Remove your helmet

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 13:20

Originally Posted by NOWOOL

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.

Read the through this thread and the myriad of others like it. It's been covered.

Seriously...you've got my rego, I'm in my wallet ready to give you my EFTPOS card (coz you want me in your shop to buy a 2 for 1 chocolate bar - rather than letting me pay at the pump)....Am I going to rob you? If I were going to, do you think I'll just take my helmet off and wave to the camera? Think man.

**Ixion** · 1st July 2009, 13:21

You and Mr MDU (et al, ant) raised the question of whether leaving ones helmet on was rude and impolite. With the analogy of hats and caps.

I am suggesting that it depends on whether your interaction is sufficient to be deemed a conversation, in which case failure to uncover would be considered rude by people of "my generation" (though not by me , cos I'm generationless); or whether it is simply a transaction , akin to proffering your tram ticket to the conductor. In which case there is precedent, from an age more particular than our own, to say that it is not rude.

The circumstances of each interaction must determine the answer

Whether we agree or not I have no idea.

(EDIT: personally i think the 'you might be a robber' argument is a straw man. The only question in mind is whether it is impolite or not)

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 13:24

Originally Posted by Ixion

You and Mr MDU (et al, ant) raised the question of whether leaving ones helmet on was rude and impolite. With the analogy of hats and caps. I am suggesting that it depends on whether your interaction is sufficient to be deemed a conversation, in which case failure to uncover would be considered rude by people of "my generation" (though not by me , cos I'm generationless); or whether it is simply a transaction , akin to proffering your tram ticket to the conductor. In which case there is precedent, from an age more particular than our own, to say that it is not rude. The circumstances of each interaction must determine the answer Whether we agree or not I have no idea.

Yes but I don't give a fuck about MDU perceptions of what constitutes "rudeness". I wanna buy petrol and the gas station wanna sell me petrol.

**mynameis** · 1st July 2009, 13:26

Get a room you two.

**Ixion** · 1st July 2009, 13:30

Originally Posted by short-circuit

Yes but I don't give a fuck about MDU perceptions of what constitutes "rudeness". I wanna buy petrol and the gas station wanna sell me petrol.

Doubtless.

But in such interactions , as in most else, the common civilities of a polite society can make the difference between a pleasant and amicable experience, and the reverse.

The question, still undecided, is whether removing ones helmet in such a situation is part of those civilities. Or an unnecessary and annoying waste of time.

The jury seems no more advanced than it was at the beginning.

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 13:32

Originally Posted by Ixion

Doubtless.

But in such interactions , as in most else, the common civilities of a polite society can make the difference between a pleasant and amicable experience, and the reverse.

The question, still undecided, is whether removing ones helmet in such a situation is part of those civilities. Or an unnecessary and annoying waste of time.

The jury seems no more advanced than it was at the beginning.

The latter - I want gas not a relationship.

**bogan** · 1st July 2009, 13:38

Originally Posted by short-circuit

The latter - I want gas not a relationship.

what about the person serving you though? what do they want/deserve? courtesy imo

**steve_t** · 1st July 2009, 13:39

How about if there is a sign asking you to remove your helmet?
Or IF the attendant asks you to? Do you begrudgingly comply? Or tell them to fuck off? Or begrudgingly comply and them tell them it's bullshit and you shouldn't have to and that it's a retarded policy so you'll be getting petrol elsewhere from now on?
At my local Gull (unmanned self service) there is a sign asking for helmets to be removed, along with the usual Turn off your engine, Apply handbrake, Don't smoke signs. As you have to prepay to get petrol, I'm not 100% sure what the thinking is, but I wondered if it's the same sign that they have at their manned petrol stations. I haven't really looked at BP, Mobil etc

Also, as was pointed out previously, not all helmets obscure your face eg scooter/open face helmets.
I do remove my helmet but I was brought up with the whole remove your hat when you talk to people etc. I'm getting more laxed though. I generally take my sunglasses off when talking to people but often I'm outside in really bright sunlight so leave them on... I do sometimes wonder if the other person thinks I'm rude not taking my sunnies off, but then again, more often than not, the other person also has sunnies on

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 13:41

Originally Posted by bogan

what about the person serving you though? what do they want/deserve? courtesy imo

So you reckon the "policy" is about protecting the feelings of their workers?

