I disagree with some of the responses here.
It is perfectly reasonable to feel strongly about your hobby/ passion (motorcycling in this case) and feel that others are doing it a disservice. Also in this particular case, the behavior on the part of others reflects onto society's perception of all motorcyclists, which in turns leads us to being hated and alienated.
We whine all the time that people in cars do not regard us with more consideration. What sort of a message are you communicating to 'cagers' when you don't regard your own life with more seriousness? Why would you expect others to 'look out' for you when you cannot be bothered to put your own gray matter in a bucket?
You can't have your cake and eat it, too. You can't expect population-thinning motorcycle Darwinism AND yammer on for more visibility and consideration. Which is it, folks?
You are completely right, but some people have to learn the hard way and that is the only way they will learn.
I've had a hell of a motorcycle career. Crashed and shattered a collarbone at the track, have had 4 friends die in the past 2 years, including 2 in front of my eyes. I've become essentially an advocate over here about rider safety, taking it to the track, etc. but I have learned one very distinct thing about people in my time to help other riders. You can show them your crash videos, your surgery pictures. Tell them how gear saved your ass, tell them stories about the people you lost, and after all that, they will continue to do what they do. It isn't until they hit that pavement for the first time that they learn to start wearing proper gear, that fast in a straight line does not make you a good rider, and the importance of things like progressive braking and not target fixating.
That's the best lesson for people, and for some, the only thing that's going to change them. Fortunately for this guy, he will probably be fine, as only good riders seem to be the ones that pass away on us :-(
I've stopped trying to preach. If someone really wants to hear it, I'll sit them down all day, but the ones you can tell are just full of ignorance, I won't bother, I'll get them on the "I coulda told you so" speech.
