Biker Down threads!

[dangerous]

Should I reply to my neighbour "Get stuffed, I don't know him, so who give a shit " ?

I hear ya aye, but that is a slightly diferent senario... you know ya neighbour and when put on the spot like that of course it is respectfull to pass best whishes on.

MOM, well done starting this thread most are to afaraid to kick up a stink or say there thoughts due to the PC do gooders world NZ is.
I dont get the hundreds that post ... or rip either (different if the dead is knowen to them) I think its cos socity dicktates that we should, rather than just thinking to ya self when hearing such news... "ahhh fuck it not again, sad times for familys etc" no we have to post it cos the person next to you did and if you dont you will be frowned upon.

[oldrider]

All mammals seem to get excited at a new birth or a death, we are just mimicking thousands of years of evolution of our kind.

Such behaviour is neither right or wrong, I think it is an expression of our vulnerability.

Your individual reaction is both personal and unique, feel free to express yourself as you will.

I will still respect you in the morning. Cheers John.

[Motig]

I'm with you Mom. To put it bluntly its bloody depressing especially at the rate it seems to be happening at the moment. From memory I think I suggested on a similar topic that perhaps we should have a seperate heading/forum (Biker Down) perhaps? Whadda ya reckon folks?

[T.W.R]

Well, if I am walking up the road, and a pass a neighbour, and say a good morning, as you do. And he (or she) says, "oh well, my (uncle, father, toilet cleaner , pimp whatever) died last night", I will reply "Oh dear, I'm really sorry to hear that. My condolences to the family " etc. Now, if I am willing to do that much for a person who I have never heard of, and know nothing whatsoever about , why should I not do as much for someone with whom I share at least one thing in common?

Even if I do not know the person, somone reading the thread may, and take some consolation from the expressions of sympathy, no matter how conventional.

Should I reply to my neighbour "Get stuffed, I don't know him, so who give a shit " ?

Exactly! it's a bit of common decency and respect for the person it's something that supposedly separates us from animals, of which there are plenty who lack it these days

And for those who are sitting on a pedestal blow-assing about morbid obsession and hollow statements of concern for fellow motorcyclists who have been taken Most of you haven't been right on that doorstep and almost gone through!
Some of us have been right there and come away with a better sense of what we really are as motorcyclists and know the pain and suffering that a fallen biker may have endured before lights out.

You want a bit of reality of what happens go here but be warned it is F@#*ING!!! GRAPHIC but it's reality, it'll actually teach plenty about not just how vunerable we are but also a bit about having decent bloody LEATHER gear and wearing it!
So have a bit sympathy and respect for those who pull the curtain for the final time, a small gesture isn't much but it counts in any form.

[pritch]

Generally I don't respond to the threads. One feels sympathy but can't think of anything sensible to say, so say nothing.

Today I did respond, but that was occasioned by other thoughts. One does, however feel sympathy for family of the deceased.

It is possible that the rush to report a "biker down" before any details are known should be discouraged. That generally only causes others in the area unnecessary worry.

[325rocket]

The only reason I read them is in case it was a member of k.b, if it is I like to read through their posts to get a feel for the person. I look at it as a mark of respect and the least I can do.
Others might disagree but each to their own.

[Mom]

Ok to clarify a bit more then.

If I meet a neighbour of mine and they say my blah, blah died then of course I am going to offer my condolences, that is human. I know my neighbour not the person that died, so I offer my condolences to my neighbour.

I dont read the death notices in the Harold everyday and I certainly dont randomly send condolence cards to all the families that have lost a loved one.

[jafar]

Every time I see a 'biker down' heading my heart sinks, one less of us. It makes me aware that we are here for a good time not a long time, that @ any time our number may be called & we may not make it home tonight. For some that will be permanent , for others it will be a long stay in hospital or worse.
Often the very least we can do is offer our sympathy, even if it is only on a internet forum that the family is unlikely to ever visit.

