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Richbirdhunter wrote:

treadlightly wrote:

Richbirdhunter wrote:If you look like thug you get treated like a thug. I'm not being disrespectful, I don't know you I've never seen you but when I see a motorcycle "club" I give them a lot of room. Just like I would the bloods "club" or the crips "club". When I see a motorcycle "club" I don't think they're on there way to a bible study.

I understand why you say that, and it's probably not what you really mean. Books and covers are sometimes in odd juxtaposition.

I ride (with weapons, yay!) and I've owned a Harley in the past. Even in working man's attire I doubt I'd be mistaken for a stereotype bloodthirsty biker. In a cut, sporting the biker look, maybe so - but I would still be me and no threat to anyone.

There are two Cossacks in town I've done business with prior to knowing they were Cossacks. In both cases I found almost obstinate honesty. Both of them actively want the people they work for to have no reservations about fair play or honesty. They do a lot of work on rent houses, and that puts them in proximity of other folks' property without supervision. There is never any question about integrity with those contractors - they are honest even when nobody's looking. They don't want to lose their customers over thievery, and I will continue to use their services.

All Cossacks aren't so honest, just like all knitting hobbyists aren't law abiding.

Bikers are generally good people, just like shooters or small sailboat enthusiasts are good people. A common healthy hobby bonds people in ways that strengthen the spirit.

Completely unrelated to that, there are rotten bikers, murderous shooters, and psychopathic small sailboat enthusiasts. Since a rotten biker might not know the difference between a head and a halyard, something any self-respecting psychopathic sailor would know, the common element in bad people is the criminal mindset, not sailboats or bikes.

And don't get me started on sadistic knitting hobbyists. Those needles! They should be outlawed!

These are good points and I appreciate them. When I see knitters, I see grandmas. This is not a threat. When I'm at the Marina and see sailboats I don't see pirates. This is not a threat. When I see bikers in a group I see a gang. This is a threat. We make decisions every day about safety. Bikers in general are not an inviting group.