Photography Samples
MetaFiction
18 December 2009
The American society is increasingly more narcissistic, individualistic and pragmatic.
-Well that’s awful brave of you, isn’t it?
Not you again, can’t you let me finish a blog without making judgment calls on everything I say?
-Yeah, about that… no it’s not likely, it’s what I do. I am your internal checker.
This is not the time for checkers or chess.
-Ah, yes. It’s all about you when we are talking about narcissism. Awful narcissistic of you, eh?
You interrupt too much.
-You’re self centered.
-Fine, rude.
Since the early to mid 1900s Americans have enveloped themselves in luxuries and indulgences.
-Wasn’t there some sort of massive depression in there somewhere?
I thought I told you to buzz off?
-I thought I told you I was your internal checker. Doesn’t that imply that I’m not going anywhere? Answer my question.
Well, yes there was a depression in the 1920s but America bounced back and grew even more indulgent.
-Ah, I see. Greedy aren’t they?
Well I guess but it’s all they know. They are the wealthiest country in the world.
-So that makes it okay?
Well, no but still.
-Alright, go on.
Thank You.
-Wait! Have you noticed the random blue text?
You know, I was ignoring it because I was TRYING to concentrate.What are they?
-Some of them actually show what your talking about. I guess it’s like a definition or an explanation of what is being said.
HAH! Homer Simpson is NOT a professor at a university.
-The one that says “blue text” says that it is a hyperlink and that a text that has hyperlinks in it is called a hypertext.
I am NOT writing a hypertext, I am writing a blog. This is my website for after graduation where I can put things for future employers to look at to see examples of my work. This is WordPress.com, not Hypertext.com. Can I continue with my blog now?
-You can try but I think you should listen to them. HAH! That last one doesn’t even make sense! hypertext.com comes up with ravislist.com. I wonder why typing in hypertext.com pulls that up? Strange.
EHem.
-Right, go on.
-Well?? Go on.
I… I don’t even feel like continuing.
-Why is that?
Because whoever the blue text person is has completely transformed my blog into something it isn’t!
-Hahahahaha you think your masterpiece of narcissistic writing is ruined? Oh the irony.
What grounds do you stand on to criticize me? I don’t see you writing a super impressive metafiction for literature class.
-Or do you? hmm.
What is that suppose to mean? You mean you have been doing this?
So innocently disguised as an internal checker… YOU ruined my work?!
Where did you go?? Get back here!!
The Secret Life of a Southeastern CL
The Secret Life of a Southeastern CL
By Lindsay Irby
Southeastern Times Issue 4
December 2008
It’s October 11th, 2008, at 4:23 a.m.–sneaking out of her Valencia dormitory, Cherie Kemp, junior, stumbles across the grass and searching the parking lot for her target. Through sleepy eyes she spies the target, her roommate’s beautiful black Jeep Cherokee Sport. Ducking in between cars while humming the theme song of Mission Impossible, she makes her way over to the vehicle. Whipping out her colorful car chalk she creates a child-like masterpiece on the spotless car windows. Mischievously laughing, Kemp makes her way around the car, covering all the windows in hearts, dots, and little 21s. She knows it is after curfew, but being a community leader requires a willingness to put aside typical desires in order to edify others.
Many of us can think of a friend who is a creative bundle of energy and processes a strong heart with a willingness to serve others. The leaders of the Student Life Department at Southeastern University saw this potential for servanthood and created a position that allows the creativity to flow while providing structure and mentorship. The position previously operated as a sort of big sister program that alumni of the school remember as Delta Pi, or Link, today it is referred to as community leader, and more commonly, CL.
Community leaders act as assistants to the Resident Assistant, creating and putting on events within their dorms and sister dorms, planning hall meetings, mentoring their girls, and when necessary, intervening until the RAs can assist in the situation. The tasks of a CL vary slightly from dormitory to dormitory, but all focus on the edification of the girls that live in their hall.
