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I am sure you have all experienced it lately, people are becoming more and more rude. What ever happened to the golden rule of do onto others?
You have all read about my experience with a few indivuals on the pre-Good Guys night at the Lube. How a few people didn’t think the rules should have applied to them and became very disagreeable about it.
I have had other experiences on Bike Night. Let me elaborate.
I have an easy job, or what should be easy. I lead a group of young people who help park the bikes on Bike Night. By ‘help’ I mean they tell each bike where to park. Believe it or not there is a pattern which best fits our lot which fits the most bikes possible. When bikers park as we say we can fit 500 bikes on the front lot alone and about 900 total. When they don’t, less than 700. It makes a big difference. On slower nights, when bikes are parked properly, I can provide closer parking for those in cars that still want to enjoy what bike night offers. Sounds simple doesn’t it?
The other part of my job is trying to keep the atmosphere more family friendly. We want to have a place that people with small children feel comfortable at. A place that doen’t have fights or other undesirable activity.
Last night was a perfect example of when my job becomes hard and a person thinks he is more important than the rules. Four bikers pull in at a higher than safe rate of speed, about 20 mph. Then blow right by the person parking bikes and park where they want, in a way that would disrupt parking. My employee walked up and kindly asked them to park their bikes in a more cooperative way. The complied….until he walked away. This is where I have to get involved.
I approach the group and, with more authority, tell them to cooperate. All comply except one guy who thinks since he is 6’4″ he can be a tough guy. He decides that, not only is he not moving his bike, it is now time to become agressive and tell me and his friends that they are staying where they are. So I asked him to leave.I explained that it was our lot and people are expected to cooperate or not be there. So then he moved to within inches from me and became threatening, asking me to fight him. Excuse me? If any of you know me personally, you know that I have bounced in clubs in Dallas and LA, I am not afraid of fighting. But that being said fighting does not fit what the owners of Quaker Steak and Lube want. We use the police. I asked the officer on duty to, and I quote, “escort the gentleman off of the premises”. He the starts calling me names and saying comments to try to upset me. Are we still in grade school? Then he walks away from the officer saying that this is a public lot and he can park wherever he wants. To make a long story short, he ended up being escorted off of the premises.
I just don’t get it. Why do people feel the need to embarrass themselves by acting childish? Why do people feel that by showing extreme disrespect they will get their way? None of us are better than anyone else. Life doesn’t always fit with how we want it, but we deal with it, right?
The golden rule is treat other as you wish to be treated. I always say that to get love or respect, you must first be willing to give it.
Why can’t more people remember that?
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Good rant!
I’m glad you have cops there, to step in if needed. Some people in this world just don’t get it.
You are right, people seem to be getting very rude. You see it all over, on the road, in businesses, at work. It has gotten to the point where I think Madison should promote itself as the City of %^%&holes. I am sure it is not just here either, society in general has gone downhill. I used to let things bother me, but I have gotten to the point where I don’t think it is going to get any better, so I don’t let it bother me. You don’t see nearly as much of it in the smaller cities, and Madison is certainly not a big city.
I agree with what everyone else has said. I’ve noticed the drivers on the Beltline in the morning are increasingly rude, everyone wants to get the same place at the same time and the rush hour home isn’t much better. I will say being on the road with someone that drives under the speed limit is dangerous also (as was the case tonight on the way to QSL), but often there’s nothing you can do about it.
I think you handled the situation very well Jon, you just never know what you are going to run into. The days are long gone when you can solve a situation by talking to someone, it’s unfortunate!
Jon that was the way to handle the situation. Unfortunately people like you are just trying to make it fun for everyone and a few have to go and make it difficult.
I honestly think the problem is that people have taken the “customer is always right” theory WAAYYY too far. The have started to believe that if you bitch and moan enough, people back down…and in most cases they are right. Too often businesses give in rather than stand their ground because they are afraid to lose a single customer. My attitude has always been that one bad customer can ruin it for many others. It is better to lose that one bad one than 10 good ones. I feel lucky that I have a boss that believes in me and my ability to protect his business. He has backed me up on number of complaints from these same type of indivuals that don’t understand that there are rules to follow..and yes they have to follow them too.
Please don’t let this thread go to waste. I created it to give us all a place to vent. We all have bad days and things that drive us nuts. I started this thread for us all to have a place to let it all out. It always feels much better to vent than to hold it all in and end up on a seven state killing spree.
I agree, people in society have went down hill. Jon, what you dealt with here is something I’ve never had any appreciation for – the bad biker mentality. I’ve seen it in the bars since I was drinking underage. These guys ride in on there Harley’s, get loud, wanna fight, then at the end of the day the go to bed and get up the next morning and go back to there cubicles at Initech.
My dad has always been more of a motorcycle guy than a car guy, and he still rides every chance he gets. No more choppers anymore (my old man had choppers back in the ’70s, when they were real choppers) now he has a full-dresser with a radio, air shock, and a comfy seat. Back in his day he was a like me dontknow.gif but now that he’s older he’s more laid back. He doesn’t get drunk and fight, or beat women, or feel the need to watch Hells Angels ’69 before he rides. To me, my dad is a “biker”. He enjoys the hobby of riding, as I enjoy the hobby of driving.
I’m glad you had the cops remove this guy from your lot. QSL is a family environment and that aspect doesn’t belong there. Granted, I’m always up for watching the little guy (no offense) pound the snot out of some big tub o’ guts, but QSL isn’t the place for that either, Rusty’s is down the road about a mile and a half wave.gif
What’s the difference between a Harley and a Hoover vacuum cleaner?
