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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
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  #61  
Old 26 Dec 2009
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Angry Defensive savagery!

I've always thought a small, portable sound device playing "Achey Breaky Heart" at 130 dB would be the ultimate (and most cruel) defensive weapon.
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  #62  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by tedmagnum View Post
I own a gun = I have a small penis and need a way to compensate !
Just my 2 inches on the whole thing.

That is the dumbest damn thing I have ever heard! So how long would my penis have to be before your theorem would not hold true? Do you measure limp or erect? I need to see if I am compensating or just like guns.

You have traded your self reliance and freedom for a white flag. How pathetic. Let the government take care of you huh? This is the kind of thinking that took the greatest country in the world down to one that is just surviving. How sad.

"Live Free or Die" That is exactly why we crossed the pond 300 years ago.

But that does NOT mean that I think that pulling a gun at the first sign of trouble is the best solution. Many of you have the right idea. I would only use a gun to protect my family from death or injury. Not to prevent my food or clothes from being stolen. I have more respect for human life than material goods.

just my 2 Cents worth.....

Oh yea. I guess having the big BMW is pure compensation too. Maybe I should run and hide.
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  #63  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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self defense

i always carry a telescopic baton. i have never had to use it on a bike trip, but i have used it twice on the job (law enforcement). the biggest concern in using it on the job is making sure no bones get broken. might not be a concern in north africa.
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  #64  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by chris View Post
I'm sure you recall there were a couple of chaps (one actor and his mate/son of a famous director: they were on the TV once or twice recently ) who used this brand and in some peoples opinion went OTT with respect to their preparation and backup. Their prep included anti-terror/kidnap training.
I remember that they were given a set of tools but did not learn how to use them, but they did get trained how to run in a zig-zag pattern if they were being shot at.
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  #65  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by DingusKahn View Post



"Live Free or Die" That is exactly why we crossed the pond 300 years ago.

This one may be an escapee from Jo Momma....
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  #66  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by chris View Post
My comment wasn't meant to insult that hallowed Bavarian brand that so many dedicated affecianados swear by.
*********
I wholeheartedly, out the bottom of my ring-antenna, apologise for casting any doubt on the utter wonderfullness of that superior German marque. If you were to ever reread my above post, please substitute "GS" with "random other brand".

********
Their prep included anti-terror/kidnap training.
First, no apologies necessary, you are simply one of many on this site who seem to find it entertaining/amusing/ego-boosting to bash BMWs and their riders. I will say, however, that where I come from apologies worded in such a manner are worse than no apology...it must be a British thing?

Second, regarding those actors--given that they are relatively high-profile, that they would be considered fabuously wealthy in many of the areas that they rode through, and that their movements were generally reported in the local media, their risk profile was totally different from most people on this site, and I think it would have been rather foolish of them not to take any precautions whatsover. Whatever "training" they took probably didn't have much value, but for all we know it was a requirement for some kind of insurance policy, sponsorship, etc.
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  #67  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by motoreiter View Post
First, no apologies necessary, you are simply one of many on this site who seem to find it entertaining/amusing/ego-boosting to bash BMWs and their riders. I will say, however, that where I come from apologies worded in such a manner are worse than no apology...it must be a British thing?

Second, regarding those actors--given that they are relatively high-profile, that they would be considered fabuously wealthy in many of the areas that they rode through, and that their movements were generally reported in the local media, their risk profile was totally different from most people on this site, and I think it would have been rather foolish of them not to take any precautions whatsover. Whatever "training" they took probably didn't have much value, but for all we know it was a requirement for some kind of insurance policy, sponsorship, etc.
Spot on, IMO. On both counts...

And I would say it is a British thing, if you want to apologise without apologising... That is how I woud have taken it....
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  #68  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by DingusKahn View Post
That is the dumbest damn thing I have ever heard! So how long would my penis have to be before your theorem would not hold true? Do you measure limp or erect? I need to see if I am compensating or just like guns.

You have traded your self reliance and freedom for a white flag. How pathetic. Let the government take care of you huh? This is the kind of thinking that took the greatest country in the world down to one that is just surviving. How sad.

"Live Free or Die" That is exactly why we crossed the pond 300 years ago.

But that does NOT mean that I think that pulling a gun at the first sign of trouble is the best solution. Many of you have the right idea. I would only use a gun to protect my family from death or injury. Not to prevent my food or clothes from being stolen. I have more respect for human life than material goods.

just my 2 Cents worth.....

Oh yea. I guess having the big BMW is pure compensation too. Maybe I should run and hide.

You crossed the pond 300 years ago ?? I love how some North Americans talk as if they did things themselves. As if you personally decided 300 years ago that you wanted a better life and hopped on a ship yourself.

And I have to find it hilariously ironic that someone from the US can say we gave up our freedom. The US is the most paranoid "locked down" country in the whole world. I know this through personal experience as do many travellers.

Anyway I won't get any further into this. I have some great US friends and would hate to offend them and know that the majority are wonderful people. Gun owning or not.

