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Eeh! I'm sure it's (what was that I read by somebody above, oh yeah)...that those folks just get "bad press"



I believe I stated that “certain biker news is all too often sensationalized beyond the merits of the story.” Of course we all know that the media would never play up a story for ratings, right? Like they have been known to do on gun stories? From personal experience: In a Maryland bar in early 1981 three Marines from my company somehow picked a fight with a patch holder by insulting his old lady. I was across the bar and did not hear everything that was said, but I did see a Marine throw the first punch. A three on three fight erupted and the police were called to the scene. Every male in the bar was arrested, myself included. The news story that night? “Biker Gang attacks local Marines!” The charges were later diminished from assault to disturbing the peace as eyewitnesses accounts made it clear that the patch holder did not initiate the fight. (Interesting that in the end only the patch holders were charged.) Evil bikers, they prolly deserved it, right? Of course the media never reported the outcome, and the public perception remained: “Biker Gang attacks local Marines!” Granted that it may not be typical, but it does happen quite a bit.

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…or was it that some of us just "don't understand their lifestyle"



Although I never came close to even implying that, did it really need to be stated after the suggestion that someone living in Texas visit their local chapter of Dwight’s favorite motorcycle club? But that does not serve to invalidate either your opinion or your right to an opinion. You don’t like certain motorcycle clubs, fine by me. You think certain motorcycle clubs are detrimental to motorcycling in general, you are entitled to that opinion. But what I have, and continue to counter is both your projection of motive to those who join motorcycle clubs you do not personally approve of, and the suggested motives of those who refuse to wield torches and pitchforks in this thread to demonize them. That any who dare suggest that including every patch holder in any motorcycle club as undesirable criminals who sell guns and drugs may be casting too wide a net is somehow infatuated with hardcore bikers and willing to alibi any action on their part. Do some members of high profile motorcycle clubs commit crimes? Well, duh. But to say anyone who wears a given motorcycle club patch on their back is presumed guilty until proven either guilty or guiltier is in my opinion a bit much. Innocent until individually proven guilty? No? Well I will have to hang this jury, because that is a principle I hold dear.

A real man does what he wants to do regardless of what other people think about it. That includes joining an unpopular motorcycle club, or criticizing an unpopular motorcycle club, and even refusing to criticize an unpopular motorcycle club.

2018 FLHCS 2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!