Biker Down threads!

[RantyDave]

I say if you dont like em dont read em.

That was covered in the first post.

For what it's worth, which is very little, I don't mind them at all. I feel there's no harm in being reminded that falling off and dying is not some nebulous concept but rather that it's something real, common and it's impact spreads much further than merely 'the fallen'.

Dave

[thecharmed01]

I'm fairly new to KB, but I thought that the fact there are people in this community that care enough about others (whether known to them or not) to post up a thread like that when they have been in a bad situation/fatal accident was something that appealed to me.

I can see the sides of the people who argue it breeds trolls who post RIP with no feeling, but then I also wonder, how do you know that the people posting are doing it without basis when you cant see them and you dont know why or how they feel when they post. Maybe they just are unable to word a reply that says how they feel, or they are embarrassed by their feelings, or even just offering their condolences, to help the family see that their loved one is important to someone out there in the world!

I have an extremely large family, who have had many funerals through my youth and adulthood and I find it fascinating that people condemn others for merely posting RIP when I cant even count the number of times, at a funeral or memorial service, I have seen otherwise eloquent speakers completely lost for words and unable to say much other than 'may they rest in peace' before stepping down.
Even at funerals of distant family, I was expected to go, yet I didnt know the person overly well - not well enough to even recognise them on the street, yet I still felt sad that they had passed. Not because I knew them, but because in their passing, they leave behind such a wake of pain for the people who loved and cared for them, and will miss them every day.

I look at biker down threads in the same way.
That was a person, who although I may not have known them, they shared a common interest to me - motorbikes.
Whether I knew them personally or not, I will always feel a connection which reminds me of my own (and my family & friends) mortality, and the suffering that their family and close friends will go through because of them passing - particularly if they passed due to a motorbike related incident.

I have little concern to how any person lived their life, if they pass young then that is a tragedy no matter what as you never will know whether given time, they could have made something worthwhile of themselves, even if they were a 'scumbag' as someone earlier so politely put it.
Even a 'scumbag' has a family who may or may not have seen that side of them so will miss them and be devastated by losing them. It's them that condolences are for... not the 'scumbag'.

This is a forum full of adults, is it really so hard to not click on the thread if you dont want to view it?

Just my 2c.....

[WelshWizard]

I'm fairly new to KB, but I thought that the fact there are people in this community that care enough about others (whether known to them or not) to post up a thread like that when they have been in a bad situation/fatal accident was something that appealed to me.

I can see the sides of the people who argue it breeds trolls who post RIP with no feeling, but then I also wonder, how do you know that the people posting are doing it without basis when you cant see them and you dont know why or how they feel when they post. Maybe they just are unable to word a reply that says how they feel, or they are embarrassed by their feelings, or even just offering their condolences, to help the family see that their loved one is important to someone out there in the world!

I have an extremely large family, who have had many funerals through my youth and adulthood and I find it fascinating that people condemn others for merely posting RIP when I cant even count the number of times, at a funeral or memorial service, I have seen otherwise eloquent speakers completely lost for words and unable to say much other than 'may they rest in peace' before stepping down.
Even at funerals of distant family, I was expected to go, yet I didnt know the person overly well - not well enough to even recognise them on the street, yet I still felt sad that they had passed. Not because I knew them, but because in their passing, they leave behind such a wake of pain for the people who loved and cared for them, and will miss them every day.

I look at biker down threads in the same way.
That was a person, who although I may not have known them, they shared a common interest to me - motorbikes.
Whether I knew them personally or not, I will always feel a connection which reminds me of my own (and my family & friends) mortality, and the suffering that their family and close friends will go through because of them passing - particularly if they passed due to a motorbike related incident.

I have little concern to how any person lived their life, if they pass young then that is a tragedy no matter what as you never will know whether given time, they could have made something worthwhile of themselves, even if they were a 'scumbag' as someone earlier so politely put it.
Even a 'scumbag' has a family who may or may not have seen that side of them so will miss them and be devastated by losing them. It's them that condolences are for... not the 'scumbag'.

This is a forum full of adults, is it really so hard to not click on the thread if you dont want to view it?

Just my 2c.....

Well put forward

[Katman]

even if they were a 'scumbag' as someone earlier so politely put it.

You'll get used to me.

[Korumba]

Well put forward

I second that, very much more than 2cents worth. Thank you thecharmed01

[sunhuntin]

I second that, very much more than 2cents worth. Thank you thecharmed01

i will 3rd that... a very eloquent post. well done.

[thecharmed01]

i will 3rd that... a very eloquent post. well done.

Just how I feel..... but thanks

[Mom]

You'll get used to me.

You think?

Wow, it is funny to see this back up on here again.

[Tink]

The recent death around the coro has made me think about a few things, it has made me think that could have been someone I love and care for and how awful it would be, it cruelly reminds me of my own mortality and of those I love.
I did not know the person in question but this incident has been on my mind and has affected me.
I think one of the reasons it has affected me, is seeing/reading how it has affected those that were there, it is never nice to see with your own eyes.

I think biker down threads can be a good way for people to vent, to deal with emotions that these awful events stir up. Some people are genuine in their feelings, others do seem to just jump on the bandwagon because they feel its what they should do

What makes me sad though, is that our society has become so desensitised and accustomed to death that it does not bother (some) people.
As a kid I thought it was cool to be not affected by death and acted like it meant nothing to me (ah how we mature!) but now....working in the profession I do, I think I have become a lot more aware and more affected by death, even though I am faced with it most days.

I am the first to admit that dying does scare me, I have way too many things I want to do and achieve in this life and we only get one! That isn't to say I will stop doing things that can be dangerous for fear of dying...you weigh up the good and the bad and decide what outweighs the other.

