I didn’t experience the Elon Musk cosplayer with the chainsaw or the kids on bikes but I appreciate your take on the overreaction to both.
Absolutely agree with the take on Elise Stefanik who’s crying out for attention as well. The country will be very lucky if it’s not in a years long economic downturn, as a result of starting a trade war with the rest of the world, come next November. Next to the idea of bringing MAGA economics and justice to the whole of NY Kathy Hochul is going to look like FDR.
The best way to send Stefanik back to Albany is unemployed.
It’s not just the trade war that is going to hurt us. It is also, maybe even more, the fact that the rest of the world no longer sees us as a dependable and safe place to invest. China is presenting itself to everyone as predictable and solid. Something we, unfortunately, are not right now. And faith has been lost that we (the US) will shake off this aberration. The aberration was the first Trump presidency. Now we’re just crazy.
I would love to see Stefanik run for governor. She thinks she is indestructible and unbeatable.
Her running for governor would shatter both of those myths. I wonder though, is there some law or rule that she cannot run for two offices at the same time? Can she be on the ballot for a state office and a federal office? If so, maybe she will become a two-time loser.
“Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” is a book from ? the ‘90’s which explains how men/women have different takes on the same situation. But I am bewildered by what seems like your defense of local aberrent behavior, Will.
That you would minimize the actual/potential threat to anyone trying to drive, surrounded by bikers on all sides who may or may not be also battering the car…or minimize the immediate concerns of anyone in any proximity to that MAGA -dressed maniac wielding a powered chainsaw is so unlike your deep-rooted concerns for the safety of humans and animals, the environment etc.
Women with young children in their vehicles, or older women driving alone, who are subjected to joy-riders intent on frightening them…or women with young kids or with toddlers in strollers who are participating in a downtown peace rally have every right to be alarmed and reactive to actual or perceived threats by young or older men. Violence against women is a pandemic all its own.
If other men jump on this platform topic in agreement with your stance today I am finished with The Front Page. Maybe Elon can give me a rocket ride to Venus.
Well, I hope not. You’re right that men and women sometimes have different views on the same situation and so do people in general. I don’t think you can count on me — or anyone — always having views in accordance with your own, simply because we agree on some things. I do recognise the validity of your reaction and your views on the subject. But because of my life experience and the sort of person I am, I react to it differently and see it differently. To me, this isn’t a deal-breaker. Some things are. For example, if someone insists on the inferiority of other sorts of people to their own sort. And lots of other things. But I think this is one of those situations where people can see it differently without falling out as a result
I think Will’s point, at least as I saw it, might have been that in years past, this would have been an irritating problem, but not stop the presses breaking news. What’s changed is our level of fear and our reaction to it. Are these kids just garden variety juvenile delinquents, or are they budding MAGA January 6ers? We didn’t used to wonder. Chain Saw Man is a bit of a different story. He’s old enough to know better, and the fact that he doesn’t, or else feels justified in his behavior, is a little more concerning to me.
Thank you Will for the reality check. When I was a kid, we had Gussie Fiori who was the Glens Falls Detective who rode rough-shod on all the teenagers in Glens Falls, and he had every patent's permission to give any and every delinquent teenage boy a slap upside the head and march them home to their patents. Alas, we are inundated with "laws" today that do more to protect the criminals than the innocent. I do agree, though most of the time it's not safe, these are just bothersome kids, just like we were. Give them a 'slap upside the head' and march them home. If the parents are neglectful like some are today....cite them and give them a wakeup call. Happy Sunday
If you have not experienced the biker kids, I can see why you think it has been overblown. I did.
When more than 2 dozen of these kids ride in the middle of the road toward you, then spread out
and surround your car, it is more than intimidating. They are rude and glare at you, and do their best to act tough. I had to stop and let the swarm pass me, riding inches from my car and me.
If you have time to react - photos for the Post Star Front Page would be good. Maybe the parents would appreciate seeing their child on the front page.... Will, don't think we should throw candy - the earth doesn't need more litter
With terrified you, encased in approximately a ton of metal. I, too, have experienced "the bikers", albeit with a lot more common sense that you have evidenced.
If you are addressing my comment, I never said I was terrified. I was intimidated, not solely for my safety, but was quite concerned they would damage my car.
