The Chainlink

That is all.

Views: 1970

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

-ist or -istes:  [from Latin -ista, Greek -istes endings forming agent nouns] One who, or that which, does the action, or specializes in the thing, indicated by the stem or prefix (Eleutherodactylus polemistes, psychiatrist).

 

Motorcyclist

 


Bicyclist 

 

-er One who, that which (promoter).

 

Biker

 


Take your pick, I suppose.  For the most part the term Biker has a connotation of a Harley-rider.  While some are dentists, stock-brokers, and lawyers -many if not most are uncouth, smelly, loud, criminal misogynists.  

 

See Sonny Barger

 

Words mean things -often more than a dictionary sometimes can ascribe to them.  I'm no biker.   On or off  of a motorcycle I am a motorcyclist and on or off of a bicycle I am a bicyclist.  I am both things -but never a biker

I don't get why motorcycles are called "bikes" either, since bike is short for bicycle. There's no "b" in motorcycle. In Mexico, a motorcycle is called a "moto" and a bicycle "bici"

My guess is that motorcycles were also called motorbikes at some point.

Vondo said:

I don't get why motorcycles are called "bikes" either, since bike is short for bicycle. There's no "b" in motorcycle. In Mexico, a motorcycle is called a "moto" and a bicycle "bici"

While I am a fan of stereotyping people for what they ride, I don't see Harley Davidson having a revenue of 5.5 billion dollars from just the criminal smelly types :)  

But I'd rather ride my old 2-stroke machine anyways...


James BlackHeron said:

-ist or -istes:  [from Latin -ista, Greek -istes endings forming agent nouns] One who, or that which, does the action, or specializes in the thing, indicated by the stem or prefix (Eleutherodactylus polemistes, psychiatrist).

 

Motorcyclist

 


Bicyclist 

 

-er One who, that which (promoter).

 

Biker

 


Take your pick, I suppose.  For the most part the term Biker has a connotation of a Harley-rider.  While some are dentists, stock-brokers, and lawyers -many if not most are uncouth, smelly, loud, criminal misogynists.  

 

See Sonny Barger

 

Words mean things -often more than a dictionary sometimes can ascribe to them.  I'm no biker.   On or off  of a motorcycle I am a motorcyclist and on or off of a bicycle I am a bicyclist.  I am both things -but never a biker

Ever been to Sturgis, Laconia, or Daytona?

For the most part it is not a stereotype. 

Casey Carnes said:

While I am a fan of stereotyping people for what they ride, I don't see Harley Davidson having a revenue of 5.5 billion dollars from just the criminal smelly types :)  

But I'd rather ride my old 2-stroke machine anyways...

Haha, Daytona yep.  I just summed it up to most people who can take a week or two off to ride across the country to go drink beer and do burnouts fit that sterotype pretty well.  That and after a week on a bike (either kind) I turn into one of those smelly criminal-looking types too!


James BlackHeron said:

Ever been to Sturgis, Laconia, or Daytona?

For the most part it is not a stereotype. 

Casey Carnes said:

While I am a fan of stereotyping people for what they ride, I don't see Harley Davidson having a revenue of 5.5 billion dollars from just the criminal smelly types :)  

But I'd rather ride my old 2-stroke machine anyways...

I always get excited to see a bike event down here, but of course they mean motorcycles. :)

Sadly, I watched the same thing happen to "skater", which used to mean ice or roller or inline, and now is assumed as board.  I can no longer say I skate or am a skater because another sport stole it.

I would LOVE for us to re-take bike and biker from our lazy cousins, but figure it'll take another few decades, once oil is gone.

To my knowledge, the only successful defense of this type of "name creep" occurred in the '90's when people who wanted to be triathletes (but couldn't swim), attempted to co-opt the name "biathlon." The bike/run discipline ultimately adopted the name "duathlon."  This compromise was no doubt achieved due to the fact that the biathlon people all had guns. 

Andrew Bedno said:

Sadly, I watched the same thing happen to "skater", which used to mean ice or roller or inline, and now is assumed as board.  I can no longer say I skate or am a skater because another sport stole it.

I would LOVE for us to re-take bike and biker from our lazy cousins, but figure it'll take another few decades, once oil is gone.

yeah I know people who are both.  I use the words interchangeably.  Maybe I shouldn't?

Shawn C. said:

I ride both types so "biker" is still applicable. 

+1

Although they are basically just long-distance precision paper-punches.  

Kevin C said:

To my knowledge, the only successful defense of this type of "name creep" occurred in the '90's when people who wanted to be triathletes (but couldn't swim), attempted to co-opt the name "biathlon." The bike/run discipline ultimately adopted the name "duathlon."  This compromise was no doubt achieved due to the fact that the biathlon people all had guns. 


To me, Harley also brings up images of middle aged, affluent suburban guys who only bring their motorcycles out on sundays in the summer. They order all the fancy factory-custom options and do absolutely none of the wrenching themselves. Sort of like a Haley version of a Fred? Thats the stereotype I think of.

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service