As Irish people, we have never been short of a word or two, as we’ve always had the gift of the gab. We have lots of ould nonsense like kissing the Blarney stone, where people will return to far flung destinations with the same ability to talk “the hind leg off an ass”.
Personally, it’s something that I take very seriously, that right to speak my mind, that duty to say how I feel. Social Media, on which I am very active, gives me that opportunity to speak about issues that concern me. I like to blog about experiences, achievements, my pride in my country, my distain at people or events that let my country down, my love of sport, music and my zest for life. I’ve been complimented for my “courage” to speak out, investigate and comment. On the other side, I’ve often been criticised with people wondering, “Will he ever just shut up”
Over the last few months, I have been given the chance to speak on radio about the same issues. For a person with an avid interest in media, there is no thrill quite like sitting at the end of a phone line, or in a studio, listening to the presenter leading in to the subject, introducing you and then, you’re off. You’re now talking, having your say. Some people will agree with you, some most certainly won’t, that’s the purpose of debate. It’s a wonderful opportunity, a right that we enjoy and we should always remember, it’s a right that is denied to hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. Our forefathers fought and some even gave their lives to give us that right, so it was hard won.
One of the simple pleasures in life is riding a bike with a friend or a group of friends. I like it most in Winter, where all the sportifs or races are finished for the year. Everybody has achieved their goals, the hard work has paid off and now, it’s time to savour the day you climbed Tickincor, Mahon Falls or Seskin Hill. That PB in the local time trial on that balmy evening in May or June, the elation you felt when you got home, when you felt like a real cyclist. Jaysus, if you had done this 30 years ago, you could nearly have been as good as Kelly.
Now though, it’s just a case of “spinning the legs”, getting out for an hour or two, looking forward to a coffee at the finish and having the chat. That’s right, a chat, talking, shooting the breeze.
I can remember at the height of the banking crisis in Ireland, that a friend and myself had the whole thing sorted one morning between “The Millionaires” and Cahir. Many’s a story went out the Cork Road too and has had to stay there, as there could be serious questions asked, if it ever came back. On more than one occasion, bike handling has been tested as some hilarious story is recounted and through the tears of laughter, you end up heading for the ditch. Serious issues have been discussed and it’s a known fact that if you have something on your mind, or something getting you down, you will find somebody in the group who will listen, give you a bit of advice or maybe the kick in the arse if it’s needed. It’s one of the reasons that I love cycling and the people involved.
That freedom to speak can have a sinister side too. In recent years, people have taken to Social Media in particular, to speak nonsense, they have become abusive, they have become authorities in subjects that they know little or nothing about. Their modus operandi seems to be that whoever shouts loudest wins the argument. Fire in a few expletives, turn on CAPS LOCK to make it look like you’re shouting and the other person will back down. We have seen the birth of the Keyboard Warrior. A horrible, gutless type, who wouldn’t have the courage or decency to speak face to face to the same person they pursue online, if they met them on the street.
The interweb has also given rise to the Snowflake and the PC Brigade. This lot normally scour the morning papers and newsfeeds, looking for something to get upset about. Something, no matter how obscure, will annoy them for one reason or another. If anybody tries to argue the point with them, it very quickly becomes a shouting match and sometimes can become quite farcical.
No part of Irishness would be complete without the renowned “ball hopper”. This is a person (I’m actually guilty of this a bit myself), who knows nothing about a certain subject and has absolutely no interest in it. He or she will hop onto a thread, say something daft or controversial and see if they can get a “rise” out of people. My own favourite is the Rugby fraternity for example. They know their sport inside out, they are passionate, know all the terminology, all the players and are avid supporters. I wouldn’t know a Rugby game if it landed beside me on a parachute or turned up in a taxi. The last thing the supporters need is some idiot like me saying something stupid and boy does it annoy them. It can be funny watching them fall for it. I know it’s childish, but it’s another part of being Irish, if you think something will annoy a person, that’s the thing you’ll do.
However, one thing that I have noticed recently, is reluctance among people to actually say what is on their minds. I had a chat with a friend recently and this very subject came up in our conversation. Now, this friend is possibly one of the most decent, honest, nicest people on the planet. There isn’t a bad bone in her body, but she is very opinionated and that is why I enjoy our engagements. “I always test the water nowadays, before I say anything on Facebook”, she told me. When I asked why, she explained that she would rather be careful, she wouldn’t like to offend anybody and to be honest; it wouldn’t be worth the grief. It surprised me and got me thinking as to why she should feel like that, as she is in no way offensive. In my opinion, she has every right to say what she thinks or feels.
There was a high profile case recently where a well known radio host spoke on radio about a very emotive subject. Now, let me be clear here, I can’t stand him, even though I’ve never met him. He comes across as a bully and a loud mouth and he is everything I can’t stand in a person. He spoke about the most despicable crime on the planet and how everybody has to remember their own personal safety and to show responsibility. I think the term they use is “car crash radio”, where he absolutely disgraced himself and showed no consideration for people, or victims of heinous criminality. One thing that I couldn’t and still don’t understand though, is how could a production team sanction his comments. Was there a production meeting before the show? Did they not know what was coming or did this idiot go on a solo run? As the fallout began, wouldn’t it have been an idea to talk to the production team involved in the programme too? Ultimately, he was responsible, but are they all not complicit, if they knew what was coming. Either way, he made a huge mistake and was so wrong and nasty, it defies words. His comments were disgusting, irresponsible and have no place in any decent society. I wonder though, was he courting controversy, did he feel more important than he actually is. Either way, the guy should be ashamed of himself.
I think most people would drill it into their children to be careful when they go out and to be responsible. As a parent, I dread the day when our child (he will always be that, our child, no matter what age he is), heads out into the big bad world. I hope and pray that he will be okay and there is no doubt that we won’t sleep at night until we hear him coming home. To suggest anything else is an insult to people
I actually had a conversation about this incident with a group of people recently. I must state that the group was predominantly female. Some people had their say, some people stayed clear. There were opinions, there was good lively debate and in the end we all moved on. Nobody got upset; there was no name calling, no tears or hissy fits. Conversation and that right to converse won on the day, as is our right.
So, in the last few paragraphs, we have covered good conversation between friends, discussing events of the day. We have taken a brief look at some of the more sinister, strange and quirky elements of conversation, in particular online. We have looked at a fear among people who feel that it might be better to say nothing, avoid it altogether, and just stay quiet. Finally, I looked at how some people feel that they have a right to say something, because they feel that they are aloof and above themselves, with absolutely no thought about the potential consequences of their comments.
One of the greatest people to ever grace this planet was the late Johnny Cash. To any musician, he would be a hero and a person to aspire to, depicting all that’s good in humanity. The man had his problems, there but for the grace of god go any of us.
In a concert once, with the Highwaymen, he tells a story about when they go on tour around the world. When they return to America, they love their country even more than when they left, because of freedom. He spoke of the freedoms that they enjoy and how much they cherish them. He spoke of the rights that people have, to burn the flag and he was proud of those rights. As the audience became animated and annoyed, he finished his few words with a reminder that he also had the right to bear arms and if you burn his flag, he had the right to shoot you, to rapturous applause.
I wonder would Johnny Cash say that today, I doubt it. Somebody would surely get offended, as is their right.
Conversation is one of the cornerstones of our very existence, something that we must cherish, respect and enjoy. We must never take it for granted or in any way demean it, because it is one of the most important freedoms that we enjoy, despite all its faults.
The Unknown Bike Rider 