NGC-peace signs and aggressive behavior

[TodkaVonic]

Sounds like you encountered a couple douchecanoes. I say keep flashing the peace sign (aka "V for victory" palm of hand directed toward recipient) as often and to whomever you choose. Regarding the two-up in a lane thing, yes, that's odd. If someone pulled up next to me, I'd assume that he intends to communicate something: blinker is on, taillight is out, how do I get to State street? etc. Or, I guess, that he's Kevin. Ha!

Nate

[Kev m]

 

I wonder if it's a regional thing. HUH, who figured Yankees from NY, PA, NJ etc would be the friendly ones?!? 

I've literally done it for decades without a second of hesitation if there was obviously room and I don't think I could count the times I didn't get a nod, wave, or hello on one hand.

But then again, I almost always ride with an open face helmet, the rider sees me pull up with a big booger-eating grin, and I always say something like:

Hey
What's Up
How's it Going
Man it's a nice day
Great bike
Cool _______________
Wow life is good
Hola

or the like.

And it's always followed by something when the light changes like


Have a good one
Shiny side up
Rubber side down
Take care
Have fun

or just good old:


RIDE SAFE

[DougG]

"I wonder if it's a regional thing."

OK...Here's an observation:

I split my time riding between upstate NY and western NC.

I used to flash my high beams (to announce my presence and position), when approaching a car coming from the right or left and poised to turn into or across my lane.  In one of those communities it apparently means "HERE I AM, SEE ME...DON'T DO IT",  in the other community it means "HELP YOURSELF AND PLEASE MAKE YOUR TURN".  I'll let you decide which one is which.  It took me a couple of "HOLY CRAP" moments to figure it out.  I don't flash my high beams anymore, I simply assume the worst.

My point is...yes, it's regional.

Be well,
DougG

[Kev m]

Great example...

Where I grew up it was "go ahead and turn".

But I've never trusted it as being universal.

Kinda like the helmet tap for a cop ahead.

[drbone641]

Sitting right in the spot where 4 wheeled vehicles have deposited oil doesn't seem to be a good plan . In fact , if you need to move unexpectedly , you will just get wheel spin .

 Dusty

Exactly. And you may not have an escape path from a late braking cage

[LowRyter]

Now if you pull up next to someone and won't even acknowledge their existence, that's something different.

[Guzzistajohn]

I was down in the Ozarks boondocks Saturday at a crossroad havin' a drink of H2o, and a harley dude came flyin' around the corner, so I flipped him a peace sign just to see if he'd pull over and give me an ass kickin'. He nearly locked 'em up so he could ask if everything was OK. They're not all jerks. 

[Siamese]

I do the occasional peace sign if a driver has been courteous. 

I do NOT want anyone in my lane.  At a stop light, or otherwise.  The light changes, and then I have a stranger whose sanity and riding ability are unknown to me pulling away from the light at the same time as me in MY lane.  And yes, it's MY lane.   

More and more, it seems that drivers of cars are unable to stay in their lane.  As soon as they have drifted out of their lane enough to have two tires on the centerline, how do I know if they're going to continue or correct themselves?  Pay attention, and stick to your own lane, PLEASE.  I know a place where you can stick your cellphone where you'll have hands free operation.   

[frozengoose]

I was down in the Ozarks boondocks Saturday at a crossroad havin' a drink of H2o, and a harley dude came flyin' around the corner, so I flipped him a peace sign just to see if he'd pull over and give me an ass kickin'. He nearly locked 'em up so he could ask if everything was OK. They're not all jerks. 

The Harley riders up here are generally a lot less friendly if you're wearing a helmet and/or not riding a hog. One of my favorite stories about that...  http://smilesfromnowherre.blogspot.com/2019/07/almost-triumph.html

As for the peace sign, I'd guess it's misinterpreted cause younger folks just aren't familiar with it. While the symbol probably originated in the '60's with the antiwar movement in England, when it spread to the US it was more a symbol of the"counterculture" long haired hippies. It was popular in the 70's for bikers, I saw it all the time when I lived in the midwest, but it seemed to disappear in the '80's at least in Alaska. Now a days, I haven't seen it much, if at all, I suspect if I flashed it to someone, they'd just be confused. So I usually just give half a wave, palm forward, from the wrist. Hard to confuse that with anything else!

[Ncdan]

I was down in the Ozarks boondocks Saturday at a crossroad havin' a drink of H2o, and a harley dude came flyin' around the corner, so I flipped him a peace sign just to see if he'd pull over and give me an ass kickin'. He nearly locked 'em up so he could ask if everything was OK. They're not all jerks. 

Glad you clarified that part about Harley riders not being all jerks as when I rode Harley’s I use to remind my buddies that all Guzzi riders were not all jerks. Just making a point:)

[Mr Pootle]

 In the summer of 71 I was hitching west out of Flagstaff. A group of about twenty bikes came by, heading east. Every rider flipped me the peace sign. Happy days.

