andyals wrote:Wow.
A lot of abuse there.
Is that the most intelligible response you can give.
I am middle aged, yes, but I have been riding constantly since the age of 18 (27 years).
My point was not meant to be sexsist but to make the point that Women tend to be more attracted to the lifestyle and social scene than bikes, and you have said nothing that makes me think otherwise.
In fact, judging by the torrent of abuse you decided to dish out, I think I might just have hit on a nerve ?
I am absolutely certain that without the social scene, you would have no interest in bikes at all and I say again, you will not, repeat NOT still be riding in three years time.
Why am I saying all this.
Because I am a sexsist dullard with a chip ?
No.
My opinioons are based on nearly 30 years experience of seeing people like you come and go with tedious regularity.
I say again.
I really wish more Women would take up riding, but more importantly, I wish they would keep riding.
Andy, I think, by the number of smileys you've used after certain comments you didn't mean to be sexist, but I'm sure you must understand and appreciate how your comments could be taken as such. I think it would have been better received if you had have said something along the lines of 'Wow, great to see another lady rider join the community - I hope you really enjoy it and stick with it as too many ladies give up biking too soon'. That, perhaps, would not have gotten SO many backs up - and I certainly HOPE that's what you meant to say.
Even so, to make a comment purely based on gender - you surely must acknowledge - is wrong.
Whatever Debbie's reasons for joining the biking scene - the fact is she has - and this something to be celebrated. If she does it for six months of six years - who cares??! The point is she's done it. Even if she gives up after a while, she will be a better driver for it - having due regard for bikers, having been there, done that - thus making the roads just that little bit safer for those that stick at it.
The fact of the matter is she joined the biking scene for me - yes, me - not a man, not to meet men, not for a social scene - but me! This is something that we want to do to spend some quality time as sisters - but WHY does any of this have to be justified to you?!
And, so what if she did join it for a social scene - which, as I've said already, she didn't - haven't you ever gone to the pub just to see who's there and who you can have a yap to? Haven't you ever attended an evening class or a club, a football team, something(!), just to meet other people - people you might not ordinarily meet in your every day life just to get to know people and be a more rounded person yourself as a result?? Haven't you ever tried a new hobby, only to discover it's not for you? If you haven't - what a boring life you must have led?
For so long I've been telling Debs that the biking community/SWB is so great - full of really fun, lovely, friendly people - bikers look out for one another, blah, blah, blah - and in her first few weeks of biking you have COMPLETELY ruined everything I have said to her. You have disappointed me - and I hope you have he decency to be disappointed in yourself.
Please have the good grace to apologise - not only to Debs, on the basis that you have made assumptions about her without knowing her - but also to the other lady riders on this site you have, undoubtedly, offended by making comments based purely on gender.
Kim
