Remove your helmet

**ManDownUnder** · 1st July 2009, 10:13

Originally Posted by SixPackBack

Okay. I can see both points of the argument and have a couple of points I would also make:

I now ask attendants if they mind the helmet staying on. This is done with the visor up, a grin and either cash or card in hand. I do this at diaries and liqourshops as well, but stand in the door and wave...

Comments?

Bingo! Common sense and courtesy solving the problem. No prerogatives, not absolute expectations, raising the issue that it's inconvenient for the rider... and dealing with it.

Why is this issue so fucken hard for so many people? Other than egos and self importance, what's the big deal?

**triple-bee** · 1st July 2009, 10:21

It happens a lot in the UK cos the place is full of theiving scum, it;s a pain in the arse but it dont take long and if it stops some old dear pissing her nickers then why not

**Crasherfromwayback** · 1st July 2009, 10:22

Originally Posted by short-circuit

Speak to me that way face to face and I will break you.

Settle down mate...no need to blow a fuse!

**SixPackBack** · 1st July 2009, 10:31

Originally Posted by Marmoot

Hardly gas stations' decision. This is more likely a "mandate from heaven" (a.k.a., the oil company) that the gas station attendants probably hate as much as we do.

Why waste the time and breath. It would probably take as much time and effort as removing and wearing back your helmet.

Try the woolen neckwarmers. They're more practical and doesn't make my face cold at all. Not to mention easier to wear, unless you have a fetish.

Oxford balaclavas are the bomb. I wear one with a neckwarmer on really cold days

Hardly an argument. Either your hand will be dry by the time you finish queuing and paying, or there are normally wipe papers by the pump, or there shouldn't be that much water flowing from your hand to your helmet unless you have very sweaty palms.

I can only assume you do not ride in the rain that much, and/or are happy to spend 5 minutes of your busy day drying yourself off.

Just be honest, for most of the against-helmet-removal activists here it's about pride isn't it? It's just that desire of fighting against establishment, isn't it? A vent-out?

You think?....speaking personally its about logic and nothing more. You are seen to stop, fill your bike and wait patiently in line with your cash/card in hand, visor up and a polite'hello' when you are served only to be told to take your helmet off? It defies logic!

Don't be ashamed. It's a common syndrome.
I guess if we're stuborn enough to ride in the rain then we'd be stuborn enough to want to be different from the norms.

Just remember that a little courtesy to the low-paid immigrant service station attendants who are afraid of being robbed and are stuck between you and their bosses might just help cheer up their miserable days every now and then.

'Tis not hard to make it completely obvious to said attendant [from20 feet away] that not only are you not going to rob them but much like themselves you are also an immigrant. Most of us are well aware how we are perceived and how an attendant may veiw us, most of us make sure by our actions that we cause no alarm. gangsters with hoodies, beenies and glasses are questionably more alarming yet no signs exist to police them?
Personally I now ask from a safe distance if the attendant requires me to remove my helmet. The answer is always 'no'.

**been_there** · 1st July 2009, 10:39

I have got in the habit of not removing my helmet.
But as many of the peeps have said wallet is out and ready to pay and nice meet and greet.
Haven't had any issues with all the servo's I have been too in chch.
If they want me to take it off no problem...

BTW - Now that I have said this I have probably just jinxed myself...DOH

**one fast tl1ooo** · 1st July 2009, 10:51

Hey just take off your helmet, i do every time, it not that hard is it, realy

**vifferman** · 1st July 2009, 10:55

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

... there is no prerogative to be served wearing a helmet. There is no prerogative to be served at all. I fail to see why this is such a huge point of contention.

A little consideration on both sides solves the problem

It's not a huge point for me. I'd prefer to keep it on, as it's one more thing to juggle, but if asked to, I will take it off (without getting huffy and refusing to go back). I've actually modified my routine lately to make it easier when filing up. I used to flip up visor, take off gloves, fill up, take gloves and key in, juggle things around, drop key or glove(s) or wallet, pay, drop stuff, etc etc. Now I leave the key in the ignition with right glove on top. Two less things to juggle. This morning, having taken my helmet off for some face-to-face action with my usual ServingPerson, I found it was a hassle, but useful to explain things if said ServingPerson did find it annoying bikers leaving their helmets on. (I explained anyway: "It's a hassle having to juggle all my gear, and I'd rather not drop my $600 helmet and break it."
Kind of a waste of time anyway, seeing he was indifferent. I suspect though, that he was grateful that so many bikers stop on the way past to fill up. If they are quicker at paying because they don't have to do the helmet/gloves/wallet/keys juggle, then that's a BIG bonus. Them removing their helmets doesn't benefit him one iota.

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 11:49

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Settle down mate...no need to blow a fuse!

