The impact blogs can have on a news story became rather apparent in late January of 2006. Adam Krawesky, a Spacing contributor and one of Toronto’s most prolific photobloggers, was wandering through Kensington Market when he witnessed an altercation between a driver and a cyclist. He took a series of photos that would soon launch a local (and slightly global) blog phenomenon.
The story went something like this:
1. driver throws beef patty out of vehicle window
2. Cyclist throws it back into car
3. Driver gets out and yells at cyclist, dumps coffee on her
4. Man drives away, but decides to return
5. Upon return to scene, initiates fight with cyclist
6. Scuffle ensues [ photos begin at this point ]
7. People break it up, cops called
8. Incident goes crazy on blogs
Here at Spacing we caught wind of the incident early. The photos were originally posted on the blog City Noise, but that was soon shut down due to the large bandwidth demand [ read the comments section for a variety of opinions on who was the guilty party ]. Spacing became the next home for the story and we saw our web traffic increase to over 30,000 visitors a day for the next week. Read our post which has a detailed account from the cyclist involved in the altercation.
At the time, I referred to the photos as something akin to witnessing a great white shark and killer whale in a battle: we know it happens but we rarely, if ever, see it on film. The event sparked a larger discussion on how often cyclists and motorists come into conflict [ very often, it seems ]. Each side of the debate was thoroughly hashed out with a hundred different variations on who was the victim and/or guilty party. Also complicating the debate was the gender of the participants.
About four days after the event, Krawesky’s images appeared on the cover of the Toronto Star even though he refused to give the newspaper permission [ he had previously agreed to sell the pics to the Globe and Mail and give the cash to the cyclist, a single mother who works as a bike courier ]. Sadly, he has yet to be paid for the images as the Star claims the photos had become part of the larger public domain. The Star has offered a small settlement but Krawesky is still challenging the paper.
32 comments
I remember this (excellent) post, and although I’m glad to have had the opportunity to see the very dramatic photos, I can’t help but be a bit disturbed that Adam stood across the street with camera in hand instead of attempting to help out in some way. Though perhaps photographic evidence/bringing media attention to the story is a valid sort of help? Absolutely not trying to make any sort of moral judgement, I know events can happen very quickly, it just made me think about the many possible reactions he could have had, and what the different outcomes might have been. Would be interesting to hear his take on it.
(Good luck with the Star fight, Adam, they totally owe you.)
I am still amused at the term, “beef patty on a bun”. When did we stop calling them hamburgers?
Beef patties are not hamburgers. They’re of the Carribbean kind.
erin,
Who should Adam have helped?
Should he have helped the bike courier, who precipitated the incident be opening a car door and throwing the litter in the drivers face, or should he have helped the driver, who retaliated by throwing coffee back at the courier?
Should he have helped the bike courier, who then keyed the driver’s car, or should he have helped the driver, who reacted by trying to stomp the courier’s bike?
As the police determined, littering and retaliation are wrong, but so is assault and vandalism.
The courier doesn’t get a free pass because she is a woman instead of a man, or because she had a bike instead of a car.
Thank you Adam for your photographic record. It’s too bad you were unable to also capture images of the original patty-flinging.
If I had a dime for every person who I spoke to about this incident who blamed the female cyclist for what happened and a quarter for every person who defended the driver …
Thank you Adam for putting the face of road rage front and centre in the news.
How much would you have?
Also, what if you had a hammer?
Yeesh! Sue – I had hoped I made it clear that I wasn’t interested in making a moral judgement, on Adam or any of the parties involved. I just wanted to discuss other actions Adam or any other witnesses could have taken, and what readers would have done (or would like to think they would have done) had they found themselves in the same situation. Perhaps instead of using the word “help” I should have used the word “intervene” or “participate”. In this situation, it’s obvious there were other pedestrians who chose to get involved directly (physically or otherwise, such as calling the police), and I’m dead curious as to why Adam decided to remain an observer and whether or not he put any conscious thought into that decision or whether it was an impulse of the moment.
Either way, it seems neither this forum, nor the original one on City Noise, are able to discuss it philosophically, or even objectively (cf. Shawn Micallef’s comment). Which I think is a bummer, because it’s a very interesting psychological situation, from any angle.
