View Full Version : Let's quit our jobs and go on a bike tour near ISIS to prove 'evil is make-believe'
68Charger
08-16-2018, 12:20
well, we can see how that worked out for them.
https://www.pluralist.com/posts/1824-millennial-couple-bikes-near-isis-territory-to-prove-humans-are-kind-and-gets-killed
Little Dutch
08-16-2018, 12:22
Sounds like a good way to get yourself killed.
Oh, wait...
Seriously though, I have a hard time dredging up any sympathy for those two and everyone else with such a warped world-view.
No sympathy whatsoever.
In fact ALL the muzzie-loving peaceniks should immediately embark on hiking and biking trips through ISIS held territory.
Well theres two delusional "Utopia" believers that had to learn the hard way.
Little Dutch
08-16-2018, 12:35
As an aside, that was probably the best article I've read on this story. It's possible I just read actual news, as opposed to an opinion piece masquerading as such.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Evil is a make-believe concept we've invented to deal with the complexities of fellow humans.
[ROFL2]
Zundfolge
08-16-2018, 12:38
Just like that crazy Italian artist chick that hitch-hiked through the middle east in a wedding dress who was eventually raped and murdered.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7344381.stm
If these idiots want to go get themselves murdered, that's on them. But these idiots and their fellow travelers demand that the west adopt policies that invite this murderousness into our own back yards.
buffalobo
08-16-2018, 12:44
I always root for Darwin in these circumstances.
So, did this couple have a more positive world view that things aren't as bad as people say, or a negative world view in that they believed that most people tell and repeat lies?
glocktoberfest
08-16-2018, 13:00
i see two sides to this. At least they died trying to live free and do what they loved. Some day i may get eaten by a bear while sitting in the woods somewhere. I'm sure a lot of people would say it was stupid of me to die that way since it's a lot safer in front of a video game console in your living room.
ChickNorris
08-16-2018, 13:07
That's really unfortunate & I am genuinely saddened for those peoples' families who lost their loved ones.
Darwin Awards nominees nonetheless
i see two sides to this. At least they died trying to live free and do what they loved. Some day i may get eaten by a bear while sitting in the woods somewhere. I'm sure a lot of people would say it was stupid of me to die that way since it's a lot safer in front of a video game console in your living room.
Eh, that analogy only works if you're a "bears make great house pets" advocate.
The vast majority of people in the world are not evil. Most people would just like some clean water, reliable shelter, and enough food to eat. Evil does exist and whether you look for it or it finds you, you can run, hide, or fight. On the day that I lose, I will be tired and I will be happy. Life is short but eternity is forever. I look forward to going home when I’m finished here.
Be safe.
This sounds like another case of "Highly Educated Idiots"...... Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Maybe I am an "Evil" person but what I see is two less mooches tax payers have to support when their Fantasy Land trip is over and they are broke looking for handouts.
This sounds like another case of "Highly Educated Idiots"...... Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Maybe I am an "Evil" person but what I see is two less mooches tax payers have to support when their Fantasy Land trip is over and they are broke looking for handouts.
That's an unfortunately negative view of the situation.
glocktoberfest
08-16-2018, 13:23
I agree, but I'm just saying I do a lot of things people freak out about due to danger. Nothing completely idiotic, but iI do bleed and break bones somewhat regularly doing things I love.
Eh, that analogy only works if you're a "bears make great house pets" advocate.
68Charger
08-16-2018, 13:40
Ok, it DID lead to 2 suspects being confronted and ultimately being killed by authorities
https://nypost.com/2018/07/30/car-attack-kills-cyclists-including-americans-in-tajikistan/
sparking a manhunt for the driver that led to police killing two men resisting arrest, officials said Monday.
So, did this couple have a more positive world view that things aren't as bad as people say, or a negative world view in that they believed that most people tell and repeat lies?
A positive or a negative world view does not mean a person can divorce themselves from reality.
If this pair had a positive world view they didn't temper it with a realistic understanding of the situation they were exposing themselves too.
