Fifty Plus (50+) - Code of the West

I thought this list was kind of fun and certainly good advice, no matter the century we're in. I took the liberty of changing "Cowboy" to "Biker" and "Horse" to "Bike".

Though the Code of the West was always unwritten, here is
a "loose"
> > list of some of the guidelines:
> >
> > Don't inquire into a person's past. Take the measure of a
man for what he is today.
> >
> > Never steal another man's bike. A bike thief pays with
his life.
> >
> > Defend yourself whenever necessary.
> >
> > Look out for your own.
> >
> > Remove your guns before sitting at the dining table.
> >
> > Never order anything weaker than whiskey.
> >
> > Don't make a threat without expecting dire consequences.
> >
> > Never pass anyone on the trail without saying "Howdy".
> >
> > When approaching someone from behind, give a loud greeting
before you get within shooting range.
> >
> > Don't wave at a man on a bike, as it might spook the
bike. A nod is the proper greeting.
> >
> > After you pass someone on the trail, don't look back at
him. It implies you don't trust him.
> >
> > Riding another man's bike without his permission is nearly
as bad as making love to his wife. Never ever bother another man's
bike.
> >
> > Always fill your whiskey glass to the brim.
> >
> > A biker doesn't talk much; he saves his breath for breathing.
> >
> > No matter how weary and hungry you are after a long day in
the saddle, always tend to your bike's needs before your own, and get
your bike some feed before you eat.
> >
> > Cuss all you want, but only around men, bikes and cows.
> >
> > Complain about the cooking and you become the cook.
> >
> > Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your

friendly intentions.
> >
> > Do not practice ingratitude.
> >
> > A biker is pleasant even when out of sorts. Complaining is
what quitters do, and bikers hate quitters.
> >
> > Always be courageous. Cowards aren't tolerated in any outfit
worth its salt.
> >
> > A biker always helps someone in need, even a stranger or an enemy.
> >
> > Never try on another man's hat.
> >
> > Be hospitable to strangers. Anyone who wanders in,
including an enemy, is welcome at the dinner table. The same was true for
riders who joined bikers on the range.
> >
> > Give your enemy a fighting chance.
> >
> > Never wake another man by shaking or touching him, as he
might wake suddenly and shoot you.
> >
> > Real bikers are modest. A braggert who is "all gurgle and noguts" is not tolerated.
> >
> > Be there for a friend when he needs you.
> >
> > Drinking on duty is grounds for instant dismissal and blacklisting.
> >
> > A biker is loyal to his "brand," to his friends, and those he rides with.
> >
> > Never shoot an unarmed or unwarned enemy. This was also known as
"the rattlesnake code": always warn before you strike. However, if a
man was being stalked, this could be ignored.
> >
> > Never shoot a woman no matter what.
> >
> > Consideration for others is central to the code, such as: Don't stir up dust around the

chuckwagon, don't wake up the wrong man for herd duty, etc.
> >
> > Respect the land and the environment by not smoking in hazardous fire areas,

disfiguring rocks, trees, or other natural areas.
> >
> > Honesty is absolute - your word is your bond, a handshake is
more binding than a contract.
> >
> > Live by the Golden Rule.

[QUOTE=swan652;6846963] Never shoot a woman no matter what.
QUOTE]

My wife and I took out insurance policies on each other. So now life is pretty much just a waiting game. (Just kidding, dear)

Though the Code of the West was always unwritten, here is a "loose" list of some of the guidelines:

Don't inquire into a person's past. Take the measure of a man for what he is today.
Never steal another man's bike. A bike thief pays with his life.
Defend yourself whenever necessary.
Look out for your own.
Remove your guns before sitting at the dining table.
Never order anything weaker than whiskey.
Don't make a threat without expecting dire consequences.
Never pass anyone on the trail without saying "Howdy".
When approaching someone from behind, give a loud greeting before you get within shooting range.
Don't wave at a man on a bike, as it might spook the bike. A nod is the proper greeting.
After you pass someone on the trail, don't look back at him. It implies you don't trust him.
Riding another man's bike without his permission is nearly as bad as making love to his wife. Never ever bother another man's bike.
Always fill your whiskey glass to the brim.
A biker doesn't talk much; he saves his breath for breathing.
No matter how weary and hungry you are after a long day in the saddle, always tend to your bike's needs before your own, and get your bike some feed before you eat.
Cuss all you want, but only around men, bikes and cows.
Complain about the cooking and you become the cook.
Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your friendly intentions.
Do not practice ingratitude.
A biker is pleasant even when out of sorts. Complaining is what quitters do, and bikers hate quitters.
Always be courageous. Cowards aren't tolerated in any outfit worth its salt.
A biker always helps someone in need, even a stranger or an enemy.
Never try on another man's hat.
Be hospitable to strangers. Anyone who wanders in, including an enemy, is welcome at the dinner table. The same was true for riders who joined bikers on the range.
Give your enemy a fighting chance.
Never wake another man by shaking or touching him, as he might wake suddenly and shoot you.
Real bikers are modest. A braggart who is "all gurgle and noguts" is not tolerated.
Be there for a friend when he needs you.
Drinking on duty is grounds for instant dismissal and blacklisting.
A biker is loyal to his "brand," to his friends, and those he rides with.
Never shoot an unarmed or unwarned enemy. This was also known as "the rattlesnake code": always warn before you strike. However, if a man was being stalked, this could be ignored.
Never shoot a woman no matter what.
Consideration for others is central to the code, such as: Don't stir up dust around the chuckwagon, don't wake up the wrong man for herd duty, etc.
Respect the land and the environment by not smoking in hazardous fire areas, disfiguring rocks, trees, or other natural areas.
Honesty is absolute - your word is your bond, a handshake is more binding than a contract.
Live by the Golden Rule.

We live in the West (Arizona); that must be a back-east rendition of the code.
Shoot first, ask questions later (and them that has the gold, rule!).

Anyone remember this one:

We live in the West (Arizona); that must be a back-east rendition of the code.
Shoot first, ask questions later (and them that has the gold, rule!).
I think I agree. I don't normally get personal on the 55+ forum; but my family has been in Wyoming since 1880 (11 years after the UPRR - and most non-native folks- came to the state) and that code of the West stuff is a load of crap. Was then and still is. Exploitation of people and resources has been the code of the West. Always has been and perhaps always will be. Sure there were and are some outstanding individuals, but the romanticizing of a period that lasted about one generation in an area very sparsely populated is the stuff of celluloid - not the stuff or reality. That is all.

I've lived on the West Coast nearly all my life - California and British Columbia - and I have no use for easterners. I named my son Travis because it's a tough, western name. But I do think that the best description of cowboys comes from the thriller writer Trevanian (Eiger Sanction is probably his best-known book). This comes from "Shibumi," and to my recollection it goes something like this: "It's appropriate that the archetypal American hero is the cowboy, an uneducated, boorish, Victorian agricultural worker."

Luis