Living Will....

[mstriumph]

I fully understand that, no matter what my level of skill is, there is a chance I may die whilst riding.

If that happens, the LAST thing i would want is the sort of shitfight currently raging on several KB threads after our most recent tragic bereavements.

I'm telling you NOW, whilst i'm still able to do so, that IMHO the living are of more concern than the dead .. and if there was ANY chance at all that open discussion of my death and the circumstances surrounding it [even - and perhaps ESPECIALLY - if i was to blame] could help prevent some other death then - please - i'd want that open discussion to take place without hinderance.

Because then, if i were still able to feel anything, i'm sure i'd feel that some good thing had come out of the whole sorry mess.

So, mods, i'm not planning on departing but, if it happens, please remember i said this.

[R6_kid:Me]

Truth is the accident can only be discussed *accurately* by those that were there and witnessed it - everyone else is merely voicing there opinion... its a free world but a line should be drawn somewhere, perhaps those close to the victim(s) can make a post saying THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, please consider your actions carefully while riding. Or something to that effect (i.e learn from this persons mistakes).

To be honest, if an accident were caused by someones actions and is deemed to be there 'fault' then it would have to be something outside of ordinary 'safe riding' that would most likely keep you alive - things that we shouldnt be doing on the road anyway. But when death is involved it doesnt matter anymore (the fault), the only thing that matters is the cause, and that people take note of it.

At the end of the day 'accidents' happen when we dont fully consider the consequences of our actions (Or perhaps you evaluated all the consequences and took the risk anyway) and we therefore act in a way that is not in our own best interests (or perhaps the interest of others) and leave us open to the unforeseen, this is when it leaves our control and 'accidents' occur.

I'm not going to enter the debate on accidents past, i think accidents serve as reminders and lessons, "learn from others peril, dont at your own".

If i died on a the road, let those who survive me learn from my experience so that it doesnt become shared with them in the future.

If there is an objection by ANYONE that my circumstances are being discussed then have it pulled immediately and be a 'banned' topic, its not the kind of thing that some take lightly.

[Switch]

I agree in a way. I wouldn't mind if people were talking about my accident if i had one, but if they were to have a go at me, and if some member of my family was to read it and get upset, i would rather them being able to remove the thread. but then again, its also good for people to learn from others mistakes. Sorry im a little intoxicated, this might not make any sence.

[Gineen]

Did a double take on the wording. Thought provoking, and still thinking about it, as I don't know many KB'rs, but would prefer privacy methinks.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

let us be remembered for how we lived not how we died

[James Deuce]

I thought the issue at hand was fundamentally misunderstood and I was right.

None of these points have anything to do with why I am so fundamentally disappointed with KB at the moment. Not one.

[Edbear]

Probably one for the site owner to consider. It's human nature to discuss as has been done here and it's also human nature that some people are considerate and thoughtful, others are impetuous and tend to speak without thinking. Some are kind and understanding, some are "hard" and lack empathy.

We are a widely diverse bunch, reflecting the widely differing backgrounds of race, social/family upbringing and life's experiences and therefore will have widely differing views and opinions.

It's also human nature to want to know "why?" and "how?" and when someone highly respected and regarded for their skill and common-sense loses their life, we need to know our opinion of them was correct and that it truly was a tragic accident and not because they were acting silly, it confirms our belief in them.

We can all do dumb things at times and often we may think of our past actions and how "lucky" we have been, or past situations not our fault, where we are keenly aware they could have ended badly for us.

One thing that has come out in the last week, has been the comraderie that exists in this "world" of bikers and the passion for biking and the care for which many have for other bikers. It has brought out some conflict and angst, but I think this has been overshadowed by the huge number of posts showing care, sympathy and support for the families of the deceased.

We need to grieve and to express our grief and receive sympathy for our grief, it is human nature, as there also is an inbuilt need to express our love, sympathy and support for the families who have lost loved ones. If we can all make a conscious effort to think about what we say, forums such as this one can be an effective and respected outlet for this.

If I were to die or suffer serious injury I would have no objection to it being discussed here, as I take the "good" with the "bad" and recognise that there will be those who like me, either having met me personally or judged me by my online presence, and those who don't like me, (for the same reasons... ). All I would ask would be that everyone does consider my family and close friends who may read what is posted and think before typing.

My 2c.

[Motu]

I couldn't care less.

As I don't ride with members of the site you probably wouldn't know anyway,apart from that I wasn't online anymore.My wife might come online to tell you what had happened,but she wouldn't follow any discussion,she just wouldn't be interested,nor would my kids.I'd be happy for you all to laugh at me getting my come uppance...it'd be a flash in the pan and forgotten in a week.

[apteryx_haasti]

I have voted "Yes - it could make people think" but to be honest it was a toss up between the two options of yes - it could make people think , and yes, but pull immediately if necessary.

It's pretty unlikely that anyone in my family would read it, and object - but even so, if the thread or whatever did degenerate and was not fulfilling the purpose of serving as a warning I wouldn't want it to continue as a bun fight.

Also, I don't know too many of these guys in the flesh (am meeting more) so it's perhaps not likely that the exact circumstances would be known.

A hard area and probably no right answers...

Edbear, R6_kid and mattmacaskill seem to be able to say things better than I; and busa_pete has a valid point too....

[sels1]

Its a public forum and people will talk regardless. Good people will say good things....not so good people will say not so good things...stupid people will say stupid things...and thats the way it is.
Fortunately the good ones seem to outnumber the rest here on KB. Long may it last.

[skelstar]

I'm with whoever said it before me...I would rather people discussed and celebrate the things that I did right, not what I ultimately did wrong.

I wouldn't want any discussion threads about my last cock-up.

[Freakshow]

I would say if it were not for this site I wont be riding and enjoying the road as much. We learn from our mistakes and those of other who share their experiences. If my mistake stops 5 others making the same mistake I want at least 100 others to know about it! As Sels said " Good people say good things" therefore keep it open, just delete individual posts of those who go to far.

[skelstar]

If my mistake stops 5 others making the same mistake I want at least 100 others to know about it!

That would nice it were true but I reckon its not.

If I had met my end because I passed a car on a blind corner and didnt make it, do you really think people are going to think twice before undertaking the same manouvre in the following weeks/months? Its likely that the reason I crashed is due to a fundamental mistake that everyone is already well aware of anyway...therefore the thread would only cause hurt and mis-information.

[Hitcher]

Once dead I would be well past caring about what people may think of me. It's how you choose to live your life that ultimately determines what people may think of you or remember you for.

Most, if not all of us have made stupid decisions and choices that should have left us dead, maimed or the rightful recipients of ridicule or scorn. The fact that we're still here posting on Kiwi Biker suggests that we have been either extremely fortunate or just downright lucky. Others of our number have paid a higher price for their moments of misfortune. We can defend ourselves against attacks on our reputation. They cannot. We should not forget that.

However that doesn't mean that we should not be able or allowed to discuss the events that contributed to the tragedy, after taking a suitable amount of time to grieve and pay our respects. Ghoulishness should not be allowed.

While the views of "families" are worth noting, what should also be remembered is that those "families" could not control the lives of the folk in question while they were alive and should not expect to be able to do so now they are dead.

[zadok]

Its a public forum and people will talk regardless. Good people will say good things....not so good people will say not so good things...stupid people will say stupid things...and thats the way it is.
Fortunately the good ones seem to outnumber the rest here on KB. Long may it last.

I agree. That's life.