Who’s consenting?

The alternative isn’t “nothing”, it’s getting precious cultural artifacts out of high risk countries where there’s a high likelihood of the artifacts simply being destroyed.

The only opinion that should matter is that of the people the artifacts belong to.

Which people? The government? So in Afghanistan it’s up to the Taliban? If you don’t trust that the government of a country represents the will of the people, then how do you determine what the people want?

And, again, which people? Is a totem pole in a museum in Canada the property of the Canadian people? Or is it something that belongs to the Haida people, and it doesn’t matter what other Canadians want? If it is up to the Haida, it is up to the Council of the Haida Nation, or is it up to the band the original artist belonged to?

What about a Tatar artifact found in Donetsk? Who gets control over that? Is it the Russians since they occupy Donetsk? The Ukrainians because they used to occupy it? Do you have to study the blood of various Ukrainian people to figure out who has the most surviving Tatar DNA?

if a museum feels under threat

If you run a museum in Afghanistan and are afraid that the Taliban is going to execute you unless you destroy some blasphemous statue, are you going to risk your life to send the artifact to the British Museum, or are you just going to destroy it? Yeah, some heroes will definitely risk their lives, but most won’t.

That’s true, a motorcycle is transportation. And, I suppose if you just go for a ride around the city taking pleasure at annoying people with the sound of your loud pipes, it serves a “useful” function for you, in that it brings you pleasure.

I have literally zero negative or positive opinions about Harleys as motorcycles, I don’t own one or know anyone who does, I don’t even have a motorcycle license so feel free to correct me if you have a differing opinion

Ok, well that’s where I differ. Harleys are terrible motorcycles. They use engine technology from the 1960s while bikes from every other manufacturer use tech that’s decades more advanced. The power to weight ratios of their bikes are absolutely terrible, and not just because they’re cruisers, every other cruiser out there has a better power to weight ratio. Then, even worse is the price. The performance you get per dollar from a Harley is just awful.

With Harley you’re paying for the brand name. You get a bike that in every measurable way is worse than a bike by virtually any other manufacturer, but because Harley has done such a good job of establishing a certain image, people will overpay for an underperforming bike as long as it has that brand name attached, and as long as it has the Harley sound and feel. (And that “sound and feel” is basically an engine that is going to shake the fillings out of your teeth because it’s using ancient technology that every other manufacturer has ditched.)

The Nazi-adjacency is part of the mystique. They’re the “outlaw motorcycle gang” brand, and a lot of the outlaw motorcycle gangs are not just violent, they’re also racist, sexist, homophobic, and so-on. It’s really the brand for dentists and lawyers who have boring office jobs but want to spend money to feel like they’re badasses. They’re not going to commit heinous crimes, but they can dress up like the people who do, and feel a bit of a thrill that maybe the people that see them on their bikes are going to be a bit afraid.

Want to look like a bad-ass tough guy [please don’t look into this], without having to actually do anything other than buy merch and possibly buy an overpriced motorcycle? Just buy Harley Davison gear, and we promise people won’t actually be laughing at you.

The lawnmower also serves a useful function.

Yeah, I was on the fence about that. If someone has just a motorcycle and none of the gear, I might give them a pass, based on which motorcycle and how they have it set up.

If someone carries a gun and they have a normal low-threat job and live in a normal low-threat suburb: wow, that person lives in a fantasy world, and is just looking for an excuse to hurt someone. What an absolute loser.

If someone has a good quality bicycle that they actually use: you got your shit together!

Someone normal looking wearing clothing that references a nerdy hobby/interest: this person is self-confident enough to not be afraid to admit to having a nerdy side.

If someone seems extremely socially awkward and is wearing that kind of clothing it’s different. But if it’s someone who looks like a soccer mom but she’s wearing a Critical Role tee shirt, she’s cool. Or if it’s a guy who looks like a construction worker with an Anime character: nice one, dude.

Harley Davidson clothing: they’re very insecure.