Cager the word

[sprorchid]

I frequent a car forum, and currently there is a thread about keeping an eye out for motorcycles on the road.

The term 'cager' was used by a motorcyclist, and the car folks claim it's a disparaging word.

So, who better to ask, but teh BARF.

Is 'cager' the word meant to offend them?

Or is it just a word to mean 'someone who drives a car and not a motorcycle.'??

I don't use the word often, and when I do, I don't mean it in a negative light, but that's me.

 

[rodr]

It emphasizes that a car is more confining than a motorcycle, so using the term is a way of poking fun at them. Sounds like someone needs to lighten up.

 

[SalCal]

I use it in ref to myself when I have to "cage it", instead of ride. It does have a bit of a neg connotation... as I think we would (usually) prefer to ride and see a car as a cage of sorts. Kinda the opposite of the freedom we feel when we are riding.

 

[Feanor]

I think more than an insult or a disparagement, it's more an expression of pity akin to when you go to the zoo and see a cheetah in it's enclosure...

If it was an insult we would point a finger at them and laugh, but I think what happens more is that we split by while they are at a standstill, and wonder, "why?"

 

[ScottRNelson]

I don't use the term "cage" or "cager" because I feel that it is a bit negative.

I'm curious how many of you would count my car as a cage?

 

[Hooli]

I'm curious how many of you would count my car as a cage?

Yes.

 

[rodr]

I'm curious how many of you would count my car as a cage?

More like a playpen.

Just kidding. I want one.

 

[TheRiddler]

I always thought cager derived from two things:

- they're trapped in a cage, rather than being able to enjoy the "freedom of the open road"

- there's a roll cage to keep the occupants safe in a crash.

I don't use it in a derogatory manner, more in a descriptive sense. Anything on the road with more than 2 (sometimes 3) wheels is a cage.

 

[sckego]

I use it in ref to myself when I have to "cage it", instead of ride. It does have a bit of a neg connotation... as I think we would (usually) prefer to ride and see a car as a cage of sorts. Kinda the opposite of the freedom we feel when we are riding.

Yep. I use it to describe what I'm doing while driving. Not disparaging, just a handy descriptor.

 

[mean dad]

I don't use the term "cage" or "cager" because I feel that it is a bit negative.

I'm curious how many of you would count my car as a cage?

If you're protected on all sides from impact that would normally hit a motorcyclist directly, you're in a cage.
However sporty that cage may be, it's still a cage.


OP, it's not as much an insult as an antithesis of the freedom of riding.

 

[quicksparks]

I don't use the term "cage" or "cager" because I feel that it is a bit negative.

I'm curious how many of you would count my car as a cage?

Still stuck in a confined area, like whatever bear lives in here:

Still a fun cage though. My parents were too trusting. They let their teenage sons drive their convertible Mustang a lot, until my brother wrecked it.

I think the term 'cager' has a slightly negative connotation when used to describe someone who has never ridden a motorcycle. Cagers think motorcyclists are crazy and call them all sorts of names, like "donor-cyclists." What goes around comes around.

I'll speak for myself: I used to be a cager. I used to think motorcycles looked like fun but were too dangerous. As soon as I rode one in 1st gear in a parking lot I decided it was worth looking into.

 

[redtail]

The term 'cager' was used by a motorcyclist, and the car folks claim it's a disparaging word.

These car people, as a group, have no sense of humor. I told a friend of mine at work who just bought a Porche a "Porche" joke and he didn't think it was funny either. Go figure...



What's the difference between a Porche and a porcupine? The porcupine has it's prick on the outside.

 

[SalCal]

^^^^

 

[tuxumino]

I use the word with venom and invection.

 

[afalina]

"Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out the car window." --- all of us have to drive a cage once in a while. Personally I consider a word "cager" as a specific slang and treat it as such.

 

[ST Guy]

Geez, the car guys need to lighten up. Cager is not an insulting or disparaging word. It's simply a slang term to describe those who drive cars. I'm both a "biker"/motorcyclists and a "cager".

 

[corndog67]

I don't use the term "cage" or "cager" because I feel that it is a bit negative.

I'm curious how many of you would count my car as a cage?

My sister in law wants one of those real bad. She's in the Netherlands, big bucks there. Or Euros anyway. Yes, it's a chick car.

I'm relatively certain the term cager came out of EasyRider magazine. They used to use it a lot in the 70s. It cracks me up when noobs use it, since they generally have no idea where it came from. And they just heard it somewhere. It is derogatory, or it used to be anyway, and I don't use it. Don't want to be like the pirates or 1%ers or whatever ADV guys call them now.

 

[revnort]

I use it for myself when I drive. I still think it has a negative connotation to it because I'd ALWAYS rather be on a moto.

That said, get the fuck over it already, it really isn't that bad. I much prefer someone who drives for sport (drives well I mean) then someone who sees driving as a chore and the car as an appliance. *Cough* Prius *Cough*. I feel much more akin to those people and would use it as slight ribbing.

 

[redtail]

*Cough* Prius *Cough*.

I'm probably going to regret admitting this, but since I drive so rarely, I have a 2002 Prius in my driveway.

I flog that little car and its amazing how many people see me and get over at a light thinking they're just going to get around the slow POS Prius. Then I jump all over throttle kicking in both the motor and engine. Remember Toyota sudden acceleration syndrome? I love the surprised looks...

 

[Crom]

Are we talking about those things with 4 wheels that hog up an entire lane?

After a 3 to 4 hour stint in bumper to bumper traffic on the 405, its easy to understand why they're all cages, even the ones with a retractible roof. You feel boxed in with nowhere to go.