[Closed] The GMBN vid in which lad breaks brand new bike

The subscribers are for the mag, I'm not into the mag . Most other forums are free for the same reason, the users are needed. Anyway I click on the ads every now and then.

stevextc, nobody is compelled to donate, my comment was more about peoples attitude.

These are strange times... and this reminded me of a post in the local FB.
Many local businesses have stepped up to provide kids with free meals ... then some idiot was berating them for asking for proof (they just needed to email before hand not turn up and stand in a special queue wearing badges) and saying how this was to deliberately embarrass them.

Quite honestly very sad.... a cafe owner replied they were doing this so they can pay staff and eat themselves so they don't have to make judgements on who's taking the piss and who isn't... and the poster replied "Ah you'll just fill in your tax return and claim it all back" ... made me think he's an accountant makes money from bankruptcies. (who knows)

I have no idea if they even can but I'd presume even if they can it will come from profits only?
... but somehow it may be the most useful thing he said as I don't think the cafe or others were even considering that was possible. Quite honestly I don't care if they can and do... its more important to get the kids food than trying to politicise.

Thats the whole benefits argument in a nutshell. Some people are against benefits because some arseholes will exploit them, therfore no good should be done in case a small amount of bad happens. Net result = people in need go unhelped.
Others are pro benefits because even if a few arseholes make out of it, many needy people will be helped.
Net result = lots of good.

So OP asks for opinion on whether this is a cause worthy of donation. Many people say no it’s not. That makes them miserable bastards does it?

Yes it does, well done for working it out!

Thats the whole benefits argument in a nutshell. Some people are against benefits because some arseholes will exploit them, therfore no good should be done in case a small amount of bad happens. Net result = people in need go unhelped.

Others are pro benefits because even if a few arseholes make out of it, many needy people will be helped.
Net result = lots of good.

Not really ... I understand the cafe's wanting to not just give to people taking the piss.... and at the end of the day they are giving away food to people who need it.

Strikes me as being a complete arse to criticise them for actually making sure they can pay staff and eat themselves.

Obviously the small family run cafe can't feed the entire borough for free... and they are doing what THEY think they can. Not to mention from personal experience loads of people seem to think they are entitled to free stuff.

In March/April lockdown I was doing free bike services for NHS... other than the time it was costing me money. Not lots.. replacement cables, brake pads etc.

I stopped when I got a load of shit at my own house by a key worker who wanted FREE stuff cos he's building a towerblock complex and "the council owned company say's he's a key worker"...
It was my decision to do NHS staff.... I don't need the abuse by a building labourer who's being paid saying he has the right. At one point I thought I was going to have to deck him with my kid watching out of the window.

I think you should make the distinction between:

opinion that it is/isn't worthy of donation

and

actually making a donation

I.E. you can think its worthy but still not make a donation.

Strikes me as being a complete arse to criticise them for actually making sure they can pay staff and eat themselves.

I agree entirely, and agree with your point.
but some people use this as an excuse to think the service is a bad idea...

Unused to be very cynical about other people. Then I realised that most people are decent in most ways, and that life is MUCH better when you appreciate that. Really it's a weight off my shoulders. There's a chance that this is all a scam. But it's pretty small, IMO.

What's also interesting is that people queue up to donate bike stuff or money to forum members when they are in need. Which is great. But because this person isn't a forum member (to our knowledge) some people feel entirely justified in loudly proclaiming he can go **** himself and/or he's a scammer. Weird isn't it?

Its ride and prejudice, he doesn't look or ride like one of us. He has actual rad skillz and not a Santa Cruz or Audi in sight.

What’s also interesting is that people queue up to donate bike stuff or money to forum members when they are in need. Which is great. But because this person isn’t a forum member (to our knowledge) some people feel entirely justified in loudly proclaiming he can go **** himself and/or he’s a scammer. Weird isn’t it?