Circuits
08-16-2018, 13:50
We need a meme, poster, slogan and #metoo style twitter campaign to encourage libs to go on bike trips in ISIS-heavy areas.
wctriumph
08-16-2018, 14:02
...
I agree, but I'm just saying I do a lot of things people freak out about due to danger. Nothing completely idiotic, but iI do bleed and break bones somewhat regularly doing things I love.
Of course, we all have to live and enjoy life which entails some physical risk.
The difference here is that this couple sought out that risk in hopes of proving a flawed world-view contradicted by mountains of evidence available to them from the safety of their own home.
68Charger
08-16-2018, 14:11
The vast majority of people in the world are not evil. Most people would just like some clean water, reliable shelter, and enough food to eat. Evil does exist and whether you look for it or it finds you, you can run, hide, or fight. On the day that I lose, I will be tired and I will be happy. Life is short but eternity is forever. I look forward to going home when I’m finished here.
Be safe.
I agree with you... the problem is it only takes one person giving in to evil to take someone away... those 2 had families that I'm sure will miss them.
ChickNorris
08-16-2018, 14:24
Speaking of evil (since there isn't a dedicated thread for the fresh hell in Frederick)...
Speaking of evil (since there isn't a dedicated thread for the fresh hell in Frederick)...
Start one up!
We've been casually discussing it in the kidnapping thread but I imagine a lot of facts will start coming out.
A positive or a negative world view does not mean a person can divorce themselves from reality.
Certainly not.
The difference here is that this couple sought out that risk in hopes of proving a flawed world-view contradicted by mountains of evidence available to them from the safety of their own home.
Where do you see that? They didn't specifically seek out this risk. Instead, they decided to ride their bikes across the world with the acceptance of the risk that comes with it. Slight difference, but a difference nonetheless. If they just wanted to prove that evil didn't exist, they didn't even have to leave the country to test their theory. Instead they carried out a life dream. I could make assumptions about the guy's statement that evil doesn't exist, but then I'd just be assuming I know why he said that, which is the same as assuming that he specifically sought out risk from ISIS.
Where do you see that? They didn't specifically seek out this risk. Instead, they decided to ride their bikes across the world with the acceptance of the risk that comes with it. Slight difference, but a difference nonetheless. If they just wanted to prove that evil didn't exist, they didn't even have to leave the country to test their theory. Instead they carried out a life dream. I could make assumptions about the guy's statement that evil doesn't exist, but then I'd just be assuming I know why he said that, which is the same as assuming that he specifically sought out risk from ISIS.
The part where they knowingly went into ISIS territory without a MEU.
Their worldview encouraged them to seek out this risk. In order to prove people aren't evil, they would have had to seek out people known to be evil and somehow demonstrate that they are just "complex."
I'm pulling out a map and seeing a lot of ways to "bike around the world" without going through ISIS territory. So it's hard to believe this wasn't intentional, they had to ignore the State Dept warnings and everything written on the region. Or consider it as contradictory and want to disprove it.
I wouldn't argue that they weren't taking a risk as part of their trip. The article at the very bottom says this,
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said Tajikistan has a "known terrorist presence" and that the couple biked through "ISIS territory." It is more accurate to say that Tajikistan faces a threat of terrorism and is near to northern Afghanistan, which has a large terrorist presence.
Of course there are other places to bike around the world, but I doubt that they specifically were trying to bike through ISIS territory. Either way, we all could have seen this coming, as it's not the first time this has happened. I wonder if this whole line about evil being made up is partially a response to the objections of their friends and acquaintances.
They travelled a fair amount before the dash had found them. Mebbe plan a different route for other folks who might be tempted
BushMasterBoy
08-16-2018, 16:24
I foresee ISIS drones with explosives attached. What would be the size of the shot used to knock them out with a goose gun? 8 shot?
