simont: A picture of me in 2016 (Default)
simont ([personal profile] simont) wrote2002-11-01 10:34 am

(no subject)

After the usual geek-pub-trip last night, I walked home on my own.

That doesn't sound like much of an achievement, but it's the first time I've felt psychologically capable of it since getting mugged last month. In the intervening four weeks I've either walked from the pub to a nearby taxi rank, or walked to the post-pub gathering with a large group of geeks and then phoned a taxi from there, because I didn't want to walk home alone.

Now I'm back at work, going to the post-pub gathering is no longer a sensible option (because I tend to need sleep by then), so I'm running out of options. I suppose I could still have got a taxi, but getting a taxi home from the pub five weeks in succession costs me as much as I lost in the mugging itself - so it seemed to me that even in purely financial terms, taking the risk was a better bet!

So I decided enough was enough, and walked home, although taking care to avoid the danger spot where I was acquired as a target. I'm moderately pleased with myself for that. :-)

[identity profile] ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com 2002-11-01 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
What a charmingly positive response to a suggestion of how Simon might improve his quality of life: not only patronising but replete with snide accusations of criminal irresponsibility. Also, since as far as I'm aware (http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880053_en_7.htm) the worst that can be imposed on you for cycling while drunk is a fine, I'm taking that as an urban myth. (Page in reference lacking column headings, but the column which appears to correspond to license endorsements contains no entry for the "cycling while unfit through drink or drugs" offence. Also [livejournal.com profile] mobbsy tells me he can find "nothing in sections 34,35,44,45,46,47 of the Act that suggests that a license can be endorsed for anything other than an offense which involves endorsement in Schedule 2").
zotz: (Default)

[personal profile] zotz 2002-11-01 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
What a charmingly positive response

Which? Encouraging him to do something that may be illegal, or pointing out that it may be illegal?

As I pointed out, I got jumped and beaten last year, so I have some idea what it's like. I have a great deal of sympathy for his situation. I definitely think he's going about things the right way.

[identity profile] ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com 2002-11-01 11:20 am (UTC)(link)
Which? Encouraging him to do something that may be illegal, or pointing out that it may be illegal?

No. Vastly and incorrectly overstating the risks involved in cycling in a thread where it was originally suggested as a less "mugger-friendly" (let's throw a few more of those nice politically correct usability phrases about, shall we?) alternative to walking, presumably in an attempt to encourage Simon to live his life according to someone else's notion of common sense.

In somewhat less rancorous vein, your urge to look out for the welfare of those less fortunate than yourself is admirable; however, I can't help but think there may be more productive situations in which to attempt to educate your audience on the evils of drink-cycling than in discussion with a group of intelligent, independent-minded and well-informed alcoholics adults who also happen to be habitual cyclists..
zotz: (Default)

[personal profile] zotz 2002-11-01 11:56 am (UTC)(link)
where it was originally suggested as a less "mugger-friendly"

I didn't force you to mention alcohol. Your point would have stood just as well without that.

presumably in an attempt to encourage Simon to live his life according to someone else's notion of common sense

As far as I can tell, that's what we were both doing.