“My CL use to write me notes and that kept me going,” said Ruth Mezamour, junior. Each semester all of the girls across campus receive goodies and notes of encouragement from their CLs. Typical notes include Bible verses and famous quotes as well as candies or trinkets. Creativity is a must when it comes to serving dozens of girls at a time on a shoestring budget.
“She would drop off little goodies in our room with notes,” said Ashton Smith, senior, about her CL last year in Destino. Encouragement in whatever way or area they see fit is crucial to building the relationship between each CL and their individual girls.
“She would stop by our room randomly to see how we were doing,” said Smith, “and she always said hello on El Prado.” Making their girls feel special is one of the most influential facets of the Community Leader position.
“[Being a CL] is a fast way to make friends and I am a very outgoing person so I love meeting people,” said Cherie Kemp, junior and CL in Valencia. One of the goals of the first week of school is to memorize as many faces and names as possible in order to make the girls feel welcomed and loved.
“I think that it is really cool that they plan events,” said Chelsea Falvey, junior, “I feel like it creates community and helps us get to know people.” Planning events is one of the biggest and most time-consuming projects the CLs handle. Fostering community is a common phrase used RAs and CLs. Student Leaders in general find themselves quoting phrases within their mission statements when planning events and outings for their target audiences, and sometimes that gets humorous. Many of the CLs and RAs find themselves creating friendships where they never thought possible.
Student leaders have a known tendency to be the loud students on campus. Even a stranger could spot them within the first week of school, yelling, screaming and jumping all over the place in order to welcome new and returning students. Student leaders are also known to get themselves into trouble, causing innocent raucous wherever they go.
“I had amazing CLs my freshman year, they were the mischievous and loud ones,” said Allison Eller, junior.
“My CLs are really crazy, [they] dressed up with granny panties on the outside of their clothes for our hall meeting,” said Holly Humphries, senior, “It was very entertaining.”
Many community leaders and resident assistants try to be as crazy as possible in order to break the ice with their girls. One of the hardest things to do is create community among strangers. Dozens of students are placed with each other every year and connecting those students is a rough task.
Community Leaders and Resident Assistants give of their time and attention in order to help those around them feel welcomed and accepted. Arriving nearly a week early and leaving days after the students, student leaders give of their breaks and free time in order to welcome and see off their girls. Giving of free time, abundant affection and timely humor helps the CLs open themselves in order for their girls to feel accepted enough to speak freely with them.
“She was great! She was always willing to talk, but tried not to get involved in things that didn’t necessarily need her attention,” said Bethany Womble, “she had a fantastic attitude about everything and was a lot of fun to be around.” Womble now works at the school after graduating.
“My CLs have always been helpful and been there for me when I needed them. They always surprise me with fun little gifts that make me happy,” said Holly Humphries.
Community Leaders try to instill their love of compassionate giving into their girls. Many CLs tried out for the position because they saw the impact or were influenced by their CL.
“My freshman year CL is the reason I wanted to be a CL,” said Kemp, “I went to her crying during midterms while she was studying and she stopped what she was doing to pray for me and talk with me.” Kemp is currently a CL in Valencia.
“The only time I don’t like it is when I get overwhelmed with life and homework,” said Kemp. Cherie Kemp enjoys being a CL and agrees that it’s hard work. There are tough times but they even out with the rewarding times.
“Being able to meet all the girls and make friends with them is the best part of being a CL,” said Kemp, “I love it.”
Assassination Games
Assassination Games
By Lindsay Irby
Southeastern Times Issue 3
November 2008
On October 6th, 2008, an “assassination” rampage began in the Valencia dormitory on the north end of the Southeastern University campus. Marc Riccio, a senior and Valencia RA, has been charged with the initiation of this catastrophe. When asked to comment he stated, “I could think of no better way to build community than to have everyone in the dorm try[ing] to kill each other.”
