I got back on a street motorcycle eight years ago and I've made quite a few discoveries in that time. One of the most surprising things I've found is how aggressive some riders can be about how "they" think people should interact. They have opinions about riding, what they consider to be safe and unsafe and then what they feel comfortable about talking about, but the more opinionated they are about "their" approach the less likely they are to "allow" other opinions, including trying to discredit people's riding, calling them names and even sometimes threatening physical violence over how someone else chooses to do something by themselves.
Now, let me be clear before confusion arises, that I am talking about personal choices that are made on solo rides, or decisions made in small groups when all the riders know one another, not people unknown to one another riding together. When taking a personal risk directly affects the risk level of others, respect must be given to the safety of other's.
I've always accepted other's opinions, regardless if I agree with them or not. That is until they try to shove it down my throat, or if that opinion places me directly in risk and then I'll stand up and defend my position, right or wrong. Even then I don't ask that others accept my position, just that they consider there may be another viewpoint.
Anyway, this all leads me to the recent discovery that those who risk everything sometimes are a lot less worse than what I'll call safety Nazi's. And I'm not talking someone who has the balls to talk safety, but those who state that advanced training and trackdays are unsafe because they teach people to ride at a risky level.
As I continue I'll set a few definitions and then maybe my point of view will make more sense to others.
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