The gun thing is a personal opionion and a huge box of frogs. Polish your weapon all night long my friend. Measure it while your at it.

And FYI, my goverment doesnt take care of me, It's the other way round. Luckily I have to freedom to come and go as I chose as well as my other European neighbours. I might pop over to Spain, Germany or France next week;

I know they wont be taking my fingerprints, retinal eye scans, mothers bra measurments and measuring my nose for potential terrorist bogies nor would our guys be asking them if they came here.

Sounds pretty free to me !!

Anyway.... Talley ho and toodle pip all the way old chap !! What what !

Ride safe mate !
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  #69  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by doc47 View Post
I've always thought a small, portable sound device playing "Achey Breaky Heart" at 130 dB would be the ultimate (and most cruel) defensive weapon.


I think the "musicians" (a very loose description) in the Jemaa el Fna in Marrakesh yesterday must have been expecting an imminent attack, considering the quality and volume of their defences. They make the dodgy bongo drummers of Salvador de Bahia sound positively musical/defenceless.

I'm off to listen to some Leonard Cohen.
Chris
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  #70  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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OK so we've touched on guns, jingoism, Ewan and Charley and BMWs .
What's next ?
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  #71  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by chris View Post


I'm off to listen to some Leonard Cohen.
Chris
You have my deepest sympathy .
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  #72  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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Originally Posted by Dodger View Post
You have my deepest sympathy .
Listening now on MP3 player in internet cafe in Essaouira. I'm just on a line from Chelsea Hotel No.2 "Giving me head on the unmade bed/ While the Transalp waits in the street..." So you can add blow jobs to the list
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  #73  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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great thread

This has been a great Christmas thread, and all started by skinny Tim and his pot of pepper. Thank you Tim.

Graham
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  #74  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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"I need to see if I am compensating or just like guns."

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard! Surely there should be an AND in there, not an OR?

And by posting how big ones bike is, and not only what 4*4, but also how you needed to make it even bigger and by how much, one would think the answer is obvious!

Noones mentioned the weather yet. Turned out nice again.




Inflammatory remarks removed.

Last edited by grizzly7; 27 Dec 2009 at 19:07. Reason: May get shouted at
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  #75  
Old 27 Dec 2009
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I let your original comments be as I did not want to give credence to them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tedmagnum View Post
You crossed the pond 300 years ago ?? I love how some North Americans talk as if they did things themselves. As if you personally decided 300 years ago that you wanted a better life and hopped on a ship yourself.

"I left the UK 8 years ago, and yes, I hopped on a ship all by myself."


And I have to find it hilariously ironic that someone from the US can say we gave up our freedom. The US is the most paranoid "locked down" country in the whole world. I know this through personal experience as do many travellers.

"When I was a teenager, I used to sling either a .22 rifle or 12g shotgun on my shoulder and walk into town each Saturday morning, Go to the post office and pay in a little to my Post Office savings account. From there I would walk up through onto some derelict railway lines and shoot rabbits or the occasional fox. No one would bat an eyelid. As a young teenager in school I once played a prank. Asked teacher if I could sharpen my pencil. When I did so I pulled a huge masons pencil and a tiny pocket knife. In response to the giggles from my classmates the teacher said "Boy, I think you need a little more knife and a lot less pencil". The following week I asked the same thing. This time I had about an inch of pencil to sharpen and a machete to sharpen it with. (the same one from the camping trip, used for kindling and killing chickens). This time the teacher said, "Boy, I think you need to compromise a bit between the sizes of your knife and pencil". That was all. I put the machete back in my desk and took it home that evening. NO drama and no offence to anyone. Try that today in the hysteria ridden anti gun paranoid UK. Then tell me you haven't lost any freedoms."

Anyway I won't get any further into this. I have some great US friends and would hate to offend them and know that the majority are wonderful people. Gun owning or not.

I just wonder what you would make of my two chainsaws ???

The gun thing is a personal opionion and a huge box of frogs. Polish your weapon all night long my friend. Measure it while your at it.

"Guns are just a tool. If you were to look closely at my initial post you will see that I advocated NOT to carry one. If you do, and you produce it, what happens if they call your bluff? So you need to be prepared to use it. Bad idea. You need to negotiate your way out of it and to do this you need to give the opposition an honorable face saving way out." better still not get involved in teh first place.


And FYI, my goverment doesnt take care of me, It's the other way round. Luckily I have to freedom to come and go as I chose as well as my other European neighbours. I might pop over to Spain, Germany or France next week;

I know they wont be taking my fingerprints, retinal eye scans, mothers bra measurments and measuring my nose for potential terrorist bogies nor would our guys be asking them if they came here.

Sounds pretty free to me !!

"I travel around a bit, and the only hassle at borders are USA, UK and Israel.
I have had myself and car searched too often to count getting in and out of police state UK. Passing through the other EEC borders I usually don't even know they are there." Next time you take the ferry to /from France or anywhere else, time the security checks each way.. Why do they search people leaving? looking for illegal emigrants ??


Anyway.... Talley ho and toodle pip all the way old chap !! What what !

Ride safe mate !
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