Helmet?

[Motu]

You are still crashing this guys bike for him,and giving him severe head injuries - all in your mind,it's not real.It's true he was riding with a pushbike helmet,that's the only fact in this case.

[Dadpole]

My 2 cents worth. I am with Motu and Ixion on this subject. A suggestion to someone about protective gear is good, but i will not treat them like a baby-killer if they use their own judgement on the risks. I fully defend a persons rights to hurt themself in new and unusual ways - as I do my own.

[Ixion]

So Ixion, if someone you love , or care about very much says they are going to do a video cam speed run thru Auckland city, with Jandals, shorts, t shirt and pushbike helmet, thats their choice, and you dont want to smother them or oppress them with your opinion?. Of course you wont say anything, because you cannot possibly tell people what to do, and even if you would say something, you won't admit it on here, because that would make you a towering hypocrite.

Pretty much. People I love are smart. Unlikely they'd do that, if they did , they'd have their reasons. If 'twas because gear was not available, I'd offer it, if it was because of their choice, I'd respect that.Hard to love someone if you don't respect them.(Talking adults here, obvbiosuly, kids is another matter)

So when you get your bike back from the mechanics, and he has left a swingarm bush out, by your own admission, you would say nothing to him, because he has made his choice to not check his own work, and therefore you would accept the unsafe bike, and ride it.

Totally different matter. I'm paying him to do a job of work. If he doesn't do it professionally, I'd pull him up for it. If I was hiring motorbike couriers, and paying them to do a job or work, I might make it a condition of employment that they wear gear. Case you instanced is completely different, you weren't paying the guy.

I guess its not a surprise really, its a fairly typical standpoint among the ever increasing NZ wishy washy brigade, of PC flag wavers, who call a spade a "dirt redistribution tool", instead of a spade. The same people who are too scared of confrontation to stand toe to toe with a good mate and say " dude thats a f**king stupid idea, and don't come crying to me if you fall off" ( had to do this a few times, and its effective).
The same ones who smile and wave and pretend everythings ok, because they subscibe to a philosophy that people are inherintly good at making their own decisions, like is so prevalent in NZ with its zero murder, zero wife bashing, zero teenage pregnancy statistics.

Actually, you'd be the first person that's ever regarded me as PC. /me is the site Communist , remember.

[Motu]

I thought Kronos was taking the PC line,and we were taking the personal responsability stance Ixion - I think we were distracted when he was moving those 3 cups with the walnut...

[Karma]

Was it a good cycle helmet? did it have vents and padding and that or was it just a cheepy $40 warehouse jobber?

[MisterD]

I'm with Motu and Ixion on this one, but the problem with personal responsibility is that int how the system works in Helen-land. For everyone that injures themselves worse than they should our ACC levy goes up.....bin the ACC, make insurance compulsory to cover personal costs and we can all take the risks we wanna take secure in the knowledge that it's on us and only us.

[kro]

Now we have some opinions rolling in, this is much more interesting......

Hehe, Im too old to be PC, but I see what you're saying. It just seemed an odd thing that die hard bikers would consider this acceptable, when I see other threads by non squids decrying jandal wearers and the like, and I don't consider the very Americanised " i have rights" angle to cover it.

Mister D makes a good point re user pays insurance and ACC style things.

Ixion, why are kids another matter?, are they not allowed the same undeniable human rights to choose?. Thats very PC. Why would kids fall under a separate set of rules?, because they don't know any better?, or have not had proper instruction in whats a good and bad choice?, this could easily be mr cbr pushbike helmet too.

What I'm saying is that if noone has the stones, or cares enough to say something to someone about to make a bad decision, then what happens?, we let our mates/acquaintances endanger themselves because we think their human rights should allow them to do so........... enter the mate with 8 steinlagers under his belt who picks up his keys to go drive home..... thats right, he's free to make his own mistakes isn't he?. Sorry Motu, but this is not a danger in my head, personal experience, and endless road toll stats say the opposite.

Weasel, it was an HRC brand cycle helmet, about 45 bux worth.

[Motu]

In my utopia there would be no lawyers or insurance salesmen.They reckon the best safety device you can fit to a car is a 6in steel spike in the centre of the steering wheel - I extend that to bikes and say the best riding gear is a pair of shorts,jandals,t shirt and no helmet....I'd say very few mistakes would be made,no ''he just pulled out on me'' or ''I lost the front on pea metal''.If you hit a car and it's your fault,then you pay for the car repairs and fix your own bike....if they hit you they pay everything.I'd say we would see some very carful driving and riding.

[Ixion]

See, problem is , once you start deciding that you know best what's good for other people , where does it stop

I know quite a few people who think riding those stupid dangerous motorcycle things at all is a damn stupid idea and would like to stand toe to toe with you and say " dude thats a f**king stupid idea, and don't come crying to me if you fall off" . And tell you to grow up and get a nice safe car like every body else.

(Kids, 'tis parental responsibility and all that. Once they're of age, their call. Until then, they do as I do)

[Macktheknife]

Im such a cock.
From now on for everything that happens in the world blame me.
Makes it easier

OK THEN, but only 'cause you said to!
Lets start with the price of petrol.....
And then there's that whole Bush thing in the election....
Lets not forget the Moslem fundamentalist position...
Thats enough for now I dont want to get carried away or anything.

[Jackrat]

Hmmmm,in 1975 I rode a Triumph Daytona (the real Daytona that is)from Christchurch to Auckland wearing a kids plastic helmet I'd shoplifted from a toy store.Hey,I'm not dead,the Triumph didn't breakdown an I didn't get sprung for either shoplifting or wearing an plastic kids lid.
Must be a bloody miracle,,,,quick call Zed.