I wouldn't argue that they weren't taking a risk as part of their trip. The article at the very bottom says this,
Of course there are other places to bike around the world, but I doubt that they specifically were trying to bike through ISIS territory. Either way, we all could have seen this coming, as it's not the first time this has happened. I wonder if this whole line about evil being made up is partially a response to the objections of their friends and acquaintances.
Agree, it's completely impossible to not have seen it coming. You have entire regions there, cut off from the world, that are run by warlords/cabals. Some may have certain allegiances, others not but can't control their people. Even if a region isn't formally known to be controlled by ISIS it is very possible that the leadership shares the same values.
And as Americans, you could suffer the same fate.
The friends I have are quality people. If they raised a concern with my planned trip I wouldn't fire back with "evil is make-believe concept." I would think about what they say/experiences.
I checked State Dept warnings just for kicks. They've added an interactive map since I've been there last...
https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/?extent=63.620498399,35.003373038,77.909803624,41. 56610399
Tajikistan is categorized the same as China (and most of Europe), which isn't what I'd expect.
hurley842002
08-16-2018, 16:45
Agree, it's completely impossible to not have seen it coming. You have entire regions there, cut off from the world, that are run by warlords/cabals. Some may have certain allegiances, others not but can't control their people. Even if a region isn't formally known to be controlled by ISIS it is very possible that the leadership shares the same values.
And as Americans, you could suffer the same fate.
The friends I have are quality people. If they raised a concern with my planned trip I wouldn't fire back with "evil is make-believe concept." I would think about what they say/experiences.
I checked State Dept warnings just for kicks. They've added an interactive map since I've been there last...
https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/?extent=63.620498399,35.003373038,77.909803624,41. 56610399
Tajikistan is categorized the same as China (and most of Europe), which isn't what I'd expect.Looking at the map, it's pretty sad that there are places deep in the heart of Mexico that are safe'ish to travel, yet parts that are right next to TX are to not travel zones.
I think that's why they added that correction on the article, because people were saying that it was about the same "dangerous" as most of that part of the East/Asian part of the world. Anyway, I'm done splitting hairs.
I think a lot of the objections people would have put up would be centered around, "You can't quit your JOB!!" Most people can't imagine a world without a 40-hour work week, as we can see from Cha-lee's post where he assumes that they'd all the sudden become a tax burden. I'm not sure how, since they weren't even in this country.
I think that's why they added that correction on the article, because people were saying that it was about the same "dangerous" as most of that part of the East/Asian part of the world. Anyway, I'm done splitting hairs.
I think a lot of the objections people would have put up would be centered around, "You can't quit your JOB!!" Most people can't imagine a world without a 40-hour work week, as we can see from Cha-lee's post where he assumes that they'd all the sudden become a tax burden. I'm not sure how, since they weren't even in this country.
I see what you're saying... Maybe they had saved up enough to cover expenses?
That piece isn't nearly as crazy to me as biking through a *stan. I've had friends totally change their lives, do "sabbaticals" and whatnot. Know a couple that gave up his promising legal career to live in France for a couple years on one (smaller) income. It can work.
68Charger
08-16-2018, 17:04
I think that's why they added that correction on the article, because people were saying that it was about the same "dangerous" as most of that part of the East/Asian part of the world. Anyway, I'm done splitting hairs.
I think a lot of the objections people would have put up would be centered around, "You can't quit your JOB!!" Most people can't imagine a world without a 40-hour work week, as we can see from Cha-lee's post where he assumes that they'd all the sudden become a tax burden. I'm not sure how, since they weren't even in this country.
Cha-Lee made the comment "when their fantasy trip was over", so perhaps he was assuming that they would likely be tax burdens when they returned due to their liberal nature.
Before they left, they were technically a tax burden because they worked for Gov't (HUD) and a publicly funded university... that's a fault of bloated gov't and misguided funding, but their salaries were indeed paid by taxes indirectly.
