Protesting helmet law fail...

[roguegeek]

Not sure if this was posted yet, but if not here ya go. Not a real interesting read. Just ironic.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/motorcylist-dies-of-head-trauma-while-protesting-state-helmet-la/

Wear your helmets.

[mister]

Rather Ironic...

====
Motorcylist dies of head trauma while protesting state helmet laws

A motorcyclist in New York passed away while participating in a ride to protest the state's helmet laws this past weekend. Philip Contos, a 55-year-old Harley-Davidson rider, was participating in an American Bikers Aimed for Education (ABATE) ride with over 500 other bikers. According to Associated Press reports, Contos locked up the brakes on his motorcycle, fish-tailed and went over the handlebars. He struck his head on the pavement and was transported to a local hospital before being pronounced dead. State police said that the accident would not have been fatal if Contos had been wearing a helmet.

Even so, the rider's death hasn't been enough to deter ABATE, with members saying that helmets shouldn't be mandatory.
====

Michael

[applecrew]

 
Stupid is as stupid does.

I understand that there are some strong passions regarding "personal freedoms", but IMHO, choosing NOT to wear a helmet is equivalent to stating "To my friends and family: FU. I'm going to be completely selfish today, and there is a real possibility it may be the last thing I ever do!"

Just one guy's opinion.

He certainly did NOT advance his cause, in any case.

[CliffHanger]

I hope, at least, that the support ride was matched up with his personal beliefs.

It would really suck to find out he preferred a helmet, but his buddies cajoled him into the ride, helmet-free.

[Twism86]

You should not be so free as to be that stupid. The government has the duty to force to do thing that are good for your well being when you otherwise make choice that are obviously negative.

[cbrfxr67]

I'm all for 'make your own choice if you want to bust your grape wide open, should you hit the ground,' but in the past couple of months heard of too many accidents where people died and they probably would've pulled through if they had worn a helmet.

[tt_four]

I'd be curious as to what his opinion would have been as to the freedom of the EMT workers, should they have the same choice whether or not they want to scrape his cracked skull up off the pavement? Do I get the freedom to choose a discount on my medical insurance for having common sense? How come I feel like he's the only person with freedom in this scenario?

Either way, as dumb as he was being, ABATE is definitely trying really hard to spin him into the model motorcyclist. You'd think at least in this case they could've given a facepalm and just said 'yeah that was dumb..."

ABATE of NY Inc. is organizing a memorial "to honor an individual who rode for freedom and risked his all for freedom," he said. A formal date is still to be determined.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/04/new.york.motorcyclist.death/index.html

[applecrew]

WTF?

According to ABATE, he's a hero who "risked his all for freedom" ?
Freedom for WHAT???

Excuse me, but I think it's pretty damn sick to twist this person's bad choice into a heroic action. I absolutely refuse to place this nutter in the same category as those who gave everything to preserve our freedom.

I do believe there are things worth dying for...  but this is sure as hell not one of them!

[vinny]

In a car, safety = wearing a seatbelt
On a motorcycle, safety = wearing a helmet*

I don't get it. Its the same thing. Fine, dont wear one, but dont come crying to us when your in hospital, or worse, because of it..

I honestly dont get people who think its ok to NOT wear a helmet.. Hello? your on two wheels, no cage, no seatbelt, no airbags.. You need some sort of protection. Thankfully here in the UK its illegal to ride without a helmet on. Even if it were legal to not wear one.. i wouldn't chance it.


*At least

[yamahonkawazuki]

think it shouldnt be mandatory. HOWEVER common sense says wear it. ive seen riders on all types of bikes sans helmet. and some doing squidly shaZam!. ( mentally starting my clock. awaiting the inevitable wreck. )

[crzydood17]

I know the only time i dont have gear on is when i go 1/4 of a mile down the road to the gas station for ciggs... other than that I always have a helmet on... Wish they could get better at cooling the damn things though...

[XealotX]

Helmets should not be mandatory.

People who don't wear helmets are idiots.

[tt_four]

The thing I don't like is when you make plans to go on a ride with some guys, and someone has to show up without a helmet, and all you can think of for the 3+ hours your out, every sharp turn, every patch of gravel, is "boy I hope they don't crash because I'm not turning around to see their face smashed and the road covered in blood. I don't even know if I'd stop in that situation, or just keep right on riding. You definitely want to take care of your friends, but you're an ass if you'd be willing to put your friends through that. You could ruin motorcycles for everyone around you that day.

[mister]

The government has the duty to force to do thing that are good for your well being when you otherwise make choice that are obviously negative.

