Over the past few months a group calling itself Critical Mass has been garnering rather a lot of media attention here in the windy city.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been the good kind of media attention.

In spite of the fact Critical Mass has no officially stated message, their acknowledged raison d’etre is to raise awareness about alternative forms of non-motorized transportation. By staging mass bicycle rides on the last Friday of each month the group hopes to promote the use of bikes while also highlighting the safety concerns faced by those on the roads but not in cars.

So far so good.

As someone who has, in the past, relied on a bike as my primary means of transportation, I can most certainly support their goal. Cycling is a healthy, non- polluting way to get from hither to yon and could be, for some people, a realistic way to commute. Furthermore, as anyone who has ever biked in our city will tell you, cycling in Winnipeg is only slightly less dangerous than cycling in Beirut.

Everyone living within the Perimeter Highway knows full well our city is home to most of the worst drivers in the civilized world. Clueless, selfish and dangerous doesn’t begin to do justice to the attitude many Winnipeggers exhibit when they slide behind the wheel. Whether it is the aggressive jock in the pickup truck, the vapid suburbanite in a minivan or some 12-year-old creep in a stolen car, all are united in blissful ignorance or sheer contempt for the rights of others sharing the road. Anyone who regularly drives in this city has to know that the streets of Winnipeg are a frightening place to drive a car, much less ride a bike.

Add to that the appalling state of our city streets and you can easily see the point Critical Mass is striving to make.

Unfortunately, like so many others who have a valid point to make, Critical Mass is on the verge of alienating public opinion by the way they choose to make that point. Many involved in the rides seem to be using them to respond in kind for every inconvenience or rude act they have endured. They gleefully seek to incite public anger in the selfish, short-sighted manner of the immature and in doing so make a mockery of their supposed purpose. Flouting traffic laws, clashing with the police and flipping off motorists might make you look like a hero to your own set but to the rest of us, you look like petulant children. More importantly, such behaviour completely overshadows your message and raises questions about the validity of your commitment to the cause. After all, by going out of your way to discredit the messenger you all but ensure the message won’t get a fair hearing.

This type of ill-mannered behaviour is an unfortunate and all too common form of self-indulgence utilized by many who feel they have an axe to grind. Recently, at the opening ceremonies of the Outgames being held in Montreal, the appointed representative of our federal government was shouted down during his welcoming remarks.

The reason for this churlish outburst directed at Public Works Minister Michael Fortier? Apparently those assembled felt the government, in spite of having helped sponsor the games to the tune of about $1.3 million and sending a senior cabinet minister to the opening ceremonies, is intolerant.

In the Outgames 2006 notebook online, Cyd Zeigler Jr. of outsports.com referred to this as “the saddest part of the opening ceremonies” and wondered why the crowd would boo a conservative “who DID come to support the games.” He further noted, “It’s no wonder gay people find little support among the conservatives they boo.”

Therein lies the rub.

People who feel they have a point to make are of course entitled and encouraged to speak their minds. What they are not entitled to do, however, is to castigate those who disagree. Shouting down someone else on the grounds they are intolerant and disrespectful of your viewpoint is so absurd as to bypass irony completely and speak to agenda. Likewise, acting like a selfish, churlish moron to protest that in others obfuscates your message and confuses the masses.

Whether your wish is to promote alternative means of transportation or alternative lifestyles, the attack dog, confrontational style so in vogue these days leaves much to be desired. Along with smacking of hypocrisy it also makes the sad error of ostracizing the average citizen. Most Canadians are moderate, tolerant people who can recognize the validity of a point well made. We don’t much care for gun boat diplomacy, however, and can become defensive when special interest groups train their guns upon us.

Hold your protests, make your points but remember, not being part of the solution — as you see it — doesn’t necessarily make the rest of us part of the problem.