The squids are out

Message

ZooTech · #31 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:35 am

SuperRookie wrote:
ZooTech wrote:
SuperRookie wrote:The problem is that squidly behavior usually ends up carrying over and hurting other people as well.
No more so than smoking or excessive drinking. You can't save the world so just look out for you and yours and let others be.
I meant that squids are prone to do "squidly" things...so just remember that when some squid passes you on the inside in a curve...

Granted, but why everyone insists on lumping folks who don't wear "proper" gear in with squids is beyond me. I have been known to ride around all day in the summer with just jeans, a muscle-tee, and sunglasses, yet I don't pop wheelies, do burnouts, or speed through school zones. They are not one and the same. People need to consider whether or not the observed behavior is dangerous to the person doing it or the people around them. If the latter, feel free to say something. If the former, live and let die.

Sev · #32 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:46 am

They don't get lumped together, but it's natural when talking about 1 unsafe thing to branch into others. No one would accuse you of being a squid who knew what the term meant, but that doesn't mean all people who don't wear gear are squids, and all people who do wear gear are squids or vice-a-versa.

Squid is a term that can be applied unilaterally to the biker community.

ZooTech · #33 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:54 am

Yeah, I realize it is used loosely and universaly. However, in the context of Mr. Gomper's observation (you know, the one that spawned this thread), we're just talking about a couple of guys buzzing around in street clothes, yet I've heard examples of people racing through residential areas and passing on curves. The behaviors are not mutually inclusive, and I would just like to see folks around here stop treating them as such.

SuperRookie · Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:01 am

ZooTech wrote: People need to consider whether or not the observed behavior is dangerous to the person doing it or the people around them. If the latter, feel free to say something. If the former, live and let die.

Yes...when you're right, you're right. Somehow though I get the feeling that the widest of margins doesn't exist between the two. And I guess, being reasonable, one shouldn't assume that a rider is a squid due to his choice to gear up or not, helmet or not etc. I'm sure there are plenty of squids in full gear. And you're right, it's the "behavior" that will determine it. At the same time you have to agree that people doing dumb sh*t often end up hurting others as well as themselves. What's really f'd up is when someone's f'd up behavior hurts someone else and they come away virtually unscathed.

ZooTech · #35 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:04 am

SuperRookie wrote:you have to agree that people doing dumb sh*t often end up hurting others as well as themselves. What's really f'd up is when someone's f'd up behavior hurts someone else and they come away virtually unscathed.

Oh, definitely! That's the world we live in. I'm not here to condone or defend behavior that would endanger others. But coming from a state with no helmet law, I can say without a doubt that most of the riders I see not wearing "proper" gear are at least obeying the law and riding very professionally. So all I ask is for everyone to take one extra second before making judgement and ask themselves if the behavior they are observing is potentially harmful to the person doing it, or those around them. I realize there are plenty of times when you'll see a guy wearing shorts AND popping wheelies but, if you ask me, he's only an "O Ring" for the latter.

flynrider · Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:29 pm

Sevulturus wrote:They don't get lumped together, but it's natural when talking about 1 unsafe thing to branch into others.

And that's the rub. What is "unsafe"? What level of gear is safe? Taken to it's logical conclusion, riding a motorcycle (no matter how you're dressed) is "unsafe". Somewhere between riding naked and not riding at all, everyone makes their own choice about the level of safety they are willing to accept. Each and every choice reflects that person's individual assesment.

For every person that says," That person is an idiot because he doesn't wear _____ (fill in the blank)" , there is another person pointing at a fully decked out rider saying, "That person is an idiot for riding a dangerous motorcycle".

It's pointless to think (and post) that your personal assesment of safety gear is "better" than someone elses. Much as it is pointless for non-riders to espouse their personal assesment of the risks we take riding bikes.

I wear some protective gear. More than some people, less than others. When I'm asked by a newb, I'm more than happy to let them know what gear does and what's available, but when it comes to deciding what to wear, it's up to them.

ZooTech · #37 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:34 pm

Well said.

skinnyjoint · Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:58 am

hahah at wiggers comment, sorry i cant help it.
i would just try to get to know them first and like someone said direct them to this forum, or just ask y they chose not to wear gear

grymlocke · Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:10 am

three words:

DARWIN AWARD'S WINNER

http://www.darwinawards.com/

Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:41 pm

Show them this.....http://www.r6messagenet.com/forums/the_ ... _nsfw.html