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#71263 05/25/02 11:39 PM
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While out on my motorcycle today, it occurred to me that one "rides" a motorcycle, yet one "drives" a car or a truck. Anyone have any explanation for this discrepency?


#71264 05/26/02 05:36 AM
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Note also that one rides a horse in order to drive cattle. Hmmm.


#71265 05/26/02 08:44 AM
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Note also that one rides a horse in order to drive cattle.

Good one, Dad, but I guess you ride astride a motorcycle but sit in a comfy chair to drive a car.

lusy

#71266 05/26/02 10:57 AM
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As I'm also too lazy to LIU or do any research, I'll guess that it does, indeed, refer to the use of animals as transportation. "To ride" implies that you are seated upon the animnal; "to drive," that you are behind it, urging it along. When you drive a horse and carr, you are doing the latter, notwithstanding the fact that you are following the horse through no effort of your own.

The same is true, by analogy, with car and mo'bike. And, indeed, in the vast majority of cars, you do sit behind the engine, whilst on the vast majority of Motorbikes, you sit over it.

(This doesn't thoroughly explain it, of course, if you take into consideration that the earliest motor cars were rear-engined! hmmmm)


#71267 05/26/02 01:46 PM
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Is a lady who sits side saddle on a horse "riding' it?


#71268 05/26/02 01:52 PM
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Is a lady who sits side saddle on a horse "riding' it?


Nope, she's saddled with grief!

I know, I know. I'm a Monotreme and just laid an egg!

Bridle regards,
WildWest


#71269 05/26/02 01:59 PM
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Remember the cowboy who worried about his girlfriend riding astride, because you can stretch a good thing too far?


#71270 05/26/02 03:43 PM
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that reminds me, a childless friend asked once "what is teen age girls facination with horses all about?" as we walked in a park, and watched group after group of young girls go by on horse back.

i replied "i dunno, what ever could be appealing about speading your legs wide, and using your leg muscles to grab hold of hard, well muscled body, that causes you to bound up and down rhythmicly? and to think the young girl has full control of this hard, well muscled body and can control the speed, and nature of the rhythm she bounces at? I dunno.. why ever would they enjoy that?" he blushed and had trouble looking at the next group of riders!


#71271 05/27/02 01:53 AM
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I guess you ride astride a motorcycle but sit in a comfy chair to drive a car.

Yet one pilots an aeroplane or a boat, regardless of where the power plant is located. Even the persons who provide both power and control of human-powered aircraft are called pilots, even though they're "riding" them, as in a bicycle.


#71272 05/27/02 12:53 PM
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Yet one pilots an aeroplane or a boat

If one is to believe such TV shows as JAG military pilots will drive their planes.


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