| Author | Message | ||
     Buellgrrrl |
Heading east on Minnesota 36 towards Stillwater friday a guy on an black M2 with louder than normal exhaust and forcewinder intake passed me. We exchanged waves, but it wasn't until he was a couple hundred yards ahead of me when I noticed maybe something wierd on the his left side- was that the strut and "foot" of a high tech artificial leg? Now this was about the 3rd amp (amputee) I've seen on a Buell, and more than I've seen on BMWs in my over two decades on the BMW rally circuit. So why is Buell so popular with the gimps (disabled riders)? In my own case, the leg brace I wear to compensate for MS won't let me tippy-toe when stopped- I have no choice but to flat foot it. I'd dropped my BMWs so many times when stopped that I started to set them up to survive dropping, with wide bars to catch the fall and avoid landing on the more expensive fuel tank and such. Thanks to the M2L's low seat I can flat foot anywhere, and in 4 years riding I have yet to drop it. Buell's light weight works to the gimps advantage too- when you've only got one functional leg or arm it's helpful to have a bike that's half the weight of a Gold Wing! From experience I know that 500 pounds is my upper weight limit without a sidecar, so I can ride every Buell but the Ulysses, and with a low seat that may be within my reach. Buell's excellent handling is an asset too- when you have poor balance like me and your working out your azimuth in the higher levels of your brain because the brainstem that's supposed to be doing that job is on the blink, you don't want a lot of sensory noise from flexing frames, mushy suspension, and driveshaft torque reaction messing up your calculations. Under such conditions a Buell handles just like a big bicycle, precisely behaving as you'd expect without any surprises or missteps. So without even trying Buell has built a magnificently adaptable motorcycle. Just think what they could do if they tried... like maybe a high performance sidecar outfit! | ||
| Cochise |
Not to sound confrontational, buuut, I don't like the blatant use of the word gimp and other derrogatory terms used to describe a person's various degrees of walking ability. I don't like to make fun of peoples "handicaps" for lack of a better word. If you see someone with an eye patch do you yell "Hey Cyclops!" ? somebody who can't talk, dummy? No, I don't think so. My dad has a bad leg because of Polio when he was a kid, very fortunate for him, but I don't feel it appropriate to call him gimpy, although I do call him "Geeze" or "Pops". | ||
| Sanchez |
Given that Buellgrrrl is also handicapped, I figure she can call herself whatever she likes.  I suspect those words are actually very common in handicapped circles. If you take a word like "gimp" and make it your own, it takes the sting out of it. It's kind of like the way "geek" isn't really an insult to techie folks anymore, and Alanis Morisette is proud to be a "bitch." Buellgrrrl, I'm 6'2" with a 34" inseam, and even with some thick boots I could just barely get the flats of my feet down on the Uly. Anyone much shorter than me is going to need stilts to rid the damn thing. | ||
| Black_sunshine |
Buellgrrl and Sanchez.....I ride a XB9S and am also a Certified Prosthetist here in Atl.(profile) I design a fit Artificial limbs and have several Patients that still ride with their Prosthesis. I have even made a few special ones for track applications and a WERA racer. I would have to agree with Cochise that "Gimp" is a negative comment. I can't think of a single patient that would like to be called that. But, it is different if an amputee calls him/herself that but still shouldn't come from an able bodied person. Everyone is different...so don't mind but others do. I have much respect for those who don't let their disabilities effect there quality of life. I'm also grateful that I can be a part of helping these people get their life back. For someone to loose their leg/arm in a motorcycle accident and get back on a ride again takes guts not to mention a very high level of skill. If you would like more info on prosthetics, you can reach me on my company's website: www.atlantpo.com | ||
| Tramp |
dirty sanchez said: " Given that Buellgrrrl is also handicapped, I figure she can call herself whatever she likes." * * * that's bullsh*t, sancho- she was referring to others and not just herself...it wasn't "cute". plus, that ethos of being able to call yourslef and other like you by derogatory slurs is bullsh*t. like when african american ghetto kids call each other "nigger". it's still "nigger", no matter how you slice it. nice try, but if I used the word gimp here, buellgrrl would jump my sh*t in an instant, just like if someone posted here using the word 'nigger'. | ||
| Hammer71 |
By the way Meredith Brooks is the Bitch. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