Walking down Glen Street on the sidewalk happens to be scary when young teenagers go zipping by on their bikes with no warning....how do they know I'm not going to step sideways because an uneven section, etc? Actually, my real thought would be the need for earplugs because of the motorcyclists who insist on making THE loudest noise they can as they race by, usually with a radio blaring, too! The season has arrived.
Sadly, yes, the chainsaw guy got the coverage rather than the efforts of the those of us who were OUT there protesting. Even the TV channels covered HIM.
These days - anything slightly connected to the WH tenant - is NEWS NEWS NEWS!
I dont agree - getting his orange face & the billionaire's leaping body OUT of any semblance of news would certainly be a big improvement. Frankly, what the two of them say is of no interest to me - what they DO is a different story. Too much of the time, that doesnt get covered, except for The Front Page, LFAA & Civil Discourse!
I do think the kids who cause hesitation or worse, accidents, should have parents disciplined now and then! Possibly might do some good. And yes, I sure do remember snowballs at cars!
As someone who worked in the child welfare system for many years, l want to respond Prior to the late 70's we didn't have child protective services which was enacted to protect children from physical abuse (even from parents). While some might bemoan the enactment of this policy,the fact is that it was enacted because many children were abused by adult family members in the name of teaching the child a lesson. Today, it is rare to see people in authority advocating this kind of "correction". A far better approach to stopping the snow ball throwing is to to educate children regarding the dangers of doing this. This should be done by parents, teachers and even through things like public service announcements.
Wondering if you know, Dick Monroe. He grew up at one Stevenson Lane at Pine St in SL. I lived in the same house years earlier when I started my conscientious objector status work as an orderly at the hospital during the Vietnam war.
More importantly, your essay on bike pranksters versus the real issues of concern ie tRump et al is right on the money!!!!
While I agree on the Post Stars reporting being over the top in regards to Mr. Howard, all I can say is that numerous people I know received direct threats from people of his nature during trumps first go around. Disgusting displays of ignorance and scare tactics which were not deemed criminal. Sorry, the guys obviously a complete idiot. It's not ok to be downtown amidst a group of people, some who had their children with them, to be exposed to that level of stupidity and disregard.
Those *bike* kids aren't just having *kid fun*, causing mischief. They are likely to cause a serious accident one of these times and God forbid some innocent driver hits them.
I understand your analogy - but that said, if I was doing things that could intentionally hurt a person when I was that age, I would've been held accountable at home. By my parents.
I don't remember where I saw it at this point, but some of these parents were defending this obnoxious behavior on social media.
It's not legal, or safe, for them to be riding like this.
I have never encountered them , but do have friends they have frightened - all women who've been driving alone.
That said, yes, I urge EVERYONE to be aware of what is happening to people here in our country.
I believe they're pushing through a no knock warrant which will allow ICE to barge in your home if they believe you're housing an immigrant.
It definitely is MORE important than the bike *gang*.
Take part in demonstrations, write, call anything to not be submissive to the loss of our constitutional rights, or the laws of our country.
Make no mistake - it literally could happen to you.
Yes thanks you posted his piece. I realized that after my posted reply.
We live in a much different world today - some of the social seams are quite frayed.
Community members do not help raise children today. Do we really look out for one another anymore more? Is there trust in law enforcement and policing decisions on patrol.
Our trees, so patient and lovely. The world was meant to work - with our trees taking carbon from the air and giving us oxygen as well as beauty. Cooperating with us as we were meant to cooperate with each other.
whisked off to detention centers ?? Kidnapped to a concentration camp... to be terrorized, traumatized, gulag style with gestapo.
I didn’t experience the Elon Musk cosplayer with the chainsaw or the kids on bikes but I appreciate your take on the overreaction to both.
Absolutely agree with the take on Elise Stefanik who’s crying out for attention as well. The country will be very lucky if it’s not in a years long economic downturn, as a result of starting a trade war with the rest of the world, come next November. Next to the idea of bringing MAGA economics and justice to the whole of NY Kathy Hochul is going to look like FDR.
The best way to send Stefanik back to Albany is unemployed.