Dunno... as I said "strange times".
Personally I have bought stuff and given stuff to/from forum members.
Bought stuff without the suspicion of FB marketplace....and given stuff cos its spare.
Partly because people don't tend to take the piss....

Our local FB are full of what I assume to be scams....
"How much"
"DM me"
etc.

So I largely see FB as lots of potential scams. STW as lots of helpful people don't take the piss.

Did anyone say he could go **** himself? One misguided soul mused that it might be a scam, which just shows poor social awareness IMO.

I agree entirely, and agree with your point.
but some people use this as an excuse to think the service is a bad idea…

The person in Q seems to be hung up over having people send some proof and how this is embarrassing.
What I don't think he gets is he's actually making people think it's embarrassing AND potentially preventing the businesses (who are also employers) from taking part.

Law of unintended consequences?
It's like in lockdown OH was shopping for 4-5 elderly neighbours then she more or less stopped when she could only buy x of any item. It was just getting uncomfortable with different neighbours wanting the same stuff and telling them "Mrs. Miggins asked first" etc. and so she massively scaled it back.

What’s also interesting is that people queue up to donate bike stuff or money to forum members when they are in need. Which is great. But because this person isn’t a forum member (to our knowledge) some people feel entirely justified in loudly proclaiming he can go * himself and/or he’s a scammer. Weird isn’t it?

Remind me when we have ever had a whip round to buy someone a bit of kit that they have broken? Sure we have donated used bits to folks when bikes have been stolen, or chipped in with cash when folks have faced challenging family circumstance (ie family illness).

But in 8 years of being on here I never remember a cash whip round to replace broken kit..

loudly proclaiming he can go * himself

Quote anyone who has said that on this thread? Because I don't think anyone has.

Remind me when we have ever had a whip round to buy someone a bit of kit that they have broken? Sure we have donated used bits to folks when bikes have been stolen, or chipped in with cash when folks have faced challenging family circumstance (ie family illness).

Mild semantic difference, which effectivly backs up his point.

I knew this free v full member thing would rear its ugly head sometime, great shaming ploy by STW.
Personally, I do a lot of good work for charity, I just dont like to talk about it. 😃

Dude, don't be ashamed, your comment is contributing to the value of the forum.

I was hoping for some on-topic STW ingenuity here.

Is it just a swingarm, ? Can you get a replacement ? Is there a cheaper way eg. A  SH frame that will take the rest of the components that we know of ??

Is it just a swingarm, ? Can you get a replacement ?

Maybe, wont find many around.

Is there a cheaper way eg. A SH frame that will take the rest of the components that we know of ??

Pretty much any downhill frame

Mild semantic difference, which effectivly backs up his point

No it's not and no it doesn't. He implied that we are not treating the kid the same as we treat members of this forum. My counter was we haven't ever done similar for a forum member so his implication was incorrect.

Nor is it semantics to point out that there is a difference between funding the replacement of broken kit with cash, and donating old unused bits after a bike is stolen, or a go fund me to support someone with an Ill relative. The latter two are examples of what we've seen on this forum, and I don't think either are particularly comparable to the gofund me in this kid's case.

One of the great things about this forum is how everyone has repeatedly rallied round when needed without been asked. From donation of parts, expertise and the rest and to my knowledge no body has ever asked for or expected anything in return
Its one of the reasons that this place, most times, is so special.
I do feel for the guy and I'm sure if he or his family were regulars on here he would have been sorted by now.
I'm not sure why donating or not to his cause should create any animosity between such a good crowd that we have on here.

(had a CatEye computer on it!).

Halcyon days!

poster points out the forum has been previously generous, can't understand why some people think this person cannot receive generosity.
Your issue is the format of the generosity is different, effort/time/spares vs cash . But it doesn't undermine his point that people were previously generous.
Also some people posted or drove or gave up time, these all have cash values, as do spares given not sold.
The point is we have only been presented with one way to support this guy. If it was a call for parts we would have done it.

