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Second Attempt at Explaining UTV Popularity

I am not satisfied with the last post's analysis of the UTV industry. The question remains: why would such an un-fun "sport" be so popular, given the expense of buying it, the hassle of putting it on a trailer to take it anywhere, and the hot, confining body armor you are supposed to wear?

Let's look at this photo again:


When trying to explain how other people think, it is necessary to set aside my own approach towards nature, with the skin being my main sensory organ, and look at it from other people's perspective.

For most people (and virtually all tourists), eyes are the main sensory organ. What do their eyes see in that photo?

They see a military-like machine, exuding power, violence, and destruction in the desert Mideast. Support the Troops!!! After all, many Americans virtually worship the U.S. military, and many tourists in Colorado come from the Bible states to the east, with a mutated form of Christianity that pines for Israel, war, and the Rapture. 

Surely someone in the marketing department of the UTV manufacturers has played around with the idea of mounting ostensibly "practical" structures on the top of the UTV to suggest a machine gun. Similarly some kind of horizontal tube on the sides would suggest a missile launcher. Their potential customers would be sexually aroused.

Comments

Ted said…
I think it can be shaved down to three elements:

1) NOISE. The louder the machine, the more Male Power exhibited.

2) SPEED. A fast machine demonstrates Male Power.

3) DANGER. Risk-taking is raw Male Power on display, even if the danger is more in appearance than reality.

Why does Make Power motivate such behavior? You guessed it: because it attracts females.
"even if the danger is more appearance than reality..." Well said.

Based on your comment you would have loved the two ATVers who went through the area yesterday: one of them had a tall gun case attached vertically to the machine. I don't know if Colorado even has a hunting season right now. And I wonder if he even had a gun inside the case.

But it made a phallic symbol!
edlfrey said…
I agree with what you have said about the 2 seat UTVs and the people that ride in them. But there are also 4-seat UTVs that cater to a different class of buyer. From what I have seen this class is trying to recreate the late 1800s. Sitting up front you have the cochman and the footman. In the rear there are usually two women that have armorial pretensions. They then drive though 'nature' in a more statley manner.
Bon vivant said…
" . . . with a mutated form of Christianity that pines for Israel, war, and the Rapture." Word. The Protestant renaissance was short lived (few decades at most), thanks to the need for us colonials to incorporate our independent spirit into every tale, org, media we produced back then. America: The First 350 Years gives a flyover of the transition and the perversion of reformation thought, preaching, practice in these united States.
Armorial pretensions? Dadgummit, I had to look that one up! I will withhold judgement on your 'carriage' theory. But if I see Dalmatian dogs running on both sides of the vehicle, I will give in.
Amazon only had audio versions of America: The First 350 Years.
Bon vivant said…
I don't see a printed one either. Canon Press or Steve Wilkins (Auburn Ave. Pres. Kirk) himself may be able to lead you to one. Bear in mind, after attending history conferences with speakers such as Doug Wilson, Steve Wilkins, Geo. Grant and the like for a decade, I'm not sure I like their slant (given they only gracefully denounce slavery, at best). After ten years reformed I've reached the conclusion I'd rather be reformed than in the low kirk but we all have our errors and I could smell the high kirk's by the time I was excommunicated. Also, given your breadth this may be more like pablum to you. It gives a great snapshot of that period of history from a specific point of view (high kirk) but perhaps only that.