My apologies for a poor choice of words- I'm so used to calling myself a "gimp" or even "crip" (unfortunately a certain gang has been trespassing on our common law trademark on that one...) that I let it slip sometimes. And I get ticked off too when I hear the members of that gang and the other one with the red hankies throwing the "N" word around- I'm old enough to remember that "N" word used in a most hateful way. While I'm at the keyboard, kudos to the orthotists and the wonderous devices they make- my current ankle foot orthosis with springy hinge cost nearly a thousand dollars, but it's worth every cent- I sure as heck notice the difference when I'm without it. Well, the temp is already up to 45 and yesterday's rain and fog is gone, and I have no work lined up for today. So following my longstanding personal policy of not hanging around home when the weathers nice, I may have yo go for a ride today! It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it... | ||
| Grndskpr |
Really interesting if you put it all in perspective, and really take a look at what is being said gimp2 (gĭmp) Slang. n. A limp or a limping gait Tramp A prostitute. A person regarded as promiscuous You should really be nicer to yourself Seth, or follow your own advice, one way streets usually lead to a dead end, in one fashion or another  R the gimp, who married a gimp | ||
| Tramp |
grndskpr- first- waht does Seth have to do with this all? secondly, why are you redesignating the definitio order of dictionary entries? my copy of Random House webster's Dictionary lists meanings for Tramp as follows: 1.To walk with a firm, heavy step. 2.To hinder or restrain 3.To step heavily; trample 4.To traverse on foot. 5.A firm, heavy tread 6.The sound made by such a tread 7.a long, steady walk 8.a vagabond, vagrant 9.a promiscuous woman 10. a freight ship that takes cargo wherever shipper desire ...so, it follows, that definitions are listed numerically by concision/concisivness, useage and accuracy, you two cited definitions are numbers 8 and 9 out of 10. The first 8 describe me and my persona pretty well, with no insult whatsoever. * * i'm kinda new to all this internet mumbo-jumbo... is it typical for posters to redistribute stats so they fit their purposes better? and why, again, did you bring seth into all this? are you a heavy drinker? | ||
| Oldog |
Good on you BuellGrrrl for taking control of your life, You said MS did you mean the disease? or were you refering to an injury? If you are dealing with the Disease my Helmet is off to you .. Enjoy the Ride.. I have to agree with Tramp on the "labels" I may have worded it a little differently but the feeling is the same.. | ||
| Grndskpr |
...so, it follows, that definitions are listed numerically by concision/concisivness, useage and accuracy, you two cited definitions are numbers 8 and 9 out of 10. The first 8 describe me and my persona pretty well, with no insult whatsoever So just so understand you correctly, i makes a difference what number the definition is as opposed to the deffinition OK Sorry about the seth thing, i was having a moment is it typical for posters to redistribute stats so they fit their purposes better? I just thought that a definition was a definition, i didnt realize that based on it use, that a definition could mean less depending on its order No one told me the rules, sorry R | ||
| Tramp |
MS- the coincidences never end. buellgrrrl- contact me via PM or. My recurring lyme was initially diagnosed as such in san jose in '99. same MRI plaques, etc. you'd be shocked at the near-100% of MS post-mortems which reveal spirochetes in their CNS, leading to autoimmune demyelination. also, considering MS has always been a geopgraphically dsitributed condition, it's lead to continued hypotheses regarding a microbial cause. after WWI, many GIs came down with MS and Lou Gehrig's. (ALS). many of them shared the same bodylice. It's theorized that certain ethnicities (esp \gaels, primarily scots, primarily females) lack certain b-cell defenses to curb the infection, and when demyelination grows rmapant, it becomes fullblow MS or ALS. I knpow a fella who is developing the histamine patch for MS sufferers and is making it available cheaply. it might be route you wanna check out, along with aggressive antibiotic therapy. