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CockneyRebel
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05 Sep 2017, 4:23 pm

I don't like whistleblowers. I hate it when I'm riding my bike which has tires that are slightly smaller than 20 inches (it's a folding bike) and a whistleblower says that I shouldn't be on the sidewalk. I end up telling the character that I'm handicapped. I've also gotten permission from the cops to ride on the sidewalk. I'm going to buy a handicapped sticker off Amazon and put it on my bike.


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Chichikov
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05 Sep 2017, 4:48 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
I don't like whistleblowers. I hate it when I'm riding my bike which has tires that are slightly smaller than 20 inches (it's a folding bike) and a whistleblower says that I shouldn't be on the sidewalk. I end up telling the character that I'm handicapped. I've also gotten permission from the cops to ride on the sidewalk. I'm going to buy a handicapped sticker off Amazon and put it on my bike.

Assuming you're in the UK you shouldn't be riding on the pavement, it's an offence if you're disabled or not. If you need wheeled transport due to disability then get transport that is specifically allowed on the pavement.



ToughDiamond
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05 Sep 2017, 5:19 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
I don't like whistleblowers. I hate it when I'm riding my bike which has tires that are slightly smaller than 20 inches (it's a folding bike) and a whistleblower says that I shouldn't be on the sidewalk. I end up telling the character that I'm handicapped. I've also gotten permission from the cops to ride on the sidewalk. I'm going to buy a handicapped sticker off Amazon and put it on my bike.

It's probably different in the USA, but in the UK it's an offense. I don't mind as long as the cyclist isn't causing any danger or scaring pedestrians. Sadly, the law over here does mind, presumably because they don't want the hassle of working out whether or not the pavement-rider is really doing any harm. In many places it's not really enforced, but I've seen the police booking cyclists for riding down the New Walk in Leicester, even when it's deserted.



Dear_one
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05 Sep 2017, 6:07 pm

The last time I got hassled for riding on the sidewalk, I was just staying on the bike from a curb cut to a lock-friendly pole, staying narrow and as slow as the fairly busy pedestrian traffic. I didn't say anything, but quickly dismounted, and ran past the guy a few times, with my front wheel barely under control.
The way I "blow the whistle" on drivers who pass too close is to catch them at the next traffic light, and give them an extremely loud, but not profane lecture about the difficulties of changing a tire punctured by a bicycle and covered with gore. I keep describing flesh and bones packed into the wheelwell, trying to induce major nausea, while keeping an eye on the signals, so I can finish up with "And that's not to mention the PAPERWORK!"



CharityGoodyGrace
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08 Sep 2017, 3:36 am

There are good whistleblowers and bad whistleblowers who just like to get innocent people in trouble.

Julian Assange was an Aspie apparently; it even says it in his "unauthorized autobiography".

If I saw something really bad happening to innocent people in secret, you bet I'd blow the whistle. But if it's something like someone at work stealing a pen or a stapler, or using the photocopy machine for personal purposes when they're not allowed to, or going on chat rooms at work, I wouldn't blow the whistle. A lot of corporations take advantage of people working for them and cheating is sometimes something the workers may feel they have to do.



Roo95
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08 Sep 2017, 4:08 am

Sorry for being a little dumb but what exactly is a whistle blower. I took it a bit too literally when I saw it



Chichikov
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08 Sep 2017, 4:44 am

Roo95 wrote:
Sorry for being a little dumb but what exactly is a whistle blower. I took it a bit too literally when I saw it

Don't feel too bad, most people on here don't know what it means either :)



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08 Sep 2017, 12:16 pm

CharityGoodyGrace wrote:
There are good whistleblowers and bad whistleblowers who just like to get innocent people in trouble.

Julian Assange was an Aspie apparently; it even says it in his "unauthorized autobiography".

If I saw something really bad happening to innocent people in secret, you bet I'd blow the whistle. But if it's something like someone at work stealing a pen or a stapler, or using the photocopy machine for personal purposes when they're not allowed to, or going on chat rooms at work, I wouldn't blow the whistle. A lot of corporations take advantage of people working for them and cheating is sometimes something the workers may feel they have to do.


I also don't tell on people if I see them talking on their phones at work while they are working or if they are listening to music while they are working. I don't think that rule is enforced. If I see someone clock out before their shift ends, I don't tell because sometimes you just get done with everything early.

I understand why these rules are put in place but if it's not a problem when someone is breaking it, no harm in not following it if they are still doing their job.

I go to the gym and the rule is you cannot use the same equipment for more than 30 minutes but I have seen a few people be on them longer and I don't say anything because there are many other open treadmills and ellipticals and I one time didn't see a customer wipe down the treadmill after they were done using it and I didn't say anything to the gym staff about it. I don't think one person forgetting is going to harm the equipment and make it all unsanitary.


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League_Girl
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08 Sep 2017, 12:19 pm

Roo95 wrote:
Sorry for being a little dumb but what exactly is a whistle blower. I took it a bit too literally when I saw it



A tattle tale or someone who turns you in when you break a rule or do something wrong.


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Dear_one
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08 Sep 2017, 2:17 pm

Roo95 wrote:
Sorry for being a little dumb but what exactly is a whistle blower. I took it a bit too literally when I saw it

"Whistleblower" is derived from the practice of using a whistle to summon the Police. There has been a lot of chatter here about co-worker interactions, but if you see the term in the news, it refers to an employee who has exposed the secrets kept by their workplace, revealing a criminal organization. Those in charge then use every available trick to avoid prosecution. Their fear is the source of the hatred you see in the news, but honest people are delighted, and often manage to keep the "traitor" alive, at least.



ToughDiamond
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08 Sep 2017, 2:27 pm

CharityGoodyGrace wrote:
If I saw something really bad happening to innocent people in secret, you bet I'd blow the whistle. But if it's something like someone at work stealing a pen or a stapler, or using the photocopy machine for personal purposes when they're not allowed to, or going on chat rooms at work, I wouldn't blow the whistle. A lot of corporations take advantage of people working for them and cheating is sometimes something the workers may feel they have to do.

Agreed. I don't normally agree with simple theft, but if somebody steals a thing and the victim steals it back, I don't mind that. As for workplaces, in our free market system I can't imagine a firm surviving if it didn't make a profit, and I can't see how a profit could be made without paying the workforce less than the value of their work, so I can't really disagree with employees who tries to redress the balance by ripping off the employer.