• Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Not just motorcycles in my case but literally any child or adult I’ve ever seen ride a bike or use a skateboard in my entire life while strolling through town. Not a single civilian wears a helmet these days. I see preteens rolling and doing tricks on their skateboards like they’re living out some early 2000’s Tony Hawk game for the Playstation. A few people even hook their strollers up to their bikes and wear nothing.

    One time cops had to be called in because some vengeful people who probably would’ve otherwise been shooters were using the opportunity to trip riders as they rode. Did it change anything? Nope, they still wore nothing and still made themselves vulnerable to the same thing if anyone would ever want to do it again. Cops never enforced what is actually a helmet/pad mandate and I guess it’s not a CPS concern either, which stands out given their history.

    Only a couple of friends of mine serve as an exception to the observation. One day some peers asked “why are you wearing a helmet and pads, you know, like little girls” and I’ll never forget how they responded with “why are you wearing nothing, you know, like poor people?”

    • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      Tbf that’s not toxic masculinity usually, just stupidity. It’s the same shit for men and women a like, and some idiots even teach their spawns to ride without one. But I guess you only buy helmet for the kids you want to keep…

      If something I’ve learned from 15 years of bmx and MTB, is that there’s no such a ride that doesn’t warrant using a helmet; was it visiting shop, picking kid from daycare or a day ride

      • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It’s not just stupidity, some people might just make different risk calculations than you. BMX and MTB is way different than visiting a shop.

        • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 year ago

          If your risk calculations exclude every other person on the streets, sure I can understand why skipping helmet in order to preserve cool factor and hairstyle seems reasonable.
          If you count in the fact that any idiot might just hit you down with their car after mixing pedals or some kid run in front of you, it’s just obvious to wear a helmet unless if you’re an idiot.

          Using a helmet is basically comparable to a seat belt. Zero effort really, just a habit you’re supposed to learn from childhood and automatic ever since.
          How would you call a person refusing to use seatbelt other than a idiot?

          • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            You should stop mountainbiking if you really care about risk avoidance so much, “unless you are stupid and an idiot”. It’s much riskier than casual cycling without a helmet.

            • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              1 year ago

              Yes exiting your house is also a huge risk, and statistically staying home is even bigger risk. Better just lock yourself to a soft room in an institute or commit unalive. /s

              You clearly seem unable to understand what a stupid risk is. You’re ignorant to the point you’d take a risk with zero possibility for a positive outcome, just for your fragile ego. Just like the rednecks too cool to wear a seatbelt or a construction worker at hights without harness.
              I’d call it fair if it was for the thrill, that’s cool and we all have done and are doing stupid dangerous things for it. That’s maybe not always smart, but it’s what keeps us alive. That’s what we’re talking about when we think of calculated risks. If I hit this trail, there’s a chance I’ll hit a tree if I make a mistake. Or I’ll grind that rock garden with my face. I’m well aware of those risks.

              Stupidity is to imagine those risks don’t exist or let your ego ignore them because “I’m so fucking tough” or “I don’t want to mess my haircut and I’m not gonna fall anyways I’m not a kid”

        • AchtungDrempels@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I wasn’t trying to define grades of douchebagness, but to tell you that your friends come off just as bad as their counterparts in your little anecdote. Since you seem to think your friends had a cool rebuttal, i suspect you’re a douche too.