Another one bites the dust

[Katman]

Will that happen? Most likely not.

For the sake of the future of motorcycling in New Zealand we had better start fucking trying.

[swbarnett]

We could reduce the toll without one single cent being spent.

You have a very poor understanding of human nature.

This we you talk about consists of a disparate group of individual humans. Within any group of humans you will get those like you that believe survival is more important than living, those that throw caution to the wind in the name of adrenalin and those like me who are somewhere in the middle. It is unrealistic to expect every individual in any given group to act in a way that will remove any chance of harm.

To live too safe a life is to not live at all.

What constitutes "too safe a life" varies from one person to another and cannot be imposed from outside.

[Katman]

Within any group of humans you will get those like you that believe survival is more important than living

You still haven't figured me out at all, have you?

I'm not primarily crusading to ensure the survival of individuals, I'm crusading to protect the future of motorcycling in New Zealand (and in doing so, protecting many of the very liberties you seem so happy to espouse).

[Usarka]

What constitutes "too safe a life" varies from one person to another and cannot be imposed from outside.

And sometimes varies between an individuals stages in life.

A lot of these preachers weren't always angels in years gone by. I often wonder how they would have reacted to being told how to ride when they were young(er) or more risk-orientated. My guess is the first word of the reply would have been Get.

[Katman]

A lot of these preachers weren't always angels in years gone by. I often wonder how they would have reacted to being told how to ride when they were young(er) or more risk-orientated. My guess is the first word of the reply would have been Get.

As society evolves/regresses (take your pick), the idea of "do as I say - not as I've done" becomes a perfectly valid argument.

[swbarnett]

For the sake of the future of motorcycling in New Zealand we had better start fucking trying.

It takes such a small percentage of motorcyclists being idiots to engender bad public and government feeling that this is just totally unrealistic. Better to just keep living our lives as we see fit and fight any attempt to force us to do otherwise.

[Edbear]

Agreed. One thing I do as an individual is start the ride by reminding myself to focus and be prepared for anything, making sure concentration is 100%. Then at the end asking myself what I could have done better, rather than accept the status quo with my own riding.

It's about fun, but also and making it home safe to ride another day.

As my 3 year old son tells me when I leave... "Daddy be sensible, be smart, be safe". Yes he is only 3.

Smart boy, musta inherited his mother's brains....

[swbarnett]

You still haven't figured me out at all, have you?

I'm not primarily crusading to ensure the survival of individuals, I'm crusading to protect the future of motorcycling in New Zealand (and in doing so, protecting many of the very liberties you seem so happy to espouse).

Actually, I applaud your motives. But what comes across is that you are trying to save motorcycling by having every motorcyclist ride in a way that doesn't look dangerous to those that know nothing about riding (whether it is in fact dangerous or not). It also appears that you want to reduce the road toll to zero. I don't believe that either of these outcomes are achievable.

Although you and I are after the same outcome I take a different view of what has a chance of achieving it. You can't change the attitude of everyone in any given group (if that group is large enough). The best you can hope to do is change the attitude of the majority. If the majority of motorcyclists already ride resonsibly then trying to get the rest to ride responsibly is tantamount to flogging a dead horse. Far better to attempt to change the attitude and perception of the majority of the non-motorcycling public as without a majority of negative feeling motorcycling is safe.

[Katman]

If the majority of motorcyclists already ride resonsibly then trying to get the rest to ride responsibly is tantamount to flogging a dead horse.

If 60% of motorcyclists are riding responsibly and we're still copping the flak we are then those 60% better start kicking the 40% in the fucking arse.

[Oblivion]

If 60% of motorcyclists are riding responsibly and we're still copping the flak we are then those 60% better start kicking the 40% in the fucking arse.

At least we are not giving them lectures on how to be safe and all that. That'll really keep the figure down

[Katman]

At least we are not giving them lectures on how to be safe and all that. That'll really keep the figure down

No, we're excusing their mediocrity/stupidity instead.

[Oblivion]

No, we're excusing their mediocrity/stupidity instead.

Had a quick look at your post before thinking, and I swear I saw exploited

[swbarnett]

If 60% of motorcyclists are riding responsibly and we're still copping the flak we are then those 60% better start kicking the 40% in the fucking arse.

I see where you're coming from and I wish it were that simple.

You could have 99% riding responsibly and the public attitude and perception of motorcyclists would probably not change. However, if 60% of the voting public had a good attitude towards motorcyclists then the government would have no mandate to come down hard on all of us because of the remaining 1%.

[Katman]

I see where you're coming from and I wish it were that simple.

Therein lies your problem.

It actually is that very fucking simple.

[Ocean1]

Therein lies your problem.

It actually is that very fucking simple.

He's not the one with a problem.

And if you stuck to fucking simple you'd be considered well qualified to speak on the subject.