Riding motorcycles into storms.

[SSMAN]

Article is too long and riding in rain is bad. Mk?

[SS Junk]

Most of you people are NOT reading the article before responding. lol

Where's the fun in that.

[sc281]

Most of you people are NOT reading the article before responding. lol

And this surprises you?

[talisman]

And this surprises you?

Of course not. However I really liked what the guy had to say. It amazes me how many people have an aversion to reading what would equate to maybe a couple of pages of a book.

[SS Junk]

I shit eggs.

I now read the article, and all I can say is, buck up, cupcake.

[Treybiz]

Great read.

[Ted]

Awesome article. What does it say?

[ELVIS]

if it was raining i would just take the truck vs. the bike!

god bless.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I have a friend like that. He was out of town with some family at a reunion, and opted about halfway back to unload his bike off the trailer rather than be in the truck with his dad and brother. He's a bit of a loner, and is a pretty cool dude, except somewhat antisocial.

[Strychnine]

One of the comments:

I am also 35. I'm too old for the irresponsibility and carefree days of youth. I'm too young to be taken seriously as a man. I am like legions of middle class men in my age bracket. The stresses on our generation are crushing, and totally unappreciated by society, as if we're supposed to be guilty about feeling anything less than completely grateful and happy for everything we have, when we fight to constantly do better for ourselves, and our families. It's never a lack of gratitude, it's the frustration that stems from knowing we're mere cogs in a machine, and that we continue to fight harder and harder just to stay afloat. Often unrewarded. We're called "entitled", "lazy" and that we have "no work ethic". This is how we are viewed by those who fail to see the challenges facing our generation, and typically by those granted a better station in life. We don't want to be provided for, we just want a fair chance to provide for ourselves and our families. We have great expectations placed upon us by society, and it's society that takes the most from us. We have no cause backing us. We have no Facebook pages dedicated to our preservation. Yet we are constantly placed in the most peril, and we are expected to remain silent about it. We fight this society's wars. We fund this society's excesses. We are continually having more and more taken from us. We live and die completely anonymous, yet we are all that is keeping this country running. We are a generation of men who are individually identified solely by our credit scores. We are nothing more than the money that can be extracted from us. We are the first generation to see that the American Dream has faded to almost being unachievable. But we are fortunate in that we ARE Americans, and we know we have it a hell of a lot better than many folks do. We're reminded of this every day, until it also becomes a source of guilt and stress.

What you are doing is is exactly what so many of us want to do. I am fortunate enough to own a pretty nice driver quality 55 Chevy hot rod. Before I owned a home or was married, I was able to afford to buy a running project, and complete it from there. I also ride a motorcycle. Not a fancy Harley or Sport Bike, but a 1981 Suzuki I cobbled together from parts over the last 9 months, and crafted something I could be proud of. There is nothing more I want to do at times than hop in my hot rod or on my bike and just go. But that would be ignoring my responsibilities, and those that count on me. The best I can hope for is some vacation time in the summer, and maybe being able to afford a cheap hotel room for a few nights at the beach. Maybe, I can even afford a new part for my car or bike every now and then. This is how we pacify ourselves. This is how we say life is worth living, and it's all worth fighting for. People look at our machines as luxuries, but to us, they're a necessary coping tool. We invest in them, because it's an investment in ourselves, and through that, our families. If getting out for a blast on your machine to clear your head every now and then is what keeps you a functional human being, it is invaluable. You may totally disagree with me, and that's fine, but you and I are very similar. We find a proper outlet for our stress, instead of lashing out at the same society that seeks to use us up and throw us away. The same society that deserves to be lashed out upon. We do it because we are good men. We do it because we want to be healthy, productive people. We do it because we want to make our loved ones proud, and set the example for the next generation.

I don't know if you believe in God, but I do. I've seen too many things in my 35 years, and I've felt his hand at work in my own life, to ever deny him. That said, I will be praying for your safe journey, and that you find your vision on this quest. Return safe, and tell us all about your journey, and what you found, even if it's nothing

At 35 you're still looking for appreciation form society? And you're never too young to be taken seriously as a man. You're not taken seriously as a man because you are not a strong example of what it is to be a man.


