Wednesday, March 21, 2001

Larry Robinson, please accept my sympathy for your condition. Facing life while burdened by unreasonable fears can be tough. I hope you get professional help.

Your phobias are, however, your problem, not mine. I assume from your comments that, if you were to meet me and my two unleased dogs on the bike path, you would be most worried about them attacking you. If so, you would be mistaken.

Statistically, people are far more likely to be injured by other people than by dogs. Practically, in my case, you would also be wrong because I can't stand whiners.

If I were to give into my natural (and in your case justifiable) urge to slap you silly, would you try to pass a law to have all men outlawed from the bike paths?

Of course not. You would go to the courts where these things are handled. They may be slow and ineffective, but they are the avenue our society proscribes for settling disputes. Your refusal to use them only proves how groundless you know your complaints to be.

Here is more bad news for you, Mr. Robinson: Lake Peachtree is full of snapping turtles and poisonous snakes that will bite you if molested. Beaver will damage your trees and rabbits will ruin your garden. Children will laugh and scream as they cut through your yard. Teenagers will learn to drive on the same cart paths you walk on and pet owners will walk unleased dogs past your house. Trees will even drop branches on your car.

You knew these facts when you moved to Peachtree City, as did we all. In fact, they represent the very reasons the rest of us choose to live here. If psychological problems prevent you or your wife from any longer accepting them, I have a solution for you: move out. Don't try to destroy what the rest of us came to this town for just to assuage your own overblown fears.

Bob Biles

Peachtree City

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