Total Motorcycle Community Forums

BubbaGump wrote:This is the best 7 page hissy fit I have ever read! Shouldn't this thread be moved to the soap box section? Everyone had their turn at it.

I love your avatar!

I think we can leave the topic here because it does relate to biking. The Soap Box is for topics mostly non-bike. This just happens to be a tough issue is all. Play on...

Cheers,
Loonette

"But otherwise, you kind of have to just do your own thing and let fate take care of the rest."

I couldn't have said it better.

I agree completely with just doing your own thing and letting everyone else do likewise.

However... When the actions of others affects me, then I do care. When the actions of others who don't wear gear causes people like me, who do, to pay higher insurance rates, I care. When the actions of others, who do stupid things, like stunt on public roads, cause greater restrictions for the rest of us, who don't, I care. I care, because, as I see it, a few rotten apples might ruin it for everyone else.

Here's an example (admittedly not related to motorcycles) of what happens in cases like this. Years ago, everyone in my county bought fireworks on the 4th of July from roadside stands and had a great time with them. They were legal and sold everywhere. There were some, not content with the legal variety, who went over to Chinatown in S.F. and bought bottle rockets and other illegal fireworks. People using bottle rockets caused so many roof fires that the county eventually outlawed all fireworks. Soon this spread almost everywhere. Now there's only one city in the entire bay area (that I know of) that allows fireworks of any kind. All because of a bunch of selfish people who weren't content with the legal kind and had to go out and buy and abuse the illegal stuff.

Loonette wrote:or swim in the ocean (watch out for that shark!! - we all know sharks kill).

I agree with your whole statement, Loonette, except for this one.. sharks only kill human's by mistake.. i think there are something like 54 shark-related deaths per year, and its usually just us being mistaken for their normal type of food... (hehe, yah, i'm the geek who always loved to watch Shark week)

dead by mistake is no less dead... just more ironic.

XM23 wrote:However... When the actions of others affects me, then I do care. When the actions of others who don't wear gear causes people like me, who do, to pay higher insurance rates, I care.

This is the point I was making in my other post. We can all assume that the actions and/or risks any person takes with ANY behavior can affect us in some convoluted way. Whether it be higher insurance rates, increased cost to the tax payer, whatever. If we want to micro-manage "poo poo" like that then I can put every expense I have on any one but me. Fat people cost me, smokers cost me, mountain climbers cost me. Yada yada yada.

Lets just get over it. Gearless riders are costing no one any more or any less than the racing nerds decked out to the hilt. I pay $10 a month to insure my bike. When I pass a helmetless rider do I think, he might make my rates go up to $100 a month? No. I do think if I rode Hyabusa it might cost me $300 a month for insurance. You pay YOUR OWN insurance cost based on what you ride, not on what other people wear. It cost more to insure a Hyabusa than an Harley Electra Glide. Why? Some one, regardless of gear or not, is more likely to kill themselves on 'busa than an ElactraGlide. Why? The way people ride them. Thus sportbike riders in general pay more for insurance. It has nothing to do with some dude cruising along without a helmet and body armor.

I'm sure cagers say the same "poo poo" about us. If it weren't for those damned motorcyclist then our health and car insurance wouldn't be so costly. They risk their lifes everytime the get on one of those things and I just feel my premiums going up like my blood pressure.

Let's remember, helmet or not, we are all on the same team here.

Flip flops = no good.

Jthmeffy wrote:

Loonette wrote:or swim in the ocean (watch out for that shark!! - we all know sharks kill).

I agree with your whole statement, Loonette, except for this one.. sharks only kill human's by mistake.. i think there are something like 54 shark-related deaths per year, and its usually just us being mistaken for their normal type of food... (hehe, yah, i'm the geek who always loved to watch Shark week)

"Mistake" is relative - even in a motorcycle crash. My point was... wouldn't I be a more responsible parent by not going into the ocean at all? I can't very well be killed by a shark, even by mistake, if I'm not in the shark's territory. The deeper part of the point is that everyone has their own level of judgment, especially when it comes to how to be a good parent - if we were to avoid all things that bring added risk to our lives, we wouldn't be doing much at all in life.

Loonette wrote:I can't very well be killed by a shark, even by mistake, if I'm not in the shark's territory.

Exactly. I stay out of the shark's home (the ocean) and he stays out of mine. It's an arrangement that has worked well for many years now.

Gummiente wrote:

Loonette wrote:I can't very well be killed by a shark, even by mistake, if I'm not in the shark's territory.

Exactly. I stay out of the shark's home (the ocean) and he stays out of mine. It's an arrangement that has worked well for many years now.

Boogie boarding on the beach just isn't the same though....