The “You Can’t Fix
Stupid” Dilemma:
Are we alienating the very
riders we profess to serve?
Idiot or Maniac?
Idiot or Maniac?
“Wheelie Boy” rides by…
What do you say?
• Out loud or inside your head
• What does this say to our
students?
Human Nature
I am a professional…
I do it right…
Therefore:
• My way is the right way
• Other ways must be the wrong way
(or at least ‘less right’ than my way)
Human Nature
Where might this apply?
How we teach
 How we ride
 What we wear
 What/when we drink (or don’t)

Human Nature - Choices
Choices…Really?

Toothpaste, bread, brand of
gas, route to work, etc. Choices
or habits?
Human Nature
‘Stupid’ or ‘Ignorant’
Ignorant – uneducated,
unaware, uniformed
 Stupid – Informed but choose to
do it anyway

Human Nature - Choices
‘Knowledge’ – heavily
influenced by outside sources
We ‘knew’ the earth was flat
 People ‘know’ that motorcycle
safety means wear a helmet
 We ‘know’ to look through a turn

Human Nature - Choices
The riders we may think are
‘stupid’ – what do they ‘know’
that influences their behavior?
Gear, speed, alcohol, stunting, etc.
 Countersteering, counter-weighting
 Space cushioning, following
distance, max braking, etc.

Human Nature - Choices
Choices are limited by knowledge
How do we change knowledge?
Classroom and range
 Outreach efforts
 Leading by example

Human Nature - Choices
If we ARE in the business of
increasing knowledge, what’s
the difference…




Cornering, braking, swerving skills
Weight transfer and front brake application
Riding gear, head injury, and road rash
Alcohol, distraction, showing off, and other
impairments
Human Nature - Choices
Politicians/Salesmen
Listen and understand audience
 Carefully craft response
 Ask questions to provoke thought
 Seek to educate

Human Nature - Choices
How do we overcome our
human nature to judge and
feel superior?
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS –
‘Get your heart right’
Get Your Heart Right
We ARE in this business to
prevent crashes and save lives

So get clear on that. Ask yourself
what you want
For the other person
For yourself
Get Your Heart Right
Why all this touch-feely stuff?
Spirit of service or ‘You can’t
fix stupid’

93% of communication = non-verbal
Tone of voice
Facial expression
Inflection
Body language
Get Your Heart Right
How we react or judge is habit

Habits can be changed
Pay attention to how you react
Positively coach yourself to gain
desired reaction (does this sound
familiar?)
Patience and the Mission
Once we’ve presented the
information is our job done?

Opinions and beliefs may take time
to change
For us to succeed no one can be
labeled ‘Stupid’
Positively coach yourself to gain
desired reaction (does this sound
familiar?)
Patience and the Mission
Opinions and beliefs may take
time to change
For our mission to succeed no one
can be labeled ‘Stupid’
 People don’t care how much you
know until they know how much you
care

Patience and the Mission
Our message must be
consistent until the listener is
prepared to hear it
Questions/
Comments
Contact Information:
Stacey “Ax” Axmaker
Idaho STAR Motorcycle
Safety Program
2513 Federal Way, Ste 100
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 639-4547
ax@idahostar.org
Ray Pierce
TEAM OREGON Motorcycle
Safety Program
Oregon State University
3550 SW Deschutes St
Corvallis, OR 97333
(541) 737-9126
Ray.Pierce@oregonstate.edu