I think it was hashed out just fine on City Noise.
And she didn’t key the car — her lock hit the car when she was knocked around. No one ever saw her key the door.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to actually use a hammer, I was just playing along on Tino’s “If I had….” lines, and that song “If I had a hammer” popped into my head. Poorly placed non sequitur, my bad. I think Sue was being reasonable though, and discussing it like you wanted. I don’t think she was condemning you, Erin.
Apart from catching these incendiary images, and seeing how the Toronto Star behaves, the huge discussion they generated, in a few different directions, have been as important a legacy of these photos.
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It looks to me, in the pictures, that the physical violence part happened quickly (all those shots probably happened within 5-6-7 seconds — enough time for Adam to shoot one after the other), and within a couple shots other people were involved (and by then Adam was across the street and close by) and pulling them apart. So perhaps Adam’s help wasn’t needed. As long as there was help, Adam can continue to photograph.
A theory> I would also posit, without ever talking to Adam about this, that he’s an instinctive photographer. He walks around all day taking picture — i figure his unconscious response when he see’s something/anything is to raise his camera and start shooting. So it wasn’t a “should i help or should i shoot” cognitive process, the shooting happened automatically for Adam. Had nobody else been around, I bet Adam would have intervened, like any other person may have, but when that thought may have came into his head, other people were already in there.
Thanks for your response Shawn – I don’t know Adam at all, but I had wondered if he was essentially living through his camera, walking around the streets and seeing through the lens, which would certainly be understandable. As for me, I’d like to think I would have stepped in to help somehow (and as I mentioned in my first post, I think Adam’s providing a photo record is a valid form of help, sadly I’m a crap photog), but who knows what would have happened in reality, that dude looked seriously angry, so maybe I would have kept going. Or maybe I would have stepped in to help physically and been the random seriously-injured-third-party. Either way, I don’t want to dictate a “right” or “wrong” to Adam’s actions, just found it interesting to think what the result could have been had he chosen differently. Hope I didn’t ruffle too many feathers.
Matthew – I have to admit to not being able to finish the last 50 or so comments on City Noise, but aside from a few insightful comments (ilifer, nex, JayMTL, Vancouver Cyclist) I found the discussion was mostly about assigning blame and deciding who was “right” and who was “wrong” (and in some cases, what should be done to them as a result).
Ugh. Tsk tsk to The Star. They know the monetary worth of photojournalism. If I wanted to take some pictures from their website and put them in a magazine and sell it, I doubt they’d be as lax about the pictures being in the “larger public domain”.
This was the great blog story of ’06. It was the ultimate conceptual razor that sliced through two opposing demographic mindsets. Nice work. Don’t expect anything from the Star, they just cut a bunch of people and are being hit hard by new media channels like Spacing and Craigslist.
Matthew – you wrote: “And she didn’t key the car  her lock hit the car when she was knocked around. No one ever saw her key the door.”
By her own account, ( https://spacing.ca/toronto/?p=491 ) the courier keyed the car, albeit accidentally:
“It was at that point that my bike lock key (that I wear on a bracelet around my wrist) scratched his car.”
erin – you wrote: “but who knows what would have happened in reality, that dude looked seriously angry, so maybe I would have kept going”
I think it’s clear that you are making a moral judgment about the driver, despite your disclaimers. I believe you may be right, but I don’t believe you can be sure.
Shawn – never mind, I got your reference.
This just may be a matter of semantics, but keying a door is something you do actively and knowingly. Her bike key accidentally scratched the door. I do not consider that keying.
it seems I forgot to add the word “key” before the word “lock” when I previous wrote, “her lock hit the car when she was knocked around. No one ever saw her key the door.”
Krawesky *did* do something: He documented the incident.
The _Star_’s budget cuts have nothing to do with any assholism about copyright.
Matthew, fair enough. But I note that the police who attended the scene disagreed that the, er, key-related activity could have been an accident, as the courier went on to comment (same source):
“…but the police informed me that if I went ahead and placed those charges then they would have to charge me with mischeif (sp) for the scratch.”
My whole point is that when the available evidence shows that both parties are at fault, to argue that one party is *more* at fault than the other is to make a value judgment based on individual bias, which is unhelpful.