It’s not just the trade war that is going to hurt us. It is also, maybe even more, the fact that the rest of the world no longer sees us as a dependable and safe place to invest. China is presenting itself to everyone as predictable and solid. Something we, unfortunately, are not right now. And faith has been lost that we (the US) will shake off this aberration. The aberration was the first Trump presidency. Now we’re just crazy.
I would love to see Stefanik run for governor. She thinks she is indestructible and unbeatable.
Her running for governor would shatter both of those myths. I wonder though, is there some law or rule that she cannot run for two offices at the same time? Can she be on the ballot for a state office and a federal office? If so, maybe she will become a two-time loser.
One can only hope.
“Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” is a book from ? the ‘90’s which explains how men/women have different takes on the same situation. But I am bewildered by what seems like your defense of local aberrent behavior, Will.
That you would minimize the actual/potential threat to anyone trying to drive, surrounded by bikers on all sides who may or may not be also battering the car…or minimize the immediate concerns of anyone in any proximity to that MAGA -dressed maniac wielding a powered chainsaw is so unlike your deep-rooted concerns for the safety of humans and animals, the environment etc.
Women with young children in their vehicles, or older women driving alone, who are subjected to joy-riders intent on frightening them…or women with young kids or with toddlers in strollers who are participating in a downtown peace rally have every right to be alarmed and reactive to actual or perceived threats by young or older men. Violence against women is a pandemic all its own.
If other men jump on this platform topic in agreement with your stance today I am finished with The Front Page. Maybe Elon can give me a rocket ride to Venus.
Well, I hope not. You’re right that men and women sometimes have different views on the same situation and so do people in general. I don’t think you can count on me — or anyone — always having views in accordance with your own, simply because we agree on some things. I do recognise the validity of your reaction and your views on the subject. But because of my life experience and the sort of person I am, I react to it differently and see it differently. To me, this isn’t a deal-breaker. Some things are. For example, if someone insists on the inferiority of other sorts of people to their own sort. And lots of other things. But I think this is one of those situations where people can see it differently without falling out as a result
I think Will’s point, at least as I saw it, might have been that in years past, this would have been an irritating problem, but not stop the presses breaking news. What’s changed is our level of fear and our reaction to it. Are these kids just garden variety juvenile delinquents, or are they budding MAGA January 6ers? We didn’t used to wonder. Chain Saw Man is a bit of a different story. He’s old enough to know better, and the fact that he doesn’t, or else feels justified in his behavior, is a little more concerning to me.
Thank you Will for the reality check. When I was a kid, we had Gussie Fiori who was the Glens Falls Detective who rode rough-shod on all the teenagers in Glens Falls, and he had every patent's permission to give any and every delinquent teenage boy a slap upside the head and march them home to their patents. Alas, we are inundated with "laws" today that do more to protect the criminals than the innocent. I do agree, though most of the time it's not safe, these are just bothersome kids, just like we were. Give them a 'slap upside the head' and march them home. If the parents are neglectful like some are today....cite them and give them a wakeup call. Happy Sunday
The smack upside the head usually accompanied by an admonition to “Wise up,” too!
If you have not experienced the biker kids, I can see why you think it has been overblown. I did.
When more than 2 dozen of these kids ride in the middle of the road toward you, then spread out
and surround your car, it is more than intimidating. They are rude and glare at you, and do their best to act tough. I had to stop and let the swarm pass me, riding inches from my car and me.
What should our reaction be, do you think? I recommend throwing them candy.
If you have time to react - photos for the Post Star Front Page would be good. Maybe the parents would appreciate seeing their child on the front page.... Will, don't think we should throw candy - the earth doesn't need more litter
With terrified you, encased in approximately a ton of metal. I, too, have experienced "the bikers", albeit with a lot more common sense that you have evidenced.
If you are addressing my comment, I never said I was terrified. I was intimidated, not solely for my safety, but was quite concerned they would damage my car.
Walking down Glen Street on the sidewalk happens to be scary when young teenagers go zipping by on their bikes with no warning....how do they know I'm not going to step sideways because an uneven section, etc? Actually, my real thought would be the need for earplugs because of the motorcyclists who insist on making THE loudest noise they can as they race by, usually with a radio blaring, too! The season has arrived.
