Bikes and bars

[ImpactG]

The thing is, what ever happened to common sense? Not the common sense that seems to be dictated to us of late, but the common sense that <most of us> understand in our hearts and minds. Everybody is so d@mn afraid - afraid to enjoy a cigar every so often because it might cause cancer, afraid to swat a deserving childs rear for fear someone will scream child abuse, afraid to let a drop of alcohol touch your lips for fear of being considered a drunk or, at the very least, irresponsible.

Seems there's no gray area anymore - everything's so black and white. If a person's lived long enough to build a life: find and hold a good job, provide for a family, pay taxes, maintain a home, treat others respectfully -- is it so hard to believe they don't know enough to have one beer with a meal and go for a ride?

Man, "risk" had become a four-letter word <I know... I know... it *is* four letters >. There was a time when risk was associated with brave souls seeking adventure. They were admired. Now, even a little *reasonable* risk is condemed as foolhardy. Even if it's so minute as to be ridiculous to even consider.

If someone wants to live like that, so be it. Afraid of every little, d@mn thing. Just don't try to impose those feelings on others or judge them against your percieved standards. Me, I don't consider that living at all. It'll get to the point where folks won't want to stick their heads out their front door for fear of a little sunlight on their forhead --- it could lead to skin cancer.

JMHO

[bikeaholic]

id have to say.......amen

[VindianaJones]

100% in agreement with you bro. To many people out there who are way way to damn quick to judge, without looking at they're own standards and actions.

[stevebtx12]

Ok, you guys better quit p!ssing Todd off.....lol....

Good points Todd!

[VindianaJones]

Originally Posted by 3IOH22A

Zukdriver. You are most likley right, however at my age, having lived longer than I have left to live I don't take unnecessary "safe bets" where it comes to my life.
I understand that it is very common that people drink and drive. After all every bar does have a parking lot, what I don't understand is how in this day and age with all the education regarding drinking and driving how we can hold our heads high and openly announce " I drink and drive" but only at a responsible level.
On a side note if DUI's were forced to ride bikes it should be manditory they sign organ doner cards as well.

As i stated in an earlier reply. Your telling me, you never use your cell phone in your car? Never smoke in your car? Never adjust your radio in your car? Never eat food or drink pop in your car? Never use your rearview mirror to adjust your hair or check for food in your teeth Because all of these things have been deemed to be dangerous while driving by one agency or another! If you can honestly say you've never done any of those things then i will bow to your sage wisdom but... somehow i think each and every one of you guys who are so quick to judge have done one of those things while driving and alot of you have done most of those things. ( sometimes on the same trip ) Oh and i suppose those that do do those things would say that they only do so at a reasonable level.

[pstarr7]

Originally Posted by ImpactG

The thing is, what ever happened to common sense? Not the common sense that seems to be dictated to us of late, but the common sense that <most of us> understand in our hearts and minds. Everybody is so d@mn afraid - afraid to enjoy a cigar every so often because it might cause cancer, afraid to swat a deserving childs rear for fear someone will scream child abuse, afraid to let a drop of alcohol touch your lips for fear of being considered a drunk or, at the very least, irresponsible.

Seems there's no gray area anymore - everything's so black and white. If a person's lived long enough to build a life: find and hold a good job, provide for a family, pay taxes, maintain a home, treat others respectfully -- is it so hard to believe they don't know enough to have one beer with a meal and go for a ride?

Man, "risk" had become a four-letter word <I know... I know... it *is* four letters >. There was a time when risk was associated with brave souls seeking adventure. They were admired. Now, even a little *reasonable* risk is condemed as foolhardy. Even if it's so minute as to be ridiculous to even consider.

If someone wants to live like that, so be it. Afraid of every little, d@mn thing. Just don't try to impose those feelings on others or judge them against your percieved standards. Me, I don't consider that living at all. It'll get to the point where folks won't want to stick their heads out their front door for fear of a little sunlight on their forhead --- it could lead to skin cancer.

JMHO

The short answer is to many lawyers with time on their hands. If you drive drunk and crash, the guy wants to sue the bar and bar tender for not knowing the guy had enough to drink. Welcome to the wonderful world of political correctness. If you smack your kid, some do-gooder with a cell phone will call the cops. Everyone wants to protect us from ourselves, or should I say the insurance companies do. I grew up in the 50's, imo the best time of all. If you had a fight with someone you kicked each others butts and shook hands when you were done. No assault charges filed and no one got shot. I don't wear sun screen and if my grand kids act up they still get a slap. To old to change.

Paul

[ImpactG]

Originally Posted by stevebtx12

Ok, you guys better quit p!ssing Todd off.....lol....

Good points Todd!

haha... not the least bit p1ssed. Guess I got on the soapbox for a moment, there. It just seems as though everything's getting so blown out of proportion, in general, like we need to create drama to make life more interesting. Maybe we're influenced to much by the entertainment industry and life is either blissful on a beach or a living nightmare?

We're all intellegent, sensible individuals who can make informed choices based on experience. And even if we don't consider another person as such, it's not our place to preach our preferences -- at least it's not mine -- unless something said that is so blatantly harmful to someone or those around them. In other words, don't down a case and go for a ride... at least I wouldn't *advise* it.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by ImpactG

The thing is, what ever happened to common sense? Not the common sense that seems to be dictated to us of late, but the common sense that <most of us> understand in our hearts and minds. Everybody is so d@mn afraid - afraid to enjoy a cigar every so often because it might cause cancer, afraid to swat a deserving childs rear for fear someone will scream child abuse, afraid to let a drop of alcohol touch your lips for fear of being considered a drunk or, at the very least, irresponsible.

