@heinlein avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
MP3 500, Ducati ST4s, Honda Silver Wing
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2649
Location: Roseburg, OR
 
Ossessionato
@heinlein avatar
MP3 500, Ducati ST4s, Honda Silver Wing
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2649
Location: Roseburg, OR
UTC quote
jimc wrote:
I object to riding being called 'driving'.

Do you 'drive' a horse? A bicycle?

Humbug say I.
I agree that "riding" is commonly used for motorcycle passengers whether they are at the controls or riding pillion whereas a car differentiates between driver and riders. When someone has spent time on the backseat I can understand wanting to specify they are now the pilot not the navigator.
@mpfrank avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2020 MP3 500 HPE Sport ABS/ASR
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4774
Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles sobre el Río Porciúncula
 
Ossessionato
@mpfrank avatar
2020 MP3 500 HPE Sport ABS/ASR
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4774
Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles sobre el Río Porciúncula
UTC quote
heinlein wrote:
jimc wrote:
I object to riding being called 'driving'.

Do you 'drive' a horse? A bicycle?

Humbug say I.
I agree that "riding" is commonly used for motorcycle passengers whether they are at the controls or riding pillion whereas a car differentiates between driver and riders. When someone has spent time on the backseat I can understand wanting to specify they are now the pilot not the navigator.
I believe it goes back to pre-motorized-transportation days. You drive animals ahead of you (like on a cattle drive). So you drive a horse-drawn (or ox or whatever) wagon. But you ride a horse.

So now you drive an automobile or truck, but you ride a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle.

I don't think it has anything to do with the difference between being pilot or navigator.

I thought about this with the original post, just like jimc, but didn't write it.

Interestingly, the latest Jeep slogan is "Riders wanted" or some such. Is there a subliminal message here differentiating Jeeps from other cars and comparing them to motorcycles?
@heinlein avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
MP3 500, Ducati ST4s, Honda Silver Wing
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2649
Location: Roseburg, OR
 
Ossessionato
@heinlein avatar
MP3 500, Ducati ST4s, Honda Silver Wing
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2649
Location: Roseburg, OR
UTC quote
mpfrank wrote:
heinlein wrote:
jimc wrote:
I object to riding being called 'driving'.

Do you 'drive' a horse? A bicycle?

Humbug say I.
I agree that "riding" is commonly used for motorcycle passengers whether they are at the controls or riding pillion whereas a car differentiates between driver and riders. When someone has spent time on the backseat I can understand wanting to specify they are now the pilot not the navigator.
I believe it goes back to pre-motorized-transportation days. You drive animals ahead of you (like on a cattle drive). So you drive a horse-drawn (or ox or whatever) wagon. But you ride a horse.

So now you drive an automobile or truck, but you ride a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle.

I don't think it has anything to do with the difference between being pilot or navigator.

I thought about this with the original post, just like jimc, but didn't write it.

Interestingly, the latest Jeep slogan is "Riders wanted" or some such. Is there a subliminal message here differentiating Jeeps from other cars and comparing them to motorcycles?
Interesting insight into possible historical reasons why we use the words the way we do.

In modern times if someone asks a group who arrived by car "who drove?" they are clearly differentiating the active driver from the passive passengers.
@old_as_dirt avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22821
Location: Harriman, Tennessee, Tn
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@old_as_dirt avatar
2007 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 22821
Location: Harriman, Tennessee, Tn
UTC quote
heinlein wrote:
mpfrank wrote:
heinlein wrote:
jimc wrote:
I object to riding being called 'driving'.

Do you 'drive' a horse? A bicycle?

Humbug say I.
I agree that "riding" is commonly used for motorcycle passengers whether they are at the controls or riding pillion whereas a car differentiates between driver and riders. When someone has spent time on the backseat I can understand wanting to specify they are now the pilot not the navigator.
I believe it goes back to pre-motorized-transportation days. You drive animals ahead of you (like on a cattle drive). So you drive a horse-drawn (or ox or whatever) wagon. But you ride a horse.

So now you drive an automobile or truck, but you ride a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle.

I don't think it has anything to do with the difference between being pilot or navigator.

I thought about this with the original post, just like jimc, but didn't write it.

Interestingly, the latest Jeep slogan is "Riders wanted" or some such. Is there a subliminal message here differentiating Jeeps from other cars and comparing them to motorcycles?
Interesting insight into possible historical reasons why we use the words the way we do.

In modern times if someone asks a group who arrived by car "who drove?" they are clearly differentiating the active driver from the passive passengers.
I see this as a silly question, because you can clearly note who drove and who was a passenger. Just simply look at their faces and who looks calm and cool drove, the others with the scared shitless looks were passengers.
@georgiagirl avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
Piaggio MP3 500
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1402
Location: North Georgia
 
Molto Verboso
@georgiagirl avatar
Piaggio MP3 500
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1402
Location: North Georgia
UTC quote
For me, target fixation means seeing an oncoming car - I'm not really worried about it or anything, but my eye just naturally follows it for a second. At least my eyes, if not my whole head, bobs at the "target" and my line bobbles a little right along with it. I'm working on it.
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44549
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44549
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Don't look at the cars, look at the gaps.
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