Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 12:35:05 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: rehash of fandom
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 12:14 PM 4/21/05 -0400, Ted White wrote:
>From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
>> At 06:07 AM 4/21/05 -0700, N Lynch wrote:
>> >--- "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com> wrote:

>> You don't have to be primarily a charity group to get seen as one by the
>> general public, and therefore have some of your odder behaviors accepted.
<snip>
>
>I don't think "the general public" sees "bikers" as "primarily a charity
>group"

Where did anyone say they did?  I said they *didn't* have to be to get the
attitude benefits from the public.

>-- even during the Rolling Thunder gathering (maybe most of all
>then).

I've ridden in Rolling Thunder (once, last year).  It's not so much a
"gathering" as a "parade" (which started out as a "protest march" on wheels
and still is for many), though I suppose you have to gather together to
start one of those (final staging is at the Pentagon...filled more than one
big lot with bikes last year, and that's parked nose to tail, and handlebar
plus dismount space wide over every square foot, not one to a space).  The
public that comes to watch varies from those who just want to see thousands
of motorcycles at once to vets who appreciate the support (I got a number
of salutes, mouthed "thank-you"s, and thumbs up from guys in the right age
range to have served in Vietnam, not to mention the guy in full dress
Marine uniform who was holding a salute for the entire thing in the middle
of the road...that's a *long* time if you haven't been there.  Hours.).
There are those who appreciate that ride a great deal.

There are more that don't make it downtown who show support as well.  We
staged at Rockville H-D and had several hundred bikes in our group.  There
were people all along the route out of Montgomery County waving, holding up
signs, waving flags, etc..  They were along the sides of the road, on
overpasses and pedestrian walkovers...and this was pretty early on a
holiday morning (about 7:30am if I remember correctly).

I'd say that at least a part of the general public notices, approves and
appreciates the efforts of the riders, and that riders get some attitude
credit as a result (not that that's why it's done).

>Darkover's role in this regard is not widely known, especially among
>mundanes.
>
>For years -- since 1976 -- Worldcons have had blood drives in Heinlein's
>name.  (Personally, I wouldn't want donated blood from people who had
>stayed up all night for days, consumed a lot of alcohol and other drugs,
>etc., but....)  It doesn't seem to have dented the public's perception of
>Worldcons.

True, but they may learn of it eventually, and have a "how long have you
been doing this stuff?!?" reaction, and it gives some ammunition to anyone
who encounters a "you're all just a bunch of weirdos wasting your lives"
attitude.  Even if that never happens, those involved know they did some
good for others, and that's never a bad thing in itself, regardless of any
other effects.

-- Mike B.
--
"You can't run away from trouble. There ain't no place that far." -- Uncle
Remus