Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Results 1 to 24 of 24

If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

  1. #1
    Back on 2 wheels yay StrayNut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    NW Boston burbs
    Posts
    355

    If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Do you take it as them telling you to ride safely, like they don't trust you not to be a squid? Or do you take it as them saying they hope your ride is a safe one, sort of like "Be well"?

    I say it all the time. I usually mean it as the latter, like "go in a state of safety." But sometimes I wonder if people think I'm momming them.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    MA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    38,866

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    As with everything in life, it depends on the context.

    If it's coming from a friendly person, perhaps another rider and they're wishing me an uneventful ride: Thanks and you too (if it applies)

    If it's coming from someone who thinks riding is too dangerous, or doesn't trust that I'm a safe rider: Thanks and go fuck yourself.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by OreoGaborio; 10-14-20 at 10:07 PM.
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

    The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650

  3. #3
    Lifer wiggeywackyo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    City
    Posts
    1,383

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    That's a license to do a brake stand and then unicycle away. No?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    LRRS 878 Clapped out Gixxah

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    248

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Slightly different, but in the same vein. It drives me nuts when I tell someone I'm going to the track and they respond with "don't hurt yourself". It's like WTF. Yeah,that's why I'm going to the track, I want to try and hurt myself. How about something positive like, "Good Luck", "Have Fun", etc... Noooo, let's make him feel like it is dangerous and we're never going to see him again. Selfish bastards...

    But in response to your question, OreoGaborio said it all.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Lifer wiggeywackyo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    City
    Posts
    1,383

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Quote Originally Posted by PeaPod View Post
    Slightly different, but in the same vein. It drives me nuts when I tell someone I'm going to the track and they respond with "don't hurt yourself". It's like WTF. Yeah,that's why I'm going to the track, I want to try and hurt myself. How about something positive like, "Good Luck", "Have Fun", etc... Noooo, let's make him feel like it is dangerous and we're never going to see him again. Selfish bastards...

    But in response to your question, OreoGaborio said it all.
    haha. Not to derail it too far but it's like the guys (and gals) that I've tried to talk into going to the track and they go, "Nah, I don't feel like crashing my bike."

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    LRRS 878 Clapped out Gixxah

  6. #6
    Banned G21forme's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lakes
    Age
    44
    Posts
    6,218

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Quote Originally Posted by PeaPod View Post
    Slightly different, but in the same vein. It drives me nuts when I tell someone I'm going to the track and they respond with "don't hurt yourself". It's like WTF. Yeah,that's why I'm going to the track, I want to try and hurt myself. How about something positive like, "Good Luck", "Have Fun", etc... Noooo, let's make him feel like it is dangerous and we're never going to see him again. Selfish bastards...

    But in response to your question, OreoGaborio said it all.
    That's why they say break a leg, it's the opposite of be safe and thus breaks the curse of wishing someone well.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Lifer Chippertheripper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    the fairest of havens
    Age
    44
    Posts
    13,897

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    “Go fast, take chances.”

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Cliff's Cycles KTM
    NETRA enduro B-vet
    Close your eyes, look deep in your soul, step outside yourself and let your mind go.

  8. #8
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Chichester, NH
    Posts
    4,409

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    I'd take it as the first, unless there was reason for me to believe that they were anti motorcycle.

    If I know or think they might be a rider, I'd definitely think that it is the first meaning.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  9. #9
    BMW track whore e30addict's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    I93/495
    Age
    47
    Posts
    9,570

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    It's just something people say without a ton of meaning behind it. I get it all the time on the car side. "Drive safe" as I drop them off. At first I wondered if I drove a little too "Boston" for them but the number of people saying it had to be something else.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2012 Tiger 800 XC

  10. #10
    Jamnuts jhawley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Southern CT
    Age
    40
    Posts
    1,295

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Drive fast eat ass

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  11. #11
    Back on 2 wheels yay StrayNut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    NW Boston burbs
    Posts
    355

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Quote Originally Posted by wiggeywackyo View Post
    That's a license to do a brake stand and then unicycle away. No?


    Quote Originally Posted by Chippertheripper View Post
    “Go fast, take chances.”
    Quote Originally Posted by jhawley View Post
    Drive fast eat ass

    Noted. I mean these things from now on.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Angry Gumball RandyO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Farmington, NH
    Age
    71
    Posts
    18,024

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    just another way to say "keep the shiny side up"

    why in fuck get offended by what people say ?

    4 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    RandyO
    IBA#9560
    A man with a gun is a citizen
    A man without a gun is a subject LETS GO BRANDON

  13. #13
    Lifer golden chicken's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Attleboro, MA
    Posts
    1,787

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    These days, I wouldn't worry about how people interpret what is said. Seems people go out of their way to MIS-interpret things.