I can’t believe what I’m reading, that people are sympathetic to this asshole driver.There’s no debate here. That poor woman, and a single-mommy no less. What kind of prick deliberately turns his car around and gets in a fight with a woman, on a bike on the street. he deserves whatever he gets for tossing crap out of the window. Typical, self-centered meat-head. The look on his face in the last pic says it all. This guy is an asshole. The way the story should have read is, 1) Asshole throws stuff out of window. 2) Cyclist sends it back, good for her. 3) Asshole gets out and assaults a woman, knows it’s a woman, and keeps on assaulting her. 4) Asshole starts to drive away, but decides he wasn’t a big enough asshole the first time, so in order to brag to his asshole buddies later, he turns around to really show that single mother who is boss 5) Guy will continue to be…an asshole, but think he is one cool dude, the rest of his life.
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Thank you Steve, for making my point so eloquently.
Sue, I will grant you that had she not tossed back what he tossed out, all of this could have been avoided. BUT. Look at the pictures and the look on this guys face. Does his level of anger fit this situation? He could’ve drove away and had it all end there. He chose, intentionally, to turn around and “make his point”. he tossed something out the window and someone bruised his tender little “tough guy” ego by calling him on it. And let’s say what he tossed out had hit another car window and caused someone to swerve and hit something or someone. I’ve been on a bike when drivers fly by and either yell or throw shit. Not a comfortable spot to be in. In car vs. bike, cars win everytime.
Let’s say there was no one around, no witnesses or bystanders to intervene. What do you think would’ve happened to this woman then? At what point would this jerk have decided she had had enough and his “point” would have been made? Blood? Unconsciousness. Broken arm. She’s a single mother who is a bicycle messenger for crying out loud, She can’t do her job with a broken arm or fractured skull. I appreciate your “fairness”, but come on. This guy is a jerk and if it wasn’t this woman, it would’ve been someone else who set him off.
At the very least, it must’ve been the way I was raised.
Men don’t hit women
Plus, if I were dumb enough to throw something out of my car and someone tossed it back, I’d be embarrassed and apologize. I can’t imagine I would go out of my way to attack them. Especially a girl/woman/mother (what if her child were with her?)
This man has no regard for the welfare of others. It’s his world.
Who’s my Dog, woo-woo, You duh Man!!! Bro’s befo’ Ho’s. yea, Baby, that’s what I’m talkin `bout. WOO! I Kicked that bitch’s ass.
Wow.
There is a difference between, “in the moment” and “intent”. For instance, the difference between shooting your’ spouse when you’ve caught them in bed with your’ neighbor or plotting to kill them next month with poison for the insurance $$$.I’m not justifying either person’s initial behavior. He tossed something out of his window. Stupid. She, saw him throw it, got pissed, in the moment, tossed it back in his car. Not the smartest move. Both could’ve let it go there. he got out of his car, threw coffee and grabbed her. Again, I’ll even give him being caught up in the moment. Maybe he wanted to just ‘send a message” or “scare her”, that it wasn’t the “cool” thing to do(same message she was sending him).
At this point, he could’ve got in his car, yell “Bitch”, she could yell, “Prick” and he drives away, they both have a story, it’s over.
HE TURNED AROUND, after having time to think about it, which basically shows intent (he wasn’t going back to ask for a date). And, again, he first starts in on her bike (pic. 1).No bike equals a single mom who can’t do her job. After that, without outside intervention, what would he have done to her (pics 2 and 3)? I would speculate she would’ve come out on the losing end (last pic is a pic that says, “I’m gonna kill You, bitch!”). Note: 4 guys holding him back. But again, bottom line.
He’s an asshole.
You should be thankful this anger was at least exposed now with no one getting seriously hurt. Time-Bomb. It also looks like “Mr. Suburbia” harbors a little anger towards “Hip,Conscious,City-Girl” types, maybe she wasn’t “babeliscious” enough for him..if only she had wore her Tommy Hilfiger T-shirt that day.
You all see what I mean now, don’t you?
So it’s not as morally wrong to assault a woman who doesn’t have children? Not as morally wrong to assault a woman who does have a husband?
Single mothers do have very rough situations, but it’s unfair to play it up that way, especially since none of that has any relevance in this situation. Only her own actions do.
