i am a sinner

[MAXdB]

There's practically no risk you can take in life that doesn't impact other people. Thus, taking unnecessary risks that can easily be minimized is selfish.

I agree. but who's to say what is an "unnecessary", "easily..minimizable" risk? would this include riding a motorcycle? I'm sure to some it would--no matter what gear you wear. So in essence you too are being "selfish"... (I'm not actually saying you're selfish btw..)

my point is that the decision to wear gear is just as much a personal choice as is riding a motorcycle and to try to impose your own riding habits/fears/whatever on a fellow rider is no different than non-riders making riders out to be irresponsible hooligans just because they don't agree with their choice to ride.

[kopfjäger]

Motorcycles ARE dangerous. There's practically no risk you can take in life that doesn't impact other people. Thus, taking unnecessary risks that can easily be minimized is selfish.

 

[cyrus buelton]

I believe Pastrana's success at the X Games would prove him not to be a moron.

How many young kids do you think watch that video and say. Man, I gotta try that.

Also, you wouldn't be able to pull it off without the support of some professional skydivers.

Not knocking his talent as a rider or whatever he does. He is definitely good at that.

Still doesn't mean he isn't a moron. What sort of non-moron jumps out of an airplane without a chute on?


Ever seen his MTV Crib's episode?

Doesn't some poor kid go off his ramp and miss the foam pit?



As for kids trying that..........you make the beast with two backsing bet they would if they could.


Remember when The Program came out there was a scene with them laying in the road and having cars pass over them?

why do you think they edited it out eventually? (I thought they did....its been some years)

idiots tried it and make the beast with two backsing got run over.


These x-games guys are professionals, but they do shit that little kids think is "cool" and try it.

We have a skate park across the street in a park from where I live; I see the ambulance there pretty frequently from kids trying stupid shit.

just my $0.02

[NAKID]

There are many reasons.

Someone has to go peel you up off the pavement, collect the parts from the bushes, keep what's left breathing and pumping, and drive you to a hospital. Often at weird hours when they're supposed to be home with their families.

Someone has to come in and run a code on you, do the tracheostomy and skin grafts, quell your delirium, and wipe your butt. Often at weird hours when they're supposed to be home with their families.

Someone has to pay for your acute medical care and your years of rehab. Yeah, I know you paid for insurance, but a) you're the one raising everyone else's premiums and b) the indemnity insurance benefit maxed out on your second hospital day so all the costs from there on out are borne by taxpayers.

Someone sees you squidding around and they shake their heads and file it away as evidence that riders are irresponsible daredevils. They can see ten others with proper gear but that will make almost no dent in that negative impression.

Motorcycles ARE dangerous. There's practically no risk you can take in life that doesn't impact other people. Thus, taking unnecessary risks that can easily be minimized is selfish.

Don't forget all of the people that get delayed in the traffic because the road is closed due to a fatality. Those people are missing time with their family as well...

[kopfjäger]

Ever seen his MTV Crib's episode?



As for kids trying that..........you make the beast with two backsing bet they would if they could.


These x-games guys are professionals, but they do shit that little kids think is "cool" and try it.

We have a skate park across the street in a park from where I live; I see the ambulance there pretty frequently from kids trying stupid shit.

Sorry, forgot to set the Tivo. 

A kid would never be able to attempt that stunt.

They were all kids. How the make the beast with two backs do think they got that good. Lot's of injuries over the years.

Yeah, Close those damned skate parks. 

[mstevens]

I agree. but who's to say what is an "unnecessary", "easily..minimizable" risk? would this include riding a motorcycle? I'm sure to some it would--no matter what gear you wear. So in essence you too are being "selfish".

Agreed. Each additional risk taken increases the selfishness. If I'm going to be selfish enough to (fill in the blank), then the responsible thing is to do whatever I can reasonably do to minimize the risks inherent in (blank)ing, whether that's motorcycling, scuba diving, skateboarding, or eating steak. My riding (and diving, and steak-eating) definitely puts my family's economic safety at risk so those are clearly selfish decisions on my part. There's no point adding to the selfishness by not using appropriate safety gear.

my point is that the decision to wear gear is just as much a personal choice as is riding a motorcycle and to try to impose your own riding habits/fears/whatever on a fellow rider is no different than non-riders making riders out to be irresponsible hooligans just because they don't agree with their choice to ride.

No, it's clearly not really any different. Possibly where we disagree is whether such an attempt to get others to use safety equipment is unreasonable or not. I tend to think that the motorcycling community probably does include a considerably higher percentage of irresponsible hooligans than the general public, so perhaps those non-riders are right. Maybe it's just the riders that end up in my ER and on my brain rehab unit. I dunno.

A few days ago as I was leaving the office my colleague started giving me grief for not wearing my helmet - really tore into me. Eventually I broke in to tell her that she was probably right, but wearing a helmet while driving my car made me feel silly and that when I did (e.g., while autocrossing) I kept whacking the helmet against various bits of the inside of the car.

[mstevens]

Don't forget all of the people that get delayed in the traffic because the road is closed due to a fatality. Those people are missing time with their family as well...

And, of course, the families of those fatalities (who presumably love them) will be missing time with them forever.

[NorDog]

Looks like my last comment got deleted.   

[GLantern]

Not knocking his talent as a rider or whatever he does. He is definitely good at that.

Still doesn't mean he isn't a moron. What sort of non-moron jumps out of an airplane without a chute on?


Ever seen his MTV Crib's episode?

Doesn't some poor kid go off his ramp and miss the foam pit?



As for kids trying that..........you make the beast with two backsing bet they would if they could.


Remember when The Program came out there was a scene with them laying in the road and having cars pass over them?

why do you think they edited it out eventually? (I thought they did....its been some years)

idiots tried it and make the beast with two backsing got run over.


These x-games guys are professionals, but they do shit that little kids think is "cool" and try it.

We have a skate park across the street in a park from where I live; I see the ambulance there pretty frequently from kids trying stupid shit.

just my $0.02

I would give anything to chill with Pastrana for a day.  Those stunts are sick it would be awesome to give some of them a shot!