**Silage** · 1st July 2009, 13:42

Originally Posted by Ixion

The question, still undecided, is whether removing ones helmet in such a situation is part of those civilities. Or an unnecessary and annoying waste of time. The jury seems no more advanced than it was at the beginning.

Well if it was the Bain jury, we would all have had our hug and be at home with a cup of tea (with our helmets on)

How rude!!

**short-circuit** · 1st July 2009, 13:42

Originally Posted by steve_t

How about if there is a sign asking you to remove your helmet?
Or IF the attendant asks you to? Do you begrudgingly comply? Or tell them to fuck off? Or begrudgingly comply and them tell them it's bullshit and you shouldn't have to and that it's a retarded policy so you'll be getting petrol elsewhere from now on?
At my local Gull (unmanned self service) there is a sign asking for helmets to be removed, along with the usual Turn off your engine, Apply handbrake, Don't smoke signs. As you have to prepay to get petrol, I'm not 100% sure what the thinking is, but I wondered if it's the same sign that they have at their manned petrol stations. I haven't really looked at BP, Mobil etc

Also, as was pointed out previously, not all helmets obscure your face eg scooter/open face helmets.
I do remove my helmet but I was brought up with the whole remove your hat when you talk to people etc. I'm getting more laxed though. I generally take my sunglasses off when talking to people but often I'm outside in really bright sunlight so leave them on... I do sometimes wonder if the other person thinks I'm rude not taking my sunnies off, but then again, more often than not, the other person also has sunnies on

I've stated my position - ignore/not notice the sign. So far so good. I guess they want my money.

**vifferman** · 1st July 2009, 13:55

Originally Posted by bogan

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,

True, and it's what I do if I'm doing more than just stopping for a quick tank of gas. F'rinstance, if I needed to browse the shelves in the gas station for food or whatever.

Originally Posted by bogan

i think its a sign of courtesy to take the helmet off

Yes. But (however!) I thought it was all very well people rabbiting on about what was right, based entirely on feelings or "This is what I think, therefore that should be the law - everyone who disagrees is an arsehole, so there!" However (but!) apart from some sensible people ike sunhunting who'd proffered a viewpoint based on working as service station attendants, the debate seemed a little hollow. So, I thought, "It's all very well me not taking my helmet off because the chap serving me desn't seem to mind, but does he?" I always get the same guy serving me at the place I go to, so I thought I'd better ask. He doesn't care, so I'm going to continue NOT taking my helmet off when making a quick stop for gas, and continue taking it off when I go to the bank, the supermarket, or any other place that requires more than a 10m walk and 3-minute stop.
Apart from anything else, I feel a pillock walking around in my helmet; it has reduced mobility and visibility. I take it off before walking into the orofice, so the other cubicle dwellers are not intimidated, but put it on before going out to my bike IF it is raining.
Y'see, while most of what I do is habit, there is a smidgeon of logic to it, based on careful thought and experience.

**RT527** · 1st July 2009, 14:16

Originally Posted by SixPackBack

I purchase gas from shell northcross without incident.......'course the first time they ask me to fill my bike on the side stand, or take my helmet off will be the day they receive the bird, a healthy 'fuck you' and the cessation of my patronage.

Watching a customer fill their motorcycle with gas, wait patiently in line with cashflow card in hand and then insist they take their helmet off lacks any know application of logic. So fuck 'em!

so you sit on your bike while filling it? if you do i find that incredibly stupid

**bogan** · 1st July 2009, 14:19

Originally Posted by short-circuit

So you reckon the "policy" is about protecting the feelings of their workers?

I have no strong feelings as to where the policy comes from, it may just be higher up management bullshit, but most (or is it all) petrol stations have a no helmets sign up, therefor it is courteous to take the helmets off. Regardless of personal feeling of the gas station attendant, or yourself, you are being asked to do it.