All of those highlighted parts... That's just what it is to be a man. There is no glory in day-to-day life. There are no achievement medals for living. Responsibility and accountability abound; accept it and live life. Yeah, able bodied men in society bear the weight of the world and that's how it's always been.

I mean

This is how we are viewed by those who fail to see the challenges facing our generation

What, exactly, are the challenges facing men today that scores of generations before have not faced? Sure, maybe we call our challenges things like "retirement funding, healthcare, and the acceptance of a laziness"... in the past they would have used words like "famine, disease, tyranny, continual warfare, exposure, etc" but woe is us!

And

we are constantly placed in the most peril

LMFAO. Who else should be placed in harms way? Children? Women? The world is dangerous. Accept it and step up to the challenge.

How you react to adversity, how you adapt and overcome, how you treat those around you - these are measures of men. Recognition, how easy you can make it though life, or number of friends are not.

Maybe, I can even afford a new part for my car or bike every now and then. This is how we pacify ourselves. This is how we say life is worth living, and it's all worth fighting for. People look at our machines as luxuries, but to us, they're a necessary coping tool

Pffffft. Think about the evolution of humanity. Now think about what a luxury it is that we even have the opportunity for "coping tools." We have free time... holy shit, dude, WE HAVE FREE TIME. We are not constantly working our balls just to live to the next week or month. Can you not see past your current situation and put yourself in the context of a much bigger picture?

What do you want from the world? An "everybody's a winner!" ribbon next time you make your mortgage payment? Maybe a pat on the back when you read with your child, or a giftcard to Starbucks next time you help an elderly lady with her groceries?

In that quoted comment there is a lot of credence given to the opinion of others. Sure, American society has accepted the emasculation of the image of men. Men are constantly made to be buffoons on TV, it is acceptable for a man to have as much or more hair/face/skin product in his bathroom as his wife or gf, and if you tell a guy being a pussy that he's a pussy... well you're an inconsiderate dick at best and maybe even a hateful intolerant bastard. On top of that we, as a whole (not just men) are being milked dry, and it sucks, but none of those things affect your individual character.

Do not live your life any differently because of how the media portrays other men in your demographic, because your tax dollars are feeding lazy fuckers who are leeches on the system, or because no one told you "Good job!" this week. Be a fucking man. Be strong, be confident, learn to take a hit square in the jaw and keep moving forward (figuratively speaking... and maybe literallly?). Do good. Reject evil. And don't expect a parade for these things; they are your job as a man.




Or I guess I could have just given a 'x2' to this:

I now read the article, and all I can say is, buck up, cupcake.

[JP135]

Oh poor baby. There's a bomber running around loose in Boston. An enraged maniac (and his helpful wife) have caused three months of terror while they ran around on their little homicidal rampage and now West, Texas has suffered so much in an instant that can never be replaced or rebuilt.

But yeah, hop on your little motorcycle and cry your little pussy eyes out. Do me a favor, bro? Get your candy-ass out of the damned way while the rest of us carry our load and yours too without taking time to piss and moan about how tough we've got it.

Welcome to manhood - either buck up or lay down and die.

[talisman]

Lol, I was more interested in how he talked about lighting out for the territories on a road trip, but I suppose he was kind of whiney.

[JP135]

Lol, I was more interested in how he talked about lighting out for the territories on a road trip, but I suppose he was kind of whiney.

It probably just hit me wrong. The idea of of a grown man running from problems just pissed me right off.

[talisman]

Depends on the situation. Sometimes it's better to just leave all the pieces on the floor and start fresh than try and put them back together.

[Sean88gt]

It's the typical where you're at isn't where you thought you'd be. Does everyone struggle with it at some point? Of course. I appreciate his sentiment as well as the place his mind is at. I'm a chronic mind-fucker, so I really can appreciate manufacturing crisis when things are going smoothly. But it does seem like he wants some attention because life is scary.