Read the previous two pages:
When the validity of my argument became evident and his own logic failed him - your friend resorted to first calling me rude and lazy and then told me to "fuck off"....

Fair enough response I'd have thought - just a request that you play the ball not the man

**bogan** · 1st July 2009, 12:09

Originally Posted by vifferman

It's not a huge point for me. I'd prefer to keep it on, as it's one more thing to juggle, but if asked to, I will take it off (without getting huffy and refusing to go back). I've actually modified my routine lately to make it easier when filing up. I used to flip up visor, take off gloves, fill up, take gloves and key in, juggle things around, drop key or glove(s) or wallet, pay, drop stuff, etc etc. Now I leave the key in the ignition with right glove on top. Two less things to juggle. This morning, having taken my helmet off for some face-to-face action with my usual ServingPerson, I found it was a hassle, but useful to explain things if said ServingPerson did find it annoying bikers leaving their helmets on. (I explained anyway: "It's a hassle having to juggle all my gear, and I'd rather not drop my $600 helmet and break it."
Kind of a waste of time anyway, seeing he was indifferent. I suspect though, that he was grateful that so many bikers stop on the way past to fill up. If they are quicker at paying because they don't have to do the helmet/gloves/wallet/keys juggle, then that's a BIG bonus. Them removing their helmets doesn't benefit him one iota.

but if you turn you helmet upside down and hold it by the front, it becomes an handy carry bag for keys, gloves and other such paraphanalia, i think its a sign of courtesy to take the helmet off, and i wear glasses under mine so its probly a bit more hassel for me than most others as well.

**ManDownUnder** · 1st July 2009, 12:13

Originally Posted by short-circuit

Fair enough response I'd have thought - just a request that you play the ball not the man

Totally agreement on that one - I did bad (seriously... good call).

I maintain however that I woud have no qualms about losing the $15 (ongoing) of someone demanding the sale be transacted on their terms. If it makes people uncomfrtable then find a solution rather than simply say those asking for a helmet to be removed are wrong and doing it your way.

I am curious - how did my logic fail me?

**Indiana_Jones** · 1st July 2009, 12:22

Normally take it off.

Good to get out of the thing once in a while lol

Sometimes I keep it on if I'm at my local, and they're not bothered. I mean it's got a clear visor which i lift up, hardly trying to hide anything.

-Indy

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 12:24

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Totally agreement on that one - I did bad (seriously... good call).

I maintain however that I woud have no qualms about losing the $15 (ongoing) of someone demanding the sale be transacted on their terms. If it makes people uncomfrtable then find a solution rather than simply say those asking for a helmet to be removed are wrong and doing it your way.

I am curious - how did my logic fail me?

Firstly - It's $25 a week on my bike, $9 a week for the wife's scooter and $100 a week with the car. Times that by however many other disgruntled bikers and their family vehicles. Continue with that policy at your own peril I'd suggest.

The logic failed after we had established that your main objection was on the basis of "rudeness" or "laziness" - Again your feeling about a convention of yours. Maybe you don't like people wearing hats at the dinner table?

For the record - I've never been asked to remove my helmet at a gassy nor have I been told to remove a hat (mostly flat caps are my preference) at any fine dining establishment. Either they are not bothered by this convention or they value my patronage more.

**Ixion** · 1st July 2009, 12:55

Originally Posted by short-circuit

The logic failed after we had established that your main objection was on the basis of "rudeness" or "laziness" - Again your feeling about a convention of yours. Maybe you don't like people wearing hats at the dinner table?

.

Well, it's a convention a bit more wide spread than just "his".

Try not removing your cap in an RSA sometime.

I was brought up in an age when all men wore hats . And it was considered very impolite not to remove them in appropriate circumstances. Such as when talking to people. So i still remove my helmet, just because not doing so feels really awkward and weird

But, times change.

Moreover, even back in the day (early fifties anyway, as far back as I can remember such matters), the "remove your hat" wasn't absolute.

F'instance, noone ever removed his hat when getting on a tram. Even though y'had to talk to the conductor "One stage, please. thank you" (you did if you sat next to a lady (hah ! - find a seat in a tram - hah !) . The punctilious, maybe even if they stood next to a lady (ladies of course also wore hats, unless they were whores, but never removed them )).

I think the reason men didn't uncover for the tram conductor, was a general acceptance that the transaction was so brief and impersonal . Like the brief and impersonal transaction of paying for petrol. Proffer credit card, point to pump, enter PIN, grunt. Not a word spoken in some cases.

**NOWOOL** · 1st July 2009, 13:12

I agree, the helmet doesn't make a difference: if I shoot a criminal wearing a bike helmet all its going to do is contain the brain fecal matter.

the whole point of taking off your helmet is to identify you if you end up robbing the shop in some way.

don't blame the shop, blame the criminals in your city.