A.B.A.T.E. came to my Dr.Ed class today

[Cav47]

OK, I'm going to go out on a limb here and be devil's advocate. He's exactly the right guy to get the message across to your students.
Follow up by explaining to them that you ride a motorcycle too, but you are hyper-alert, sober, skilled and ride a bike that handles well and brakes on a dime. So you pretty much watch out for yourself. Then explain to them that responsible members of society need to protect the lowest common denominator--that guy. The drunk semi-skilled ***** out on the road is the most vulnerable. Maybe throw in a little economics about how his "poker runs" affect mom and dad's insurance rates....

It will be a good lesson for them to learn about being an adult.

I like devils advocate. BUT.....calling this guy out and telling my students the truth that he is a DOPE will offend them because this population is very similar. This town is full of poker run participants. Heck, we even have a "Bar Stool Golf Crawl" here. I do bring my insurance agent in to talk to them about factors that contribute to insurance rates.

I just have to be careful about throwing stones at the image that guy brought up. I tend to get into trouble for not being PC no matter how hard I try and then correct message is lost because I called out a guy who is making the world unsafer.

I would love to appropriately blast this moron...........completely in a direct, specific, non-judgmental, and non-punishing way.......

 

[Spud]

Take my advice with a grain of salt.... I'm not a big fan of poker runs. Several years ago a guy I knew really well was on a poker run here. About the 5th bar, I mean card stop into it, he rode his HD at about 65-70 right into the back of a grain harvester that was going 15 mph on a nice sunny saturday....

 

[FJRay]

Take my advice with a grain of salt.... I'm not a big fan of poker runs. Several years ago a guy I knew really well was on a poker run here. About the 5th bar, I mean card stop into it, he rode his HD at about 65-70 right into the back of a grain harvester that was going 15 mph on a nice sunny saturday....

So it was the bar stops that were at fault and not the poker run. The tavern to tavern mentality won't change. We do a lot of poker runs to raise funds for good causes but they don't involve drinking. The one last year at the Reuben run was done by a group that included a couple of bar stops and we won't use them again. The bar is a great place AFTER the bike is parked.

 

[beemerdons]

Sounds like someone who was begrudgingly working off his community service requirements.

Speaking of which Cav47: Old Michael, ShinyPartsUp and Papa Chuy Viejo need to bank a few community service hours for ourselves, if you can get us Greyhound Bus fare from Sacramento, CA to Illinois: You can count on The Forum Irish! By the way, we can bring Whiskey and Wild Women with us can't we? jes' sayin' and nuff said Aye, Slainte!

Ride on up here near the end of school and give a synchronized riding demonstration in the parking lot. I am sure that would be entertaining.

Or you could make it a lesson about how Alcohol and Bikes don't mix.

You could crash in the parking lot with various assortments of gear on. ATGATT vs Pirate gear vs Squid in shorts.

I could get the whole student body out there to watch.

You know I am completely kidding. A trip to the hospital around here is sure to get you a staff infection or worse.

Actually Cav47, I will bring my Irish Draft Pony and Surrey to demonstrate for the Kiddies! JSNS!

 

[bowtie_brain]

OK, I'm going to go out on a limb here and be devil's advocate. He's exactly the right guy to get the message across to your students.
Follow up by explaining to them that you ride a motorcycle too, but you are hyper-alert, sober, skilled and ride a bike that handles well and brakes on a dime. So you pretty much watch out for yourself. Then explain to them that responsible members of society need to protect the lowest common denominator--that guy. The drunk semi-skilled ***** out on the road is the most vulnerable. Maybe throw in a little economics about how his "poker runs" affect mom and dad's insurance rates....

It will be a good lesson for them to learn about being an adult.

I like devils advocate. BUT.....calling this guy out and telling my students the truth that he is a DOPE will offend them because this population is very similar. This town is full of poker run participants. Heck, we even have a "Bar Stool Golf Crawl" here. I do bring my insurance agent in to talk to them about factors that contribute to insurance rates.

I just have to be careful about throwing stones at the image that guy brought up. I tend to get into trouble for not being PC no matter how hard I try and then correct message is lost because I called out a guy who is making the world unsafer.

I would love to appropriately blast this moron...........completely in a direct, specific, non-judgmental, and non-punishing way.......

Here's a fantastic video that is intended for new drivers:

I made my son watch it. The intended audience is the kids that had to witness what you described.

 

[BkerChuck]

I can't help but note the hypocrisy in the fact the last letter in the acronym ABATE stands for Education.

