Matthew Parris Apologizes

Matthew Parris in his Times column today posted a brief apology for his Christmas attack on cyclists. (See my post yesterday.)

Today Parris wrote:

“I offended many with my Christmas attack on cyclists. It was meant humorously but so many cyclists have taken it seriously that I plainly misjudged. I am sorry.”

Not much, but he did admit to a misjudgment, I’ll take it. Thank you Mr. Parris.

It just goes to show cyclists as a world wide group, do have a voice. When we all come together as in this case, it is a loud voice indeed and people can't help but hear it.

Let’s hope lessons have been learned and some good will come out of this. Maybe Matthew Parris and some of his fellow journalists will at least tone it down in the future.

Comments

[Tejvan Pettinger]

What's the difference between the Times and the Sun? about 50p these days. I too remember (not too long ago) that the Times was a well respected Newspaper. Let's hope, in the future, the media avoid crass over generalisations of cyclists, but, I fear they rather benefit from all the publicity - even if it is negative.

- C'est la vie!

[mpetry912]

well done Dave. Somethign similar happened on Okra. Problem is, the car is all about depersonalized violence. Drivers in a car will play death dodge'em steering, run another off the road, without so much as a second thought, because they presume to be insulated from the consequences of their actions, surrounded as they are by 4000 lb of steel, airbags, etc.

This feeling of empowerment - especially when it applies to those who may feel otherwise disadvantaged or disenfranchised from society due to health, economic, or intellectual "status". Put those same people behind the wheel of a car - Boom! ah that's just a bicycle. Note: Not a PERSON on a BIKE. Depersonalized violence, same as taught by video games.

Mark PEtry
Bainbridge Island, WA

[lemmiwinks]

Mark, you've hit the nail on the head. Sadly, life is cheap in todays society.

[maltese falcon]

Well, I guess an apology, even a half hearted one, is better than nothing at all.