Righteous indignance

[Katman]

And before anyone starts crying "but their figures are full of shit", I don't actually care what the figure is.

It's way higher than it needs to be.

[Maha]

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.

Several well constructed sentences there Steve that I agree with.

I guess from where I sit/stand, its starts at grass roots, as it does in the work place with apprentiships etc..habbits areformed early on, the bright ones sift through those habbits and come away with the ones that result in near perfection (to coin a phrase)
It is far to late for some to recognise that thier riding habbits may have an adverse affect on others around them on the road.
If the dumb shit can be erased from the memory bank early on, then there is a chance that those learning the trade (in this case Motorcycling etiquette) wont try to emulate the idiot shit they see while riding with others.

Case in point: I saw a young fulla picking his bike up off the road a few weeks back. We had just left a lunch stop and he thought it was a good idea to slalom weave his bike to warm up the tyres while dragging the front break to also warm the breaks!
He had been riding for four months, where the fuck did he pick up this smart idea?
I am pretty sure that he wont ever do that dumb shit again.

[avgas]

I probably should care more. But this is more fun.

[bluninja]

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.

Understand that 'rights' granted to anyone will almost always infringe on the freedoms of others. We don't have a right to demand anything as bikers whether we are squids or whiter than the driven snow.

I'm a big believer in personal responsibility. If I discharge my responsibilities to keep myself and others safe on the roads, and others do likewise, then we should not be concerned about rights. The rule of law is about infringing and removing peoples rights.

Life is not about compromises. Compromises mean nobody gets what they want. I could let government wrap me in a 'safe' bubble, and follow all the health and exercise advice. I may not live any longer, but it would feel like it.

I tell you what. I'll do my part. I won't monowheel down pedestrian filled pavements, go roundabout surfing with titanium knee sliders, get caught doing in excess of 200 kph on an open public road, and I will work hard to keep myself, my bike, and other users from harm as a result of my actions.

Hey maybe we shoudl create a pledge site....a sort of 'bikers ring thing'.

[Daffyd]

Righteous Indignation?

[Katman]

Righteous Indignation?

Don't worry - I checked on dictionary.com first.

[Daffyd]

Don't worry - I checked on dictionary.com first.

Must be another one of those awful americanisms.

[Katman]

Must be another one of those awful americanisms.

Yes, sort of like those awful Welshisms, David.

[pritch]

Don't worry - I checked on dictionary.com first.

Perhaps an English Dictionary next time?

I just checked mine and was relieved to see "indignance" is conspicuous by its absence.

[cheshirecat]

Would there a case for getting more involved with this Motorcycle Advisory Goup thinghy that we haven't heeard much from recenly then.

[MSTRS:Me]

... personal responsibility...and ... work hard to keep myself, my bike, and other users from harm as a result of my actions.

That is all that is required to achieve the improvement that KM et al would like to see.

[oldrider]

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.

While reading your post I couldn't help my subconscious reflecting upon the attitude we (think public) have toward the self policing records of a lot of professional groups etc!

Doctors, Lawyers, Police, to name a few! .... not much confidence expressed toward these is there!

Maybe we would do better to just rely upon independent judgements!

I understand and agree with your sentiments though, we could and should do a lot better!

[Murray]

Case in point: I saw a young fulla picking his bike up off the road a few weeks back. We had just left a lunch stop and he thought it was a good idea to slalom weave his bike to warm up the tyres while dragging the front break to also warm the breaks!
He had been riding for four months, where the fuck did he pick up this smart idea?
I am pretty sure that he wont ever do that dumb shit again.

What doesnt everyone do this??. I would add that while doing this you should also stand up on the footpegs and bounce up and down to loosen the suspension. everyone knows that!!

[Edbear]

That is all that is required to achieve the improvement that KM et al would like to see.

Perzackery!

[paturoa]

I'm not liking the conclusion I'm slowly reaching towards over the last few killing seasons.

Its that there is a small percentage of people who unconsiously subscribe to the Darwin Principal. It dosen't matter whether they drive, ride, boat, swim or what ever, they kill themselves and others. Randomness determines who amongst them and us, lives or dies.

Buggered if I know how to identify them, but I'm all out of enthusiasm to consume oxygen thinking about them.

What I'd like to hear is ideas on how we can identify those that we can influence, and how we go about influencing them.

I do agree with K's thought that the various organisations should be calling out saying, "don't be dickheads and kill yourselves".