The Assassination Game is a ritual on campus; however, previously it was only played among friends and not as a dorm event. Obviously, these battles don’t involve the actual taking of someone’s physical life, but rather just the expulsion of that person from that particular round of the Assassin Game after getting shot by soft Nerf guns.
“I regret not being a part of this fanatical regime,” said Josh Reece, sophomore. He thought that running around with plastic guns was elementary, but he quickly learned that he missed out on the intense action.
Some were confused about the rules of the game, but very quickly adapted.
Sophomore Yeny Seo was shot in the lip just before her class began on Wednesday the 8th around 3 p.m., but her assassin quickly learned that it didn’t count because it is against the rules to kill indoors.
“It was intense,” said Scott Cox, freshman. He was sitting in the classroom when Seo was shot at.
Junior Brittany Laudermilk witnessed a male student being chased by his assassin between the modulars and the old Graves building. Laudermilk said the assassin called out for his kill to “stop running like a weirdo.”
“Assassin is a game of deception,” said Alex Emrich, freshman, “I found out who my target was and I walked outside and I got shot [by my assassin].”
Many who played the game lost within the first 24 hours. Numerous others were killed later in the week due to the help of friends and classmates.
“Emory [Keen] was helping Cherie die,” said Brittany Laudermilk, “and I helped Cherie [Kemp] kill her guy Mikey [Riccio,] so there was a lot of inside work going on to ‘kill’ people.”
Resident assistants campus-wide are trying to find new ways to build community among their designated areas. Valencia and Mira Lago have the privilege of thinking outside of the box when it comes to campus events.
Last year the Valencia ladies hosted a sock hop featuring the popular movie Grease. “It was something that you don’t see in our generation,” said Cherie Kemp, a junior and Valencia resident.
Although Valencia and Mira Lago are brother/sister dorms and games like Assassin are typical, not all dorms create community through Nerf darts whizzing past as you run fearfully from doorframe to doorframe.
“My girls have built community themselves, so my job has been really easy,” said Allison Eller, junior and RA on Bethany Hall’s Second Floor North side. “Their doors are always open; I have the best hall.”
Among the community building events planned for Bethany Second Floor North is a poker night. “It will be a time to get the girls on the hall together and just play games,” said Eller.
With some dorms, the need for community doesn’t run as strong. “These ladies are pretty independent and have already established relationships here at SEU,” stated Bethany Rattai, a senior and RA in Buttercup. “[It’s] the hardest thing to foster ever,” said Rattai when asked they built community in the Buttercup Houses.
Depending on the typical student in each dorm, the events and community building activities vary.
So whether you are a bunch of underclassmen girls pigging out on Oreo poker chips, dart dodging Valencia and Mira Lago residents or content Buttcup ladies, community is the central focus of Student Life on campus.
Five Things That Don’t Suffice as Fitness
Five Things That Don’t Suffice as Fitness
By Lindsay Irby
Southeastern Times Issue 2
October 2008
1. Walking from Valencia to Fire Fall
2. Playing WiiFit for 30 minutes
3. Sprinting to beat your room checker to your messy dorm room.
4. Running away from your roommate’s flying pillow during a pillow fight.
5. Speed walking to the sandwich line on Buffalo Chicken Wrap Day
September 4, 2009
Lindsay Powell
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Categories: Feature Article, Published by The Southeastern Times
Cotton Patch Gospel Preview
Cotton Patch Gospel Preview
By Lindsay Irby
Southeastern Times Issue 2
October 2008
De La Torre's Mandolin by Lindsay Irby
As students of Southeastern University, when we hear the name “Matt” several faces spring to our minds: Matt Brown, Matt Gross, Matt Huett, Matthew Hagelberger, and for the ladies of the University, Matthew McConaughey. But in November, the Communication Department urges the students of Southeastern to conjure up images and thoughts of the Gospel of Matthew and attend the retelling of the life of Jesus in the musical Cotton Patch Gospel, set in the backwoods of Gainesville, Georgia.
