While I am not a Renaissance man, there are two fields of expertise that you do not desire in which to debate me. One is knife sharpening. The other regards The Constitution and The Federalist Papers. I'll 'cut' you in either aspect.

To prove a point and redeem a fellow biker, I joined a forum with a questionable pedigree. And its reputation turned out to be true.

The thread pertained to the media, the application of rights under law and the strident attitude of unschooled youth. It is my belief that modern children define terms not in fact, but by using "The Oprah Method." That is, if public opinion or Oprah is outraged, then the law can be swept aside and mob rule is justified. An example of this is the trailor trash view of Casey Anthony; it doesn't matter about jurisprudence, it's simply what you "feel."

So I took on a dozen idiots, debated them to a standstill. So badly did they get trounced that I got two PMs from moderators. While I had not broken an forum rules (in fact, I successfully hammered a mod), they finally gave into this 'outrage' with excuses to cover 'trial by post count.' In the end I was banned for life because I "insulted members."

LOL. The only 'insult' on the table was that the kids had to spend time googling The Constitution and The Thesaurus instead of the quality time they usually enjoy by farting and masturbating. I am proud of The Red Badges I have earned.

The landscape of motorcycle forums is dismal. We should thank our stars everyday for HRF, because bikes and brains are not mutually exclusive.

No, I'd be happy to. It's a fair question.

At the core, I'm distrustful of the idea of "conventional wisdom." At my age that concept is just another way to keep proffering old ideals or flat out bigotry. It's one thing to keep repeating, "All Harleys leak--everyone knows that." It quite another to use this 'wisdom' as justification to walk around with a closed mind.

After all, in my lifetime I remember when it was 'conventional wisdom' that black football players weren't smart enough to be quarterbacks.

What troubled me about this unnamed forum was using 'conventional wisdom' to justify gang-tackling as a way to chill debate. In one thread they praised veterans. But in another thread one member actually wrote that he did not care about guilt or innocence (on the OP topic) as it was underwritten in the Constitution. After all, the forum's main mob all belived that folks like Casey Anthony and Joe Paterno were guilty somehow, if not under the Constitution then in the moral spectrum of public opinion. And that was good enough to fire them, belittle them or hang them.

Now, how does that relate to bikers and the proper running of a forum? Well, one of their previous now banned members is a member here, and that person was treated in the same fashion. The 'mob' simply voted behind his back and banned him/her. And while we all sadly admit that forums are private property within true free speech does not exist, what real biker uses a sniveling attitude and back-stabbing as a weapon? A group of people (supposedly bikers) who feel collectively that there are times that the Constituion doesn't apply aren't fit to piss with, much less share a road. If they'll turn on him/her, they'll turn on you.

My tenure there was brief, but they got outed. Twelve against one, and they got stomped. And hopefully more than a few realized their "choir robes" were worthless. That's why.

I've read and re read your submissions and they were valid. They wanted you to join the lynch mob mentality and you stood the voice of reason. Your nly guilty o havig your own well thought out opinion.

The place wreaks of posers and POS's.

If that was their only problem I'd say that they were just your average bike forum. If you spend time looking for decent places you'll find most boards cater to RUBs, wannabees, and never-weres.

What bothered me about this group was that they seemingly know more about Oprah than the Constitution. Like I said, they claim to venerate the veterans, then denigrate their sacrifices by trashing what they fought for. The particular thread I responded to contained the word "disgrace." Yes, it was a disgrace, and by that I refer to their knowledge of their own country.

They ultimately banned me for not being one of them. I should thank them for that. I'm proud to not be one of them.

Yesterday afternoon while my wife and I were sitting at a coffee bar, I got a telephone call from a HRF member. Not a rare occurance, but it touched on a defining issue both for this thread and in general for motorcycling. We discussed my conduct and the central issues of how I conduct my life.

As you know this "who exactly is a biker" nonsense has been going on for years. I have an opinion, so do RUBs and posers. No issue is final or sacrosanct. But just like when was little boy, I choose who I wish to play with, and that defines pretty much my entire debate on any issue.

As a strict constructionist I don't like people who disenfranchise others. I think knee-jerk Oprah fans need to think more and speak less. But this is a bike forum, and our discussions show how we define this and how this impacts motorcycling, so I need to clarify my view here.

If you are not sixty years old or did not have a mentor born in the 1940s you're not a biker. (That means a WWII soldier who saw the beginning up until a 1960's Prospect who saw the end--one generation.) If not, I don't care how many conchos you own or how long your forks are, you lack the depth and breadth of the very lifestyle you espouse. You know nothing of brotherhood, honor, taking a beating for those ideals or even how to change your own oil. You're a motorcyclist or a member of a touring organization.

Oh, I don't mean you do not enjoy riding around. The HOG chapters and the Wing-Dingers enjoy the heck out of piling on miles, and good for them. But there's more to the concept of 'lifestyle' than punching an electric starter button. And that is painfully clear to me the older I get. A lifestyle colors your opinion even when you park your bike for the night--or state that opinion openly.

