I'd be sorry if you didn't come back, Chris. I don't agree with your perspectives, but I appreciate the fact that you engaged in a civil disagreement with Mark and others. These are hard and important conversations, and a huge obstacle to any kind of understanding happens when people can't discuss their differences. Whether actual progress was made between your understanding of Mark's perspective and vice versa is almost secondary to the fact that you both treated it like a conversation instead of a shouting match. We're not seeking division, simply fresh perspectives.
Contrary to your thinking that this was 'another lecture of your privilege and how white people are bad', the intention here is simply to present a perspective you/we may not get to hear enough - in this case from the perspective of a long-time member of the riding community here on the north shore. If it came off as a lecture, that's on us - and I'll start by acknowledging that the title of the piece, which I chose, may have been a bit confrontational from the start, despite being accurate in its intentions.
Something I see all too often in these discussions is a feeling from the perspective of white men (and women, sometimes) that the mere existence of an article like this is an attack on them that is taken personally, or that the goal is to make all mountain bikers out to be racist. Not the point of this article at all. Nor is the point that just because you don't think there's racism in the ranks of MTB, that it doesn't exist. Especially as white males, you and I are not in a position to make that proclamation, just like the opinion of one BIPOC person isn't equipped to judge on behalf of others. That IS a big part of the point and that IS why 'shut up and listen' is good advice. Of course there will always be a chance to reply/rebut/ask questions, but understanding and reconciliation starts with listening. From there we can open our minds and learn.
I can't think Sanesh enough for putting himself out there and doing such an even-handed and well-expressed job with this subject, and I am happy to say we'll be hearing more from him in future, because he has a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to the technical side of the sport.
Feb. 24, 2021, 7:36 p.m. - Pete Roggeman
I'd be sorry if you didn't come back, Chris. I don't agree with your perspectives, but I appreciate the fact that you engaged in a civil disagreement with Mark and others. These are hard and important conversations, and a huge obstacle to any kind of understanding happens when people can't discuss their differences. Whether actual progress was made between your understanding of Mark's perspective and vice versa is almost secondary to the fact that you both treated it like a conversation instead of a shouting match. We're not seeking division, simply fresh perspectives. Contrary to your thinking that this was 'another lecture of your privilege and how white people are bad', the intention here is simply to present a perspective you/we may not get to hear enough - in this case from the perspective of a long-time member of the riding community here on the north shore. If it came off as a lecture, that's on us - and I'll start by acknowledging that the title of the piece, which I chose, may have been a bit confrontational from the start, despite being accurate in its intentions. Something I see all too often in these discussions is a feeling from the perspective of white men (and women, sometimes) that the mere existence of an article like this is an attack on them that is taken personally, or that the goal is to make all mountain bikers out to be racist. Not the point of this article at all. Nor is the point that just because you don't think there's racism in the ranks of MTB, that it doesn't exist. Especially as white males, you and I are not in a position to make that proclamation, just like the opinion of one BIPOC person isn't equipped to judge on behalf of others. That IS a big part of the point and that IS why 'shut up and listen' is good advice. Of course there will always be a chance to reply/rebut/ask questions, but understanding and reconciliation starts with listening. From there we can open our minds and learn. I can't think Sanesh enough for putting himself out there and doing such an even-handed and well-expressed job with this subject, and I am happy to say we'll be hearing more from him in future, because he has a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to the technical side of the sport.