Sadly, yes, the chainsaw guy got the coverage rather than the efforts of the those of us who were OUT there protesting. Even the TV channels covered HIM.
These days - anything slightly connected to the WH tenant - is NEWS NEWS NEWS!
I dont agree - getting his orange face & the billionaire's leaping body OUT of any semblance of news would certainly be a big improvement. Frankly, what the two of them say is of no interest to me - what they DO is a different story. Too much of the time, that doesnt get covered, except for The Front Page, LFAA & Civil Discourse!
I do think the kids who cause hesitation or worse, accidents, should have parents disciplined now and then! Possibly might do some good. And yes, I sure do remember snowballs at cars!
Performative stupidity seems to be the order of the day in many arenas -- including bike riding and chainsaw-wielding -- but especially in politics.
Less stupidity and more competent performance, please.
As someone who worked in the child welfare system for many years, l want to respond Prior to the late 70's we didn't have child protective services which was enacted to protect children from physical abuse (even from parents). While some might bemoan the enactment of this policy,the fact is that it was enacted because many children were abused by adult family members in the name of teaching the child a lesson. Today, it is rare to see people in authority advocating this kind of "correction". A far better approach to stopping the snow ball throwing is to to educate children regarding the dangers of doing this. This should be done by parents, teachers and even through things like public service announcements.
I
I don't think anything could be more counter-productive, when you're trying to stop kids from misbehaving, than hitting them
From what I have heard, he WAS threatening people with the chainsaw.
Ken,
Wondering if you know, Dick Monroe. He grew up at one Stevenson Lane at Pine St in SL. I lived in the same house years earlier when I started my conscientious objector status work as an orderly at the hospital during the Vietnam war.
More importantly, your essay on bike pranksters versus the real issues of concern ie tRump et al is right on the money!!!!
Bob, Actually, Will Doolittle wrote this one.
Ken T
Ah. Wondering if he knows Dick Monroe, who is the author of Adirondack outlaw which is published in the almanac as well as his own site.
While I agree on the Post Stars reporting being over the top in regards to Mr. Howard, all I can say is that numerous people I know received direct threats from people of his nature during trumps first go around. Disgusting displays of ignorance and scare tactics which were not deemed criminal. Sorry, the guys obviously a complete idiot. It's not ok to be downtown amidst a group of people, some who had their children with them, to be exposed to that level of stupidity and disregard.
Those *bike* kids aren't just having *kid fun*, causing mischief. They are likely to cause a serious accident one of these times and God forbid some innocent driver hits them.
I understand your analogy - but that said, if I was doing things that could intentionally hurt a person when I was that age, I would've been held accountable at home. By my parents.
I don't remember where I saw it at this point, but some of these parents were defending this obnoxious behavior on social media.
It's not legal, or safe, for them to be riding like this.
I have never encountered them , but do have friends they have frightened - all women who've been driving alone.
That said, yes, I urge EVERYONE to be aware of what is happening to people here in our country.
I believe they're pushing through a no knock warrant which will allow ICE to barge in your home if they believe you're housing an immigrant.
It definitely is MORE important than the bike *gang*.
Take part in demonstrations, write, call anything to not be submissive to the loss of our constitutional rights, or the laws of our country.
Make no mistake - it literally could happen to you.
Your characterization of Donald Trump as adolescent is insulting to adolescents. He clearly never got beyond two years old “no no, me me, now now.”
Thanks for your interesting opinion piece Ken. We have much bigger problems in hometown USA. Playing chicken is a rite of passage.
Just leave the “kids” -some in their twenties- alone. The beat
Cop knows them all and the mayor and police chief have the situation under control. No worries!
Actually, Will wrote this one.
Yes thanks you posted his piece. I realized that after my posted reply.
We live in a much different world today - some of the social seams are quite frayed.
Community members do not help raise children today. Do we really look out for one another anymore more? Is there trust in law enforcement and policing decisions on patrol.
I have a very different outlook, though,
As a recent 9-11 widow.
Have a nice evening Ken
Our trees, so patient and lovely. The world was meant to work - with our trees taking carbon from the air and giving us oxygen as well as beauty. Cooperating with us as we were meant to cooperate with each other.
“Stefanik won’t run for governor, because she will understand by then that she will lose.”
From your lips to God’s ears!!