No, NO and NOOOO. The Govt has Not Right to FORCE ANYTHING onto you for anyone's well being - your own or someone else's. It is precisely that kind of belief that gets us into the situation we have NOW where the fruits of your labor are taxed (making you no different than a middleages serf) to "help the children" " help the elderly" and so on and so forth. If *I* as an individual do not have the right to Force you to do something, than a group of people calling themselves Govt does NOT have that right either.

If you subscribe to the "govt can Force you to do a thing for your well-being" then you are also giving up your right to choose what you consider is for your well-being. And you may NOT agree with what the Govt thinks...

For instance, the govt in Texas thinks it is for the well-being of school girls to get the anti-cancer shot DESPITE the MANY negative side effects and HARM caused by the shots and that it doesn't prevent the cancer claimed to be prevented. Of course, that the gov of Texas has shares in the pharma co that makes the vaccine doesn't enter into it, right? So *I* might think that Shot is NOT for my well being. But, allowing the mob rules mentality of govt such power is admitting we have no right to be ourselves and are just drones Belonging to the govt to do as they please.

That this bloke died is terrible. But he failed to follow the one principle all life should follow... doing what is in your own Objective self interest. He did not follow this and paid in full. End of story.

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary - H. L. Mencken

Michael

[Unsane]

Politics aside, it's a shame the guy died but when you throw caution to the wind and show such blatant disregard for our own personal safety, you are exposing yourself to the worst possible outcome in the worst possible situation. I make no apologies for offending people when I say this - if you ride without a helmet then you are a f%$king idiot 

I can only hope that some of his anti-helmet buddies find the hidden message in this terrible event - and if tragedy makes just one more anti-helmet motorcyclist change their mind and it ends up saving their life, then  Philip Contos IS a hero in my books.

[xunedeinx]

I know the only time i dont have gear on is when i go 1/4 of a mile down the road to the gas station for ciggs... other than that I always have a helmet on... Wish they could get better at cooling the damn things though...

Then you fit perfectly into the statistic that fate will eventually catch you.

Isnt it that most accidents happen close to home, not more then 2 miles away, to people who aren't wearing gear who are out to make a quick errand?

Want to not become a statistic, read the hurt report, and do everything opposite!

gear up, go to a gas station 5 miles away, drive under the speed limit, and be sober!

[Twism86]

The government has the duty to force to do thing that are good for your well being when you otherwise make choice that are obviously negative.

No, NO and NOOOO. The Govt has Not Right to FORCE ANYTHING onto you for anyone's well being - your own or someone else's. It is precisely that kind of belief that gets us into the situation we have NOW where the fruits of your labor are taxed (making you no different than a middleages serf) to "help the children" " help the elderly" and so on and so forth. If *I* as an individual do not have the right to Force you to do something, than a group of people calling themselves Govt does NOT have that right either.

If you subscribe to the "govt can Force you to do a thing for your well-being" then you are also giving up your right to choose what you consider is for your well-being. And you may NOT agree with what the Govt thinks...

For instance, the govt in Texas thinks it is for the well-being of school girls to get the anti-cancer shot DESPITE the MANY negative side effects and HARM caused by the shots and that it doesn't prevent the cancer claimed to be prevented. Of course, that the gov of Texas has shares in the pharma co that makes the vaccine doesn't enter into it, right? So *I* might think that Shot is NOT for my well being. But, allowing the mob rules mentality of govt such power is admitting we have no right to be ourselves and are just drones Belonging to the govt to do as they please.

That this bloke died is terrible. But he failed to follow the one principle all life should follow... doing what is in your own Objective self interest. He did not follow this and paid in full. End of story.

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary - H. L. Mencken

Michael

I had a few classes in college relating to this topic, so my view points are based off of that experience as well as personal beliefs. Do I think a gov't has the right to force you to do almost anything, of course not. However, when people decide to make choice that are so blatantly and clearly bad for them why shouldnt the gov't have a law that prevents doing something so harmful to yourself? Cocaine, heroin etc are all illegal because of the damage they do to you, and to the people affected by your use. Therefore the gov't has made it illegal. I would argue the same for smoking, I wish it was illegal. Anyone who smokes is JUST AS DUMB AND STUPID and someone who murders cops, does hardcore drugs, rides without a helmet or betrays their country. While making smoking illegal will never pass (unfortunately) the gov't can tax the crap out of it t make it less desirable. Why? Because they are protecting your from yourself when you are making poor choices that you know are bad for you. I dont believe we should just let people ruin their lives because "they feel like it." Freedom goes a long way, and like every American I enjoy my freedom but we shouldnt be free to harm ourselves, and other others through our selfish actions.

[mister]

The government has the duty to force to do thing that are good for your well being when you otherwise make choice that are obviously negative.

