ATTENTION MC FANS! I was just scrolling through my personal newsfeed today, and saw not one but three women posting about real encounters with people in motorcycle clubs. This concerns me, because I see a trend growing and its not a good one. I did a post about this in my group last week, the Joanna Wyldes Junkies, and I want to share it more broadly because I think its important. ___________________________________________________ Ive noticed over the past couple days that ladies in my newsfeed have been taking pictures of guys riding bikes and/or looking up club websites, etc. Because Ive been researching clubs for several years and know many people in real clubs (including ones Im starting to see targeted online by readers), I feel the need to do a reality check. The fact is, MC books are a romantic fantasy. Clubs have their own culture, and it isnt necessarily what youd think it is or should be based on books and TV. Not only that, every club is different. The vast majority of club members are great people, but there are also very dangerous criminals living the MC life. I think its fair and reasonable to say that some clubs (NOT ALL) operate essentially as organized crime groups. Not only that, even among clubs that are primarily friendly social organizations there are alliances and disputes that can get very dangerous. Their lives are not a game. In my books, I have club members state that they are willing to die for their colors. Thats because many men HAVE died for their colors, but what the books dont go into is that sometimes theyre dying for the wrong reasons or that theyve just been caught in the crossfire of events that have nothing to do with them. Their deaths arent particularly noble and glorious. Not only that, disputes between clubs, political issues, etc. are so complicated I doubt I could explain them to you with a flow chart, and Im certainly not an expert on the subject. Some of the clubs recently discussed here are controversial for a variety of reasons (probably not the ones you think). Some of them are at war with each other. Its uncomfortable for me to see real people or groups (as opposed to the fictional ones) being talked about like theyre action figures when I have friends who have been on the front lines of these battles. So, feel free to check out websites and learn more and all that, but just because you see someone wearing club colors doesnt mean you should be taking pictures or tracking them down. With cell phones as part of our lives, taking pictures is easy and quick, and often anonymous, but there are good reasons that many club members choose not to use Facebook or ban their members from posting pictures on Facebook. Something you post online may have very real, unintended consequences for the person you have photographed. Unless you know how to read club colors, you really dont know whether youre targeting some lightweight weekend warrior or a real outlaw, and recent comments/photos have made it very clear to me that the distinction isnt being made. So, thats your reality check for the day... I am NOT trying to give you shit, spoil the fantasy or be a killjoy, LOL. I love our jokes and pictures and discussions. Just be aware.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:55:23 +0000
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