If you look carefully enough, you can find anything. There are no data points/statistical analysis to quantify "general respect for others" so it's impossible to say you're wrong, but what I will say is that every generation has probably been saying the same thing for millennia.
Maybe I live in a different world than you, but I don't see this degradation. I do see extra loud bikers as disrespectful, but I'd rather see that than... for example, an "Irish Need Not Apply" sign from the early 1900's when some people think the world was more civilized.
Randy said 25-30 years. In that time period things have changed. My personal anecdote: The police in St. Louis used to give out tickets to bikes with straight pipes. I know, I got one! My muffler fell off and I wasn't able to find it, on the next day on the way to the dealer I got pulled over and got a ticket. Didn't have to pay anything when I presented proof of a new muffler, but the PD kept an eye out for loud bikes. My CB350 wasn't very loud without the muffler as I was embarrassed to give it any gas because I didn't want to make a lot of noise in the first place.
Other MC riders were aware of this and complied. The culture of that time was different, things have changed for the worse. (My experience is limited to a St. Louis and surrounding areas, maybe within 50 miles). Everything now is bigger and louder.
My story is not a statistic or data point that you require to quantify this, but if I had a way of accessing the St. Louis county and city historical data regarding tickets issued for excessive volume I'm sure it would be interesting! Will see if it's something a civilian can do.
We talk a lot about fixation and the concept of
where the eyes goes, the bike follows, this is true of cars also. I've seen a guy on 270 with must be one of the loudest bikes in the world, it not only gets your attention but I've seen people turning their heads looking for it like they were in danger. While looking, their car is drifting out of the lane. I've seen this happen many times on the way home from work.
I would never ride a bike that was loud enough to get someones attention like
that. I'd rather ride defensively and arrive alive, with my hearing and sanity intact.
Hearing a vehicle can be an advantage if you're blind or don't use your mirrors, but we shouldn't rely on the sense of hearing to drive safely. You may as well argue that we should add smell and taste to the list of senses besides vision that we need to ride/drive safely. Well I guess that's what the coal rollers are doing! (for the record: I've been coal rolled!!! It was a while ago and I just figured the guy's truck was messed up. Couple weeks ago I saw it was a thing they do)
