toddv@copper.UUCP (Todd Vierheller) (02/19/86)
[ EAT ME ]
My article about pinheads in pickups elicited some interesting responses. . .
+ __________________________________________________________
+
+ RESPONSE:
+ And you are still riding after all these experiences?
Certainly. I get mad, not scared. (*Real* mad sometimes)
+ It sounds a bit as if you are doing something wrong on the
Get off it.
+ road. True, it isn't your fault when people drive down a
+ one-way street the wrong way, but don't motorcyclists drive in
+ the city as if everyone in a car just does NOT see you????
I do. REread my posting. (Not) Pretending I'm invisible isn't the problem.
+ Part of driving defensively is avoiding problems (cars
+ in particular, I agree) before they even materialize.
+ Part of the beauty of driving a bike is to be able to swiftly
+ avoid many of the problems that would be more difficult to
+ avoid in a car.
True. Hence I am still alive and well and writing this. Just because I am
able to cope with the bean-brains doesn't mean I don't get ticked off.
+ On a freeway, I often find that someone
+ (particularly in slow moving traffic) is less likely to pull a
+ dumb stunt if you establish some kind of presence. This does
+ not necessarily mean bright reflector gear, etc. More
+ importantly, make eye contact with the driver. Wave or nod
+ your head... if they nod back or smile, they are extremely
+ unlikely to do something mean later on...if they growl back to
True.
+ you (yes, some people out there hate us), let them have their
+ way.
I'll be darned if I will (short of getting crunched). (Although, if speeds are
low I might opt to get crunched if I have a good look at the driver and his
license number. Lawyers need work too. :-) )
+
+ David Sassoon
+ Columbia Univ. (Biology)
________________
+ After reading Todd's article I wanted to post this observation and see
+ if other riders have noticed the same thing.
+
+ I have noticed that when a rider like Todd is very cautious and wears
+ orange and does all of the right things to make himself visible
+ including driving under the speed limit in the proper lane, that
+ automobile driver tend to intimidate them or try to intimidate them.
(try)
+ This is typically the tail gaters and the lane cutters which he
+ described.
+
+ On the other hand is the rider in full, black leathers with no helmet
+ and very dim or non existent headlight. No one ever rides his tail or
+ cuts him off (at least semi-intentionally) or squeezes him out of his
+ lane. His visibility is marginal to poor yet everyone around him
+ knows exactly where he is and makes sure not to violate his rights.
+
+ My conclusion is the projection of fear on the part of the
+ motorcyclist. If you project the message that "I am afraid you might
+ not see me and may hurt me", they will squeeze you like a bug if you
+ are in their way. On the other hand if you project "If you mess with
+ me you are going to pay dearly" attitude and look like you can back it
+ up, no one will drive within 40 feet of you.
+
+ Interesting creatures, we humans...
+
+ Bill Landsborough
+
+ ----
+
+ "Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not
+ arrogant or rude... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
+ things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Actually, I'm not all that cautious. Particularly when it comes to speed
limits. Does wearing orange project fear? I was trying to be sensible.
I do wear (only) black leathers when it's not raining, but with a mesh safety
vest. Hmmmm. . .
Maybe I should advertise my training in Tae Kwon Do, Do Shin Kon (sp) Karate-Do,
Shao Lin Yau Kung Moon Kung Fu, Tibetan Lama Kung Fu, and Boxing? Trash the
helmet and wear a bandana? Add some tattoos? Ride a Harley? Carry my
.380 strapped to my thigh? Hold a knife in my teeth? Wear an eye-patch?
Flip off everyone within sight?
The truth is, I can't make a car driver pay dearly unless 1) I shoot at him
or 2) follow him until he gets out of his car and beat the pudding out of him.
Both acts are clearly acts of personal vengeance. Self defense I can easily
justify (and I have no qualms against killing under such circumstances).
But retaliation after the fact is another matter. (That means "wrong" folks.)
The unfortunate thing is, Bill is probably right. Too bad. I'll just continue
to get ticked off and control my temper. (Although it might not hurt to mount
a twelve guage to my front forks . . .)
Todd Vierheller
Tektronix, Inc.
"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not
arrogant or rude... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love doesn't kill pinheads in pickups
even when the desire is present. Hezekiah 0:01 :-)