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

**StrayNut** · 10-14-20, 09:00 PM

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.

**OreoGaborio** · 10-14-20, 09:08 PM

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.

**wiggeywackyo** · 10-14-20, 09:13 PM

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

**PeaPod** · 10-14-20, 09:52 PM

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.

**wiggeywackyo** · 10-14-20, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by PeaPod

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."

**G21forme** · 10-14-20, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by PeaPod

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.

**Chippertheripper** · 10-15-20, 04:05 AM

“Go fast, take chances.”

**jasnmar** · 10-15-20, 06:23 AM

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.

**e30addict** · 10-15-20, 06:33 AM

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.

**jhawley** · 10-15-20, 07:07 AM

Drive fast eat ass

**StrayNut** · 10-15-20, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by wiggeywackyo

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

Originally Posted by Chippertheripper

“Go fast, take chances.”

Originally Posted by jhawley

Drive fast eat ass

Noted. I mean these things from now on.

**RandyO** · 10-15-20, 03:37 PM

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

why in fuck get offended by what people say ?

**golden chicken** · 10-15-20, 03:50 PM

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.

**StrayNut** · 10-16-20, 10:39 AM

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.

**Mgiossi** · 10-16-20, 10:48 AM

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"

**feralchimp** · 10-16-20, 02:27 PM

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.

**OreoGaborio** · 10-16-20, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mgiossi

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."

**G21forme** · 10-16-20, 02:51 PM

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

**dontpanic** · 10-16-20, 05:19 PM

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.

**Rambunctous** · 10-16-20, 05:28 PM

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".

**number9** · 10-16-20, 06:44 PM

**tls25rs** · 11-12-20, 06:22 PM

"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.

**PhilB** · 11-13-20, 01:39 AM

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

**ZX-12R** · 11-13-20, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by PhilB

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

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

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