No, NO and NOOOO. The Govt has Not Right to FORCE ANYTHING onto you for anyone's well being - your own or someone else's. It is precisely that kind of belief that gets us into the situation we have NOW where the fruits of your labor are taxed (making you no different than a middleages serf) to "help the children" " help the elderly" and so on and so forth. If *I* as an individual do not have the right to Force you to do something, than a group of people calling themselves Govt does NOT have that right either.

If you subscribe to the "govt can Force you to do a thing for your well-being" then you are also giving up your right to choose what you consider is for your well-being. And you may NOT agree with what the Govt thinks...

For instance, the govt in Texas thinks it is for the well-being of school girls to get the anti-cancer shot DESPITE the MANY negative side effects and HARM caused by the shots and that it doesn't prevent the cancer claimed to be prevented. Of course, that the gov of Texas has shares in the pharma co that makes the vaccine doesn't enter into it, right? So *I* might think that Shot is NOT for my well being. But, allowing the mob rules mentality of govt such power is admitting we have no right to be ourselves and are just drones Belonging to the govt to do as they please.

That this bloke died is terrible. But he failed to follow the one principle all life should follow... doing what is in your own Objective self interest. He did not follow this and paid in full. End of story.

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary - H. L. Mencken

Michael

I had a few classes in college relating to this topic, so my view points are based off of that experience as well as personal beliefs. Do I think a gov't has the right to force you to do almost anything, of course not. However, when people decide to make choice that are so blatantly and clearly bad for them why shouldnt the gov't have a law that prevents doing something so harmful to yourself? Cocaine, heroin etc are all illegal because of the damage they do to you, and to the people affected by your use. Therefore the gov't has made it illegal. I would argue the same for smoking, I wish it was illegal. Anyone who smokes is JUST AS DUMB AND STUPID and someone who murders cops, does hardcore drugs, rides without a helmet or betrays their country. While making smoking illegal will never pass (unfortunately) the gov't can tax the crap out of it t make it less desirable. Why? Because they are protecting your from yourself when you are making poor choices that you know are bad for you. I dont believe we should just let people ruin their lives because "they feel like it." Freedom goes a long way, and like every American I enjoy my freedom but we shouldnt be free to harm ourselves, and other others through our selfish actions.

Classes in college? That's got Nothing to do with this. But what I made bold "Do I think a gov't has the right to force you to do almost anything, of course not. However, when people decide to make choice that are so blatantly and clearly bad for them why shouldnt the gov't have a law that prevents doing something so harmful to yourself?" is where the trouble begins. WHO has the right to say what is/isn't harmful to me or you or someone else? Why so anti-leave-people-be?

WHO decides?
WHERE do you draw the line?
BY WHAT RIGHT is this decision made?

So Bob is the lord lording over us all, for our protection from ourselves. HE DECIDES rock and roll music is bad so bans it - for our protection and to save the children. Then he decides certain books are bad for us and bans those too - for our protection and to save the children. Then he decides.... and so on. THAT is the slippery slope you slide down when you agree that the Govt Can make decisions For us regarding our own well being and not allow us to make our own decisions. The Govt is not some magic infallible thing, it is made up of screwed up people and they make screwed up decisions based on pressures brought to bear to Save Their Skin and Line Their Pockets. They do NOT have our best interest at heart.

No person has the right, or coerced authority, to make decisions about my benefit or detriment or what it beneficial to me or a detriment to me without my uncoerced voluntary request. Plain and simple.

If YOU want someone to make those decisions For You, that is fine. But you cannot impose that same person onto me without my uncoerced request/permission. Anything else is a slave/master situation in the absolute.

Michael

[cssprophet]

If people want to accept the risk I say let them. I had one close call and now I won't ride without wearing every piece of my gear. I know a guy who got into an accident and shattered his femur, he's got a titanium rod in his leg -- his solution? Go from a YZF600 to a Harley Sportster (i.e., he'll be 'safer' on a slower bike, his words) and continue riding in nothing but a t-shirt and brain bucket. Another friend of mine has gotten into several accidents, thankfully none of them too serious or fatal. His solution? Nothing. Still rides the same bike, the same way, wearing virtually no gear. Some people just don't care or are just too stupid to realize they should.

[Twism86]

There is a line and certain laws would set a dangerous precedent. Therefore I doubt we will ever see laws along those lines. Mister, you and I live across the world, so we will never have to worry about being under the same regime  Im honestly not sure where I stand on these issues, but I do feel the gov't has some responsibility to keep us safe from our own dumb choices. We elect our own politicians, so its up to us who we put in office and while ideals they carry. Back to NCIS