I attended a conference last week that focused on the challenges of science communication at a time when political agendas and propaganda needs drive conversations — GMOs cause AIDS, the moon landing was a hoax, a foot bath will detoxify your body. And while it’s easy to ascribe positions to liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican, the reality is that many have more to do with the groups we align with than political parties.
Or so the thinking goes.
Humans have always congregated together to achieve common goals since the first meeting in a cave. Today it’s suggested people exhibit the same behavior in creating tribes — now more and more on the internet. And our tribes have beliefs and requirements for membership and reject those who don’t ascribe to them. People don’t like being rejected by their tribe.
Research indicates how that might work in the real world. Psychologists in Australia and the United States have been looking at the phenomena which demonstrates that the more information and data you provide someone about a suspect belief — let’s say childhood vaccines cause autism — that their belief actually becomes stronger. And it’s not because they’re embarrassed to admit they’re wrong on anything like that, but rather they are loath to be rejected by their tribe — others with whom they share a common belief system.
So how is this all connected to a New Yorker cartoon titled “The Vesparados”?
The world is full of riding tribes — actual groups who gather in person, and virtual groups who share a common set of beliefs . When I saw the cartoon and after a little chuckle I was wondering who the hell made up this group of desperados? Certainly isn’t my tribe.
I know there are scooter clubs and gangs. The same for motorcycles. I read about them on forums and blogs. Fanc Roddam’s film about mods and rockers, Quadrophenia, famously depicts two tribes of riders who each have a serious belief system and any attempt to dissuade those beliefs means trouble.
And then I started thinking about all the little rider beliefs that float around — not wearing a helmet is an expression of individual liberty and freedom by one tribe and by another emblematic of moronic behavior and stupidity.
Stuff like that.
Try to dissuade a rider of their beliefs with data or statistics and see what happens. It’s seldom, “Hey, thanks, I didn’t know that. I really appreciate the information, I’m going out and buy a helmet today!” The same holds for lots of ideas and beliefs from brands of machine and gear to how and when to ride.
I’m not here to call out any particular tribe or belief — just looking in the mirror wondering about my own moronic beliefs.
I’ve been wondering what tribes I belong to — in the world of flesh and blood, and those virtual communities with which I spend time. I know I’m not part of a badass tribe of scooter riders but maybe I am a part of a winter riding tribe that’s ripe with beliefs and exclusionary thoughts.
This is where my brain goes on a Sunday morning while sitting with the dogs.
I read an article about New Yorker cartoons and the fact that you can apply one of three captions to each cartoon:
1. “Christ, what an asshole!”
2. “What a misunderstanding!”
3. “Hi, I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”
Looking at a couple dozen cartoons I can see that it works pretty well.
As I think about the cartoon, and myself, I keep coming back to caption number one…
What I have never understood is why so many scooter owners don’t see themselves as belonging to a tribe like motorcyclists do. Yes, there are scooter clubs but their membership numbers pale in comparison to motorcycle clubs. Two examples. The A-Town Rumblers announced a weekend scooter rally in Albany many months in advance. Scott posted it in MV and it got play in many locales related to scooters. All of 50 people showed up. The following week the Ramapo Motorcycle Club held their annual Ramapo 500 about fifty miles from Albany. It’s a two day, 500 mile event with an overnight camping/motel arrangement and limited to 300 entries. It filled quickly and had numerous non-entries tagging along.
I’m sure there could be a really constructive discussion that would help bring scooters together if the “Tribe” question was answered. Until then scooters will always be the “Other Two Wheeled”.
In the case of the Uralisti riding tribe….it is a mechanism to provide mutual support where it concerns our sometimes “slightly prone to break down” steeds.
The belief’s we hold are truly a way to bond us to the group of riders we believe we most fit well into, or want to be a part of.
I am comfortable in knowing what tribe is mine, the tribe of solo riders. Sure, there’s the occasional group ride, but it never is a “large” group. Partly because there’s not that many of us Uralisti within easy gathering distance, partly because “life gets in the way” and mostly because a Uralista tends to like driving their rig solo(+monkey of course)
Oh, and lets not forget the brand image imposed by each brand’s marketing efforts.