The musical is student performed and directed by John Pierce, the department chair. With seven musicians, two cast members and a gospel choir, the musical is small but mighty. The two main characters are Matthew, played by Micha Buckley, and the narrator, played by Jaclyn Susa.
Many of the musicians hadn’t played this style of music before, but they didn’t shy away from the challenge. Alex De La Torre, senior, learned to play the mandolin for his part in the musical and Sharon Byrd, senior and long time musician, learned to play the harmonica immediately before auditioning.
“After the auditions were over, a few of us stayed back and had a little jam session,” exuberated Sharon Byrd, “We were enjoying ourselves so much we didn’t care what time it was.”
The music changes from bluegrass to the sounds of the 60’s to good ol’ southern gospel as the musical progresses from the birth of Jesus to His death. With songs titled “Sho’ Nuff” and “Somethin’s Brewin’ in Gainesville,” the level of sophisticated vocabulary could appear blatantly minimal, but that doesn’t intimidate this cast.
The actors and musicians are undoubtedly laughing it up over this humor-filled musical. Cotton Patch Gospel’s unordinary retelling of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is set in the rural hills of Georgia. But the musical is more than just a hillbilly version of the book of Matthew; it’s a humorous new perspective on the Biblical text.
“It’s deep,” Sharon Byrd confirmed, “It gets you going and then smacks you in the face.”
Sharon Byrd explained that a few scenes leave you feeling like you’ve been hit in the stomach.
“Cotton Patch Gospel is not what you would expect,” said Alex De La Torre, “it may seem to be just a funny play set in Georgia but it also has deeper meaning and parts that grip your heart.”
According to Byrd and De La Torre, one of the most gripping scenes involves King Herod and the massacre of all of the baby boys in the Judah territory. This scene involves Herod exclaiming that he has fixed the problem by killing all the baby boys while across the stage from Herod is a mother crying over the dead body of her infant son.
“It sounds perty,” joked Alex De La Torre about why he liked the song “You Are Still My Boy.” De La Torre enjoys the southern gospel sound. He is tickled by the twang of the musical, he says, because he is Latino and from New York. The cast doesn’t feel that the twang of the musical will scare away its potential attendees.
“Bluegrass is the type of music you can’t help but smile to,” comments Sharon Byrd. She has high hopes for the musical’s attendance.
Come out and laugh with the cast and Communication Department downtown at the Polk Theatre on November 14th and 15th at 7:30 p.m. and November 16th at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $12 for the general public and $7 for seniors and students. And as the last line of the musical states, “Y’all come back now!”
Motorcycles-Are They Worth the Risk?
Cruiser
According to the Department of Transportation’s article released in June of 2004 entitled Motorcycle Riders in Fatal Crashes, motorcycle fatalities have increased in recent years.
“Compared with a passenger car occupant, a motorcycle rider is 26 times more likely to die in a crash, based on vehicle miles traveled,” as stated on the DOTs article.
“I had a friend die in a [motorcycle] wreck,” said Cliff Powell, 24, “and it was their fault.” Powell has known three others that have wrecked on their bikes, with just one fatality. That incident, coupled with his parents concern of Powell becoming a vegetable, drove Powell away from bikes for a while. However, within the last year Powell began riding again with a renewed respect for the road and the machines.
“Motorcyclists are also three times more likely to be injured than people in cars,” said this website provided by lawyers. For obvious reasons those riding bikes are more likely to be injured than those in cars simply because of the protection factor.
Ducati Sport Bike
Powell got in an accident in his neighborhood when a car sped out of their driveway, not looking around, and Powell ran into them going about 35-40 miles per hour. “There was nowhere else to go,” said Powell, “I just had to push up.” It is a known fact that if you run into a car, you die. There is no hope for someone when they are unable to escape the metal and glass of a car. You simply go through it and die. By going over his handlebars and the car Powell was able to escape with only a broken collarbone, his injuries could have been much worse.
