| Author | Message | ||
     Northernyankee |
I doubt any of us will get any sort of response directly from him. Most likely some PR person will send out a canned response. | ||
| Aeholton |
Anyone write to newschannel5.com regarding their headline? | ||
| Chellem |
Speaking of things that are smaller, what if that same van had clipped, say, an 8 year old on a bicycle? Would the headline still have read "8-Year-Old on Bike Crashes into Van" or would it have been "Careless Van Critically Injures Child"? He was pulling into a driveway. It could just as well have been a kid in the path instead of a scooter. 8pm isn't that late in the summer. Just a thought. A kinda scary thought, I guess. I assume the burden of safety is also on 8-year-olds. ->ChelleM | ||
| Xl1200r |
I still think you guys are grasping at symmantics and straws. The title that the scooter crashed into the van is accurate. Does it tell the whole story? No - that's why you're supposed to read the article, or listen to the story. The reportster CLEARLY says that the van pulled out in front of the scooter. In fact, I jsut watched the video clip again, and found it even less offensive than I did the first time. The officer was commenting on the fact that the scooter rider was injured in the crash, and made the point that it's up to the rider to dress and ride safely because they are small, harder to see, and more likely to get hurt. | ||
| Ryker77 |
I typically like to bash on stupid cops. But not this time. We all know that as bike riders we must be on the look out. Saftey is up to the rider. Think of every cager as the enemy. The cop simply said riders need to think safty. He never said that legally its the bike riders fault. Even when I drive a car MY Saftey is a burden only to me. Don't expect anybody else to care about your saftey. www.bobbarr2008.com | ||
| Chellem |
The title that the scooter crashed into the van is accurate. Does it tell the whole story? No - that's why you're supposed to read the article, or listen to the story. I agree with you. But a lot of people don't get past the title. They skim the paper, read the title, think to themselves, huh, another guy on a scooter hurt. Those things are SO dangerous. And move on with their lives already deciding whose fault it was. This sort of sloppy reporting is part of a lot of misconceptions. ->ChelleM | ||
| Aeholton |
This sort of sloppy reporting is part of a lot of misconceptions. I agree. | ||
| Barker |
I think even more blame goes to the news agency. They clearly cut off the beginning and end of the cop's statement. And they clearly chose where to place the blame. "Man Crashes Scooter Into Van, Critically Injured" The title itself is a nice case of spin. It makes it sound as if the van was innocently parked and the scooter strangely ran into it. I think this is horrific journalism. Here was a tragic accident that could have been used to promote safety and caution, to warn against being lazy or distracted when driving, to caution people to actively look for 2-wheel vehicles. Instead, they chose to blame the victim and absolve the guilty. Their Address: 474 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37219 Their Managers * News: Sandy Boonstra, News Director-- sboonstra@newschannel5.com * NewsChannel 5+: Brian Bates, Executive Director-- bbates@newschannel5.com * NewsChannel5.com: Jared Turner, Online Manager Editor-- jturner@newschannel5.com * Debbie Turner, General Manager-- dturner@newschannel5.com | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey guys, help me out- I know the name Will Hoge, but since I've not yet mastered my new laptop and gotten into the 21st century for computing, I can't access his info- at least not quickly. Isn't he a musician? Do tell/post, pleeeze. BTW, GREAT emails guys. Sic'em, Jeremy!!! I hate the way that headline sounds, but that's the way they sell their dead trees. What network is Channel 5? I think locally it's CBS, and if I remember historically they are capable of much asshattery in reporting the news. I've been away from my birthplace for too long... Nationally I dig CBS by the way... (Message edited by 86129squids on August 27, 2008) | ||
| Barker |
from wiki: Will Hoge is an American musician from Nashville, Tennessee. Will grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, a rural suburb south of Nashville. His sound was heavily influenced by his musician father and uncles and the extensive record collection that his father kept. Will went to college at Western Kentucky University looking to study history and with the plan to becoming a high school history teacher and basketball coach. He decided that he wanted to try his hand at rock and roll and began writing music. Will left the university after realizing he wanted to be a career musician. [edit]Early Band Will released an early EP of original music with his band Spoonful in the mid 1990’s; however, the band was not picked up and eventually broke up. Some of these early songs are still hits with his loyal followers. [edit]Solo Artist With former The Georgia Satellites guitarist Dan Baird in tow as a guitarist, Hoge began touring the American south. He independently released his first CD, Live At The Exit/In, a live set recorded at the Nashville club. His original sound drew much attention and, through constant touring, he was able to release his first studio album, Carousel. Hoge caught the attention of Atlantic Records music executives and he was signed to a record deal in early 2002. Atlantic then re-released Carousel to a wider market. His 2003 