Cycling's paceline- a good model for a just society

jeffbr

sweetpotato wrote:

maybe this would be considered "well said" if it were part of a thread about cycling. but it's not, so you're still missing the point.

and i guess you prove why this perfectly good, humane, and sensible concept could never work in this country. because here, it's every man for himself, and screw the rest. excellent.

You're missing the point. It is OK to want peace, humanity, goodness, compassion, etc... I haven't denegrated any of those things here as concepts. I simply think that this UTNE author tried to shoehorn an analogy that didn't fit, and I was simply pointing out why. If he starts talking about pacelines, it becomes a thread partially about cycling so that we can discuss what a paceline really is, and how it fits (or doesn't).

sweetpotato

jeffbr wrote:

You're missing the point. It is OK to want peace, humanity, goodness, compassion, etc... I haven't denegrated any of those things here as concepts. I simply think that this UTNE author tried to shoehorn an analogy that didn't fit, and I was simply pointing out why. If he starts talking about pacelines, it becomes a thread partially about cycling so that we can discuss what a paceline really is, and how it fits (or doesn't).

well, unlike you apparently, i don't need the analogy to be an exact perfect fit in order to understand it and draw something of value from it. i think it's a very good analogy, and all we would need is a deeper understanding of interconnectedness to put the lesson to good use, perfect analogy or not.

sweetpotato

prism wrote:

right. I saw something on tv last night, it may have been on 20/20 (I'm kinda sleep deprived at the moment) about happiness. they discussed studies done by numerous sociologists about how the people that are the most happy (btw the US came in 23rd) are people that share compassion, kindness and a social connection with others within their family and community in their daily lives. even in some of the poorest countries in the world these connections by far outweighted $ and material posessions in determining a person's overall happiness. it just went to prove that the ol adage "money doesn't buy happiness" is still right on the mark.

it's just seems sad that people in this country are so preoccuped that they can't stop to figure out that "getting ahead" of everyone won't bring them happiness and that they'd be much happier being a part of a paceline, rather than (rat) racing to get ahead of everyone else.

so yes do I like this article. I think it's a lovely analogy

yep.

my2hands

sweetpotato wrote:

Interesting article from Utne.com:

http://www.utne.com/2008-01-04/GreatWriting/Biking-for-a-Better-Tomorrow.aspx

Serious bicyclists are undoubtedly familiar with the concept of a paceline, a group of cyclists riding in a tight, single-file line in order to reduce wind resistance and increase efficiency. Writing for the literary journal Matter (article not available online), Mark Hinterburg elegantly argues that the humble paceline demonstrates keys concepts for a more conscientious society.

The paceline’s first lesson is to share the load. Like a flock of geese flying in V-formation, riders in a paceline take turns riding the front and breaking the wind. Weak or inexperienced riders aren’t expected to spend as much time there (known as a “pull”) as the stronger riders. Hinterburg suggests society should behave in like:

"Society degenerates, and the paceline is broken, when an unreasonable burden is expected from the lesser-abled groups. Are rising drug prices and inadequate insurance a fair way to treat our elderly? Likewise, the paceline loses efficiency when stronger riders take shorter pulls than weaker ones. Is it sensible to cut taxes on the ultra-rich, while the buying power of the middle class continues to decline? "

The paceline also prescribes to a common cyclist credo: the “no-drop” rule. When a flat tire or other problem strikes, one or two riders stay behind with the afflicted cyclist until the issue is resolved. We fail to behave this considerately as citizens, Hinterburg writes, pointing to the U.S. health care system as a clear case of no-drop violation:

"In the United States, people are left behind with reckless abandon. Those that are stricken with cancer or other chronic illness are left to life of high insurance premiums, at best; or lack of proper coverage, at worst. Through no fault of their own, they are randomly dealt a flat tire, and the society continues without them, as healthy citizens are convinced that the same thing cannot happen to them."

The paceline’s most compelling lesson, however, isn’t one of its rules of conduct, but rather the underlying concept. At face value, the paceline serves a simple purpose—reduce wind resistance, make the journey more efficient—but underneath, Hinterburg writes, there is greater meaning:

"The paceline represents an ethos that ties us all together, across time and geography. Find those that are going the same direction, and help them along, and have faith that others will help you as well. Convince others to join in on the journey, and ride with a smile."