“Over half of all motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with another motor vehicle in transit,” according to a website about motorcycle accidents provided by lawyers.
“In 2003, fifty two percent of fatally injured motorcycle riders were unhelmeted,” says the DOT statistic report, “In 2002, helmets saved an estimated 1,005 lives.” While not all bikers wear helmets, knowledge about them floods the market. Many understand the risks and consequences of not listening to and heeding the warnings for helmet use.
Icon Sport Bike Helmet
“[Whether I wear a helmet or not] depends on the bike I’m riding, cruiser no, sport bike yes,” said Powell. Though Powell does not wear a helmet at all times, he sees the significance of helmet usage.
“It may be better to end up dead than to end up a vegetable,” said Powell, “I break my neck in a motorcycle wreck my brain still works. That’d be horrible.” While the extent of the wreck does not define the injuries, wearing a helmet makes the odds of severe injury less significant.
According to the DOT, the largest group of rider fatalities and wrecks is 20 to 29 year olds. “I think [the age for a motorcycle permit] should be 25, at the very minimum 21,” said Powell, “people younger than that don’t have the maturity to handle a motorcycle, [and you are] putting yourself and other in danger.”
Cruiser Helmet
“I’ve been riding for nearly 7 years,” said Powell, “I got one the day I turned 18 because that’s when you can get your license in New Jersey.” Powell agrees that although young people get bikes, it is not the smartest idea because they don’t know how to make mature decisions regarding the safety of themselves and their passengers. “You have to be able to ride yourself before you can ride others,” Powell explained.
“[Nighttime] affects [bikers] because they can’t see as well, [but] I’d rather ride at night because you are more noticeable, [and] people can see your headlight and your break lights,” said Powell, “during the day you are a lot of times not noticed. A good thing to do is to ride around with your high beams on, [it makes you] a little bit more noticeable.”
Lindsay Irby and Cliff Powell
“My girlfriend thinks it’s incredibly hot. Her name is Lindsay Irby and she is the prettiest girl in the world,” said Cliff Powell.
For more information visit www.google.com and search for sport bike helmets, cruiser helmets, motorcycle safety, and the Department of Transportation.
Mini Dirt Bikes
A growing population of society believes that children are capable of driving themselves around even at young ages. Obviously these children are not driving adult-sized vehicles, but rather pint-sized vehicles made just for them. Nearly all can remember the Barbie Jeeps and GI Joe Jeeps of the 1990s, but a new trend of motorized vehicles has taken over the sidewalks of neighborhoods around the country.
An example of a dirt bike for children is the mini Raptor:
Mini Bike Raptor at http://www.minipocketrockets.com/raptor-mini-bike/
This mini Raptor is $239 and can reach speeds just over 50 miles per hour. The weight capacity on this bike is 275 lbs and runs on unleaded gasoline and 2 stroke oil. Though small, this bike runs on a centrifugal automatic chain drive transmission. It is 38.5″ long by 24.5″ wide by 24″ high. This bike is designed for children over 3 years old. For more information on this bike visit their website.
Another example is the Febercross SXC.
This Febercross SXC 6v costs $269 and even come with training wheels. This bike runs around 4 miles per hour and powered by a 6 volt battery, has a foot throttle and electric brakes. This bike is designed for children around 4 years old. For more information you can visit their website.
A number of mini bikes often run at speeds higher than a governed golf cart, and the debate over whether or not children should be allowed to operate them is growing.
“Children should always be allowed to drive dirt bikes, because it is a great way to teach responsibility at a young age,” said David Foxwell, 22, a rider since 2001. Foxwell grew up riding bikes and ATVs and sees the significance of the bikes and their maintenance as responsibility for the children. In today’s society, many children are not getting the aid and opportunity as children of previous generations for the development of their maturity. Foxwell spends part of his spare time at motocross tracks and racetracks.
