How Do You Feel About Bikers?

My theory is that it is just like many other things in life...we are taught to feel a certain way about something...for instant...how many of us are scared of going into the ocean for fear of a shark attack? Thanks to a certain (awesome) movie from a few years back (okay more than a few years) - we have an irrational fear of sharks. We may even KNOW that statistics show it is HIGHLY unlikely we would be bitten by a shark. Yet we still fear them and in turn limit what we might feel comfortable doing in the ocean. Justified fear is one thing - where we have personally had a negative experience with ___ (fill in the blank). But I believe the majority of us are fearful from our "experience" with the media's interpretation of ___ (again, fill in the blank). Since you specifically asked about bikers - I think the reason so many fear bikers is the unbalanced media attention. What I mean is the experience with the media and the view of bikers tend to be negative. The media reported the crimes of the(was it the late 60's and 70's?) biker gang "Hell's Angels" (for example) - the media has not portrayed bikers in much of any different light. When I was a kid I remember thinking Bikers were scary people because they wore leather, sunglasses, and heavy boots. Now that I am a (fairly) rational adult, I know they wear leather to protect their skin (if there is an accident as well as the environment - they wear sunglasses to protect their eyes not only from the sun but from bugs (we don't have that problem in a car), etc.. The media rarely brings up the "good" in bikers. Those bikers who are not in "gangs" or participate in any criminal acts. Those who enjoy the bikes. Enjoys riding in the open - the "freedom" which can come from riding. etc.. This is just my opinion - of course. I just feel like we have unreasonable and irrational fears that we each really need to take the time to investigate. And notice how these fears affect our opinions, biases and actions/reactions to and of our world. I don't mind bikers. The only ones that concern me are the ones who drive a bit on the reckless side...swerving in and out of traffic or ride the tail of my car. I am always worried they are going to crash and there is so little protection riding a bike. I have been lucky enough to have quite a few friends who enjoy their motorcycles - and those friends are good people. This experience - along with basically growing up and being able to examine my thoughts and opinions have helped me disassociate from those "biases" about bikers. Well...I doubt you really wanted such a long answer - but that is my two-cents worth. GREAT discussion!! I enjoyed it! :-) THANKS!

People are scared of them, probably because some are old and when they were younger bikers were normally in gangs, which can be intimitading. Some people might be scared because they've seen things on telly where bikers are all nasty, actually I can only think of the two cooks that are actually nice bikers on telly. Some people might have been told that bikers are nasty and so they just believe it. I would stand at a good distance and see what they were like, because some aren't very nice, but others are fine.

I feel the same about bikers as I do about eveyone else. There are good and bad in all walks of life. I have met the bikers you mention and feel perfectly safe when they are around. They all seem to be nice people and the best thing about them being at this particular pub is that they appear to have scared away the troublemakers who were ruining it.

Many people hate them because they just overtake when they like to. Also, they cause uneasiness to some motorists because they drive swiftly on the road. They even get in to accidents most of the time. I don't like them that much.

I find that bikers have a negative stereotype that isn't really accurate at all. I'm not a biker myself, but I am not afraid of bikers just because of all the leather.

scared,no way! some of the friendliest people i have ever met have been bikers, i can sort of understand why people would be a bit wary of them because some of them are really big and some people find that intimidating. I met a biker when i used to work in a shop,when he came in i was like "whoa.this guy is huge!" but he had much nicer manners than most people i know.

Well, I think that some people are scared of bikers because they are usually big blokes and there are usually a few of them together, it's like anyone really, if they're bigger than you and there are a few of them together they become a 'scary gang'. I personally am not scared of bikers in general, there are one or two who I don't particularly like, but they are women. The men bikers seem fine, I know if I don't upset them or kick their bikes or anything they'll be fine with me. I also know if I need looking after they'll look after me too.

