Don’t be an Asshole. Please, Thank You and Goodnight.

Warning: This post may contain nuts, lunatic ranting and marginally motorcycle-related content. 

For the past few months it seems like I’m in the nasty clutches of an existential crisis. So many question about life, the universe and my place in each plague me. It seems like I come away with more questions than answers.

Little by little I’m trying to fix my broken parts. I think it makes me question everything I see going on around me, too.

I read all sorts of blogs, mailing lists, Twitter feeds, magazines about motorcycling and the life that surrounds that. Motorcycling for me  encompasses so much more than just the wheels turning over the road. Time and time again I can point to my life being enriched by the kindness I’ve been shown by people who I’ve met through riding. But I’m not sure that I do enough to pay that debt forward.

fuzzygalore dont put others down to elevate yourself

Because the motorcycle community is a microcosm of the world at large, of course it can’t be all unicorns and glitter. Some people are dicks, too.

This week in assorted venues I’ve read posts where people relish taking other rider’s motorcycle trips out at the knees.

“Well when I did it it, my trip was better/harder/further/faster on a bigger/smaller/older bike.”

Great! You know what you’ve won? You’ve won making someone else feel like shit and a lifetime supply of… ::drumroll:::… nothing! Don’t spend it all in one place.

Everyone starts somewhere. More and more I’ve come to the conclusion that adventure is relative. As an onlooker we can’t know the personal struggles that someone has gone through to make it to that point. Even a blogger or social media darling holds some cards close to their vest. Maybe they’ve been scared to try for their whole life and finally broke out of that shell. Maybe they just overcame cancer. Maybe their trip was exactly what they wanted to do and that was enough for them.

How about encouraging them to keep going? To better themselves? How about that instead of knocking them down so you can show them how great you are?

Can we just stop being assholes to each other? I’m going to give that a try.

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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14 Responses

  1. J. Brandon says:

    Thanks for writing this, Fuzzy. I often feel this way. I have “friends” who I longer ride with because they spend a lot of energy diminishing other folks’ rides, or bikes, or gear, or whatever. Happy to ride with you, any time, even if it is just on pixels and electrons.

    -J.

  2. Don BCIVIL says:

    Well said, my friend.

    Motorcycle or scooter, we’re all on the same side!

    And thank you for being so awesome and positive!

  3. novos says:

    My comment was more everything than the ones above.

    ::smirk::

  4. Diane says:

    Well said my friend…well said!!!! 🙂

  5. nick says:

    What do you care what other people think. A book by Richard Feynman a fine physicist and a truly great man.

  6. Tim says:

    Well said and about time someone said it…again. This better-than-you/yours mentality pervades motorcycling. Screw everyone else. Better yet, take your approach: whatever pleased you about your ride or trip, embrace it.

  7. Raindog says:

    Though this season’s political campaigning is coming to an end (or sure as hell better be), likely there will never be an end to such social campaigning. Persistent are the trolls as they vie for worship from, or the approval or even hatred of, others: To them, any attention is good. Often they’re just ‘boys who never grew up’, adults stunted in adolescence, and they stop at nothing in their quest for some coveted imaginary trophy in an equally make-believe game of oneupmanship. Usually, though, they just end up being crowned the ‘biggest fucking prick at the party’.

    That said, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the universe for when I’ve no doubt been the biggest fucking prick at the party.

    You ought to watch comedian Brian Regan’s Me-Monster bit (http://youtu.be/vymaDgJ7KLg). It’s pretty damn funny and is spot on for this post of yours.

  8. Rosie says:

    From what I read on your blog your supporters definitely out number the assholes. Yesterday on my way to work I read a bumper sticker that said:
    “If I wanted to hear from an asshole I’d fart” 🙂
    May be a nice addition to your top case 😉

  9. Bravo! We lead unique lives, with different personalities, advantages, struggles, experiences, and opportunities. Good thing, too; I’d hate to be around a lot of people who are just like me. (*shudder*) I wonder if social media exacerbates the problem because the subtleties of communication are difficult to convey? I’ve met a few nice folks “in real life” that seemed like pricks online. Of course, I’ve met a few pricks who seemed like pricks online, too.

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