Seems there's no gray area anymore - everything's so black and white. If a person's lived long enough to build a life: find and hold a good job, provide for a family, pay taxes, maintain a home, treat others respectfully -- is it so hard to believe they don't know enough to have one beer with a meal and go for a ride?

Man, "risk" had become a four-letter word <I know... I know... it *is* four letters >. There was a time when risk was associated with brave souls seeking adventure. They were admired. Now, even a little *reasonable* risk is condemed as foolhardy. Even if it's so minute as to be ridiculous to even consider.

If someone wants to live like that, so be it. Afraid of every little, d@mn thing. Just don't try to impose those feelings on others or judge them against your percieved standards. Me, I don't consider that living at all. It'll get to the point where folks won't want to stick their heads out their front door for fear of a little sunlight on their forhead --- it could lead to skin cancer.

JMHO

I agree with you, and it was very well said. While I don't like it, that IS the trend of our society.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by VindianaJones

As i stated in an earlier reply. Your telling me, you never use your cell phone in your car? Never smoke in your car? Never adjust your radio in your car? Never eat food or drink pop in your car? Never use your rearview mirror to adjust your hair or check for food in your teeth Because all of these things have been deemed to be dangerous while driving by one agency or another! If you can honestly say you've never done any of those things then i will bow to your sage wisdom but... somehow i think each and every one of you guys who are so quick to judge have done one of those things while driving and alot of you have done most of those things. ( sometimes on the same trip ) Oh and i suppose those that do do those things would say that they only do so at a reasonable level.

He said dodo

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by ImpactG

haha... not the least bit p1ssed. Guess I got on the soapbox for a moment, there. It just seems as though everything's getting so blown out of proportion, in general, like we need to create drama to make life more interesting. Maybe we're influenced to much by the entertainment industry and life is either blissful on a beach or a living nightmare?

We're all intellegent, sensible individuals who can make informed choices based on experience. And even if we don't consider another person as such, it's not our place to preach our preferences -- at least it's not mine -- unless something said that is so blatantly harmful to someone or those around them. In other words, don't down a case and go for a ride... at least I wouldn't *advise* it.

That's the problem, Todd. That USED to be the case. Since all this litigation crap, people have gotten trained not to "think" any more. And the Gubment has deemed themselves better at making those decisions for us, so we don't need to think any more.

[JacksonW]

Todd,

This topic and your comments makes me want to get on my bike, ride to PA, sit you down, and buy you a cold one!

[Turtle47]

Damn!!! I'm glad I didn't start a thread about helmet laws. LOL Lots of different opinions out there. Much thanks to all that have given there 2 cents. This really was a serious question I had been asking myself for quite a while. I guess I've been out of touch with my surroundings the last few years. I had not ridden a bike for about 30 years. Broke my back in a racing accident(sprint car) and bought a bike after I sold the race car. So I have been easing back into the biker/motorcyclist scene the past 2 years. We basically ride by ourselves and don't really know all the proper bike etiquette. I have learned a lot from this and a couple other forums. So please bear with me.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by JacksonW

Todd,

This topic and your comments makes me want to get on my bike, ride to PA, sit you down, and buy you a cold one!

Hehehe.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by Turtle47

Damn!!! I'm glad I didn't start a thread about helmet laws. LOL Lots of different opinions out there. Much thanks to all that have given there 2 cents. This really was a serious question I had been asking myself for quite a while. I guess I've been out of touch with my surroundings the last few years. I had not ridden a bike for about 30 years. Broke my back in a racing accident(sprint car) and bought a bike after I sold the race car. So I have been easing back into the biker/motorcyclist scene the past 2 years. We basically ride by ourselves and don't really know all the proper bike etiquette. I have learned a lot from this and a couple other forums. So please bear with me.

OK, I'll be a bear if you promise to.

[Turtle47]

Originally Posted by likearock4x4

OK, I'll be a bear if you promise to.

Not a problem,,,,,,Oh, but you already knew that.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by Turtle47

Not a problem,,,,,,Oh, but you already knew that.

Yep, and so did you.

[Turtle47]

Must be that "post traumatic stress syndrome" stuff. Or whatever they call it these days.

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by Turtle47

Must be that "post traumatic stress syndrome" stuff. Or whatever they call it these days.

or is it "poster traumatic stress syndrome"

[wvKawBoy]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf65

OK, I've been lurking on the forum for a short while, and this is my first post, but I just had to on this thread.
I also limit myself to either non-alcoholic drinks or just one beer when out riding/driving etc.
The comment about the "bad boy" image reminded me of a time when I showed up at a bar, on my bike, to meet some friends. I was the only one that showed up on a bike and I had my full leathers on. At 290 lbs, 6'3", I looked pretty scary. When I sat down at the table, everyone was imbibing in either beer or wine, laughing, and generally being loud and obnoxious. The waiter walks up and asks me "what can I get you?" Obviously, after riding for a while, I was thirsty, so I ordered the first thing that came to my mind....
A nice cold.....Raspberry tea. The place went silent, he looked at me like I had just grown 2 heads. Then everyone started laughing again. Talk about killing the "bad boy" image. My friends still bring up that incident.

Ride safe, ride often.
Peace.

Thanks for the laugh!!