20mile round trip...now THAT'S a KEEN cyclist for you.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Yes - humility is the key. In this bombastic era, where everyone expects too much, we need to cut the hubris and accept our limitations.

That's just acting normally. I reserve the word "pride" for notable things, not just going to pick up the groceries.

Unfortunately doing things to the best of ones ability and caring about how well a job is done is no longer the "norm" today.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Sorry, what does that actually mean with regard to singling out driving as an activity not to take pride in?

You need to think before you post.

No need to apologise - there's nothing special. I find it odd to take pride in (say) driving over to the hardware store to buy a bag of nails. The buying, the driving and the nails are nothing for me to be proud about. As far as I can see, they are humble goals - I would not even think about it, let alone feel pride!

PS: When I "don't take pride" in my (say) whistling abilities, it doesn't mean that I'm a crap whistler. I could be an average one. I'm neither proud nor "un-proud" - I just don't care. Most people are about average, aren't they? Otherwise it wouldn't be the average!?! So why would they feel any pride?

PPS: maybe "pride" means thoughtful as well? What a funny word it is. We should be thoughtful and humble, not proud!

Aber ( I may call you Aber mayn't I). There do seem to be two differant uses of the word pride. You are using the word to mean the feeling that one gets after acheiving a particularly difficult feat. Others are using it mean the satisfaction of knowing that you have done a job, however humble, as well as it could possibly be done.

Your usage is probably more correct but the other is well used and enshrined in phrases such as "taking a pride in your appearance"

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Yes, there is no word for "thoughtful and humble". Pride is misleading, because you can't be humble and proud at the same time! To drive well, you must be humble - proud/arrogant drivers are an absolute menace!!!

PS: numpties are usually humble, at least.

So you'd rather share the road with people that treat driving as as easy as buying a bag of nails from the hardware store? Oh dear...

I'd rather share it with people that drove to the best of their abilities, frankly.

For the majority of people, driving is a “thoughtless activity”. It's not a thing to put effort into. After a few years, you just turn it on and drive, basically. But I have no say about who I share the road with - it's whoever is there at the time. So I have to deal with the "lowest common denominators". That includes the despicable proud/arrogant fools, as well as a few numpties, who don't know better. I might dent my bumper on a numpty, but a proud/arrogant fool could kill me!

PS: humility is the key factor, according to Our Lord God.