Bellweather or bellwether????

[f6john]

Do you believe that we as Valkyrie riders reflect a good cross section of the American population and as such could represent the feelings  of a vast majority of Americans who never voice their opinions in a public arena? After looking at the "what you do for a living post" and "what other hobbies do you enjoy" posts I'm inclined to think we very well do just that. I'm also inclined to believe that Valkyrie riders as a group are a great bunch of folks, who may not always agree, but who respect one another. Partisan politics aside, I can only hope we are a bellwether for our country. I have not been able to understand why someone who  belittles us as a group continues to be a part of the group. I can ignore the constant bickering back and forth about who is right, who is wrong, and why your wrong but I do take offense to the idea that we as a group aren't exactly a leading indicator in terms of US politics. So what kind of bellwether group do you suggest we are?




   
Re: Politicial Poll - Sorry Yet?
« Reply #11 on: Today at 06:58:45 PM »
   Reply with quoteQuote
And so the results suggest that those who didn't vote for Obama are sorry he was elected? Other than reflecting the fact that Valkyrie riders aren't exactly a bellweather group in terms of US politics, what should one conclude?

[PAVALKER]

Regarding the first question.... it's bellwether.

No, I don't really think we are an accurate political bellwether.  I don't think we as the VRCC have a good across the board representation of all the classes (age, race, religion, sex, ethnic, economic and etc), comparable to the country.  I agree that we are a great bunch of folks, with different opinions, ideals, values and priorities, that we occasionally like to voice.  How many people in the poverty level have motorcycles, especially Valkyries??  How many in the group are CEO's?  We are a small sampling across the country, but not an accurate reflection of the country as a whole.  If we were, then the Poll that I started would have reflected more people that voted for the current administration (regardless if they were sorry or regretted voting for it).

We are still a great bunch of folks, as a whole tho....

[f6john]

Regarding the first question.... it's bellwether.

No, I don't really think we are an accurate political bellwether.  I don't think we as the VRCC have a good across the board representation of all the classes (age, race, religion, sex, ethnic, economic and etc), comparable to the country.  I agree that we are a great bunch of folks, with different opinions, ideals, values and priorities, that we occasionally like to voice.  How many people in the poverty level have motorcycles, especially Valkyries??  How many in the group are CEO's?  We are a small sampling across the country, but not an accurate reflection of the country as a whole.  If we were, then the Poll that I started would have reflected more people that voted for the current administration (regardless if they were sorry or regretted voting for it).

We are still a great bunch of folks, as a whole tho....


[/quote/]

    May I suggest that when we talk of poverty that only by the slimmest of margins do many of us live. It's true that many on this board have the means to own multiple Valkyries but a far greater number of people who own Valkyries could be wiped out by an injury, loss of a job, or illness. As for CEO's, as a percentage of the population how significant a group would they be? In my limited travels I have come to understand that you don't have to go far from home to find vastly different attitudes and lifestyles. A person living in a major city lives in a totally different world than I in a rural community of 30K people when speaking of daily routines.


    My only point in making this post was to point out the variety of people and experience that is represented here and we can always learn a thing or two.

     As to my first question, as lawyers say, never ask a question that you don't already know the answer to.

[Willow]

What is most significant, folks, is that of the hundreds who frequent this board about ninety responded to the poll.

To me that indicates that, bellwether or not, this group as a whole is weary of the political bashing and chest thumping.  I might even suspect that some who had once been interested in a lively political discussion have now been taught by a few to avoid those discussions altogether.

Conclude what you wish.  (A rather meaningless imperative, don't you think, as none of us needs an instruction to do so.   