-the position of the dirtbag w00t.gificon_headbang.gif
The statement that some of the more laid back bikers have told me is that there is Harley riders and Harley owners. Harley riders ride their bikes and enjoy the people and cause no problems. Harley owners are the idiots that have the wear a suit jobs, get home put on the leather that has no wear, get on the bike and think they have to be badasses. They think that owning a Harley means acting like a cliche from an old biker movie. It isn’t like that for the real Harley riders.
And believe it or not, most of the problem customers are sport bike riders, no Harley riders. This guy rode a Moto Guzi.
[rant on]
I’m think I’m about to go postal today icon_scratch.gifI’m sure most of you have seen the news where my local Police Chief is under scrutiny over misappropriation of funds. Let’s hurry up and forget right away that he’s cleaned the town up and he don’t allow the ‘old guard’ of the village board to push him around. I’ve never met the man personally, but from what I’ve seen he’s done a great job in this town. I voted most of the village board members in office this spring, but now part of me feels that they ran for office with a vendetta in mind. One of the new members was a cop in town about 30 years ago and was relieved of his duties so i’m told, i don’t know for sure because it’s before my time. I guess being a taxpayer of the village, county, and state I feel that the village board should be working along side the law, not against them. Too many people in this ‘old guard’ were easy to be in your back pocket. Yes, what the chief did was against policy, but it’s not like he burned down city hall. In a nutshell, he misused resources. I feel a reprimand is order, though others agree with me, the other half feels he needs to lose his job. There are many other small tidbits, but not enough that they matter. During all this drugs are still being dealt, women and children are being raped and molested, along with other various illegal activities I’m sure. But we’re concerned with the police chief stealing some stamps to mail out flyers for Special Olympics benefits on company time.
I’m no angel. I was in trouble when I was a kid, many times it involved the police. About the time I got into high school I started to realize i wasn’t going anywhere and wanted things out of life. With this came an apprenticeship, graduation, college, and the final product is what I am today. Today I am a citizen who knows right from wrong, I am an induvidual who loves the town where he lives. And most of the time I’m a law-abiding citizen…but once in awhile I gotta burn some rubber w00t.gif I choose not to associate myself with people who feel the need to be the criminal element.
This anamocity between the people who run this town needs to come to an end. Let’s worry about procecting our town and the people that live in it.
[rant off]I think the movie Idiocracy basically explains it
Did anybody see the new challenger up on ebay? Dodge put number 2 (the second one to be produced) up on ebay with all proceeds going to the United Way of Southern Michigan. The bidding was only open to dealers. The bidding ended last night aty a total of over $175,000!!!!! Wow. That is crazy.
Number 1 goes on the auction block at Barrett-Jackson in January.
I am glad that this thread started out as one for venting and for ranting. I am not surprised to hear about the money for Challenger #2. And, United Way is a great charity.
For the folks that know me from the car shows and have followed my journey with my new Challenger purchase through this Summer and Fall, you may wonder why I am not ranting and venting. I am still #60 on the list at Don Miller in Madison, but I won’t pay 10K or 12K over MSRP when one might become available for me this coming year.
I love this car and wish that I could own one, but it will be a few years before they become available at a reasonable price for us car guys and car girls that remember and appreciate these cars from back in the day.
Any guesses as to how much Challenger #1 will bring at Barrett-Jackson in January? I am guessing well over $250,000 and upwards.
Marshall
The idea of selling any car at over sticker is just rediculous. And the fact that people pay it is even more so. What ever happened to the idea of releasing a car, asking a decent price for the average american, and just making the damn thing? Now car dealers make a big deal out of every new car that comes out, ask extremely high prices, and then complain that they are losing money. Gee, I wonder why? Make cars for the average person, not the rich and stupid. Ford started the new Mustang that way and look how much of a hit it became. I think they are even losing that focus with the new Shelby. $57,000, are you serious?
When I lived in Texas I got to know some very “old money” wealthy people. They all said the same thing, never buy new. The value of every new car drops 19% the day you take it off of the lot. Let someone else take the hit. Wait two years.
In the case of the new Challenger, or Camaro, that is still sound advice. wait until some become used cars and buy them for a more affordable price. I understand wanting to be the first but is it worth all of that? The car will continue to lose money for at least 10 years. And even then do you know where the economy will be? 15 years ago, muscle cars were a bad investment. No one knew that they were going to become this valuable. By the time the new Challengers and Camaros are collectable will they be valuable or just old?
I love your phrase “Make cars for the average person, not the rich and stupid”.
If Ford Motors (corporate and the individual dealers and franchise owners) would heed this advice, they might just hold on to a few loyal customers from year to year and actually make a few dollars for their stockholders.
When it comes to making money in todays car world, Ford seems to have put all their eggs in the Mustang basket. Yep, they are selling a boatload of GTs, and Shelby GTs, and Shelby GT500s, and California Specials. And there are alot of folks who are willing to pay that discretionary dealer mark-up to own one of these cars.
I jumped ship this year. I have bought and driven Fords my whole life, but my last Ford and my dealings with a local Ford dealer convinced me to move on. I took my dollars and my business to an import dealer and I couldn’t be happier about the service, quality, reputation, dependability, and future resale value. Not only did Ford lose me as a customer, but they lost my family (four potential vehicle buyers) and the friends around us. Too bad, but it seems that Ford doesn’t give a whit about these things that are so important to car buyers who will come back time and time again to purchase a car/truck.
Marshall
It really amazes me that the “American” car companies can’t understand why the “Imports” are always having a larger share of the market…yet it seems so simple to us.
Imports sell because:
a) they are affordable to the average person
b) the are economical
c) they are reliable. Heck I got 208,000 miles (very abusive miles I might add) out of my Nissan pickup without any major repairs. And my maxima had over 250,000 before I rebuilt that. And that is commonI think if the “American” companies did what the imports do they would not all be on the verge of bankruptcy.
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