Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Thanks for the well thought out post sv-wolf. Well, I am at times of the belief that a swift kick in the butt it more effective than kind words. If you will notice in the kids follow up post, reality seemed to kick in a little better for him. At minimum he had second thoughts.

Sometimes I lack the restraint not to post my unfiltered opinion, which often gets me in trouble. I probably should steer clear of insults or at least make a better effort to.

I will not apologize though. The kid clearly came off as an accident waiting to happen. If I went too far, I would assume a moderator would let me know.

Hey swatter555... why do you just assume the worst? And if he didn't mention doing stunts on the street why do you start jumping down his throat without asking where he wanted to do the stunts first... sorta... innocent until provent guilty... AND you have proven you can not read unless something is in CAPS because you repeated yourself and what others said over and over again.

swatter555 wrote:Thanks for the well thought out post sv-wolf. Well, I am at times of the belief that a swift kick in the butt it more effective than kind words. If you will notice in the kids follow up post, reality seemed to kick in a little better for him. At minimum he had second thoughts.

Sometimes I lack the restraint not to post my unfiltered opinion, which often gets me in trouble. I probably should steer clear of insults or at least make a better effort to.

I will not apologize though. The kid clearly came off as an accident waiting to happen. If I went too far, I would assume a moderator would let me know.

Hiya Swatter. Thanks for engaging in this one. About eighteen months ago, before the site was hacked, we had long debates on these boards about how to handle posts of this kind. Back then some of the regular posters had started getting personally engaged trying to knock some sense into some of the crazier youngsters. It raised all kinds of issues. It also got very frustrating and just plain impossible to keep up. We had to start asking oursleves whether it was our responsibility to try to dissuade these kids or just to let them be. I came unstuck several times with some of these posts and learnt a hard lesson about what's possible and reasonable and what isn't

My own view then, as now, was that, as they come here looking to engage with us, we have some limited responsibility to give them the facts as we see them. What they do with the information we give them is up to them. It's not our job to sort out their ideas or to give them a kick up the bum.

Although I'm all for people expressing their opnions about stuff in general, when dealing with this kind of post, I think the responsibility we have towards other posters, especially younger, less experienced ones means that without pretending to something we are not, or misrepresenting our own views, we nevertheless need to be a little thoughtful and strategic in our responses. I don't think it's helpful to just sound off loudly with our own opinions. Sounding off is a great way to let off steam and to exercise the ego a little, but it rarely helps others. It's fine in a general thread, but not when replying to this kind of post. What I'm suggesting has nothing to do with 'kind words'. It is just about considering our responsibility towards others and sticking to the facts as we see them.

Of course, once they've been posting for a while and become part of the community, say what the hell you like, just as you do to your friends.

There are a lot of positions you could take on this. That's mine.

Cheers

Thanks sv-wolf, I do appreciate the points you make. Ya, I was just popping my mouth off and got too personal. I normally dont cause trouble, but stunters rub me the wrong way.

Ill keep your points in mind for the future; I dont want to see discussions degenerate into insults and people storming out never to return.

I have had similar arguments with "vegetarians" that are apalled by lesser veges because they still eat fish, butter etc.
This all comes down to levels of acceptance. In the same way that motorcyclists in general rub some people up the wrong way, stunting does the same to you as a more sedate rider. Are you wrong for riding bikes in the first place? Many would think so.

There is obviously very little support for stunting on this forum so when the subject comes up it will receive a luke warm response and the thread starter will get the idea soon enough. Calling them names simply makes you as closed minded as the people that wants bikes off the road altogether.

agreed

Mintbread wrote:. Calling them names simply makes you as closed minded as the people that wants bikes off the road altogether.

Well said.
High_Side

Yes, yes, I am close minded and judgmental. When driving a motorcycle into a brick wall becomes a sport I will call them idiots also.

It almost reminds me of the reaction I often see around here by many of the posters on this thread that condem me when a newb wants a gsxr-1000. Some of you are very closed minded and judgmental when it comes to a newb on a liter bike. Some of you may not directly call them idiots or stupid, but that is directly the thrust of your comments. I may have less tact, but many of you are guilty of the same things you criticise me for doing.

Someone wanting to learn to stunt ride isn't the same as a someone wanting to get a hayabusa as their first bike. Not even related.

The OP asked about doing stunts on a "street bike" and I think some people (you) got confused and read the question as doing stunts "on the street"... that is an error.

Personally, I think if you want to do real two-wheel stunt riding you should get yourself a bicycle and set up a half pipe or empty swimming pool. Way more fun. Also more dangerous than motorcycle stunts but that's the risk you take for excellence...and the reason you pay for padding. Most street motorcycle stunts are kinda boring to watch. Who really cares if someone can pull a wheelie for 17 miles?

Isnt it? Why shouldnt a new rider get a Busa?

Why shouldnt people stunt on MCs?

The answers are very similiar.