“I was at a motocross track and there was a three year old driving a dirt bike,” said Foxwell, “It was awesome because his helmet was way bigger than his head.” Foxwell also enjoyed seeing pint-sized kids on pint-sized bikes.
While the bikes are made smaller in order to properly accommodate the children, the size of the bikes also lends to their limited visibility while on streets and driveways.
“The problem with these dirtbikes is many kids are riding them on the street and when they are on the street they aren’t being seen,” said Cliff Powell, 24, a resident of a neighborhood where several children own these mini dirtbikes.
“They are going to end up getting hurt,” said Powell. Some of the children in his neighborhood are dark skinned and tend to ride their bikes near sunset.
Lisa, a fellow resident in Powell’s neighborhood and mother of a pre-teen daughter, described a neighbor girl that oftentimes isn’t seen easily because of her stature and ethnicity. She feels the neighborhood is not always as safe as it could be for it’s children, and the bikes and other toys can become a hindrance for their visibility.
“I think that it would be good to train them to ride the other bikes, but I would be concerned for their safety,” said Chelsea Falvey, 20, student at Southeastern University. While some think it is a good idea for the children to learn how to drive bikes, others fear for their safety.
The safety of the children is one of the biggest factors against the bike’s popularity. Each parent and guardian must decide for himself or herself whether or not the bike is safe for their specific child. Neighborhoods and guardians can help with this dilemma by petitioning and enforcing neighborhood ordinances about times of day in which children can ride and a potential age limit. Ultimately the decision rests in the hands of the guardians and care givers, because their opinions are extremely important.
Would you let the children in this video drive at speeds faster than the bikes of previous generations?
April 30, 2009
Lindsay Powell
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Categories: Feature Article, Informative, Journalism Articles, My Old Motorcycle Blog
Traveling for the Holidays
It’s Easter weekend, and not only does this time of year conjure up memories of hollow chocolate bunnies by the multitudes, but also of multitudes of cars and headlights filling the roadways of hundreds of cities across the United States of America. Travelers on holidays—motorcycle and car driven—are increasingly reminded of the hectic and mind numbing aspects of the roadway. But being prepared and well equipped for the road are the best ways to insure your sanity will remain intact.
First, know your route. Don’t go into a long trip without navigation or a navigational device. Many use GPS, or Global Positioning Services, in order to make sure they continuously are aware of their location. A slight slip while traveling up I-75 N could send you down I-85 N and in a completely different direction than your aunt’s house in Jacksboro, Tennessee.
“Unless you like going to absolutely no where make sure you pay attention to where you are,” said Cliff Powell, who lost about two hours due to location oriented mishaps.
Second, be aware of the weather. Check the weather prior to leaving; there is nothing worse than making it halfway to the destination and realizing your plans for weather differentiated from nature’s. Motorcyclists have more of a concern in this category, but if a car has low tread of their tires, they too can be affected drastically by weather shifts. During the spring and summer months tornados can also be an issue, be prepared by looking online prior to departure, as well as tuning into a local radio station whenever possible.
“Driving through a tornado with no tread on your tires is always interesting,” said Powell, “Make sure to pray a lot while doing it.” “Then again, God may not appreciate being dumb.” Powell, though he realizes his tires should be changed because he is risking getting in an accident, still finds humor and comfort in several aspects of life and his religious views.
Third, be aware of the police. Holidays are the easiest time for police officers to obtain a large jump in their citizen-imposed quotas. Therefore, be sure that whatever city, state, highway, or countryside you travel is not littered with police before you throw that Focus into “fly-mode” and tear down the asphalt.
“He was like sitting in the corner right when the speed limit changed and he got me, man,” said Christina Harris, who drove home to North Carolina from Florida for the holiday weekend. “They are not nice at holidays either, he just wanted to give me a ticket and get on his way, it was really short.” Harris got a ticket for going 88 mph in a 60 mph zone; the ticket alone exceeded $350. Harris plans to drive more carefully in the future.
