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From: marauder@fluke.UUCP (Bill Landsborough)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Projecting Fear and Non Aggression
Message-ID: <3099@vax4.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Feb-86 10:56:07 EST
Article-I.D.: vax4.3099
Posted: Mon Feb 17 10:56:07 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Feb-86 08:26:35 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 32

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.
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 existant headlight.  Noone 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, noone 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