Should we ban 'moton'?

[magnatom]

I'm not serious about banning words, but on the commute in today I started wondering about the use of words like moton, cager, etc.

I don't like them. It helps to perpetuate the us and them mentality. In my mind we are all road users, be us cyclist, driver etc. If we want respect, we must show that we respect others.

What do you think?

(I've placed this in cafe as I am sure we can keep it nice!)

 

[ianrauk]

no, us cyclists get called a lot worse

 

[Crackle]

Indeed, all car drivers should be treated with the deference they deserve, Sir or Madam and WVM, your honour, anything bigger, m'lord. This should help re-inforce the true pecking order, all cyclists being peasants.

 

[magnatom]

no, us cyclists get called a lot worse

Is that not a bit tit for tat?

 

[bryce]

What is a moton? Presumably a moron in a motor? Does that make some of us birons? Or pedons? Or humons?

Agreed that 'cager' is pretty silly. I think people driving probably like being in their warm, safe cages. Their choice of transport.

And using either word outside of the cc forums would be daft and embarrassing.

 

[darkstar]

Banning words seems a bit totalitarian.

 

[Archie_tect]

Never use abbreviations even in text messages, so won't be using 'moton' or anything similar.

 

[peanut]

I'm not serious about banning words, but on the commute in today I started wondering about the use of words like moton, cager, etc.

I don't like them. It helps to perpetuate the us and them mentality. In my mind we are all road users, be us cyclist, driver etc. If we want respect, we must show that we respect others.

What do you think?

(I've placed this in cafe as I am sure we can keep it nice!)

its not the car driver or the bike rider......its us ...people. Some of us are intelligent, courteous honest and considerate and value human beings above material possesions and position...

and some of us are not.

 

[Norm]

I call myself a cager when in a car and see no problem with it.

This might have come from US motorcyclist forums, where people will say "I was in the cage" meaning that they were driving and having no bearing at all on the standard of their driving.

Moton is usually reserved for specific individuals who show a lack of regard for other users of "their" tarmac.

The issue, IMO, is not with the specific words, it's with the pigeon-holing. A cager is a motorist who, by his individual actions, may show himself to be a moton.

Saying that every motorist is a moton, or that every cager is an idiot, is where the "us and them" starts.

I do understand that words can have different meanings, depending on the context and the emphasis. I can call someone a "Scotsman" without concern. Call them something like a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" though, and all sorts of Daily Mail-esque horrors are unleashed.

IMO.

 

[Crackle]

And in seriousness, I don't like labels, being a cyclist, motorcylist (past now), car driver, van driver, dog walker, walker, pedestrian and all round human being. So I don't use them anyway.

 

[Landslide]

Sounds like appeasement to me. "Ooh no, mustn't upset the car drivers (despite their pretty much complete hegemony over the public highway)".

 

[jeltz]

Agree with you Magnatom, perpetuating an us and them attitude is not healthy. It may be human nature, almost tribal, but its not productive.

 

[rh100]

I'm not serious about banning words, but on the commute in today I started wondering about the use of words like moton, cager, etc.

I don't like them. It helps to perpetuate the us and them mentality. In my mind we are all road users, be us cyclist, driver etc. If we want respect, we must show that we respect others.

What do you think?

(I've placed this in cafe as I am sure we can keep it nice!)

Group hug between cyclists and cagers, no erm motor vehicle operative/dependant.

It's just slang though isn't it? As already said cyclists get worse. If used in public though, it would be a bit negative as it's deriding the persons choice. But on here I doubt anyone really cares as we understand why there is bad feeling sometimes.

 

[magnatom]

And in seriousness, I don't like labels, being a cyclist, motorcylist (past now), car driver, van driver, dog walker, walker, pedestrian and all round human being. So I don't use them anyway.

Oooh, you could get into metaphysical discussions about when does a cyclist cease to be a cyclist? Is it when he gets off the bike? When he takes his lycra off? Or is it when he buys a bike from Halfords and becomes a POB?

(Disclaimer: Halfords sell some nice bikes these days!)

 

[ianrauk]

Indeed it is, and until motons and cagers learn to respect other road users let alone cyclists, I will continue to use those words. You and I know that motons and cagers give out far more and worse to cyclists then the other way round.

Is that not a bit tit for tat?