Dumb question about police and preachers. Your opinions?

Question

When I drive through town in my old car, the police and preachers all give me dirty looks; It's a beat up, multi-color cavalier. When I drive my girlfriends Blazer, they pretty much ignore it completely. When I ride my motorcycle, they ALL smile and wave! What is the deal? Do people really make that much of a difference based on what you're driving? The question is about the police and preachers (small town, I know em all), because they stand out in a crowd, so it's easier to see the difference.

biblethumper: Nope, just looks bad because it's a re-built junker. I don't see the use in wasting paint on it. Runs and sounds great.

Answer 1

yes, i believe people, not just cops and skypilots, have preconceived notions about the correlation of what you drive and who you are. when i had my cobra, i got looks from chix and cops, now i have a silverado, and i get ignored and the cops wave at me, with all fingers extended

Answer 2

Most of us, for better or for worse, make judgments based on appearance. It's unfortunate, but it's human nature.

Cops see a beat up old car, and they see someone without a lot of money, which means they have possible motivation to steal. Alternately, it might also mean teenagers out on the prowl.

Preachers probably see about the same thing.

Not sure why Preachers wave at you on a bike, but the cops probably thinks that's cool in a manly sort of way.

The Blazer they ignore as it suggests quiet suburban "normal" people who don't pose a threat to their way of life.

Answer 3

Maybe it makes you look like a drug dealer. But then again, in MY neighborhood (small town pop12,500), it's the damn dealers that have all the spiffy cruisers. Kind of like a rolling billboard, Lincoln Navigator, low profile tires and rims, booming rap music, driver with a shaved head in his mid to late twenties, drives around the hood all day (apparently not tied-down to a 9 to 5) and lives in a crumbling down rent house. Yep, gotta be a dealer. Either that or his Uncle Noriega kicked the bucket and left him his prized posession. But you got the bit down about the cycles. Everybody smiles and waves at the bikers! 35 years ago, everybody would've run!

Answer 4

On the motorcycle front, we have a Catholic priest in town who has a Harley and always does a blessing of the bikes every year. I agree with an earlier poster about why the cops probably look at you. I can't really answer for all ministers, but if our priest looked at you, he would probably be wondering if you had enough money for gas (he gives a lot away to poor people) or if you had enough food to feed your family. He really is like that--I'm not making it up.

Answer 5

So how much blue smoke is the Cav laying down in the street?

They don't know it's you in the Blazer.

The bike is probably nice & shiny and it looks better than the Cav - no smoke - and they prefer that you ride that.

Maybe they think the bike suits you better. The Cav is beneath you, since you are a charming, handsome, law-abiding, generously tithing, hometown boy.

Answer 6

Don't know. But you noticed something I have before. Have the "uncool" beat up junker makes you uncool. Have the "cool" SUV does not make you cool but anonymous. I noticed that with shoes at the mall. My dirty chef's shoes would get me looks but the "cool" Nikes got no attention at all.

Answer 7

I guess if the cavalier was one of the only ways I had to get from point A to point B, I wouldn't really care one way or the other if anyone liked it or not.

Answer 8

It's unfortunate, but everyone profiles people and makes instant judgments based on appearances. We are hardwired to do this as humans living in a society.

Answer 9

This world is pretty messed up... though I'm guilty too. I've given those soccer moms who drive hummers the stink eye.

Answer 10

I don't care what people say, and I'm sure they mean it, they will always judge each other by outward appearances. We're true to our intentions as long as the inspiration lasts.