Slacktivism and Faketivism

There are many who "talk" bikers rights, maybe even join a state motorcyclist rights organization (SMRO). But most of them never lift a finger to actually get bikers rights. You've seen them, and you know them. Heck, you might even be one of them.

These "Slacktivists" are the ball-and-chain of every SMRO. That's primarily why these organizations have such a hard time getting anywhere. Most of the work an SMRO does is spent providing services to all its members, the majority of whom are Slacktivists who don't give much of anything back.

It takes a lot of manpower to manage membership records, publish monthly newsletters, and do everything else that's required in the by-laws of a corporation. And that's just to keep operating. The underlying reason for all the paperwork, all those meetings, and all that drudgery is supposed to be the advancement of bikers rights.

Remember ... that's the "R" in S-M-R-O.

But Slacktivism isn't the only self-inflicted barrier to the cause of bikers rights. There's something else, too. It's not nearly as obvious, but it's much harder to overcome. I call it "faketivism."

Faketivism is a hard nut to crack. The passion is definitely there all right, as well as the action to back it up. But it's rigidly misdirected action ... sometimes sensational, but always ineffective.

It's frustating to watch, knowing full well that restoring bikers rights is far easier than biker faketivists realize. But instead of doing what efficiently produces concrete results, they work harder and harder at getting nowhere. And they're getting pretty darned good at it.

It reminds me of a totally weird religion called "cargo cults" that exist in primitive island cultures. When WWII was being waged across the Pacific, the natives saw advanced technology for the very first time. They observed how the GI's seemed to perform certain rituals, like talking on radios, and then the "gods" would reward them by sending bountiful cargo down from the heavens.

When the GIs departed, however, the natives had to obtain cargo for themselves. So they crafted headphones out of coconuts, they erected bamboo control towers, and they chanted incantations up towards the heavens. To this very day they are convinced that, if only they can perfect their rituals, the gods will once again bestow them with bountiful cargo.

Biker faketivists believe they can get their rights back by performing certain rituals, too. Like annually riding their motorcycles around the capitol on a Sunday afternoon. Writing compelling letters to newspaper editors. Celebrating offical proclamations about motorcycle awareness. Raising money for an important charity. Even picking up trash along highways.

These are worthwhile activities, but only as long as they produce what you want them to. Fellowship, education, recognition, caring, and community are the kinds of things that bikers can and should do. It's who we are, and it's what we do.

But if your goal is to restore your rights, you might as well put on some headphones made out of coconuts. Make sure they're comfortable, because you'll be waiting a long, long time.

Sound like biker blasphemy? Better keep those coconut headphones on ... or else you just might turn into a heretic like me.

The reality of politics is that "might makes right." Regardless of what biker faketivists will tell you, without power you have NO rights in the real world. You can beg all you want, but don't expect anything but table scraps.

For bikers rights, you need biker power.

So where does all this "biker power" come from? Simple. It comes from having the ability to "make or break" a legislator's election. If you think it comes from writing letters, making phone calls, or sending faxes during the legislative session, think again. If you waited until the session, you missed your window of opportunity.

You "make" politicians by helping them win elections. And you "break" politicians by helping them lose. Any special interest group ... including bikers ... that can deliver votes has real power. And politicians compete for their services.

I'm not talking about the private and solitary act of voting. Telling a legislator that you voted for (or against) him is a quaint argument, but it has no lasting value. Besides, bikers are a tiny minority compared to major voting blocs. Saying "I'm a biker and I vote!" is little more than a snarky slogan on a bumper sticker.

I'm talking about DELIVERING votes. And that means campaign work.

But try and find any mention of "campaign work" on a bikers rights website. Read the minutes of any state board meeting and try to find those two little words. Ask any chapter officer how you can work as a campaign volunteer. Try to find out who the "State Campaign Coordinator" is.

When your search produces only blank stares and unanswered questions, you're in the fantasy world of bikers rights faketivism. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just keep an eye out for any biker who actually has an open mind, and is searching for something new to try ... as long as it works, of course.

As to the rest of them, no problem. For the most part, they're all pretty good people who are just trying to do what's right. There ain't no "bad guy" to blame. They just don't know how to let go of traditional approaches and become effective. It's up to you, then, to find the people who will listen, who will learn, who will give it a try.

Nothing succeeds like success. And you gotta start somewhere. So give your time and attention to the bikers that can follow your logic. That's a basic leadership practice, sometimes called "feeding your best horses." They'll carry the load and go the distance ... as long as you take care of them first.

Now I'm fairly certain that what I just said will totally piss off a lot of bikers.

That is not my intention, but it is the price of challenging the status quo ... of shaking up the establishment ... of speaking truth to power. But I have absolute faith in the ability of a few bikers to rise to the challenge ... to take charge of their future ... and to finally make a difference.

I'm hoping that biker is YOU.

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com