WetLeather Motorcycle Rider Information

I don't like rules. I tend to think that most things in life work better with more flexibility and fewer rules. I like to rely on a few guiding principles and the fundamental good nature and judgement of people. Then we can take care of isolated problems on a case-by-case basis. I believe that a lot of tolerance and a little common sense are more comfortable for everybody than a bunch of rules.

That's the way I try to run WetLeather. My favorite analogy is that of a somewhat boisterous ongoing cocktail party, with myself as the host. I provide a place for people to gather (electronically), and the group itself sets the mood and tone of the gathering. My duties as host are fairly simple: I make sure that the facilities work; I occasionally provide some refreshment in the form of added services; at times I try to stimulate the conversation; and I insist that guests be at least moderately civil to each other here in the main room.

Note that the reference is "cocktail party", not "beer bust". I get a bit of vicarious pleasure out of observing a bar-fight or a drunken stupor once in a while; sometimes I read rec.motorcycles. But I don't often want to participate in these activities, and neither do the people who spend their social time in the WetLeather lounge.

However, it's also not an "ice cream social". Adult language is permitted and discussion of adult topics is encouraged in the context of the ongoing blather. Over the years, some people have been distressed by language or topic. Some have expressed fear for their jobs because of company policies regarding political, racial or sexual e-mail as they might be applied to certain intensely-worded discussions on WetLeather. The only course of action I can suggest to people in these situations is to weigh the benefits of WetLeather against the likelihood of corporate repurcussions and, if necessary, unsubscribe. I'm always sorry to see subscribers go, but I won't censor the content of WetLeather to fit what I regard as short-sighted corporate reaction to political myopia. The world isn't nice and safe and inoffensive, and I won't participate in pretending that it is.

There have also been periodic remarks about "motorcycle content" in postings. It's not necessary. WetLeather is for and about motorcycle people, not necessarily about motorcycles. We joined together here because of a common interest in motorcycles, so that's obviously a frequent topic of discussion. But at a cocktail party, there are multiple shared interests - and so it is at WetLeather. Topics ebb and flow; the range and variety of subjects is part of the charm of the experience.

So come on in, have a homebrew or a Single Malt, and relax. Participate in discussions which interest you and ignore those which don't. It's a fine group of people. If you make a mistake, you'll probably hear about it - hopefully in a good-natured fashion. But it's your responsibility to be a little thick-skinned about the responses, remembering that people will say things to you in e-mail that they wouldn't think of saying to your face. At least take the challenge to a duel into private e-mail. The rest of us are busy blathering about food and drink and politics and sex and, yes, motorcycles.

WetLeatherites don't need to judge other bikers by what brand they ride, or why, or how far, or with whom, or how often, or how much it cost. Though they have opinions on what's useful for various situations, they recognize the human traits of emotion and irrational attraction and the desire for companionship and the compulsion to boast and show off, and that these all factor into motorcycling as well as other life decisions. They realize that there's common ground for Ducatisti and HOG types and KTM roosters and Gilera fans. As well as gays, Republicans, gay Republicans, Democratic Socialists, Democrats, Socialists, libertarians and Greenies. This party carries along just fine so long as nobody feels it necessary to look down upon others because of irrelevancies like the colors of their beanies, but rather seeks to understand the content of their character.