With respect to condolences for 'bad' people, nothing is black and white in this world, people are neither good nor bad, we are all capable of both to varying degrees.

I don't think that just because you have a wife/husband and children you should stop riding, there are plenty of things that are risky and could kill you that people do everyday. Maybe more apt to stop riding like a madman on the road (not that people should probably be doing it anyway) and hit a track?

Anyway....thats quite a few random rants, I think too much

Good words!

I second that, very much more than 2cents worth. Thank you thecharmed01

Faith is in believing .. you take risks in any sport or profession... 2 cents is just a minor, I have learnt that kiwis are very smart people.. after living many years in america & europe... sadness happens everywhere... learn and live but I agree third that.

[CookMySock]

I reckon the Rider Down threads are just morbid too, have no useful purpose.

They have made me think again and again. The most recent one has been horribly graphic, and it makes me think carefully about what my responsibilities are. I show them to people I am teaching and let them see what the real consequences are, and that there is a dark side to this motocycling bizo. It makes it very clear to them that they must be able to think, steer, and brake, and cope with brain lock, and that things do happen outside their control.

So they are useful to me and people I love.

Steve

[howdamnhard]

I'm fairly new to KB, but I thought that the fact there are people in this community that care enough about others (whether known to them or not) to post up a thread like that when they have been in a bad situation/fatal accident was something that appealed to me.

I can see the sides of the people who argue it breeds trolls who post RIP with no feeling, but then I also wonder, how do you know that the people posting are doing it without basis when you cant see them and you dont know why or how they feel when they post. Maybe they just are unable to word a reply that says how they feel, or they are embarrassed by their feelings, or even just offering their condolences, to help the family see that their loved one is important to someone out there in the world!

I have an extremely large family, who have had many funerals through my youth and adulthood and I find it fascinating that people condemn others for merely posting RIP when I cant even count the number of times, at a funeral or memorial service, I have seen otherwise eloquent speakers completely lost for words and unable to say much other than 'may they rest in peace' before stepping down.
Even at funerals of distant family, I was expected to go, yet I didnt know the person overly well - not well enough to even recognise them on the street, yet I still felt sad that they had passed. Not because I knew them, but because in their passing, they leave behind such a wake of pain for the people who loved and cared for them, and will miss them every day.

I look at biker down threads in the same way.
That was a person, who although I may not have known them, they shared a common interest to me - motorbikes.
Whether I knew them personally or not, I will always feel a connection which reminds me of my own (and my family & friends) mortality, and the suffering that their family and close friends will go through because of them passing - particularly if they passed due to a motorbike related incident.

I have little concern to how any person lived their life, if they pass young then that is a tragedy no matter what as you never will know whether given time, they could have made something worthwhile of themselves, even if they were a 'scumbag' as someone earlier so politely put it.
Even a 'scumbag' has a family who may or may not have seen that side of them so will miss them and be devastated by losing them. It's them that condolences are for... not the 'scumbag'.

This is a forum full of adults, is it really so hard to not click on the thread if you dont want to view it?

Just my 2c.....

Well said,you show a lot of insight.

[Katman]

Lets not forget that there were many different facets to the dislike of these threads.

They are now treated in a different manner thanks to the site organisers but once upon a time it seemed like some sort of obscene race to be the first to post the biker down thread. Quite often no information was known and it resulted in countless people worried sick until they had managed to account for those that they knew were out on their bikes.

[snuffles]

I'm fairly new to KB, but I thought that the fact there are people in this community that care enough about others (whether known to them or not) to post up a thread like that when they have been in a bad situation/fatal accident was something that appealed to me.

I can see the sides of the people who argue it breeds trolls who post RIP with no feeling, but then I also wonder, how do you know that the people posting are doing it without basis when you cant see them and you dont know why or how they feel when they post. Maybe they just are unable to word a reply that says how they feel, or they are embarrassed by their feelings, or even just offering their condolences, to help the family see that their loved one is important to someone out there in the world!

I have an extremely large family, who have had many funerals through my youth and adulthood and I find it fascinating that people condemn others for merely posting RIP when I cant even count the number of times, at a funeral or memorial service, I have seen otherwise eloquent speakers completely lost for words and unable to say much other than 'may they rest in peace' before stepping down.
Even at funerals of distant family, I was expected to go, yet I didnt know the person overly well - not well enough to even recognise them on the street, yet I still felt sad that they had passed. Not because I knew them, but because in their passing, they leave behind such a wake of pain for the people who loved and cared for them, and will miss them every day.

I look at biker down threads in the same way.
That was a person, who although I may not have known them, they shared a common interest to me - motorbikes.
Whether I knew them personally or not, I will always feel a connection which reminds me of my own (and my family & friends) mortality, and the suffering that their family and close friends will go through because of them passing - particularly if they passed due to a motorbike related incident.

I have little concern to how any person lived their life, if they pass young then that is a tragedy no matter what as you never will know whether given time, they could have made something worthwhile of themselves, even if they were a 'scumbag' as someone earlier so politely put it.
Even a 'scumbag' has a family who may or may not have seen that side of them so will miss them and be devastated by losing them. It's them that condolences are for... not the 'scumbag'.

This is a forum full of adults, is it really so hard to not click on the thread if you dont want to view it?

Just my 2c.....

Harden up poofter

[PrincessBandit]

Harden up poofter

Said in such a caring sharing way....? What, no Bad boy

(yes, and I did read your signature)

[Katman]

(yes, and I did read your signature)

No-one ever reads those, do they?