wrote:
>lite reading. informing the public, not much for riders to learn here.
>http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09015/941739-475.stm
I found it interesting. [1]
[1] 'Interesting' in the sense of how well the top advertising banner
predicted the slant of the article. ;)
--
Home page: http://www.xidos.ca
>wrote:
>>[1] 'Interesting' in the sense of how well the top advertising banner
>>predicted the slant of the article. ;)
>I had no banner on my copy.
There wasn't that big Honda ad over it when you saw it?
>And I know the author. I've been riding with him for as long as he's been
>riding. He didn't write that for any advertiser and he was actually surprised
>that they published it.
I'm surprised anybody published it too. You're friend's a dweeb,
Jack! ;)
I've ridden many, many miles solo or with just one other person. Only
a tiny fraction has been as part of group rides.
Both things are fun in different ways and I really have to wonder
about anyone who cannot fathom how a group of people have fun.
Doing so is certainly not a diminishment of the experience of riding -
unless you have constructed some very narrow, unncessary, strict
definition which you (for some reason) feel other people must live up
to (which really turns the criticisms back on those that make them,
btw). How can it be so bad when people are enjoying themselves so
much?
No, in reality, group riding is basically combining a bunch of other
good things together with something you especially enjoy (i.e. riding
your bike). [1]
I mean, honestly, are there some people out there who really don't get
it? When people are engaged in doing something they really, really
enjoy, they're fun to be around! That's how bikers are when they pull
in for a break after riding. That good mood is infectuous. And it's
probably intriguing to non-riders around, often making them wish they
could be doing the same.
Friendships formed in conditions like that tend to last because they
hark back to good memories. Even the fact that riding is not
something everyone 'gets' makes it better. It provides a tiny insight
into what the other person is about and forms a good, initial basis
for trust and comraderie.
That type of thing is very much the same with people who are avid
hunters as well. When you bump into each other at a party there's
immediately a bit of a bond because there's something you both
understand that others don't.
Does it make some people feel dejected to see other people happy and
able to develop connections? Unfortunately, I think that's so. Never
underestimate envy. It exists in everyone to some extent. But when
it gets so bad that seeing people happy makes you resentful, that
attitude is extremely sad. Let's just say I'm not going to stand in
line to take life advice from folks like that.
But I know there's another part of the underlying gripe too. People
who write articles like your friend's have this self-serving, grand,
romanticized image of the loner they cling to (again, this rigidity
also makes their criticisms turn back on themselves, because they are
obviously very unhappy by being out-numbered).
Yes, these romantic heroes are the ones who - although no one sees or
can share the experience - are in a special, higher state of happiness
- a happiness so sublime that they don't need anyone to share it with
anyone and couldn't, even if they wanted to.
And, yeah, I understand that too... If I didn't, I wouldn't ride
alone so much. But should that mean I can't enjoy comraderie as well?
Well, maybe so - if you're a bit insecure or socially awkward and need
to use that lone wolf experience as grounds to claim you're somehow
better than others.
I'd much rather be capable of appreciating both types of riding than
having to chose only one or the other. The one doesn't have to be bad
in order for the other to be good any more than tearing someone else
down will build you up. If you need that, nothing's going to improve
your lot anyway.
If you heard someone wondering aloud how people can enjoy themselves
at a party, you might conclude such a statement says more about the
person doing the saying. That's how articles written by people like
your friend sound to me.
[1] You know. Those things people like your friend can't understand.
Things like joking around, conversation, sharing stories, renewing
friendships and developing new ones - all in *addition* to a fine
day's riding.
--
Home page: http://www.xidos.ca
On 15 Jan 2009, Road Glidin' Don wrote in
> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:25:58 -0700, Road Glidin' Don
>>
>>>[1] 'Interesting' in the sense of how well the top advertising
>>>banner predicted the slant of the article. ;)
>>
>>I had no banner on my copy.
>
> There wasn't that big Honda ad over it when you saw it?
>
>>And I know the author. I've been riding with him for as long as
>>he's been riding. He didn't write that for any advertiser and he
>>was actually surprised that they published it.