[Guzzistajohn]

Glad you clarified that part about Harley riders not being all jerks as when I rode Harley’s I use to remind my buddies that all Guzzi riders were all jerks. Just making a point:)

Anyone can be perceived as a "jerk" it's really hard to tell from a few seconds of interaction. First impressions are not always taken right. 

[Kev m]

I do NOT want anyone in my lane.  At a stop light, or otherwise.  The light changes, and then I have a stranger whose sanity and riding ability are unknown to me pulling away from the light at the same time as me in MY lane.  And yes, it's MY lane.   

Well, that makes sense.

I mean if either of those things are in question the ONE PLACE you really want that person is operating a vehicle on the road directly BEHIND YOUR MOTORCYCLE.

< / SARCASM >

 

[jwinwi]

I always just thought Jersey was where we sent our garbage. 

Is Staten Island part of NJ now?

[Lannis]

Possibilities of misunderstandings, likelihood of misperceptions, cultural differences, personality differences ....

... I think I'm just going to keep my hands to myself, concentrate on riding my motorcycle, and save all the hail-fellow-well-met stuff for when we're off the bikes in a motel parking lot or a mountain overlook .... maybe not the most happy-go-lucky, cheery way to go, but it won't backfire ....

Lannis

[Kev m]

Ha ha Lannis "Just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave"

Is Staten Island part of NJ now?

Ha ha, good point, but I'm not sure anyone wants to claim that anymore...

[Ncdan]

Anyone can be perceived as a "jerk" it's really hard to tell from a few seconds of interaction. First impressions are not always taken right.

I’m glad I read that again, on that last line I meant to say, I use to tell my buddies that NOT all Guzzi riders were all jerks. Funny how just one little word changes the total meaning of ones thoughts.

[normzone]

In the summer of 71 I was hitching west out of Flagstaff. A group of about twenty bikes came by, heading east. Every rider flipped me the peace sign. Happy days.

[Mr. Pootle], I logged in just to say that I MISS hitchhiking. Good times indeed. Perhaps that's a thread in itself ...

[drbone641]

As for the peace sign, I'd guess it's misinterpreted cause younger folks just aren't familiar with it. While the symbol probably originated in the '60's with the antiwar movement in England, when it spread to the US it was more a symbol of the"counterculture" long haired hippies.

Earlier version of the sign

[frozengoose]

Earlier version of the sign

Well I suspect the '70's hippie bikers who flashed the peace sign weren't thinking of Winston!

[stonelover]

Well I suspect the '70's hippie bikers who flashed the peace sign weren't thinking of Winston!

  Not a "Peace" sign in the 40's.  Winston was saying "V for victory".

[larrys]

Most everbody on bikes around here wave at each other in passing. Left hand down and outspread fingers. Notable exceptions; 1%'ers riding in groups, Gold Thing guys, color coordinated Beemer guys, and punks wearing wife beaters and shorts on stripped sport bikes.
Larry

[Luap McKeever]

I remember not too awful long ago, people didn't get offended by every little thing they didn't agree with. Now, it seems like people get up every morning and ask themselves..."What can I get offended by and boycott today?".

Just my observation.

[Guzzistajohn]

I remember not too awful long ago, people didn't get offended by every little thing they didn't agree with. Now, it seems like people get up every morning and ask themselves..."What can I get offended by and boycott today?".

Just my observation.

Truer words were never spoken. It sure gets old doesn't it??

[frozengoose]

  Not a "Peace" sign in the 40's.  Winston was saying "V for victory".

And so did Nixon when he resigned. Not sure what any of that has to do with bikers giving the peace sign.

[Lannis]

[Mr. Pootle], I logged in just to say that I MISS hitchhiking. Good times indeed. Perhaps that's a thread in itself ...

I don't know ... such a thread would get into "social issues" at warp speed as soon as anyone mentioned the reasons why you used to be able to pick up hitchhikers pretty safely, and you can't anymore.

I did it when I had to, but I never liked it.   I got picked up by some weird people.   Good stories to tell, but I wouldn't want to do it again.

Lannis

[drbone641]

And so did Nixon when he resigned. Not sure what any of that has to do with bikers giving the peace sign.

 “As for the peace sign, I'd guess it's misinterpreted cause younger folks just aren't familiar with it. While the symbol probably originated in the '60's with the antiwar movement in England,”

I was simply pointing out that the ‘symbol’ didn’t start as a hippie thing. Sort of like a 🌈.

[Ncdan]

I was a teen in the 60’s when it started and it was the “hippies” or flower children of that era.

[garbln]

OK here's my personal take on the peace sign.  I am a Vietnam vet and when I returned from there, when people flashed it to me in that era I kind of took it as an insult to my service and those that didn't return.  Again this was in that particular time and place, things have changed over time to make it more of a universal good gesture.  I can now accept how people use it for a lot of reasons, it's OK now for me.  But I still never us it, just can't bring myself to do it.  Just an old curmudgeon I guess.