Beautifully put. Tracey.

’ll livestream my head exploding in rage.

Will there be a go fund me to buy you a new head? I won't be contributing but I will comment that you should just get a job like all the other headless people (I would suggest MP, you'll fit right it)

Also, can I have your helmet - I just broke mine in a peeve

The point is we have only been presented with one way to support this guy.

Yep..and it's not remotely the same as how we have supported others on this forum in the past. So my point is, let's not try and make out we aren't being generous to the lad as he's not 'in the stw gang'. Because if a forum member came on here saying I've snapped my bike at BPW, can you all chip in a few quid to get me a replacement, I'd not be contributing to that either.

I’m not sure why donating or not to his cause should create any animosity between such a good crowd that we have on here.

Yep..and it’s not remotely the same as how we have supported others on this forum in the past

There definitely was a gfm type thing a while back to fix someones broken dog. Not sure if he snapped his dog sending it off a cliff, but I guess it's possible.

Regardless, from this thread I'd like to give a thumbs up to stevextc for the stuff he talked about. Random acts of of kindness of strangers is a beautiful thing, whatever form it takes.

Well according to the story, the guys hard up, his mum (we don't know if he lives at home or how old he is, do we?) saved hard to buy him this bike which turned out to be a pup. That's unfortunate IMO, no different to having it stolen. As for cash being different - why? Cash is something we want, just like time. It would have been far more difficult for me currently to drive to Leeds to give him a frame than for me to give the minimum gfm donation. Of course, that's not the same for everyone.

So I don't think it's different.

Because if a forum member came on here saying I’ve snapped my bike at BPW, can you all chip in a few quid to get me a replacement, I’d not be contributing to that either.

How about if a name you recognised on here posted about a friend at work who saved really hard to buy her sons bike, her son had problems but mountain biking had really helped him with his issues, and she was worried about him if he didn’t have that focus and outlet in his life for the time it would take them to save and replace his bike.

Seems exactly like the sort of thing STW would get right behind.

It’s all in the marketing of the message it seems.

How about if a name you recognised on here posted about a friend at work who saved really hard to buy her sons bike, her son had problems but mountain biking had really helped him with his issues, and she was worried about him if he didn’t have that focus and outlet in his life for the time it would take them to save and replace his bike.

Unless you know something about this kid that hasn't been disclosed, that's whataboutwry of the highest order. If however he actually has issues and his biking serves as some kind of therapy then fair enough. Show me some evidence of that and I'll happily bung in a tenner.

whataboutery of the highest order

hehe. not really, Just reading between the lines thats all.

[b]Anybody that has seen emre riding knows its his release and his happy place[/b] and he is very skilled. He's is a good genuine kind hearted guy he doesn't just come and ride he spends time with the kids helping them learn skills and has time for everybody

@nealglover sounds like [i]you’re[/i] the one who’s been sucked in by marketing tbh

Not really, just pointing out how the same message can be received in different ways depending on the delivery.

I have seen the guy ride at LUBP though, and they are correct, he is very good.

I have seen the guy ride at LUBP though, and they are correct, he is very good.

Aye no doubt about that based on the vid of him landing it previously. He posted a number of replies on that fb vid link in the Op's first post. He's about 17 I reckon, and looks to be pretty useful on a BMX as well. And in fairness he doesn't come across as remotely dickish on that fb thread based on the couple of replies I read.

Still won't be donating though! 😂

Unless you know something about this kid that hasn’t been disclosed, that’s whataboutwry of the highest order.

It's not really whataboutery, it's more or less what the GFM page is.

Your suggestion that it's a scam was the same level of whataboutery. But I choose to believe the good in people. £5 was a price worth paying for a strong positive feeling.

Ok, let's phrase it like this, you all (maybe) know my lad from my threads, let's say he binned it at FoD today and snapped his new bike. Would you help?