I wasn't a biker, but I used to ride a scooter. I don't have a scooter anymore because I sold it. Right now, I use the public transport. No, I don't find anything threatening about bikes and bikers. Most of them are college boys eager to show off their new toy. I just feel a bit apprehensive when I see them chatting on the mobile as they ride. Nothing scary about bikers and bikes. On the contrary, I do admire certain beautiful models of bikes. Cheers and happy mylotting

Yes, really cool motorcycles. I'm not scared of them, their tough exterior might frighten a few people with more conservative views, but they are people just the same. I was getting gas one time and my son (8) was with me, a guy on a wicked Harley was getting some gas too. My son was interested in his bike but was afraid to ask if he could look, I told him its okay and we went over together. I asked the biker if my son could look at his bike, he was very generous and was glad to show off his hog. He also took the initiative to help me and tell my son in a friendly way to always be careful around motorcycles and to wear a helmet. Then he drove the point home and told my son to always make sure to "mind your dad". I nodded to the biker and he left. My son was good for about 2 weeks after that.

Bikers don't scare me. They come from all walks of life. I know, because I am one. LOL I'm a 49 year old grandmother of two and I've had a motorcycle license all of my life. My ex and I had a tour bike too that we took all over the place, even up into the mountains camping for days on end. Matter of fact we rode with a group of other biker friends to the top of Pikes Peak some years back. There is nothing I love more than being on a bike with the wind blowing on me and the sun shining bright. You can see and appreciate the countryside so much more that way I think. The only downside is weather. Nothing like riding out a hail storm on one as you come down the side of a mountain. We had one trip where I swear I lived in rain gear the entire trip. LOL

I don't feel anything bad about bikers. I respect their personality as well as their passion as a rider.

I believe that's a very old mentally and also tunnel visioned. I know quite a few bikers and they are just your average, everyday people. I think that's the problem with the world; we judge people and situations before we take the time out to get to know them or get the full information.

Depends. if, by "biker", you mean Americans with their big Harleys, then they do have quite a bad reputation. but if you're talking about those people on those really cool and fast Japanese Suzukis and Kawasakis, they seem a lot more gentlemanly, just like when you compare American NASCAR drivers and F1 championship drivers. the latter just seems so much more proper (though i do enjoy NASCAR a lot)

Why should you be scared of another human being? Everyone should learn that people no matter how they look on the outside or no matter how they dress. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to fear other people in my opinion. There is too much racial problems in the world today, that it seems that no one should be friends with each other unless they have some common goal in mind. For instance, the primary reason most of us are on mylot is to either make new friends, earn a little or alot of money! So it doesn't matter if I'm blue, purple, yellow, orange or green, we all have the same thing in common which the Internet has put back at the forefront and the commonality is the freedom of speech. Life is too short to be scared of what will happen to you if someone that doesn't dress or look like the people I would normally hang around moved next door in my neighborhood. Hope this adds to the conversation going on here. I am new to this site, but plan to have alot of fun.

There is a good thing and bad thing hidden behind everything so its upto us in how we take, im not fascinated to bikers nor do i support them ... but i wont say i hate or am scared of them for the leather and riding motorbikes..

Bikers are a real cool breed of people! They live life freely ... and unlike their stereotype bullish image are actually very very friendly people ... who have a healthy social life. It would really be fun riding ur bike all across the country for fun ... but the damn fuel prices :(((

scared ..!!! not at all...!! i love bikes,well every biker has its own thoughts ,and so hez different from one another..well i know one person whoz a good biker but not a good human being he is a rich guy and has a record in police dairy ,as a criminal and i don't like that guy.. so it really depends... u can't say just buy judging him as a biker..!!

In America they've something of a bad reputation. Tough = dangerous here, though it's a silly assumption. I actually really love bikers. If I get my way I'll be slightly lower down on the food chain than a biker though, 'cause I'll be on a scooter -- a Honda Helix, specifically...if all goes fairly well. Even though I'll really be into the "scooter endurance thing" riding it in cold, snowy weather as well as good weather. Scooters just don't usually have the same air of "tough-ness" as motorcycles do. People come in all shapes and sizes, personality wise and physically...so it's just people being silly again and lumping people all into one category.

I love bikers. I am a biker myself and have been riding for as long as I can remember. Yes I agree with you that alot of people will not go places or even near people who are bikers. I don't understand that at all. Yes you are driving a fat hog (sweet ride) and wearing leathers. But I have many many bikers friends of all shapes and sizes and all walks of lives. I will always consider them my biker family. As well bikers always have that wave for other bikers. You know driving down the highway/freeway and you give eachother a wave while passing them. I love it. You don't see people driving cars do that at all.

i think people are scary because of the looks oand dress of bikers that will creeate a scary feeling. bikers also does seem to communicate with people oftenly