Finally, plan to be late and be excited when you arrive early. Leave with plenty of time for pit stops and emergency potty breaks, because whether you are traveling 30 minutes or 30 hours, nature is nature and nature calls. Build in extra time and when you
arrive earlier than your significantly higher announced number, pretend you meant for the situation to occur this way. You totally meant for the ETA to be 45 minutes before you announced. It makes you look smarter and more capable of handling situations.
While you are still gorging yourself on Reece’s Eggs, pale colored M&Ms, Peeps, and decadent Cadbury Eggs, keep in mind the events of this year’s traveling escapades. Don’t forget the route, weather, police, and time constraints of your excursions.
Originally published 04.14.09
Motorcycle Permitted Age Limits
A common question asked among the motorcycle industry is whether or not the age should be raised or lowered in order to obtain motorcycle permits and licenses. According to the Department of Transportation website, “there were 103,000 motorcyclists injured during 2007.” The popularity of the motorcycle has grown in the last few years due to the pricing of gas and other nonrenewable resources and the fact that motorcycles obtain a higher mile per gallon ratio. It is important to realize the growing popularity of motorcyclists as well as consider the age at which our youth are driving in order to better assess whether the age should be changed.
“In 1990, the average age of a motorcyclist killed was 29.3 and the average motorcycle engine size was 769 c.c.,” stated a safety release from the United States Department of Transportation in 2001. “In 1999, the average age of a motorcyclist killed was 36.5 and the average engine size was 922 c.c. ,” stated the same release. According to these statistics, the younger age group was not affected as thoroughly through fatal motorcycle crashes in 1999 as it was in 1990. But not all people believe that the statistics accurately portray the truth behind the wrecks and youth behind these two-wheeled beasts. 
“In Florida you don’t have to have insurance,” said Cliff Powell. Though Powell has a New Jersey license and is operating in Florida due to schooling, he believes that the lack of insurance requirements in Florida effect the statistics greatly. “I would say that half of all motorcycle accidents don’t get reported,” said Powell,” I’ve had two and only one was reported.” However, the insurance factor of motorcycles is not the only aspect that makes people cautious about the age limit young people are allowed to operate motorcycles.
In Florida you can operate a motorcycle under a restricted license often referred to as a Cinderella license that requires certain restrictions to those over 18 and under 21. One of the restrictions being that the driver and passenger must wear helmets at all times. These restrictions are implemented in order to better protect the young drivers. Some people think that the age for motorcycle permits and licenses should be changed, others disagree.
.
“I don’t think it should be changed, but if it does it shouldn’t be lowered because teens are stupid drivers,” said Marc Riccio. Riccio believes that young drivers are some of the largest problem in the driving force, with young motorcyclists at the forefront.
“I think the age should be raised from 18 to 21 minimum,” said Powell. “At eighteen guys still have a boy mindset and most guys even at 21 still have that they want to see how fast they can go and they think they are invisible.” Powell feels young drivers are more at risk due to their mentality and need for speed.
“I was not mature enough and I got off lucky enough to survive, but most people that start at that age are lucky that they survive,” said Powell. Powell has encountered many who are unaware of the dangers of the road and how vastly the potential for severe damage at high speeds truly is.
Drivers at younger ages spend their time discovering ways to drive at higher speeds while also spending time on learning tricks and trying to portray a sense of adequacy within their field. But when it comes to the danger of the road, those who are experienced riders know not to mess with these beasts and often recommend the later one starts driving the better, for the sake of safety. Think before you drive or let those close to you drive. Motorcycles are not to be played with, they are dangerous beasts when not properly handled.
Learn More about the Department of Transportation.
Learn More about Motorcycle Safety.
Originally published 04.20.09
