MrToad wrote: It's a common and understandable trait that people like to know where they stand. It's easier to be content when everything in the universe appears solid and reliable, and I think a lot of people actually avoid complexity and subtlety of thought in order to maintain the illusion that they have a complete grasp of how things are. Advanced driving is likely to be as prone to this kind of behaviour as any other sphere
Looking at it this way, it's easier to see how voluntarily giving up these certainties and embracing the confusing complexity of the real world is not an easy thing to do. The misplaced sense of superiority is more damaging in this case as it will offend both the less and more knowledgable. (cf. the public image of the IAM)
Even those that are open to new thoughts can be held back at first by their existing ideas.
A few lines selected from your post to set the scene . . .
I'm a modest sort of person (Mr C-W's met me, so he'll verify that, I'm sure
), but I'm happy to admit that I have a thirst for knowledge on riding and training.
This was particularly so during the 80s and 90s for me, as I was very heavily involved in UK rider training. Setting the scene for that, from '89-'93 I set up the BMF's Blue Riband Award 'advanced' course, eventually with 45 centres across the UK and with more advanced passes in '93 than RoSPA.
So I had a fairly good understanding of traditional UK, Roadcraft-based, advanced training. But I knew there was 'more to it', so kept looking. One avenue was the USA's MSF - but gettign access to that would be difficult! However, via the USAF at bases in the UK (before the 'peace dividend' closed most of them!) I was able to attend their course and, in '94' qualify as an MSF instructor (aka RiderCoach).
After that, I was able to get 65 Brits onto their 'advanced' course. The outcomes were 'interesting'
One of the trainees was a trafpol, Class One cars & bikes, acc investigator etc. etc. He actually said that he couldn't complete one exercise because of the years of training he'd had 'stopped him' from doing what was asked!
Another went in totaly sceptical that anything could be better than Rc-based riding. He wrote an article afterwards stating that - and explaining how his mind had been radically altered.
The truth, of course, is that the MSF 'way' had limitations too - the optimum was to use the best bits and meld them together.
The irony, of course, is that in '95 Roadcraft was changed substantially - mirroring much of the MSF's content!
The secret, of course, is to seek, watch, listen, try,
understand - then incorporate. Be certain of the benefits. Be definite about what you wish to achieve*.
* That requires
knowing - being able to state as a simple one-line statement - 'what?' you wish to achieve, whether driving on your own or training someone else.
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