[onearmedbandit]

I think its cos socity dicktates that we should, rather than just thinking to ya self when hearing such news... "ahhh fuck it not again, sad times for familys etc" no we have to post it cos the person next to you did and if you dont you will be frowned upon.

Either you are taking the piss or that is the stupidest thing I've seen you ever post.

[Crisis management]

Good on you Mom for posting this, I agree whole heartedly with the sentiments. From my viewpoint I don't owe another biker any greater respect than any other person simply because they ride a bike, I don't send condolence messages to every family that loses someone so why should I post about a biker thats passed away.
If it's someone I know I will offer my condolences, otherwise, sorry, but I'm not going to offer some shallow word or two, it's not that I don't care but I'm not a funeral groupie and I'm not going to interfeer with others true grief by sticking my nose in.
My apologies if this offends anyone but the constant RIP threads certainly offend my sensitivities.

[Headbanger]

I'm going to sit on the fence, On the one hand I'm pretty much in agreement with the views expressed by MOM, But hell, If the good people of KB want to mark the death of bikers on the road, so be it.

Only ever posted in the odd "Biker down" thread if I personally knew the person.

[Trudes]

The only reason I read them is in case it was a member of k.b, if it is I like to read through their posts to get a feel for the person. I look at it as a mark of respect and the least I can do.
Others might disagree but each to their own.

+1........

[Ixion]

What I do not understand (genuinely) is why people should think it offensive, or be so opposed to it. I can well understand those who say that it seems pointless and therefore they do not do it, I seldom do myself. But others are overtly hostile to the idea.

It does no harm, may do some good.

A while ago , when the four motorcyclists were killed by the Austrienne, a number of people, knowing that I ride, commented on the tragedy to me, with conventional comments of good will (" not friends of yours I hope, Very sad, terrible for the family " etc).

They did not know the motorcyclists, were not riders themselves, but , figuratively speaking raised their hats and bowed. I thought it seemly of them.

Would those who are strident about these postings have similarly berated them

[car]

So have a bit sympathy and respect for those who pull the curtain for the final time, a small gesture isn't much but it counts in any form.

Long time no see!

I hate to disagree with you, but I'm going to.

There are plenty here who could put me to shame, I'm sure, and I can think of a couple whose brass neck and balls of steel are inspirational. However, I've been close more times than I care to, and my collection of X-rays, CT scans and MRIs is large, and stretches back thirty years, with scars to match. I hope I pass the physical...

I don't expect you to respect me for that, and neither do I expect anyone to respect me any more when I finally shuffle off this mortal coil, except, maybe, hopefully, the few that knew me well enough to comment. Jim2 put it a bit brutally, but who am I to any of you? If my neighbour tells me that his auntie just died, I'm going to say I'm sorry because I know my neighbour, no more. Riding a motorcycle doesn't make his auntie any more like me than the many other people who died that day, nor make her suffering any greater, or more deserving of respect.

I do think that deep down people do need a little bit of salt and pepper on their daily drudge, to make it just a little less dull. Any sane person who kept their head above the tsunami of puke that ripped ashore after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales can't help but have drawn a similar conclusion.

I keep wondering whether all these people, if they really are moved to tears, might be better off not associating themselves with a group of people whose choice of lifestyle comes with such a high attrition rate.

Has anyone suggested an obits forum yet? +1 to that.

All of that said, here's a nice ZXR750 pic just to cheer you up.

[WelshWizard]

Why, because we are biker, it like being part of a family, maybe not so much with the young riders these days, but it an Old School Thing like putting your pillion pegs down at a biker funeral.

As for the RIP bit sorry it not meaningless to the family of those who have been killed it means a hell of a lot, even as time passes one still looks through the post about your loved one, and it helps with the healing process. even the one who do not know your loved ones who post give morning of your lost one extra meaning.

Also it helps to remind other rider to be carefull out there.

RIP Back_Fire get opened at least once a week and read through, I think you will find Jen and her mum and dad will still be browsing the one about Loose Bruce.

Jsut keep posting them, even if not a KB member, the family may find the post and get solitude from it.