They didn't seem overly political in their blog, but it did have a decidedly left slant. (and I'm not talking about reverse Italic fonts)
I totally support their choice to go on a trip, I'd love to go kayaking & camping in Alaska all summer (both months of it [ROFL1])... But I have children and others depending on me. They didn't have that responsibility (AFAIK), so it's up to them what they do with their lives. I just took issue with (and found irony in) their naive belief that everyone is good, and evil doesn't exist.
Singlestack
08-16-2018, 17:36
So many worthy contestants for the Darwin award!
theGinsue
08-16-2018, 19:11
Well theres two delusional "Utopia" believers that had to learn the hard way.
Sadly, there are millions more - in this country alone - who think the same way and won't learn a thing from this lesson.
i see two sides to this. At least they died trying to live free and do what they loved. Some day i may get eaten by a bear while sitting in the woods somewhere. I'm sure a lot of people would say it was stupid of me to die that way since it's a lot safer in front of a video game console in your living room.
When you go into bear country, do you go knowing there is a risk and do you take something along as protection against those risks? THat's the big difference here.
Certainly not.
Where do you see that? They didn't specifically seek out this risk. Instead, they decided to ride their bikes across the world with the acceptance of the risk that comes with it. Slight difference, but a difference nonetheless. If they just wanted to prove that evil didn't exist, they didn't even have to leave the country to test their theory. Instead they carried out a life dream. I could make assumptions about the guy's statement that evil doesn't exist, but then I'd just be assuming I know why he said that, which is the same as assuming that he specifically sought out risk from ISIS.
Horse hockey! They didn't accept the risk because they honestly didn't believe there was any risk - contrary to volumes of evidence to suggest otherwise. They were fools; plain and simple.
Horse hockey! They didn't accept the risk because they honestly didn't believe there was any risk - contrary to volumes of evidence to suggest otherwise. They were fools; plain and simple.
If they honestly didn't believe there was any risk, then how exactly did they seek it out to prove that it didn't exist?
I regret bringing any of this up. It's all 100% manufactured bullshit by the writer of the article to tint the story so people will view the completely out of context quote to mean that this couple was out to prove how safe the world was, when it's pretty clear that they just wanted to quit their jobs and explore the world. Not worth arguing over. If people want to take a single quote from a blog and use it to shit all over their already horrible deaths and pretend that they deserve it in anyway, fine.
68Charger
08-16-2018, 19:44
I regret bringing any of this up. It's all 100% manufactured bullshit by the writer of the article to tint the story so people will view the completely out of context quote to mean that this couple was out to prove how safe the world was, when it's pretty clear that they just wanted to quit their jobs and explore the world. Not worth arguing over. If people want to take a single quote from a blog and use it to shit all over their already horrible deaths and pretend that they deserve it in anyway, fine.
Cool, glad you're fine with it now... about time you came around.
68Charger
08-16-2018, 19:49
If they honestly didn't believe there was any risk, then how exactly did they seek it out to prove that it didn't exist?
This doesn't make any sense... they weren't seeking it out, because they didn't believe it existed.
I'm beginning to think you weren't sincere about being fine with it.
OldFogey
08-16-2018, 20:25
Of course, we all have to live and enjoy life which entails some physical risk.
The difference here is that this couple sought out that risk in hopes of proving a flawed world-view contradicted by mountains of evidence available to them from the safety of their own home.
Yup. In complete agreement.
If you acknowledge a risk and take steps to mitigate that risk, that is reasonable. If you choose to take risks in an attempt to disprove their existence, and are proven wrong, there is a lesson in that. It's unfortunate that these individuals lost their lives in this pursuit.
Honestly I wasn't sure if this was satire. It started off with a tone that reminded me of the Onion. Sometimes you have to live reality on reality's terms. I feel bad for them and the people that loved them. If my child announced such a plan I would do everything to talk them out of it. I'd even sabotage. I'll keep this couple in my thoughts for a while. But I'm terribly curios if either of the two had any change of heart.
