Kornheiser is an idiot. Fear/Hate-Mongering Idiot.

I’m going to keep this short because I can’t be bothered to write any more.

Recently, on his radio show, Tony Kornheiser said some incredibly stupid things about cyclists, bicycles, and how they should be treated. It was so stupid I’m not going to link to it. Google it, you’ll find it.

He basically said that bikes shouldn’t be on roads, and that if they (anyone on a bike, lycra or not) are you (meaning: person in a car) should attempt to scare the riders so they stay off the roads. I’m leaving out the scary bits of his quote.

Cyclists online got in a huge uproar and did pretty much nothing to help the situation. “Demi-God” Lance Armstrong went on Kornheiser’s show this morning to talk things over.

My problem with the Kornhesier quote is that it’s just so stupid that it’s nearly impossible to fight. He doesn’t care about truth or accuracy or laws or intelligence, so if you try to reason/argue with him with those tactics it won’t work. How can you reason with the deaf man who’s shouting through a megaphone? You don’t. You ignore him. Or you beat him up. And I don’t think Lance was going on his show to bring the fisticuffs fun.

I’m just annoyed because people change the argument from what Kornheiser actually said, to a discussion of whether bikes should be on roads, bike safety laws, etc etc. While he’s entitled to his opinions, encouraging people to cause harm (potentially fatal harm) to anyone is pretty much hate speak in my mind. That day he said cyclists. Next day it could be something else (old people in grocery store parking lots, kids walking to school). I’m not upset that he targeted cyclists, I’m upset he targeted human beings. Kids, parents, husbands, daughters.

Opinions are one thing, inciting people to hurt others is something else, and dangerously wrong.