Members of a popular internet forum were left conflicted after one mother expressed her anxieties about her husband's new motorcycle.
In a viral Reddit post published on r/AmITheA**hole, Redditor u/reluctantmotormama (otherwise referred to as the original poster, or OP) said she was not consulted before the purchase and detailed the list of strict decrees she handed down as a result.
Titled, "[Am I the a**hole] for making 'rules' regarding [my] husband's new motorcycle?" the post has received nearly 5,000 upvotes and 2,100 comments in the last day.
"My husband, unbeknownst to me, bought a motorcycle," OP began. "It's a sturdy, old Honda from the early aughts in near-mint condition."
Continuing to explain that she is "horrified" by the purchase, the original poster said the couple recently welcomed their first child and attributed her horror to the prospect of an unfortunate accident.
The original poster also said that, after her demand her husband return the bike was rebuked, she resorted to implementing rules.
"We have a beautiful 6 month old baby at home, our first," OP wrote. "Initially I demanded he return it, but he said it was his 'life long dream' to own a bike [and] kept saying how great it would be on gas.
"So I said, ok, keep it, but don't drive it over 30 MPH [and] don't take it out of our neighborhood," OP continued. "I said he can take it up to the lake where he and his friend go fishing, if he...tows it up there on a trailer.
"He says I'm being a controlling harpy and sucking all the fun out of his new toy," OP added. "[But] all I can see is him splat all over the asphalt."
For some, motorcycles have a bad reputation.
Despite the thrill, freedom and "bad boy" image associated with riding motorcycles, a large portion of the United States is not so inclined to believe that two wheels are superior to four-potentially for good reason.
Although data published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed that motorcycle ownership in the U.S. doubled from 2002 to 2021, the safety concerns associated with motorcycling remain prevalent.
Two years ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that per vehicle miles traveled in 2020, motorcyclists were 28 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than passenger vehicle occupants.
The NHTSA also reported that motorcyclists were four times more likely to be injured in a motor vehicle crash than their car-driving counterparts.
Considering these statistics, it is unsurprising that family members of motorcyclists are concerned for their safety, especially for bikers with kids at home.
However, people across the world continue to purchase, ride and love motorcycles because-put simply-they can.
Throughout the comment section of the viral Reddit post, Redditors were sympathetic towards the original poster's fears, but also acknowledged that her husband is a grown man capable of making decisions and riding a motorcycle.
"[Everyone sucks here]," Redditor u/mdthomas wrote in the post's top comment, which has received more than 10,000 upvotes. "He should have discussed it with you. You're not his mother and he's not a child."
Redditor u/LetThemEatHay, whose comment has received more than 3,000 upvotes, echoed that sentiment.
"Yes, he should have discussed it with you. But you clearly don't understand what motorized vehicles are for and you are being absolutely controlling and unreasonable," they wrote. "Not over 30mph? Not out of the neighborhood? Are you kidding me?
"Yes, it's scary. But so is your reaction and 'rules,'" they added.
"I'm not sure you're being an a**hole so much as completely unrealistic," Redditor u/mm172 chimed in, receiving nearly 2,000 upvotes. "If he didn't feel the need to consult you on the purchase...what makes you think you can impose any terms he'll actually agree to, let alone ones that undoubtedly defeat the purpose of him owning this thing[?]"
In a separate comment, which has received nearly 3,000 upvotes, Redditor u/KeyBadger513 offered a stronger response, siding firmly with the original poster.
"Some people will say [you're the a**hole]," they wrote. "I say [not the a**hole].
"My husband crashed, and broke his collarbone. Then went and bought another one [without] telling me," they continued. "He is now my late husband."
Newsweek reached out to u/reluctantmotormama for comment.
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