Me, I don't know know this kid or his mum, so in my mind they're not active forum contributors, so I've kept my hand in my pocket on this. But I'd 100% be donating if they were an active member

That would be a huge drop on a hardtail!

It would be fairly large, yes. By similar reasoning, a smaller drop on a hardtail could offer him the same challenge and if it goes wrong and the bike breaks - be cheaper to repair.

I’m not going to donate but that’s because im tight and selfish and have no connection to it but the comments here are annoying.

I’m hardly selfish, and I have donated to a lot of causes posted on here.

It could take him a year to be able to get another frame.

Then ride a bit more carefully and look after it. Value what it brings to you.

It’s a bit like saying, “I saved a lot to buy a Porsche 911 - it was 10 years old, so I could just about afford it. Unfortunately, on my second corner on my first track day driving it, I wrote it off and can’t afford a new one for a year. It’s really good for my mental health, and life’s a bit tough - so can you donate a few quid.” Obviously, I haven’t bought a 911 and don’t do track days.

As for someone else, keeping a list. Please, by all means do. I am not sure what it would tell you about me or anyone else.

Your suggestion that it’s a scam was the same level of whataboutery

When did I suggest it was a scam? Don't start making shit up to suit your argument. If you can quote me from this thread where I suggested it was a scam i'll donate a tenner right now.

I'm waiting..

Would you help

Honest answer...nope. On the other hand, If your dog needed medical attention or you couldn't work and were skjnt because you were looking after the wife who was ill, then absolutely i would, and i have in the past .

But ultimately any cash i give away goes to (imo) far more deserving causes than funding other people's kid's hobbies. Others may think differently but I don't think that stance marks me out as particularly miserable, as others have insinuated.

Fair call.

Others may think differently but I don’t think that stance marks me out as particularly miserable, as others have insinuated.

I think what makes you miserable is that you felt the the need to comment about how it was unworthy and you are still here going on about it having posted about 20 times. We know.

I think what makes you miserable is that you felt the the need to comment about how it was unworthy

Perhaps because the op specifically asked if we thought it was unworthy in his first post, and invited debate?

'you are still here going on about it having posted about 20 times'

Yep..I'm trying my utmost to make it to the top of your 'list'..

On a side note..Still waiting for Molgrips to return with evidence that I claimed the go fund me was a scam...

My tenner is waiting..

Looks like it's just you an me. Pint?
A while back I had a few of these. If you like modern trendy pale ales this one is lovely.

Its a short list by the way. Just you..

In fact, its hard to avoid decent beer here, they are all tasty. http://www.kissingate.co.uk/beers.html

When did I suggest it was a scam? Don’t start making shit up to suit your argument. If you can quote me from this thread where I suggested it was a scam i’ll donate a tenner right now.

I’m waiting..

It was probably when you said this:

You see how absolutely ridiculous that sounds…

If you weren't coming across as a right arsehole with passive-aggressive language all over the place I might be inclined to apologise for mis-reading you, but you are so I'm not 🙂

And for the record, I don't think donating money to strangers is ridiculous. If I saw a kid upset about losing his only football that he couldn't afford to replace in the canal, I'd get in and rescue it myself or give him a tenner. Random kindness to strangers is not ridiculous, nor should it be.

I once found about $120 in cash whilst on a trip to the US. I spent some of it on a meal and I tipped the rest, about $60. It was on top of the required 20% tip. I make decent money these days through nothing but luck, so that's not really different to finding money on the floor.

I also ****ted a wheel when I was 17 or so trying to do 180 bunny hops. I couldn't afford to replace it, so someone helped me out with a new rim. That got me riding again.

More or less deserving than  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-replace-a-friends-stolen-bike?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet . ? Got a few £ up there already. If I didn't detest EBikes and all they stand for 😁 (read - can't afford one)......

In my limited view nobody is right or wrong, it's their personal choice to donate or not, to the OP.  Good to see a positive post about the lad !