BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I think Mr Rogers would smile and do this to those drivers (sound SFW, visual debatable).

I also had a rough ride in, but this cracks me up and is helping me feel better.

(edited to fix my wonky link)

Heh, I actually remember not only seeing that as clip a kid (in the 70's), but also being taught that song by the nuns (in both French and English) at Catholic school.

We of course didn't know any better till one of the kids spilled the beans and the song was banned.

New response: Happy Tall Man to ya!

I've never wanted to put a sign on the back of my bike before. Now I want a "What would Mr. Rogers say?" sign back there to calm people down.

I like to think Mr. Rogers would say to our entire society "Chill the fk out and be kind to each other".

Completely counter to what I would have intuited, I am having no negative incidents in the 'burbs, as I am hearing of in the city.

@edmonds59: Yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking.

I'm often reminded of something my Mom said after a cashier was rude to her: "You know, it takes just as much energy to be polite as to be rude. I wonder why she chose to be rude."

Our society has cultivated the notion that you have to be a drama spewing asshole to get ahead, thus the popularity of "reality TV". Mr. Rogers is truly gone.

T-shirt: "Mr. Rogers would not say 'Chill the F--K out, but I would."

Mr. Rogers is the first (and so far last) "celebrity" death that I actually cried over. I didn't even cry over my great-uncle dying.

Mr. Rogers, I think, would likely suggest that there are some people who are having a difficult time and aren't as nice as they normally would be (maybe they need a nap or a healthy snack or a hug), but we should still try to be kind to them, because sometimes we ourselves need (naps, snacks, hugs) and have trouble too. To the others, I think he'd ask what was wrong and try to help or just listen (because sometimes that's all we need - to be listened to).

But I always saw Mr. Rogers as a kind therapist with awesome toys and godlike powers of patience and empathy.

WWMRD?

@ej, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rodgers on several occasions as a volunteer at WQED in the 80’s and 90’s. Fred was the exact same person off-air as he was in his childrens show; very patient and kind.

He commented once how he regretted that he couldn’t participate in open house events at the station anymore because he would be mobbed by kids to the point that it would get out of control. I don't think he enjoyed being a "celebrity", other than the platform it gave him to do good and to teach.

also: mouse over text: "Mr. Rogers projected an air of genuine, unwavering, almost saintly pure-hearted decency. But when you look deeper, at the person behind the image ... that's exactly what you find there, too. He's exactly what he appears to be."

As far as I am concerned part of being nice to people is not letting whatever troubles I may be having screw up other people's day. But that's just my personal view and not necesarily those of Mr. Rogers or the neighborhood.

Sounds to me like the driver under discussion is just normally a self righteous douche who feels he can tell other people "the rules".

Never mind: Double post.

@ejwme: I think Mr Rogers would be proud, that answer sounded just like him.

He is one of the 3 celebrity deaths that have been made me cry. The others being Jim Henson(I was 18) & John Lennon(I was 7). To compare, I was 31 when Mr Rogers passed.

But I have a feeling when Tom Baker finally passes, that will make #4. (I came very close when Liz Sladen and Nicholas Courtney passed way this year....)

I was very sad when princess Diana died.

It was a little confusing.

Back in those halcyon high school days, Mr Rogers always shopped at the grocery store where I worked (the old Food Gallery in Shadyside). It was always nifty to see him.