Pretty interesting topic. And it’s really easy to identify those “tribes” within our modern social media connected world. All of the Internet forums and blogs that push one thing or another be they brands, food, motorcycles, cars, bicycles, exercise, etc. You can pick almost anything and you will probably find a group formed around it. And some aggressively defend their choice of whatever it is as if it really matters that someone may have a different view. The flame wars or “oil threads” on just about any forum or blog comments are a great example. I think that some need to feel validated by others that they alone are right and anyone with a different view needs to be berated for being wrong.
Good post!
Hi Steve, I enjoyed reading this post. Sounds like a very interesting conference. I spent several years studying Choice Theory (Developed by Dr William Glasser from Cleveland) back in the 60s that teaches we are all driven in our behaviour by five basic needs. With each individual there is a different level of strength for each of these five needs. Group people have a strong need for “belonging and connectedness” while those less driven to be a part of a tribe may have a stronger need for “freedom” or “power”. Those who are most driven by their need for “survival” do not ride anything (why would you?). We are constantly told that education and information is the answer to many of our social problems but from the research you discussed this may well not be the case. Feelings and emotions can take precedence over rational thought for people with a strong drive to belong to a tribe. Take care, Fred
Tribe think can be a frightening prospect at times.
There are a great many beliefs around the world (outside of us two wheelers) that pressure us from all directions. What is right with one group is totally wrong with another. At lest motorcycle enthusiasts share many common thoughts.
If I had a dog I would also be sitting outside and contemplate with him. They understand, accept and forgive most of our foibles.
Maybe we just need to be careful around tribes and take enough time to figure out what they’re doing.
Dogs — two snoring ones near by. Love dogs…
The cartoon is lovely! Sort of a different horse, of course. Wonder how they shoe a Vespa if it becomes lame while riding on the wide open plains…Retire the horse, or just
patch the shoe and keep riding????
Regardless they’ll get a roundtoit eventaully…
Vespa scooters don’t go lame. Everyone knows that. They don’t throw shoes and love horses.
The curious effect of the Internet has been to isolate more than to unite. Television stared it but the Web has cemented modern tribalism.
I like it a lot. I grew up in a small community filled with intimate gossip, which was inescapable; there was no off switch, we lived worked played and …um…in one small village. Inescapable.
The Web? Facebook? LinkedIn? Twitter? It’s all on or off at will. Lovely for loners.
The internet has changed things and there’s no turning back. History will judge if it’s good or bad. I’m with you though — I like it. So many choices and so much more control…
Its interesting that you talk about tribes relating to scooting and motorcycling. When I first started out, I wasn’t really welcomed into our local scooter tribe because I wasn’t riding a Vespa and had a Japanese pretender. The only person who welcomed me into the moto tribe was Bob Leong and he lived a ferry ride away, so it was hard to meet up and ride, but when we did it was fun.
Then I moved into the motorcycle part of riding and here I have never really fit into one particular tribe. I guess though I do fit into the ATGATT tribe, but we are considered nerds, so the *ahem* cool kids don’t really play with nerd riders. What ever, I don’t really care and I don’t really have a group/tribe mentality , I am more of a free spirit and do what’s right for me. I will say the little group of moto bloggers we belong to is probably the closest I have to a tribe and love this group of people because they are very easy going and really don’t care what you ride and that in my book is what makes them so cool.
While tribes are plentiful membership isn’t always easy, or at least it doesn’t come cheap with the price being paid by surrendering individuality. I always grate a bit when I see people being excluded. It’s what makes the Boalsburg Moto Hang so cool. They like everyone, even when someone shows up with a three wheeled Cushman traffic scooter…
As far as bloggers go, maybe that’s a tribe worth belonging to. I remember way back when Mike Werner established Moto Bloggers International. It was a cool group and he had a “Best of” competition one year. It was fun to be part of. That’s gone now but maybe someone should start another blogger gang!?
The Vesparados… so funny.
I Googled the artist: Matthew Diffee. Very talented.
I’d be proud to join a tribe that had our little band of bloggers in it. Come to think of it, I think I did, or I think I am, or I have; or we did, and we are. Are we?
Right?
I think you’re right — we are part of a blogging tribe though I’m not sure if we have any guidelines we’re expected to live up to. Maybe we’re more of a group of loners with a shared appreciation of the others…