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Anyone can have a long debated argument and disagree on a vast array of subjects. Doesnt mean they cant be friends..just means they see things a little different. Funny thing about typing as opposed to in person is that this whole thing would be so miniscule in an everyday conversation...points would be made and it would be over in about 5 minutes. besides ... Arguing on the internet is like running in the Special Olympics.....Even if you win, you're still retarded. No offense to any retards that may be on the board and reading this hang that medal with pride Yeahhhh. Cj.. I applaud your devotion to a friend I would do the same and am rightfully doing so in that Tramp (Jay) could have signed up yesterday for all I care and he too has numerous friends here as well as other buell related sites, does a ton of behind the scene things for not only the Buell community but the one he lives in as well.What time on the board has to do with anything is beyond me. If at any time I was under the impression that he was trying to be malicious in his post i would be the first to throw stones but in knowing him I can attest that it was not his intention. Now that my entry in the internet tough man competition is over I'll leave you all to your battle. I hope my rant here shed a little light on how stupid and blown out of proportion this really is. The real issue is that someone with a serious disability is on two wheels and on our brand of choice. Buellgrrrl.. Great to see your not one of the woe is me people. Hammer | ||
| Prez |
cant we all just get along...lol.. we're all adults..and yes i have been on the receiving end of ppl here for saying the wrong thing a few times...but jeez ppl.. it's not like she meant to insult anyone..we all need to do a little self reflection b4 we start harpin on someone for what they said.. sometimes ppl just dont think b4 they speak..but i can guarantee that she wasnt trying to insult anyone.. seems a little hypocritical sometimes...just my 2 cents though..who the hell am i? rite?... laters.. and ride safe yall... prez | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
I got a brand new limp (gimp?) last year when a Dodge Omni smashed into me while riding my Ultra Classic. Broke almost everything on my left side. (Including pulverizing my left ankle and pelvic bone) I've still got a broken bone in my ankle that I plan to have fixed with a bone graft this winter. (Don't let broken bones cut into valuable riding weather) I've still got the Ultra, but the Buell is much more comfortable to ride with the broken bone still in my ankle. | ||
| Prez |
wow..didnt realize u guys had some bad "history".. hey tramp..maybe u were her husband in a past life..and now she's torturing u in this one too..hahaha.. but like i did say..we're all adults here.. take the higher road.. | ||
| Prez |
no that's not the high road brotha..that's the high school road.. dont worry about it man.. i mean does it really affect your life? what someone who you dont even really know says or thinks about you? i've received some good advice on this site tramp..and alot of it has been from you!!!! so take some advice from me this time.. stick around enjoy the good parts of badweb,and dont let the bad ones get to ya...they always end up diggin their own grave anyways.. and no cjxb,i'm not dissing u either..i dont know either of you two.. and hey tramp.. the freakshow aspect is what i like about this site.. hell..i havent laughed so hard in my entire life as i did when clown posted the pics of him and his wife buying their new car..it was freekin freakshow hilarious.. this is the last post i'm gonna put on this subject..so either take what i say and use it..or take it with a grain of salt..cuz like i said..do u really care what someone u dont really know says?... laters..prez | ||
| Hammer71 |
Jay go eat RUNCH and go for a ride...cures everything | ||
| Jon |
People have to be free to be people on this board, as long as it doesn't stay ugly for too long or threats or extreme vulgarity get tossed in. Spice it up, be neighbors in the end. Game on... | ||
| Bomber |
phew -- self-generated drama never ends, does it? "Man up, now, man up!" | ||
| Jon |
No worries, Tramp. Rest easy. | ||
| Ebear |
My God.....all this just because a Bueller noticed some Handicapped people like to ride Buells????....I think some of you folks take yourselves WAYYYYYY too seriously......Just go for a ride and FUHGEDABOUTIT!!!!!!!Please!!! | ||
| Mikej |
They're not "Handicapped", they just have some physiological variations.  I, personally, think it's great when I see one of those wheelchair symbols on a motorcycle license plate. | ||
| Blake |
Tramp, Come on guy Please dispense with the personal attacks. Is it just me being overly judgemental, or do you have some misogynistic tendencies? You've been in conflict with Pammy, CJ, and Buellgrrrl and seem to become hostile at the drop of the hat in discussion with any female here. Come on guy. Would you want to trade places with a woman?   Let's give them some respect okay? And a little benefit of doubt? Cold and rainy here in Kilgore today. Great for my winter lawn recently overseeded. Sucky for riding. (Message edited by blake on October 31, 2005) | ||
| Blake |
This thread brings up the whole "PC" issue. When is a word just a description and not an insult and when is it an insult? Seems to me like it is an insult if it is most commonly used as such. I cannot recall the last time, before reading Buellgrrrl's entertaining post here, that I had seen or heard the word "gimp." What say you Bomber, overlord of the politically anti-correct. |