major label debut, Blackbird On A Lonely Wire was a cleaner sounding effort and very radio friendly; however, was poorly promoted by Atlantic. Eventually, Hoge asked for and received a release from the contract, re-obtaining the rights to Carousel. The grass roots effort and support of his loyal fans has given Hoge the ability to tour incessantly, and self release a couple live albums (2004's Almost Alone: Live At Smith's Olde Bar and 2005's During the Before and After), a politically charged album called The America EP (which included a cover of Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin'), as well as his bluesy rock & roll sounding record The Man Who Killed Love. Over the years, Hoge has toured with many artists, including Marc Broussard, ZZ Top, The Cat Empire, Squeeze, Jason Isbell, and Edwin McCain. Bands that have opened for him include Steel Train, The Trews, The Elms, Rose Hill Drive, Moses Mayfield, The Alternate Routes, Aslyn, Missy Higgins and Southern Bitch. Will performed the opening theme from the cancelled CBS sitcom Still Standing. On February 20, 2007, Hoge released a live album, Again Somewhere Tomorrow, from recordings made during the band's two-night stint at the Exit/In in Nashville, on September 29 and 30, 2006. The band's fourth studio album, Draw the Curtains, was released nationwide on October 9, 2007 by Rykodisc Records. The album was initially released as a Compact Disc, with a limited edition 180-Gram Vinyl Record version slated for release in early November. Will announced in a May 11, 2008 blog that both Adam Fluhrer, guitarist, and Jefferson Crowe, keyboards, will no longer be part of the band. Crowe had been a member since 2005, while Fluhrer joined the band in 2006. [edit]Scooter Accident Will was involved in a scooter accident on August, 20, 2008 after leaving a studio session for his forthcoming album. His condition was upgraded to stable on August 22.[1] He is receiving care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. According to Police spokesperson Kris Mumford, Will was traveling north on Main Street in East Nashville at about 8 p.m. when a hgh southbound van failed to yield while turning into 712 Main St. Will’s motor scooter collided with the passenger side of the van. Police found no evidence of alcohol or drugs involved in the accident.[2] He is recovering from non-life threatening injuries and is expected to recover. [3] | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks Barker. Hate to hear of good folks going down in a bike accident- glad that he's recovering at Vandy. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
They skim the paper, read the title, think to themselves, huh, another guy on a scooter hurt......This sort of sloppy reporting is part of a lot of misconceptions. If people can't take the time to read an article in it's entirety before forming an opinion it's not the fault of the reporter. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Tom_b, I dont believe my logic is off at all. I never said the van driver wasn't at fault for the accident. However, the burden of safety does rest with each individual, which in this case, is the scooter rider. You brought up small cars and 18 wheelers. How many times have you heard a long haul driver say, " people think I can stop this thing on a dime" Fact is, they can't so ,therefore; I give big trucks a wide birth and if one is driving like an a-hole I get out of their way because I know if we tango - I lose. (Message edited by ferris_von_bueller on August 27, 2008) | ||
| Chellem |
If people can't take the time to read an article in it's entirety before forming an opinion it's not the fault of the reporter. I disagree. I think, in fact, that they KNOW people don't read entire articles, and use that to their benefit in many instances. Even that stupid aol splash screen is guilty - how often are the articles anything to do with the title? In this instance, I doubt there was anything malicious intended. But reporters know full well people skim. And that title implies, if not saying, that a scooter caused an accident. The action is on the scooter, not the other vehicle. If only people were responsible enough to gather all the information pertinent to a subject before forming a well-informed opinion, well, I doubt the whole country would be where it is. ->ChelleM | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
If only people were responsible enough to gather all the information pertinent to a subject before forming a well-informed opinion, well, I doubt the whole country would be where it is. Well, with that I agree. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
C'mon. It's Tennessee! None of us can read.  What the officer should have said was this: "With gas prices rising, more people are riding scooters and motorcycles. Drivers of passenger vehicles need to be extra careful to look for these riders since they are smaller and harder to see. Riders need to be mindful of this fact and do everything possible to increase visibility." Wouldn't that have been a more helpful statement? | ||
| Rick_a |
I don't disagree with the article, but I don't like what the officer had to say. Interpret the words anyway you please, but taking them at face value it's a plain ignorant statement.If the scooter guy had a working headlight, he should've been plenty visible and did his part. Yes, motorcycle riders by no choice of their own are forced to ride more defensively, but we shouldn't be held soley responsible for being injured or killed by errant and/or inattentive drivers. We should be treated with parity among all other vehicles. | ||