[Puffs Daddy]

Do you believe that we as Valkyrie riders reflect a good cross section of the American population and as such could represent the feelings  of a vast majority of Americans who never voice their opinions in a public arena? After looking at the "what you do for a living post" and "what other hobbies do you enjoy" posts I'm inclined to think we very well do just that. I'm also inclined to believe that Valkyrie riders as a group are a great bunch of folks, who may not always agree, but who respect one another. Partisan politics aside, I can only hope we are a bellwether for our country. I have not been able to understand why someone who  belittles us as a group continues to be a part of the group. I can ignore the constant bickering back and forth about who is right, who is wrong, and why your wrong but I do take offense to the idea that we as a group aren't exactly a leading indicator in terms of US politics. So what kind of bellwether group do you suggest we are?




   
Re: Politicial Poll - Sorry Yet?
« Reply #11 on: Today at 06:58:45 PM »
   Reply with quoteQuote
And so the results suggest that those who didn't vote for Obama are sorry he was elected? Other than reflecting the fact that Valkyrie riders aren't exactly a bellweather group in terms of US politics, what should one conclude?

Yup, "bellwether." Pardon my fat finger.

No, I don't believe "Valkyrie riders reflect a good cross section of the American population and as such could represent the feelings  of a vast majority of Americans who never voice their opinions in a public arena." Motorcycle riders in general are not a "good cross section of the American population," and Valkyrie riders aren't even representative of riders in general.

Demographically and attitudinally, the folks on this board as a group represent a shrinking minority in the American electorate. That's not a value judgment; it's simply a statistical fact.

And for the record, I don't believe I have ever started a political thread on this board. At least not in several years. I have, from time to time, responded to some of the lunacy posted here when it runs counter to reality. That isn't a case of "belittling" Valkyrie riders in general or the VRCC as a whole. If anything, it's meant to suggest that the entire Valkyrie community isn't so gullible as to believe that Glenn Beck and his ilk are representative of the group.

As for why I remain on this board, it has to do with the fact that I share an interest in a particular motorcycle.

[asfltdncr]

Absolutely not.I was surfing Craigslist for Valks nationwide and noticed where a good bunch of the Valks are for sale.I also belong to other forums with other bikes and find a totally different demographic.You don't see a lot of black or brown faces in the avatars on VRCC.

[franco6]

the european forums have the rule that politcs are verbotten! 

[f6john]

  Somehow, in the back of my mind I knew that post this was going to backfire on me! Well heck I'm just a dumbass white boy from the country what do we know anyway. We had us one of them there dark skinned fellers a while back that had a Valkyrie, a State Fire Marshall don't you know. He up and sold it! One of my lighter skinned friends bought it from him, imagine that. Call me crazy, but the fact dark skinned people tend to gravitate to sport bikes and Harleys and other V-twin metric cruisers doesn't necessarily mean that they look at the world we live in  totally different. I drive a Titan pickup but I have a friend who drives a Ford F150 but we still share a lot of mainstream views, I can't imagine how that can be but it's true. I was working on a job today and a Black guy was there doing some sodding we spoke and talked some during the day and we didn't identify as colors to one another. He was an independent business man as was I, doing the job necessary to put food on the table.  He was driving a Dodge though, oh well.

  My whole point was not political. Hello ?  My point was we are a very mixed group, geographically, economically, socially, and otherwise. I'm a lot more than a motorcycle rider, Valkyrie rider, and motorsports enthusiast. This is a place I visit and I enjoy but it is not the sum total of who I am or who we are as a group. Shrinking minority, maybe so, but show me the statistics that support the "fact" that "the folks on this board" "as a group" "represent a shrinking majority" in the American electorate or any other place for that matter. Didn't know anyone cared what a Valkyrie rider thinks enough to gather the info to support a statistical fact about us folks as a group.

   Your fat fingers pardoned. The only reason I captioned this post as I did was because I wanted to make sure I knew what a "bellweather" was not to call attention to your spelling. Only after I googled it did I decide that bellwether was what you intended. I didn't post to the "sorry yet" post because of the strictly political nature and subject matter to which I have no comment but I will stand up for us a group when our relevance and our combined or individual positions are marginalized. If that is not the meaning of what I read then a thousand pardons 'O Great One keeper of the keys to reality and lunacy.

[vanagon40]

I'm just a dumbass white boy from the country . . . .