    Say nice things with good intentions and f*** em if they have a problem with it.

    3 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by golden chicken; 10-15-20 at 04:30 PM.
    What's the difference between a bolt and a screw?
    First you screw, then you bolt.

  14. #14
    Back on 2 wheels yay StrayNut's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    NW Boston burbs
    Posts
    355

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    I wouldn't go so far as to say I think anyone is offended or has a problem with it. I was more just curious what it comes across as to most people. My "social/emotional intelligence" isn't high and there are occasionally those things where you think you're communicating one thing but it comes out as another.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  15. #15
    Senior Member Mgiossi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Coventry, RI
    Posts
    366

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Personally I hate it when I get the "ride safe" mini speeches just before a race weekend. I get it from my boss every time with fear in his eyes. Same with my parents and my wife and some friends. If anything it always kind of puts me on edge and i hate it. I always take it in my mind as a "be safe because you know what can happen"

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  16. #16
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Somerville MA
    Age
    46
    Posts
    917

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    I mostly hear this as a thing people "just say," with no real specific meaning intended at all.

    Convo end marker + some acknowledgment that I have ridden, am riding now, or intend to ride at some point in the future.

    You're gonna be ok, StrayNut. It's better to care without knowing than to know without caring.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Jared
    ZX-4RR, Hyperstrada 821, ZX-6R (FS!), 701 E/SM (FS!)

  17. #17
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    MA
    Age
    44
    Posts
    38,866

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mgiossi View Post
    Personally I hate it when I get the "ride safe" mini speeches just before a race weekend. I get it from my boss every time with fear in his eyes. Same with my parents and my wife and some friends. If anything it always kind of puts me on edge and i hate it. I always take it in my mind as a "be safe because you know what can happen"
    I hear that...

    Ultimately, I understand they're trying to come from a good place which is why I put up with it... but sometimes those are the moments that I want to turn around and say "I know the fucking risk, I'm not a fucking child, I've made my decision, stop trying to persuade me away from my passion."

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by OreoGaborio; 10-16-20 at 03:56 PM.
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

    The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650

  18. #18
    Banned G21forme's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lakes
    Age
    44
    Posts
    6,218

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Lol so much butt hurt for someone wishing you well. Jesus christ

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  19. #19
    Mophead going grey dontpanic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Massachusetts' Noth Shoah
    Age
    62
    Posts
    1,438

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    I simply say, "I shall," and ride away.

    The context usually seems to imply "I wish you well," so that reply seems to satisfy everyone.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Go fast. Have fun. Repeat.

  20. #20
    Banned Rambunctous's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Waterville Valley, NH
    Posts
    7,282

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    I rode my Kawi H2 to the registry for my road test and the cop looked at the bike and said skip the road test and signed off on my license and said "you're gonna kill yourself".

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  21. #21
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Waltham, MA
    Posts
    5,335

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?


    3 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    '02 Ducati 998, '08 Ducati HyperMotard 1100S, '14 Subaru XV Crosstrek

  22. #22
    ^ It's my bike and my car tls25rs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Haverhill, MA
    Age
    53
    Posts
    3,720

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    "Speed safely" is one I like to use.

    Takes some of the ambiguity out of it as the word speed implies that I am aware that they will be having fun and more than likely breaking a few speed limits but I want them to be safe while doing so.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  23. #23
    Lifer PhilB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Pittsfield, NH
    Age
    61
    Posts
    3,137

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    I take it to mean that adverbs are an endangered species.

    I don't much care which they mean; either way is good wishes.
    I say "ride safely" because that's what I mean -- I'm reminding the person to make good decisions. And I like adverbs.
    My mom says "ride safely" because she's my mom.

    PhilB

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "A free man must be able to endure it when his fellow men act and live otherwise than he considers proper." -- Ludwig von Mises
    1993 Ducati Monster M900; 265,000 miles -- killed by minivan 30Oct17

  24. #24
    Lifer ZX-12R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Candia, NH
    Age
    43
    Posts
    5,860

    Re: If someone says "Ride safe," how do you interpret it?

    Quote Originally Posted by PhilB View Post
    I take it to mean that adverbs are an endangered species.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "...i would seriously bite somebody right in the balls..." -bump909

Similar Threads

  1. From "Sunuvabitch" to "Hell yes" to "WOOT!"
    By OreoGaborio in forum Dirty Bastards
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 05-16-12, 06:46 PM
  2. Someone just said "fine art" and "straight line" in the same sentence!!
    By butcher bergs in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 44
    Last Post: 03-02-09, 03:17 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •