[road]

Hello everyone,

I have stumbled upon a bit of a problem. I record my rides with a GoPro on the front and another on the back of my bike, both to share good videos but also to share footage of dangerous driving with the police. I’ve had success previously, with no fewer than 11 convictions (including one getting their licence revoked!) from around 250 videos submitted. It’s a lot of work and the rate isn’t great but I’ll do anything to keep vulnerable road users safe.

Here’s where we get to the problem. In one of my videos that I sent to the police, I have to admit that I did not keep a cool head, and used what they have described as ‘racially charged language’. I don’t dispute that, and it was a momentary lapse when I was almost run down by a man who was on his mobile phone at the time (I know because I caught him as such on camera). At this point, in shock of almost being killed, I screamed something I am not proud of as I reached for the most offensive term I could. The driver did not hear me, or at least did not react, and I consider myself lucky that he did not.

I submitted the footage to the police regardless, and explained in the same way that I did above why I said what I did, and that I am not a racist person. Their response was to telephone me while at work and ask me to retract the report or I would potentially face a conviction myself which, for reasons I don’t need to go into, is not something I want.

The issued me with what they described as an ‘informal verbal warning’. Has anyone else received such a warning before, and know what it means? I think it’s ridiculous that my momentary lapse of vocabulary as a result of almost being murdered by a dangerous driver could be used against me, when I’m helping the police out by submitting such videos.

Does anyone have advice on what to do next, and if this warning has any actual meaning, or is just a bluff? It won’t stop me on my crusade against murderous drivers, but it does make me unsure if I am putting myself at risk by doing so in future.

Thanks I’m advance.

Topic

[Sriracha]

As several have suggested,
As several have suggested, those who say they are without racism are deluding themselves. Of course there are degrees, but below the surface I doubt any of us is spotless. And for most of the time, as civilised people, we filter what comes out, for the greater good.

The trouble is that stress-induced outbursts, almost by definition, short-circuit the pre frontal cortex:
“.. neuromodulatory changes that occur during stress rapidly disrupt PFC network connections and markedly impair PFC function”.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2907136/

However, even though it came out in haste it will be judged at leisure. So I think the advice to simply keep schtum, as a matter of habit, is good advice in these situations.

[pablo]

Racist laungage is not

Racist laungage is not acceptable and anytime.  It doesn’t matter when it’s used.  Sounds like you were lucky to get away with it and the officers did you a favour because if they had of continued with your complaint they would also of had to persue you for your outburst.  

[Adam Sutton]

Well if you want to view it

Well if you want to view it as in purely gendered and misogynistic terms then so be it, but arguably this is not the case and indeed why post watershed today it is broadcastable. 

[Jimmy Ray Will]

I’d argue that all of us are

I’d argue that all of us are racist to a degree, and I find it really frustrating that society gives racism such a binary label.

That said, in my minds you can group people in three classifications; people that don’t want to be racist, and actively monitor themselves to avoid racial prejudices influencing their judgements; people that do not want to be racist, but are blissfully ignorant of their existing racial prejudices – and they absolutely will have them; and finally, there are people that are simply openly (internally as a minimum) racist.

Personally speaking, if we could move the conversation away from binary labels and instead work to evolving spectrums, we’d have much more success in overcoming racism. 

[quiff]

I couldn’t imagine and do not

I couldn’t imagine and do not condone using racist language in this (or any) situation myself, if that is your insinuation. I was just observing that your comment seemed to set up a hierarchy of racist language bad, misogynist language ok. I am not suggesting you are a misogynist, but the language arguably is.    

[quiff]

Agree. Although I picked Adam

Agree. Although I picked Adam up on use of gendered language below (though it was actually meant as an observation, not a personal attack, Adam) I am far from blameless. I am trying to train myself out of using epithets like ‘crazy’ ‘insane’ or ‘mental’.  

[Hirsute]

I was thinking about that the
I was thinking about that the other day. I was brought up when sexism, racism, homophobic comments were ok. It’s very hard to 100% eliminate that when it’s part of your formative years.
As you say, you try and recognise when it might happen and work to eliminate it.

[Adam Sutton]

quiff wrote:

Bothered enough to reply 3 times. 

I mean it is interesting, telling and somewhat not surprising that this is your focus rather than those defending it along the lines “it happens” and suggesting submitting in the future without audio.

[Rendel Harris]

Steve K wrote:

(Edit – though the exchange in the comments between NotNigel and Rendel makes me think this is probably all made up.)

Yes, really not sure what this poster’s game is: the use of my image as an avatar is extremely peculiar, as was their denial that it had anything to do with me, and their posts quite often read like a parody of an extreme pro-cyclist (pro as in favour of, not professional). I suspect this may be a PBU or other mischievous person acting as an agent provocateur, for example with this story trolling to see how many people will say racism doesn’t matter, it’s the offence against the cyclist that’s important.

[Steve K]

Interesting policing.  We

Interesting policing.  We have evidence of two offences, so if you keep quiet, we’ll ignore both of them.

(Edit – though the exchange in the comments between NotNigel and Rendel makes me think this is probably all made up.)

[Rendel Harris]

Adam Sutton wrote:

Not my experience amongst those Australians I’ve played rugby against, unless I was very much misinterpreting their comments!

That might just be you though 

I’d be very happy if it was, on the rugby field if someone starts having a go at you it shows you’ve got under their skin and got them worried, meaning you’re playing pretty well.

[Bungle_52]

First of all thanks for

First of all thanks for taking the time and effort to make your reports to the police on behalf of us all.

I have trained myself not to shout anything at drivers any more and I avoid confronations where possible. This hasn’t always been the case and it does take some self dicipline.

As for the racist element of your language, I think there are two points to make. Firstly the police are just doing their job, they can’t enforce some aspects of the law and ignore others. Secondly I think many of us are racist to some degree. I still find myself surprised when I see a person of Indian or Pakistani appearance talk with a Scottish accent on the telly. It’s just racial stereotyping and I have to remind mayself every time it happens. I’m sure there are many other examples. I don’t class myself as a racist but I do take note when I find myself thinking racist thoughts and try to stop it happening again. Like not shouting it will take time and effort but if we don’t acknowledge our built in prejudices we will never improve.

[quiff]

Bothered enough to reply 3

Bothered enough to reply 3 times. 

[Adam Sutton]

Yes, and your mistake is in

Yes, and your mistake is in thinking I am bothered.

[quiff]

Yes, but the point (as I’m

Yes, but the point (as I’m sure you well know) is the etymology and why it is considered offensive. 

[Author]

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