—Sarah Pumroy

great analogy... i like it

jeffbr

sweetpotato wrote:

well, unlike you apparently, i don't need the analogy to be an exact perfect fit in order to understand it and draw something of value from it. i think it's a very good analogy, and all we would need is a deeper understanding of interconnectedness to put the lesson to good use, perfect analogy or not.

I think it is a stupid analogy since a paceline has nothing to do with compassion, happiness, kindness and social interconnectedness, and everything to do with getting your leader to the finish line first.

If you're happy drawing lessons from vague, mostly non-sequitor writings, that's cool. UTNE needs readership.

It looks like we're at an impasse.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

sweetpotato wrote:

considering that you haven't contributed anything, i don't see how you're part of the "we" here.

take care.

you're right. i was being nice. How long can YOU overanalyze this silly metaphor?



or analogy. or whatever. my vocabulary sucks. i blame the schools.

prism

sweetpotato wrote:

Interesting article from Utne.com:

http://www.utne.com/2008-01-04/GreatWriting/Biking-for-a-Better-Tomorrow.aspx

Serious bicyclists are undoubtedly familiar with the concept of a paceline, a group of cyclists riding in a tight, single-file line in order to reduce wind resistance and increase efficiency. Writing for the literary journal Matter (article not available online), Mark Hinterburg elegantly argues that the humble paceline demonstrates keys concepts for a more conscientious society.

The paceline’s first lesson is to share the load. Like a flock of geese flying in V-formation, riders in a paceline take turns riding the front and breaking the wind. Weak or inexperienced riders aren’t expected to spend as much time there (known as a “pull”) as the stronger riders. Hinterburg suggests society should behave in like:

"Society degenerates, and the paceline is broken, when an unreasonable burden is expected from the lesser-abled groups. Are rising drug prices and inadequate insurance a fair way to treat our elderly? Likewise, the paceline loses efficiency when stronger riders take shorter pulls than weaker ones. Is it sensible to cut taxes on the ultra-rich, while the buying power of the middle class continues to decline? "

The paceline also prescribes to a common cyclist credo: the “no-drop” rule. When a flat tire or other problem strikes, one or two riders stay behind with the afflicted cyclist until the issue is resolved. We fail to behave this considerately as citizens, Hinterburg writes, pointing to the U.S. health care system as a clear case of no-drop violation:

"In the United States, people are left behind with reckless abandon. Those that are stricken with cancer or other chronic illness are left to life of high insurance premiums, at best; or lack of proper coverage, at worst. Through no fault of their own, they are randomly dealt a flat tire, and the society continues without them, as healthy citizens are convinced that the same thing cannot happen to them."

The paceline’s most compelling lesson, however, isn’t one of its rules of conduct, but rather the underlying concept. At face value, the paceline serves a simple purpose—reduce wind resistance, make the journey more efficient—but underneath, Hinterburg writes, there is greater meaning:

"The paceline represents an ethos that ties us all together, across time and geography. Find those that are going the same direction, and help them along, and have faith that others will help you as well. Convince others to join in on the journey, and ride with a smile."

—Sarah Pumroy

on the show about happiness that i watching the other night they said that the happiest people are ones that trust others. that was where i thought to myself 'oh shit, I'm doomed to misery' ...LOL. cause i certainly have trust issues with people (for good reasons). though i realized that despite that i try to keep a positive outlook, it's not easy to know who can be trusted. then it occured to me that everyone does gets hurt (a lot or a little) at some points in time, there's no getting around it, that's life. but maybe part of being able to place trust in others is just doing your best to steer clear of those that would deliberately hurt you or others. cause realistically i'm sure that i've hurt other people in my life (everyone does), though I'm sure that I've never set out to intentionally hurt anyone. and but for a select few I'm pretty sure that most of the times when i've been hurt, it wasn't done with intent. when i trust others yeah i'll probably still get stung along the way, but it's perhaps worth the risk (it's that or sitting at home talking to the cat...hehe)

so maybe it would be helpful for everyone (and they'd be happier) to allow themselves to trust others more often and perhaps we could get a bit closer to a more just, cooperative soceity where it's not all a matter of "every man for themself" in a race to the finish line. I feel like everything that people do needn't be made into a contest, isn't it supposed to be about enjoying the journey? what's so wrong about everyone making it to the finish line and not worrying about who's the first one to get there?

I have to be awake and out of town in 4 hours, obviously i'm not racing to get to any sleep tonight, I suppose that's okay as long as i get there