This reminds me in some ways of the two Millenials that quit their jobs, sold everything they had to purchase a boat. Their plan was to live on the open seas with their dog...and the fact that they didn't know a damned thing about sailing, oceans, or boats didn't stop them. Of course, the Boat Children didn't die.
kidicarus13
08-16-2018, 23:04
Some liberals, for their part, view Austin and Geoghegan as simply unfortunate. Experts on the region told The Washington Post: "Central Asia generally is fairly safe."
DenverGP
08-17-2018, 00:47
This is yet another example of the lefts "feels over reals"... What they feel is more important than reality.
BPTactical
08-17-2018, 11:56
Well, they wont do that again...
This falls under the "What the hell did you think was going to happen?" category.
Dumbasses
BushMasterBoy
08-17-2018, 12:23
If you want to experience danger you can just visit the east side of Pueblo. Or just ride your bike through East Saint Louis.
If you want to experience danger complexity you can just visit the east side of Pueblo. Or just ride your bike through East Saint Louis.
FIFY
If I were just looking for some complexity, I would have just turn my bike through a physics lecture. Then I wouldn't have to end up in the news with the world shaking its collective head at my decisions.
Yeah...stupid people win stupid prizes.
What happened to the bicycles?
Not to be flippant about their deaths.... perhaps if they brought along a stack of “coexist” bumper stickers on their bike trip it would have ended better for them.
Which is more dangerous? Riding through Tajikistan or Chicago? Trouble can find you when you least expect it.
Zundfolge
08-18-2018, 08:16
What happened to the bicycles?
I'm now picturing "Bicycle Technicals". [ROFL1]
https://s3-eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/centaur-wp/theengineer/prod/content/uploads/2015/09/04113300/gun-bike-e1509119263241.jpg
http://cdn0.wideopenspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Untitled74.jpg
Which is more dangerous? Riding through Tajikistan or Chicago? Trouble can find you when you least expect it.
I would mostly expect trouble in either place.
Bailey Guns
08-18-2018, 08:54
Which is more dangerous? Riding through Tajikistan or Chicago? Trouble can find you when you least expect it.
When considering that perspective, Tajikistan and ISIS don't seem as dangerous as they would otherwise.
[snip]
http://cdn0.wideopenspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Untitled74.jpg
[ROFL2]
Operator AF. I can only hope to be that cool someday.
OctopusHighball
08-19-2018, 08:59
[ROFL2]
Operator AF. I can only hope to be that cool someday.
We all hope we can be as Grandpa cool as Hickock45!
On a separate note, reading the NYT article on the subject, they come off more as unprepared and Ill advised. Every example of their beloved "human kindness" seems to be locals intervening to make sure they aren't going to end up hurt or worse because they seem grossly unprepared for the environment they are in. To me, it paints a picture more of the people they encountered thinking to themselves "these idiots are going to get hurt" than "OMG here's an opportunity to show how kind and human I am".
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/world/asia/islamic-state-tajikistan-bike-attack.html
In the end, they eventually ran into a far worse version of the Surf Nazis from Point Break. Instead of being punched in the face and being told "locals only", they were run over twice, stabbed and then shot while being told "Aloha Snackbar".
OctopusHighball
08-19-2018, 09:01
P.S. You want to see this done right? Watch "Long Way Around". Obi-Wan Kenobi (wow I am spacing on his name) spends upwards of a year full time planning a motorcycle trip with a buddy to travel around the world. It's a great series.
Ewan McGregor or Sir Alec Guinness
OctopusHighball
08-19-2018, 10:17
Ewan McGregor or Sir Alec Guinness
Ewan McGregor! That's it! I was nowhere close, stuck on Liam Neeson.
#CycleAfganistan on Twitter (AntiFa parody)...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dk6OdDvUcAA_kyt.jpg:small
BPTactical
08-19-2018, 16:20
#CycleAfganistan on Twitter (AntiFa parody)...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dk6OdDvUcAA_kyt.jpg:small
LOL, Targets of Opportunity is more like it
Since it's still sad that there was a loss of human life, I may take a day off work and bike across Thornton in tribute. Would anyone like to join?
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