[Zanshin]

Bikers for the most part are a great bunch of guys. There is a feeling of brotherhood/sisterhood that paramount with most bikers I've met. Anyway... I come up to a red light and pull up beside this bike sitting at the light. I look over, raise my shield and give him a nice friendly, loud "howdy!". The guy looks me in the eye, looks down at my bike, looks me in the eye again and then looks straight ahead and proceeds to ignore my presence. All I could think was, "So that's how it is eh? Too bad for you.". I feel bad for people like that, life can be so much happier.

 

[jwinker]

Guessing his reaction was based on your presence is equally as judgmental as you are trying to convey. Perhaps he wasn't "looking down on your bike" but rather this was his "nod in return." You will find yourself in a happier world if you do not percieve an inert reaction as a personal attack.

 

[Zanshin]

Nah... didn't take it personally at all. It definitely wasn't a "nod" as he looked at the bike front to back. As I said, I felt sad for him.

 

[PA Dave]

Just let it roll off. We tend to think we know what people are thinking at any given moment. He may have been thinking your bike isn't "real", but he may well have been completely distracted by thoughts of a dying loved one, a lost job, bad news from his doctor...anything. We never know what dragons another person is facing in their life.

 

[vito]

FWIW....I for one would give you a nice hello right back.

 

[jwinker]

You are still judging his reaction. Without direct communication, this is only your interpretation of a negative experience. There are 1000 variables which come into play and if you are content with your contribution to the reaction, there is no reason to question his response.

 

[Mark-B]

Not a fan of the type.. Don't need to be either.. People with such inane prejudices aren't gonna be somebody I would want to hang with anyway.. So.. You don't miss much by not being in that guy's graces..

Yup.. Wish that one the best of luck in that he finds people of his own kind to be friendly with.. Me, I'll be friendly with all of 'em.. I win

 

[Zanshin]

Great comments all...

Yep... sometimes it's hard to think past the moment. I'll keep all y'alls comments in mind next time.

 

[jwinker]

Yup.. Wish that one the best of luck in that he finds people of his own kind to be friendly with.. Me, I'll be friendly with all of 'em.. I win

Mark, that has been my experience. I have never complained about a negative experience on this board because I always put forth the best experience I could.

If you are content with the effort you put forth, you cannot be disappointed in the reaction of the receiver. If you feel you could've done more, then feel free to be disappointed in the exchange. Do not hold an individual reaction as a measure of your internal motivation.

 

[Rembrandt]

I think Zanshin's take on this fellow biker is legitimate. I've had lots of crap on my plate and I can manage a token nod or smile in return to such an obviously friendly gesture given as Zanshin indicates regardless of my own dark day or immediate reality. When first riding my little Suzuki S40, I had a guy on a big Harley sneer at me. I laughed and throttled on by him. I too find most bikers great folks, but I won't waste my time making excuses for snarly arrogance and dismissive behaviours because someone may be having a bad day or circumstance. That's a load of crap. I'm here to legitimize Zanshin's kindly and human attempt at comraderie. To hell with that other biker's reality.

 

[jwinker]

You're missing the point. Don't let another rider's reaction drag you down...

 

[Rembrandt]

I think you're missing the point.

 

[Rembrandt]

Zanshin wasn't letting this guy drag him down. He was clear about his response.

 

[Old Dad]

At lights and situations like this, I tend to pull a bit ahead or slightly behind other riders.(can't make eye contact easily) It avoids only what I've read about happening to folks and their perceptions of what occurred. It works.

 

[Rembrandt]

And he could have used a little more affirmation and a lot less judgment.

 

[Rembrandt]

Now that, Old Dad, is what I call a truly constructive response. Thanks.

 

[GiveItToMikey]

So, ya didn't say what type of machine the other guy was ridin'.

That would make all the difference in this discussion.

Judging by the guy's reaction to your bike he must'a been ridin' a... a... ah...

Le'me guess.............. a

Harley!

Yeah, that's it!

No wonder.

Next case. ;-)

EDIT: Someone above threw out the 'Harley' crack so never mind. I'm goin' back to bed.

'Night ya'all! ;-) ;-)

 

[jwinker]

Zanshin wasn't letting this guy drag him down. He was clear about his response.

It dragged him down enough to make a post about it on an internet forum.

Old Dad is right - avoid the situation altogether and ride on.

 

[Rembrandt]

A sad commentary on how some humans behave is not dragging one down.

 

[Old Dad]

My wife gives me a look sometimes too. But we travel separately even when the destination is the same. So no worries there either.