Look, I had a great time jerking around the posers that afternoon. They knew nothing of brotherhood, of honor, or did they even make a single analogy to even owning a Harley. But it's America, make your choice. However, if you huddle in secret meetings, stab your brother in the back, trash our Constitution and find yourself whipped down to jelly by a real biker, then your bandwidth might be better utilized in a ballroom dancing chat-room. You're wasting my time.

I came here to meet and discuss Harley-Davidson topics (of all kinds) with guys who know a stove-bolt from stove-top-stuffing. And posers disgust me. I cannot make that clearer. And I even did them a big favor by not identifying their 'forum.' That concept alone is old school, for I didn't pay much attention to drunken townies, either.

Hey Tourist.

Throwing around thoughts let me add that the HD motorcycle since the EVO years has been enjoying a new found popularity like it has never seen before. I think so much so that all walks of life of riders now have Harleys who sold or traded in there GPZ,Ninjas and BMW's etc..and more who are rock stars of some celebrity or another.I remember back in the late 70's a much older HD riding gypsy named Rags told me he sees a day when majoritively Harleys are ridden by cell phone using wealthy folks and who will trailer them every where they go,10 year old bikes with low miles...damn if he won't spot on.

I think it is a true minority of HD riders and whose bikes define who they are and exactly what that definition is. Unfortunately the HD motorcycle has become a status symbol for those who can scratch up enough expendable income. These folks tend to be the shallow lets do lunch faux "brotherhood" crowd. They speak the words cause they sound cool but have no idea what it means to have your brothers back in a serious throw down. And to the demise and future extinction one day of a true way of life not just who can add the shinest baubles to their ride.

The kind of folks I grew up with were those who either forgone a car or ran a POS 3-500$ beater car during the winter months. I know most who have read our many exchanges regard us as ethnocentric neophytes and they are right. Just because you have a harley don't mean chit.

The forum you did not mention is full of 1st time owner know it alls and they demand you bow down at there altar of grevious mistruths and which seems to be the caseof the majority of motorcycle forums. That or what you don't understand..destroy,eliminate or ban.

Brotherhood is allowing your brother his word/opinion and understanding it or agreeing to disagree. Over there its get in line with us or get out,lol. I am gratefull diverse discord happens here. While not a membership run forum it seems to have a wide berth for brotherhood.

Boy, you nailed that! The problem is that they are so busy admiring their badass reflection in the chrome that they seldom develop the person within. Without honor, it's easy to stab someone--anyone--in the back. In fact, the crowd I tangled with seems to do this for fun. I wonder if they ever met a biker.



Yes, that's what follows. With no direction from a mentor and no real connection to history, they build their persona from every cheap motorcycle movie ever made. But in the time away from a bike they revert to the real person they are--a suburban guy who worries about crabgrass.



And if I would have met a biker there I would have given him that courtesy. The place has no bikers, and hence their opinions on motorcycle issues means nothing to me. A puss is a puss, what do I care.

Well, it's a very big deal.

'Claiming' you're a doctor doesn't allow you to do surgery anymore than a tinfoil hat makes you a space alien. Motorcycling is the only segment of society where you can trumpet inclusion with absolutely no credientials. As I have often stated, I know of a biker forum where a mod suggests 30% of the members don't even own bikes.

We turn a blind eye to it. We tolerate paying up to 30K for a bike designed in 1936--a vehicle I paid about 2K for. We look at fresh ink and newbs regurgitating buzz words lifted from the latest issue of a bike magazine and we sit silent. Then we gripe when MoCo dry-slides us over a barrel yet again.

We create our own mess.

Let me make this very clear. A bunch of posers stabbed one of us publicly in a fairytale 'biker' forum. In a tavern a verbal assault and denigrating his character would have met with firm and immediate retaliation, and perhaps the business end of a pool cue. I find no reason to allow it just because his attackers hid behind a lap-top in their moms' basement.

BTW, a mod there claims his 'bikers' are older. Older? Do you want an immature adult on a public road with an 800 pound bike with that mindset? Did they buy those licenses or do they now just fall out of CrackerJack boxes? Our guy was maligned.

Surprisingly I have read where there have already been 4-5 major accidents and a few minor ones among the 10-12 regular members who post there and I expect more. Its a cluster f*ck of idiocracy as you found out. Keystone cop like even,lol.

What can you expect from cyber biking where anyone can be anything, a legend in their minds? I think all forums can be a good thing for the many newobs to conoodle and support each other for a sense of confidence and exchanging knowledge rather than actually going out in the real world and pay dues. Instant short cut. Its not a totally bad thing its just not for me.

Well, while it doesn't seem fair, I expect them to cut the hypocrisy.

When they attack me, the man in the moon, or anyone else they are 'flaming' and/or insulting that person. I just returned the favor, that's all. In that context, I got exactly what I expected.

Oh, and speaking of getting what's expected, someday these clowns are going to meet some real bikers at a gun show or a car exhibit. And to quote Darth Vader, "They won't find them as forgiving as I."