I believe this is the group that is very much overrepresented by Valkyrie riders.

[Puffs Daddy]

  Somehow, in the back of my mind I knew that post this was going to backfire on me! Well heck I'm just a dumbass white boy from the country what do we know anyway. We had us one of them there dark skinned fellers a while back that had a Valkyrie, a State Fire Marshall don't you know. He up and sold it! One of my lighter skinned friends bought it from him, imagine that...

Interestingly, my post made no reference at all to race. Suspect you're bringing your own preconceptions to the discussion.

[f6john]

  Somehow, in the back of my mind I knew that post this was going to backfire on me! Well heck I'm just a dumbass white boy from the country what do we know anyway. We had us one of them there dark skinned fellers a while back that had a Valkyrie, a State Fire Marshall don't you know. He up and sold it! One of my lighter skinned friends bought it from him, imagine that...

Interestingly, my post made no reference at all to race. Suspect you're bringing your own preconceptions to the discussion.

Your absolutely correct, but your post was the catalyst for for my post, and if you read all the entries to this post you will find that others brought race into the discussion. I did offer some of my own perceptions into the discussion, hope that was ok . To further the discussion this is my take on race. If I come upon a person of color and we make eye contact and we acknowledge each other and that person has a smile and a "back at ya" greeting all thought of differences fade away. By the same token if I see a scowl I just shake my head and go on my way. I somewhat believe this probably works both ways. I meet people of color all the time and some of them can make your day with there smile and outgoing personalities while others you meet you just know they woke up mad at the world. I somewhat believe that works in both directions too.

Since it seems you follow posts that reference you, I am still waiting on those statistics you were telling us about. If they don't really exist, no worries.

[f6john]

I'm just a dumbass white boy from the country . . . .

I believe this is the group that is very much overrepresented by Valkyrie riders.

Without any  I can only assume that you are serious in your belief. To which I can only say that according to one authority we are a shrinking minority in some ways, hope that gives you some comfort. And all this time I thought I was the only  dumbass white countryboy out here! I may have to start a subgroup like the Darksiders. I am open to any and all suggestions for the best name for this overrepresented group.

[vanagon40]

Without any  I can only assume that you are serious in your belief. To which I can only say that according to one authority we are a shrinking minority in some ways, hope that gives you some comfort. And all this time I thought I was the only  dumbass white countryboy out here! I may have to start a subgroup like the Darksiders. I am open to any and all suggestions for the best name for this overrepresented group.

The statement was meant as a bit of levity and nothing more.  I would add OLD to the overrepresented profile. (that better?)

[f6john]

Without any  I can only assume that you are serious in your belief. To which I can only say that according to one authority we are a shrinking minority in some ways, hope that gives you some comfort. And all this time I thought I was the only  dumbass white countryboy out here! I may have to start a subgroup like the Darksiders. I am open to any and all suggestions for the best name for this overrepresented group.

The statement was meant as a bit of levity and nothing more.  I would add OLD to the overrepresented profile. (that better?)

 Thanks for the clarification, no offense was taken, but sometimes it is hard to discern peoples intent. I hope you took no offense to my reply. I fit the old profile also, my body is 56 years old but my mind is only 29. That can get you in trouble in a lot of different ways!

  I've pushed too many buttons with this post so I'm done. Gotta go put up a mini blind for a customer, gonna put the cordless drill in the saddlebags and take the Valk.

[Duey]

At least according to the show about human genetics.  We are all 99.9% genetically identical. So why would a color make a difference? Cause it is the way we were brought up. We learned to form opinions about other colors and poli-tics.   Now all we need to do is unlearn those kind of things. 
Maybe we should start learning from our children or grandchildren who cannot figure out why it matters. I have 2 & 5!
And yes, I also have preconseptions that seem to be ingrained. But I am attempting to change!
And who cares what you ride. I can name lots of people who love motorcycles or hate them but still admire them and the people who ride them. My 87 year old grandmother for one. 
Ok, I getting of the box now.............