shock jerks & my apologies

Earlier today I read this post (bikefitness.net) by a fellow cycling advocate and twitter friend.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard similar stuff before, but I found some of the blatant aggressive anti-cyclist language used by these “shock jocks”, Deminski and Doyle, particularly offensive.  Cyclists have been called “arrogant”, “jerks” and “idiots” before, but I’ve never heard a public declaration by a “media” person stating “…you’d love to lob something at their heads”, and “… makes you want to go Grand Theft Auto on them, but you can’t” (in reference to the violent video game where characters are beaten to death).

Here’s the actual audio clip by Deminski and Doyle from radio station WCSX in Detroit:

OK, I found it more than sufficiently disturbing and offensive – filled with not only grossly inaccurate stereotypes about cyclists, total lack of knowledge over cycling rights and legislation, and violent and aggressive suggestions for drivers when encountering and passing cyclists.  Enough said – I know it’s the game the shock jerks play.  As a friend so aptly put it – don’t buy in the shock jock stupidity; it’s exactly the kind of rage they’re trying to elicit.

But the experience became more interesting … I have a brother in-law who is a morning show producer for a Detroit area radio station. Couldn’t recall the name of his station, but decided to email my sister in-law, asking if she or my BIL knew of these guys.  Never even mentioned the bike spot in my query.

What came back to me literally knocked me off my chair.  Not only does my brother know these shock jerks, he works at the very station – with them! It appears he is the executive producer of the show!  And apparently neither my SIL or BIL find anything wrong with what was said.  (At the request of, and in respect for, my husband, I have subsequently edited this post – regarding my personal feelings over this particular matter).

I extend apologies to all of my cycling friends and peeps – for this offensive garbage that was facilitated, in part, by members of my extended family.

I just have no words right now.  I sent a picture off to brother- and sister-in-law … a picture of their own cycling family members.  Next time they condone calling cyclists “jerks” and “idiots” deserving of having things thrown at their heads, I hope they will think of us.

Call your own family members arrogant jerks and idiots and advocate violence against them...