Righteous indignance

[Katman]

It occurs to me that crying out in righteous indignance only really has a chance of working if one is seen to bear the slightest resemblance to being righteous.

As we head back into the killing season, is it not perhaps time for BRONZ to sit back and recognise the beam in our own eye and take steps to rein in some of the recklessness displayed by many motorcyclists?

Until we are seen to be intolerant of those who show no regard for the constraints that supposedly apply to us all we will never be given a favourable ear.

[nodrog:Me]

It occurs to me that crying out in righteous indignance only really has a chance of working if one is seen to bear the slightest resemblance to being righteous.

As we head back into the killing season, is it not perhaps time for BRONZ to sit back and recognise the beam in our own eye and take steps to rein in some of the recklessness displayed by many motorcyclists?

Until we are seen to be intolerant of those who show no regard for the constraints that supposedly apply to us all we will never be given a favourable ear.

Wanna root?

[Katman]

Wanna root?

Can't you tell? - I've got a headache.

[shrub]

Until we are seen to be intolerant of those who show no regard for the constraints that supposedly apply to us all we will never be given a favourable ear.

So what are these constraints?

[Katman]

So what are these constraints?

For a start......

Treating the road as something we share equally with all other road users - instead of as a personal racetrack.

Trying to be as little of a burden to society as we reasonably can instead of having the attitude that our actions are no-one's business but our own.

[saxet]

Well I've got no problem with that.

[shrub]

For a start......

Treating the road as something we share equally with all other road users - instead of as a personal racetrack.

OK, I assume you're talking speed? I think you have started a fight that cannot be won because performance is one of the most attractive parts of a motorcycle. However if we want to gain the support of Mike and Mary Pajero, you're right, blitzing past them on a corner is not a good idea, but will they notice if most of us change our behaviour?

Trying to be as little of a burden to society as we reasonably can instead of having the attitude that our actions are no-one's business but our own

Hmmm... not sure what you mean there mate, and that's a philosophy that flies in the face of the modern mindset that "as long as I'm OK nobody else matters".

[Katman]

Hmmm... not sure what you mean there mate, and that's a philosophy that flies in the face of the modern mindset that "as long as I'm OK nobody else matters".

And while you stay OK, maybe nobody else does matter.

But when it all turns to shit there's plenty of others who get to suffer through your actions.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Wanna root?

Slut!!!!!!

[avgas]

[BAY CITY MOTORCYCLES]

Slut!!!!!!

Oh mate you have no idea with this dude!

[bluninja]

It occurs to me that crying out in righteous indignance only really has a chance of working if one is seen to bear the slightest resemblance to being righteous.

I want action not tears.

As we head back into the killing season, is it not perhaps time for BRONZ to sit back and recognise the beam in our own eye and take steps to rein in some of the recklessness displayed by many motorcyclists?

So who gave them rights to speak on other bikers behalf, let alone rights to try controlling them? I would agree that an organisation trying to effect change should try to be balanced in their spoutings to gain traction with the general public.

Until we are seen to be intolerant of those who show no regard for the constraints that supposedly apply to us all we will never be given a favourable ear.

Is that we ("I'm a member of BRONZ"), or we (I'm a motrocyclist in NZ)?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Oh mate you have no idea with this dude!

Actually...I was just 'borrowing' from him!

[shrub]

And while you stay OK, maybe nobody else does matter.

But when it all turns to shit there's plenty of others who get to suffer through your actions.

Yeah, been there, done that - I nearly killed myself on a bike in 82 and as a father I can't imagine how my parents would have felt as they waited for me to get out of intensive care - nearly 2 weeks.

I think the key to changing behaviour amongst riders is to get people to realise that they're not invincible, and that applies to ALL of us. I ride every day, have done lots of courses etc, I like to think I know what I'm doing, and the last time I had an off was when a Katana 1100 was a state of the art superbike, but a couple of weeks ago I had a big wake up call. I was in a hurry, the roads were wet and the car I was following didn't do what I was expecting, so long story short I came very close to binning it. It was slow speed, so the odds are good nobody would be hurt; but I didn't pay attention to what was going on, I expected another road user to do something specific without checking with him first and I allowed being in a hurry to determine how I rode. I am ashamed to admit it, but what saved me was the guy in the lane beside me seeing what was happening and giving me space.

I am fucking glad it happened though because it reminded me that crashes don't care how good a rider you think you are.

[Katman]

I would agree that an organisation trying to effect change should try to be balanced in their spoutings to gain traction with the general public.

Along with being "balanced in their spoutings" there needs to be an understanding that life is full a compromises. Before we can expect to have the right to demand anything we need to realise that something is expected of us in return.

Slashing the dollar figure that we cost the country would be a great start.