It helps people manage the discomfort of knowing that life can change to the negative in a second just by happenstance. That makes people feel vulnerable and so therefore they desperately want to find a reason or excuse for why something bad happened to someone else so as to make themselves somehow less vulnerable to the whims of bad luck. It’s disrespectful to those suffering but hey ho……let’s make them feel better by starting a list of things that nobody should do:
Drive a car.
Ride a bike.
Drink alcohol.
Walk or ride down a dark road at night.
..
..
If people want to live risk free lives and avoid being talked about as if “they should have known the risks” this list can be expanded to its full version. Probably about 2,000 lines long.
Thank you for saying this. You've shown more insight into the people who've been posting "don't ride at night, etc." than they themselves seem to have into their motivations. And you've certainly shown more empathy for them than I could muster yesterday.
This is an awful and random tragedy that's difficult to get your head around. Life is chaotic and often cruel. I can understand and empathize with someone even unconsciously trying to find a reason it happened. Especially so in these ensuing days they can feel like tragedy won't strike them or someone they love. "I wouldn't ride my bike on the shoulder of a narrow road so I'm safe."
I have to be honest, I had planned to go on a ride on a new route today, but one that put me in traffic more. I didn't. I stuck with the safest and most familiar ride I know. I'm sure I'll go on that ride in the future and continue to live my life and enjoy biking as safely as possible, but right now the tragedy was a little too fresh.
Again, great post and insight.