| Northernyankee |
Exactly Rick you hit the nail on the head. We can only be as safe as the people around us, we can do everything possible to make ourselves safe but at the end of the day it really comes down to how attentive and responsive the drivers around you are. | ||
| Xl1200r |
What the officer should have said was this: "With gas prices rising, more people are riding scooters and motorcycles. Drivers of passenger vehicles need to be extra careful to look for these riders since they are smaller and harder to see. Riders need to be mindful of this fact and do everything possible to increase visibility." Wouldn't that have been a more helpful statement? Oh, please. This guy is a cop, not a public speaker. I don't think the department has a team of publisists that travel to each accident in case a news camera shows up and wants to interview a cop. We can only be as safe as the people around us, we can do everything possible to make ourselves safe but at the end of the day it really comes down to how attentive and responsive the drivers around you are. At the end of the day, you can only be as safe as YOU make yourself. You can't predict what everyone around you is going to do. The only controllable part of the environment is yourself. All this cop said was that scooters are harder to see then cars and trucks. He never said that the scooter should have done more to be visible, or hadn't done enough to be safe. | ||
| Northernyankee |
At the end of the day, you can only be as safe as YOU make yourself. You can't predict what everyone around you is going to do. The only controllable part of the environment is yourself. Uh thats kinda contradictory, As you said you can't predict what everyone around you is going to do...so that means you are only as safe as the drivers around you. I could have flashing neon signs all over me saying "Watch out for me!!!" but if a driver isn't paying attention he can still run right up my ass. | ||
| Aeholton |
Maybe we should ride around in those light up suits the Chinese performers used in the opening ceremony of the the Olympic Games. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Not contracdictory at all. If everything around you is unpredictable, then you can't assign a value as to how safe it is. You can however, change your own behavior, and as such you can assign a value as to how safe you are. Expect the worse, but change your behaviors as much as possible to mitigate the risks. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Oh, please. This guy is a cop, not a public speaker. I don't think the department has a team of publisists that travel to each accident in case a news camera shows up and wants to interview a cop. No, but I would expect that the officer standing in front of the camera make statements that are correct. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Again, he never said anything that was incorrect. For the record, I'll expect that if a news camera ever shows up at your place of work and shoves a microphone in your face that everything you say will 100% accurate and worded perfectly so as not to be the least bit ambigious or offend a single person residing within this galaxy. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You and I simply have a difference of opinion as to correctness. I'm ready for my close up! If you are camera shy, stay off the camera. If you can't speak accurately and succinctly, stay off the camera. My guess is that he was very happy to be on camera, Tivo running and everything. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I guess this is where we agree to disagree  , which is probably what I should have done in the first place. In any event, if nothing else, this just reminds us how vulnerable we are out there and how careful we need to be. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I agree completely. They ARE trying to kill us. I would just like the general public to be make aware of how easy it is to not see us and kill us. Just seemed like a botched opportunity to increase public awareness. | ||
| Azxb9r |
If you are camera shy, stay off the camera. If you can't speak accurately and succinctly, stay off the camera. Sometimes cameras just show up, and get shoved in your face before you have time to put together a well thought out response. It would have been nice if the officer had said something along the lines of what you posted. Since he did not, the news station surely could have. I have more of a problem with the news for dropping the ball on this , since they had plenty of time to sort the story out before it aired. Basically your earlier assertion was correct... something helpful could have (should have)been said by either law enforcement or the media. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Every week should be Harley's 105th anniversary, traffic that normally drives at 70 is at 50 just gawking at all the bikes around here. If a cager smacked a bike, odds are he's/she's gonna get smacked by a fist full of tattoos and hair. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
odds are he's/she's gonna get smacked by a fist full of tattoos and hair. Do you really believe that? Maybe a small percentage would hit someone. For the most I don't that would happen. To much at stake for the aggressor. Especially at a high profile event. I am not saying it couldn't happen, maybe at a roadhouse and the beer muscles are working. To many camera phones with video caprabiities. |
