Worcester News urges motorists to treat cyclists as a nuisance

Just wrote this to the editor, and I also asked if James would like to meet for coffee.

"I would rather see more fat people than cyclists.

What is it about climbing into a saddle that suddenly causes human beings to abandon common sense, reason and common courtesy? Is there some hidden property in Lycra that turns people into complete prats?"

So not only has your buffoon of a correspondent ( I use that term loosely ) personally insulted me but 100% of the cyclists in the UK (amazing power twitter and forums have ) but also Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendelton and the entire British cycling programme.

5 cyclists killed in London over the last 9 days. So I have too ask, are you as insensitive and unbelievably thick as your correspondent? What if we turn that article on its head and write that way about fat/obese/immigration etc do you think that there would be no repercussions?

I understand that James must have studied exceedingly hard for his degree in The Atomic structure of a paper clip and it's effects on global warming. But, did he not think that "I would rather see more fat people than cyclists." Is also offensive to that group which I might add is currently running at around 40% of British people.

You sir a simply not doing your job of editing, or you agree with his article, which makes it even more unacceptable.

I call for this idiots resignation.

My concerns about your paper will be posted on every cycling website/forum/twitter etc and I will also be contacting my MP.

Mark Cooper

A very fit strong athletic Middle Aged Man in Lycra, who would along with many others like to share a coffee with James, and have a chat about his views. And to offer him some advice about how to lose his chubby cheeks.

https://www.facebook.com/james.connell.399/

https://www.facebook.com/james.connell.399/

I have no idea why he even brought up the North, maybe he was suggesting that northerners are more manly? I don't know, I didn't bring up the fact I was born in Blackburn raised in Sheffield...it seemed pointless, anyway my reply from their editor:

|Please accept my apologies if you felt the e-mail from James contained a threat.

I have spoken to him and I am sure that was not his intention. II believe he has already reassured you of that separately.

James was making a point about the fact that most of the e-mails he has received – some of them vulgar, offensive and threatening – are anonymous and is questioning the sort of debate that happens in anonymous e-mails rather than when people are face to face.

The terminology he used in his e-mail to you was inappropriate.

The original article was a personal opinion piece and written in a style that indicated it was not meant to be taken literally, or too seriously.

I have stated the paper’s view in our leader column and we are currently publishing several letters replying to it.

I am happy to offer you the same right of reply if you would like to send me a letter for publication.

I hope you can accept my apology and assure you we welcome feedback."

So your fairly standard, we stand by our editorial content because it was 'tongue in cheek' reply.

Maybe one day attitudes like this little pricks will change.

Indeed, get a name for yourself by having a pop at cyclists in the same week as the ninth death is announced in London. I can think of many names for James Connell, but he's probably not going to like any of them. Sad really.

Just emailed a complaint

Brilliant, we've gone from a veiled threat to "you come and say that to my face, and I'll repeat this nonsense to your face! So there!"

Do I now have to be embarassed to be "from the North"?

A nice little (large?) group doing the same, all at the same time, would be amusing.

Oh, and I'd happily say it to his face. This strikes me as the same sort of mentality that results in the "I'll show him, the skinny bloke in lycra" [makes punishment pass] problem. He suggests William Black is hiding behind a keyboard, but it's ok for idiots to hide behind a steering wheel and endanger others.

I'm sure there will be more edited highlights to follow as I have yet to reply to his latest comical reply, but I've got a bit of a busy day ahead it seems.

Regularly cycle through Worcester on some of my rides, may take him up on that offer.

WB:I would have articulated a much better response to your article 'Cyclists are a nuisance on the road' written with the grammatical aplomb of a seven year old but thought it would be as much of waste of my valuable time as you are a waste of oxygen.

JC: Come and say it to my face. You’re a big man behind your keyboard. Office is on Hylton Road.

WB: I'd love to discuss with you your thoughts on cycling but I live in Devon. If, however, I'm in the Worcester area I will of course come in and have chat. The threatening email has be noted and will duly be passed on to Paul Davidson*. (*Chap at Newsquest Media)

JC:It wasn’t threatening. I was just seeing if you were man enough to look me in the eye and say it. Which you’re not. Not unreasonable really. Send the email to whoever you like. I hope the weather’s nice in Devon.

What a prat...

His reply to my email pointing out his article was written with all the grammatical aplomb of a 5 year old, was to fire off the threat "come here and say that to my face". Not only is he a shit journalist he's also a knuckle head.

It's such a shame Worcester is such a long drive from Devon!

giff77 makes the reasonable point that what newspaper publishers want is clicks. But journalists are in a different silo where the metric that counts is traffic. Having a pop at cyclists is always a good way for a journo to generate traffic -- remember Matthew Parris's remarks in The Times a few years ago?

The guy has probably been having a slow week. The only way to get hits on his column has been to take a pop at cyclists. Look at the amount of comments slamming him. Give him his due. The lad's generated income for his paper with all the hits it's getting. Apart from that it falls into the general jurno structure if cycle whinging.

The guy has probably been having a slow week. The only way to get hits on his column has been to take a pop at cyclists. Look at the amount of comments slamming him. Give him his due. The lad's generated income for his paper with all the hits it's getting. Apart from that it falls into the general jurno structure if cycle whinging.

Yer frigging kidding me!

This gimp claims to be the Worcester News' health reporter!

https://twitter.com/JamesConnell8

Sometimes you just have to throw your head back and laugh at the ridiculousness of the universe.

would you like the editors e-mail address?

Courtesy of the paper

roni.skye [at] midlands.newsquest.co.uk

and his

james.connell [at] midlands.newsquest.co.uk

Don't ignore tweet/Facebook/email or whatever.

In Exeter the owner of the local radio station wrote a similar story about MAMIL's and him not being able to pass them as they were two abreast doing nearly 30mph (Speed limit down Topsham Road being a 30mph). Locally it went pretty much viral and he had to write an apology and he was humiliated online.

The bloke got called out, he was forced to make an apology and to his credit local MP (*spit* labour) Ben Bradshaw got on the case.

Contrary to what your teachers say about bullies, if you ignore such behaviour you essentially condone it.

Some total talent-vaccuum fucktard wanting and failing to be Jeremy Clarkson. Ignore.