>
> I'm surprised anybody published it too. You're friend's a dweeb,
> Jack! ;)
>
> I've ridden many, many miles solo or with just one other person.
> Only a tiny fraction has been as part of group rides.
>
> Both things are fun in different ways and I really have to wonder
> about anyone who cannot fathom how a group of people have fun.
>
> Doing so is certainly not a diminishment of the experience of
> riding - unless you have constructed some very narrow, unncessary,
> strict definition which you (for some reason) feel other people
> must live up to (which really turns the criticisms back on those
> that make them, btw). How can it be so bad when people are
> enjoying themselves so much?
>
> No, in reality, group riding is basically combining a bunch of
> other good things together with something you especially enjoy
> (i.e. riding your bike). [1]
>
> I mean, honestly, are there some people out there who really don't
> get it? When people are engaged in doing something they really,
> really enjoy, they're fun to be around! That's how bikers are
> when they pull in for a break after riding. That good mood is
> infectuous. And it's probably intriguing to non-riders around,
> often making them wish they could be doing the same.
>
> Friendships formed in conditions like that tend to last because
> they hark back to good memories. Even the fact that riding is not
> something everyone 'gets' makes it better. It provides a tiny
> insight into what the other person is about and forms a good,
> initial basis for trust and comraderie.
>
> That type of thing is very much the same with people who are avid
> hunters as well. When you bump into each other at a party there's
> immediately a bit of a bond because there's something you both
> understand that others don't.
>
> Does it make some people feel dejected to see other people happy
> and able to develop connections? Unfortunately, I think that's
> so. Never underestimate envy. It exists in everyone to some
> extent. But when it gets so bad that seeing people happy makes
> you resentful, that attitude is extremely sad. Let's just say I'm
> not going to stand in line to take life advice from folks like
> that.
>
> But I know there's another part of the underlying gripe too.
> People who write articles like your friend's have this
> self-serving, grand, romanticized image of the loner they cling to
> (again, this rigidity also makes their criticisms turn back on
> themselves, because they are obviously very unhappy by being
> out-numbered).
>
> Yes, these romantic heroes are the ones who - although no one sees
> or can share the experience - are in a special, higher state of
> happiness - a happiness so sublime that they don't need anyone to
> share it with anyone and couldn't, even if they wanted to.
>
> And, yeah, I understand that too... If I didn't, I wouldn't ride
> alone so much. But should that mean I can't enjoy comraderie as
> well? Well, maybe so - if you're a bit insecure or socially
> awkward and need to use that lone wolf experience as grounds to
> claim you're somehow better than others.
>
> I'd much rather be capable of appreciating both types of riding
> than having to chose only one or the other. The one doesn't have
> to be bad in order for the other to be good any more than tearing
> someone else down will build you up. If you need that, nothing's
> going to improve your lot anyway.
>
> If you heard someone wondering aloud how people can enjoy
> themselves at a party, you might conclude such a statement says
> more about the person doing the saying. That's how articles
> written by people like your friend sound to me.
>
>
> [1] You know. Those things people like your friend can't
> understand. Things like joking around, conversation, sharing
> stories, renewing friendships and developing new ones - all in
> *addition* to a fine day's riding.
>
Don, why did you think the article was about you? Like you said,
only a fraction of your riding has been group riding. Anyway, I
don't think the author was dissing group rides, he was dissing
wannabe bad guys who spend tens of thousands on Harleys and Harley
gear and clothing, then ride less than 1000 miles a year, usually in
group rides.
I've ridden with guys like that. They don't know how to dress for
the weather and end up freezing 50 miles into a spring ride. They
can't hold a line or their speed, so if you're unlucky enough to be
behind them, you end up braking and accelerating the whole time. I
helped one guy pick up a brand new Fat Boy when he ran off the road
because he wasn't paying attention.
Don, I've never met or ridden with you, but judging by others'
comments and your web page, this isn't you. Chill out! We know
you're a "biker" AND a "motorcyclist."
--
Lew
XML Sitemap
>http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09015/941739-475.stm