BMW Rider To Rider (Letters to the Editor)
Two months after my article “Life Imitating Art” appeared in the September 2008 issue of BMW Owner’s News Magazine, two readers complained about the graphic content of it and an ad by Scorpion Helmets.
November 2008
Two months after that, these letters were written in response to those complaints. Enjoy!
January 2009 (Part 1)
January 2009 (Part 2)
January 2009 (Part 3)
January 2009 (Part 4)
And still two more months later, there’s more!
March 2009
In Summary – My article created 6 months of controversy. I love it!
Sorry, but your freedom of speech rights aren’t in any jeopardy from
the BMW magazine. You have the freedom to write whatever you want.
The magazine has the right to print it, or not. I’m not a Republican or a Democrat. I’m a conservative, and nobody did more to trash the First Amendment than W.
— Joseph Elm Wednesday, March 11, 2009 #
When the Clintonites were in office they tried to suppress our freedom of speech amendments for obvious reasons-scandals-now the Obamamites are trying their own style of regressive controlism-my language-hang ten when u ken…
— Shawn Latino Wednesday, March 11, 2009 #
Like I said before publicity = publicity. Also, I agree that the true feelings of the whole group are consistent with the small cross sectional sample of people that took the time to reply. Most either like it or have no opinion but are positively affected by it. Nothing in your article or that of the Scorpion add were distasteful in the eyes of the majority.
My impression after meeting you, knowing your story, and reading the book is that while the Scorpion add was likely an attempt to use sex appeal as bait for consumers, which I still feel is all right, your photos expressed an appreciation of the female form or to be trite what may be described as artistic. Some may argue that this is demoralizing to women or an exploitation of women, but I have been fortunate enough to know a few women who were just as proud of their physical appearance as they were of their professional achievements, intellect or success in any variety of ways.
I also differentiate between attractive and sexy. Both combine to make a woman desirable. Neither requires skin exposure to be realized. Liz Clark on the March cover of ON is attractive and she is certainly sexy, partly because I am a bike nut and she not only rides her own but built it.
I have numerous women customers. They get the same professional treatment as any male customer, but there are certainly some I find appealing, even sexy. It can’t be helped. I know for a fact that the Deputy Editor of ON appreciates the physical prowess of Nicky Haden as much as his skill, but is equally appreciative of her fiancée. Thankfully some of us are still straight and have sex drive or the human race would dwindle away.
I find it creepy that there are people out there so jaded they can’t bear to see a woman’s back or stomach, much less a naked person. It is disturbing that someone actually conveyed in writing that they desire to censor what their partner views. What an insecure wretch. I am so glad I was raised the way I was and that I found Carrie.
I wish I would have taken the time to write to ON but at least you have my
.02 cents.
Ride on.
Shannon – Gateway BMW
— Shannon Logan Friday, March 06, 2009 #