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I gave a lecture to the neighbor kid yesterday. Not a bad kid, other than the dumb, irresponsible, and disrespectful behavior he regularly exibits. The lack of respect for machinery is what really bugs me. I know, we've all trashed some machinery, but he seems to be the epitome of his generation (age 18).He regularly blows up or wrecks bikes and cars (and anything else manchinery wise you can think of). Some he buys, most his Mommmy buys for him. His last two victims are a 90s chevy truck(wrecked after one week) and a 80 cc motorcycle (he weighs about 250 pounds, and literally drove it into the ground after two days of beating it back and forth across a field)
My good natured lecture went like this: There are forces of nature all around us that we can't feel, but interact with us. Machinery is created by us, and while it is inanimate, there is a certain "feeling" or "field" or awarness that it possesses, albeight to a very small degree. On some very small level, manchinery can "know" when it is utterly uncared for, and will exibit it's own behavior, such as, that nut that was just a little loose, but now decides to spin off. Or, the carb and spark is just a little off, but it's not gonna fire no matter what you do. When people have absolutely no respect toward their machine, the odds of it performing well decrease, ever so slightly.
Yeah, yeah, I know I'm out on a limb here, and I expect a thourough thrashing, but I believe this to some degree. I have always loved machines, and though I have broken my share, and had my share of "dumb bad luck", for the most part, I have had incredibally good luck with machines, often when I didn't deserve it. And I know, respect for manchinery only means that it will get the proper maintenence it needs, which in a purely rational sense corralates to better reliability, but I still believe that there is more to it than that.

I'm with ya Rich! The 'soul' our bikes possess is a pretty good example. Same with musical instruments... now there's some inanimate objects that are more than just 'things.' I'm thinkin', at least you tried... so good on ya!!

I know just what you're talking about, Rich. Sometimes you just have to pet or rub on your machine, just to get it to do what you want. I talk to mine too. No real reason as to why it works, maybe they can feel it...

as for the fat dumb lazy momma's boy, he just needs a swift kick in the a$$ instead of a lecture, he probably doesn't get it and never will

Yup. There is a philosophy from India that says nothing is truely inanimate. Take a look at the rocks in the CA/AZ desert that move around when nobody is looking.
I have had a number of clapped out but cared for vehicles that would get me home before they couldn't run. I attribute that to their being somehow aware that I cared about them and they didn't want to leave me stranded.

First off, He's an 18 y.o. kid.
You have to get his attention first.
Your calm, good natured lecture made his eyes glaze over.
Maybe something like, "You're an IDIOT!"
"How are you ever gonna get laid again if you KILL yourself?" might work. But probably not.
He has to have his "I'm not Immortal?" moment all by himself.
Hopefully he'll live through it.
I almost didn't.

18 yr old boys are as a rule,,,,,idiots.I think your on dot with the machine karma thing,but the kid thinks your a crazy old man now,thats a good thing,yunguns think your nuts they give you a wide berth!

Maybe you could build that elevator and have him "field test" it.
If it survives, you got a winner

He sounds like a future fighter pilot to me, balls to the wall. Someone else maintains the machine. But, then maybe he's truely crazy and likes to break things, I'm thinking Marines. God bless him, We forget how stupid our neighbors thought we were.

Only thing is, I've been taking that "it can sense you" thing too far lately. When I was young, I didn't have a lot of patience. Then, I hung out with my grandfather a bit, and he taught me some patience. But the last couple of years or so, it seems I'm losing it again. Like, when I walk by a tool or something, and it grabs my clothes, I curse it loudly. Or if a part refuses to go on, even though it defies the law of physics otherwise, I curse, throw the part and then, for good measure, I stomp it to pieces! (All the time cursing it like it knows that I'm punishing it with destruction.) I hope they have mechanics magazines out at the funny farm!

When I was young, mechanical things wore out more quickly, like the time I broke off a fire hydrant with my new '81 F150 trying to spin it in the steet like I saw on TV.
Now that I'm older, everything I have lasts forever.

The traits or manifestations generally considered to be associated with living organisms are organization, metabolism, growth, irritability, adaptation, and reproduction.

The motorcycle has a definite structure--check your various schematics for proof.

It takes in fuel and oxygen, and converts it into mechanical energy, heat and exhaust.

Growth is exhibited by the stuff you bolt onto it, and/or the dirt that builds-up on it.

Irritability (the subject of many entries in this thread) is apparent and takes many forms, sometimes due to neglect.

With your help, it steers, slows, accelerates and has evidenced the ability to operate in various conditions of terrain and weather, so it adapts.

The one thing it doesn't seem do on its own is reproduce, but that's also true of mules and we consider them to be living things, so this point isn't crucial, evidently.

Treat your motorcycle with respect and consideration. The good Karma will wash over you both.

I totaled a gmc sierra and a gmc jimmy 3 years later ...both times I happened to be checking out a 2-door tahoe hours before...haha

My brother is in his mid 50's and destroys every powered machine he touches. The entire family, including his own kids, refuse to loan him vehicles. He says he's cursed with bad luck. I think it's a result of a lack of respect and proper care of the equipment. He treats his dogs and wives (he's on #4) the same way and wonders why things so often turn out badly.

As for fighter pilots, I've known a lot of them. Most of them love their aircraft in the same way we love our bikes, only more so. Pushing the limits of performance is something they do WITH their machines, not TO them.

Wife #4 or Dog #4?

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As for fighter pilots, I've known a lot of them. Most of them love their aircraft in the same way we love our bikes, only more so. Pushing the limits of performance is something they do WITH their machines, not TO them.

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Thanks for sticking up for pilots Larry. I on the other hand was a Navy SH-2F Seasprite helicopter driver (you're probably the only person on this forum who knows what that is). We deployed in single aircraft detachments on small ships and got to know the mechanics on a first name basis. This aircraft also had the highest maintainence man-hour/flight hour ratio of any other aircraft in the Navy's inventory. If I didn't treat it nice I'd have the Senior Chief's wrath to face! Not to mention my own a$$ strapped to it. This is a cool cartoon and quote from the '70's: (sorry so off-topic, but kinda relevant?)

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