Single mother, mother or not. Hitting a woman, not cool. Turning a car around and assaulting a woman, to the point where 4 guys are holding you back, anger issues. And no Sue, I’m not getting what you mean. I wasn’t justifying her actions.
Sue, I am curious what your’ reaction would be if some guy was coming at you with that look on his face.
I was just pointing out the fact you kept mentioning how he was assaulting a single mother. He couldn’t have known.
Sue said
My whole point is that when the available evidence shows that both parties are at fault, to argue that one party is *more* at fault than the other is to make a value judgment based on individual bias, which is unhelpful.
I’m assuming You hold the woman at as much fault as the guy? The woman in the photos who is being attacked by the guy being held back? The guy who is stomping on her bike and grabbed her head for tossing back something he tossed out of the window of his car?
And Yes, I’ll admit individual bias to some degree, any guy that would go after a woman like this…is a dickhead. There, there’s my bias. She may be the biggest jerk in the world, but I don’t see anything she did that warrants his reaction.
True, Gloria. Still, anyone starts stompin’ on my bike though, and their in for a really bad day, and I don’t make my living on my bike.
Ya’ don’t mess with someone’s bike. : – )
so i’m over a week late into this discussion, i didn’t know it was happening. usually i read the spacing wire regularly but i lapsed for a bit.
i’ve written extensively about this incident, and i’ll try to summarize instead of paste previous responses from other places.
i understand the question of why didn’t i help. the instant, emotional reaction to these images is wolf attacks lamb, photographer enjoys carnage. but, if you look carefully, you’ll see in the sequence that he’s stomping her bike, not her. she then tries to push him away to protect her bike, they get locked up, then people intervene. the point between the stomping and the intervention is only a few seconds. my first reaction is to photograph, i make no apologies or excuses for that. if you are a photographer and/or journalist, you will understand. that accounts for a few seconds until i understand what’s happening. when i saw that he wasn’t punching her, and she was holding her own in the tussle, i continued to photograph. if he was punching her or otherwise causing her serious bodily harm, i would have stepped in, but i still would have shot a few frames in pure reaction, and i have no problem with that. if you do, i don’t care.
i followed the guy back to his car and photographed his license plate number. he took a baseball bat out of his trunk and ran at me with it, raised over his head. i helped.
it has been educational to read the overwhelming response to these images. most interesting is that most people, whether online to each other or in conversation to me, are reacting to the images, and not the story. they believe the images *are* the story. to me, their response is an emotional reaction to the images, and it escalates from there. i have noticed that these violent images have transferred their violence to the viewers who responded so hatefully to the man, the woman, and each other on citynoise and elsewhere. you can see even in this thread how quickly passions were inflamed. what these pictures have taught me most is the potential for photographs to misinform and misdirect attention from the whole story of which they are only one part.
i could have pressed assault charges on the man for raising the bat at me, but after i published the photographs online and they sparked such a controversy, i felt that justice had already been served.
the man had a baseball bat in his trunk in the middle of winter, and it is my guess (but only a guess) that he has had incidents of road rage in the past. i hope that the images of himself in total rage provided him with an opportunity for self reflection, both literally and figuratively, so that he might not endanger someone the next time he gets angry.
i hope that the photos and the discussion they created will help us to see how exponentially a violent situation can grow if you choose to escalate it.
I would have gladly kicked the auto driver in the nuts. Any asshole who throws garbage out the window of their car, moving or not deserves to be beaten. I’ve seen dickheads throw out entire bags of fast food garbage and ashtrays of butts. Congratulations and best wishes to the bicyclist. Anyone who supports the driver is just a f**king piece of shit.
In response to Sue’s spirited defense of violence
Witness accounts place the gentleman, after throwing 2 cups of coffee (his and his girlfriend), grabbing the messenger by her clothing and pushing her against the hood of his car in the initial confrontation.
The man keyed his own car, he did use her key to do it and as a result of a violent act which he initiated to violence.
Just in case you weren’t aware of that as in your posts it seems pretty important to you that she deliberately keyed his car.
The only thing she did, right or wrong, was toss his litter back into his car, and not into his face either.
The gentleman precipitated all violence and acknowledges same.
Not that keying a car justifies violence and I know you weren’t saying it did, except that you did infer, imply and everything but say it.