Biker Busybodies and Those Who Live to Label

by Brian Zerkel
(Schumacher)

My last article sure stirred the dust off the “who’s a real rider” debate. Oddly, if you can believe it, we got off-subject responses. The biggest was about real bikers and not real bikers. The funny thing was, the article had nothing to do with bikers at all. The article was about riders, and nothing more.

I found it quite amusing, and even got some comments regarding who the hell am I to give an opinion. Well, I started riding in 1979, have owned 13 motorcycles (a few of which were Harleys) and I keep current on what’s going on in the motorcycle world. I don’t profess to know everything (never have), but I’ve been around long enough to know what’s going on.

Which brings me to the point of this editorial: Biker busybodies and those who feel the need to label people. Because honestly, doesn’t it seem like there’s a lot of that going on in the Forums lately?

I did some online research on the subject of labeling others, and by far the best answer I ran across was in the Yahoo! Answers section of Yahoo! Bill (a Yahoo! user user) had this to say: “In the long run, its to make them feel better about themselves. When someone can put a ‘label’ on someone else, it’s in order to show that the other person is different in some way (i.e.: pretty, ugly, tall, short, fat, nerd, etc…). By pointing out the fact that someone is different, especially in a negative way, it gives that person a feeling of superiority. Usually it’s people that aren’t confident in themselves and have their own personal issues who feel the need to go out of their way and label others”

This pretty much sums up what I’ve been saying for years, ever since this “poser” label first appeared. Why do some people feel the need to create animosity within a group (in this case, the Harley family)? I’ve always figured it was to try to prove some superiority over those they were labelling. Sort of like the people who talk the loudest are usually doing so to make themselves seem more important or intelligent. It’s basic psychology.

Now, on to the subject of biker busybodies. It seems nowadays, a lot of folks online just love to be up in everyone else’s business. Whether it be what you wear, your opinions, or how you feel about the moco, it seems no you’re not allowed to speak your mind without getting persecuted. No one is allowed be an individual, and isn’t that what every Harley rider should aspire to be?

A lot of people don’t remember how it used to be the biker against the man (the man being corporate america or the police, depending on the circumstances). It was all about freedom. The key was to do whatever you wanted to your motorcycle, dress however you wanted, and ride whenever and wherever you wanted.

I myself witnessed some of this era during the 70’s through my fathers riding buddies. Sadly, it seems to be just a distant memory with today’s crop of Harley riders. There are still old timers out there who live the life to this day, and who try to share it online in the forums. The funny thing is, when most of these guys speak out, they are labled trolls or posers by a lot of the forum members. Post something you bought to wear or something you’ve done to your bike, and you’re more than likely to see someone get into your business.

That’s the point of this ramble…..everyone has their own business. Agreed, if it’s posted online, you’re asking for comments. But it doesn’t mean people have the right to make someone else’s business their own.

This goes back to the point of owning a Harley: individuality. One of the Moco’s most famous slogans was “The Freedom Machine”. Today the slogan would be the “Do As We Say Machine”, if one is to believe a lot of what is said online.

If you want to wear Harley clothing, do it. If you want to paint your bike a funky color, chop up a bike, make a tourer out of something that isn’t, or whatever you have the urge to do, go ahead and do it. It’s your business, and no one else’s. Be an individual, and don’t worry about what the crowd online says. They’re just a bunch of old hens who have lost sight of what a Harley is supposed to be: the ultimate freedom machine.

I’ll end this one with my favorite lines from Easyrider: “Oh yeah, that’s right, that’s what it’s all about, all right. But talkin’ about it and bein’ it — that’s two different things. I mean, it’s real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace. ‘Course, don’t ever tell anybody that they’re not free ’cause then they’re gonna get real busy killin’ and maimin’ to prove to you that they are. Oh yeah, they’re gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it’s gonna scare ’em.

Amen.

So what do you gotta say about that? Shout off in the Forums!