After one mother shared her concerns about her husband’s new motorcycle, other forum participants became perplexed.
Redditor u/reluctantmotormama (also known as the original poster, or OP), explained the stringent rules she imposed as a result of not being consulted before the purchase in a widely shared post on r/AmITheA**hole.
“[Am I the a**hole] for creating ‘rules’ about [my husband’s] new motorcycle,” the article’s title reads. In the past day, the post has received around 5,000 upvotes and 2,100 comments.
Unbeknownst to me, my hubby purchased a motorcycle, said OP. It’s a reliable, vintage Honda from the early 2000s that’s in almost perfect shape.
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The original poster went on to say that she is “horrified” by the purchase and that the couple just had their first child, attributing her dread to the possibility of an unfortunate event.
The original poster also claimed that after being reprimanded for demanding that her husband return the bike, she turned to enforcing rules.
Our first child is a lovely 6 month old who lives with us, the OP said. “I initially ordered that he give it back, but he insisted that it was his “lifelong desire” to possess a bike and was gushing about how fuel-efficient it would be.
OP said, “So I said, ok, keep it, but don’t drive it over 30 MPH [and] don’t take it out of our area.” “I told him that if he tows it up there on a trailer, he can take it to the lake where he and his friend go fishing.
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The OP said, “He claims I’m being a controlling harpy and taking all the fun out of his new toy. “But all I see is him splat all over the asphalt,” the speaker said.
Some people have a negative perception of motorcycles.
Even while riding a motorbike can be exciting, liberating, and gives one a “bad guy” image, a sizable majority of Americans may not share this opinion—and possibly for good reason—that two wheels are preferable to four.
Despite the fact that the number of motorcycles owned in the United States doubled between 2002 and 2021 according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are still many people who are concerned about their safety when riding a motorcycle.
Motorcycle riders had a 28-fold higher risk of dying in a car accident than passengers, according to a research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) two years ago.
The NHTSA also noted that compared to drivers of cars, motorcycle riders were four times more likely to sustain injuries in a collision.
Given these figures, it is understandable that family members of motorcycle riders worry about their safety, particularly if they have children living at home.
However, people continue to buy, ride, and adore motorcycles all around the world just because they can.
Redditors expressed sympathy for the original poster’s worries in the viral Reddit post’s comment area, but many also recognised that her spouse is an adult who is capable of making decisions and riding a motorcycle.
The top remark on the post, from Redditor u/mdthomas, has more than 10,000 upvotes and reads, “[Everyone sucks here].” He ought to have talked to you about it because you are not his mother and he is not a child.
That attitude was mirrored by Redditor u/LetThemEatHay, whose remark earned more than 3,000 upvotes.
They wrote, “Yes, he should have talked to you about it, but you plainly don’t understand what motorised vehicles are for and you are being totally unreasonable.” “Are you kidding me? Not above 30mph? Not leaving the neighbourhood?
“Yes, it is frightful. But your response and “rules” are the same “Added they.
Reddit user u/mm172 added, “I’m not sure you’re being an a**hole so much as simply unrealistic,” and received nearly 2,000 upvotes. What gives you the idea that you can impose any conditions that he’ll actually agree to, let alone ones that clearly negate the point of him possessing this thing[?] if he didn’t feel the need to contact you before making the purchase.
Redditor u/KeyBadger513 made a stronger argument in a different remark that has received nearly 3,000 upvotes, strongly supporting the original poster.
They wrote, “Some people will claim [you’re the a**hole].” I declare, “Not the a**hole.”
“My husband suffered a collarbone fracture in a collision. Then, without telling me, went and bought another one,” they continued. Now, he is my deceased husband.
Newsweek contacted u/reluctantmotormama for a response.