Living where I do, about 15 minutes from the Harley Davidson final assembly plant in York, PA and having spent almost 16 years working part time for a HD dealership, I'm practically surrounded by pirates. I've heard from them how a full face helmet will break my neck in an accident, how full fingered gloves reduce my grip on the bars and my tactile sensation. Tactile sensation is from me, the person telling me probably wouldn't even know what it meant. I've heard all the stories about how they had to "lay the bike down" to avoid an accident. I had one tell me when I was out on my Buell about how my front brakes were "too powerful" and that was dangerous.

The only rights I've ever heard them talk about protecting involved repealing our state helmet law and giving us back our freedom of choice. They often ask why I'm not a member of ABATE. Guess this just prove there is such a thing as a stupid question.

Keep teaching your students the right way. You won't reach all of them, but we'll all know you tried.

 

[Auburn]

I avoid and won't participate in bar to bar poker runs. Just trouble waiting to happen.

 

[Cav47]

Don, Some of my 8th graders just caught a glimpse of my computer screen as they came back from lunch...........I had a difficult time explaining what they were seeing. There is vomit all over my floor. I may be getting fired for that image that is burned into their retinas.

very funny. Glad they never see a pic of Zilla riding that sheep.

 

[Cav47]

Bowtie,

I will check out that video. thanks

BikrChuck,

We are trying to keep them from killing themselves or others. They know that. My own kid is in the class so it gives me a little leverage when I say I am making you drive this way cause I dont want to speak at your funeral.

My saying goes........."I do not want you to be good drivers, I want you to be great drivers. Good drivers dont cause accidents, great drivers avoid accidents they should have been in" I stole that somewhere.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Here's another one you can use from my driving instructor more than 40 years ago.

"Don't try to drive and make out with your boyfriend or girlfriend at the same time. You'll do a poor job of both".

 

[Cav47]

Here's another one you can use from my driving instructor more than 40 years ago.

"Don't try to drive and make out with your boyfriend or girlfriend at the same time. You'll do a poor job of both".

Are you trying to get me fired???

While funny, I know some would go snitch!!!

A line from Billy Madison comes to mind here

what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it.

This would have got me in trouble too.

 

[dcarver]

Take my advice with a grain of salt.... I'm not a big fan of poker runs. Several years ago a guy I knew really well was on a poker run here. About the 5th bar, I mean card stop into it, he rode his HD at about 65-70 right into the back of a grain harvester that was going 15 mph on a nice sunny saturday....

So it was the bar stops that were at fault and not the poker run. The tavern to tavern mentality won't change. We do a lot of poker runs to raise funds for good causes but they don't involve drinking. The one last year at the Reuben run was done by a group that included a couple of bar stops and we won't use them again. The bar is a great place AFTER the bike is parked.

Crap, Ray, does that mean the strippers on the pole are gone too?

ABATE.. what a joke.

Good job, teach. Keep up the great work.

 

[airboss]

Since we're on the topic of Drivers Ed (kinda), maybe remind those future riders that the Basic Motorcycle Safety Course and others are available though the U of I for the grand cost of $20. Refundable on competition of the course................so Free.

Go here to find out where.

https://www.mrp.uiuc.edu/selectCourse.aspx

 

[wheatonFJR]

Here's another one you can use from my driving instructor more than 40 years ago.

"Don't try to drive and make out with your girlfriend at the same time. You'll do a poor job of both".

Oh Yeah?? That guy was just trying to get you to stop messing with his daughter...

 

[beemerdons]

Don, Some of my 8th graders just caught a glimpse of my computer screen as they came back from lunch...........I had a difficult time explaining what they were seeing. There is vomit all over my floor. I may be getting fired for that image that is burned into their retinas.

very funny. Glad they never see a pic of Zilla riding that sheep.

Uh Cav47 it is a New Mexico Hog, but AJ would ride a Michigan sheep if he had the chance! jes' sayin' and nuff said, Yucko!

 

[bluesdog]

Sounds like someone who was begrudgingly working off his community service requirements.

LOL!

If true, there's a probation officer/prosecutor/magistrate/judge who needs a good talking to. Irresponsible and completely inappropriate sentencing.

 

[Uncle Hud]

As a guy who used to ride with no helmet (35 years ago, when I had far more testosterone than brain cells or good judgment) I know where they're coming from. I don't agree with them, and am an ardent ATGATT guy now, but I'm not sure I have a right to tell them how to live their lives.

It's a free country, and that means you can be as stupid as you want to be.