Thursday, December 14, 2006
NOT WEARING A HELMET IS SAFER, PART 2 "Both of you are retards, hope you feel good about contributing to rising healthcare costs because you "choose" not to wear 8 oz of prevention or light up a disgusting cancer stick. Do the rest of us a favor and put a DNR on file." -anonymous Thanks to anonymous for calling me a retard on my blog and feeling so strongly about their opinion that he/ she decided to remain nameless. More importantly, thanks for opening a door that I am gladly going to walk through and that is the door to discussion of me"contributing to rising healthcare costs" because I choose not to wear a helmet. First I will point out anonymous' inability to grasp an analogy drawn by a "Rocket" in the helmet discussion when they stated "Amen. I know how smokers feel, now". Now "anonymous", I don't think Rocket actually stated that they smoked, rather he was making a comparison to how smokers might feel ostracized the way that helmeted riders try to make helmetless riders feel. (Rocket, please correct me if I am wrong). This point digresses however from the one I really wanted to make and that is in regard to my contribution to the rising cost of health care. This argument has been made in the past to me, in fact it was made in an editorial that was printed in the Kitsap Sun a few years ago when they came out in support of a helmet law that was being considered at the time for the town of Port Orchard (for the record, I live in Kitsap County, not King County so it is not a health code violation for me to not wear a helmet when I ride, and as far as I know, it is a health code violation to not wear a helmet when cycling in King County not an act that breaks any law, regardless, since I am at heart a Johnny Scoff Law, I still would not wear a helmet in King County) But I digress. I would argue, "anonymous" that since I am riding my bicycle, I am actually doing my part to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I am combating heart disease and obesity so therefore, I am actually doing my part to keep the costs of health care down. Furthermore, using your logic (in an admittedly convoluted way) and to take a shot at the "helmet laws" that seem to be in vogue lately, why are there no laws out there making smoking or being obese illegal (or at least a health code violation)? For I would argue that all the fat asses and smokers out there are doing much more to contribute to the rising costs of health care than I am as I ride along, minding my own business without my brain bucket on.
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14 comments:
Trust me, it's only a matter of time before the disgusting cancer sticks are outlawed altogether. Smoking laws exist because as a society we have decided that not only is it foul behavior, but that members of our society who don't have a choice about breathing the toxic fumes need to be protected, ie children, workers, etc. The laws are really not much different that OSHA regs governing toxic/carcengenic fumes/substances, etc. Smoking is NOT a right.
Don't lump me in with the helmet nazis, *you* brought it up in a public forum, I chose to respond. If you don't like it, either don't bring it up or choose to require a login.
It's too bad you care so little for the people that care for you, 8 oz of styrofoam is such a small burden, but I understand your need to look cool, rock on.
Well, then pick a better or actual analogy?
Settle down anonymous, I did bring it up in the forum because I am all about open discussion and all comments are welcome.
My choice to not wear a helmet has nothing to do with "looking cool", it has to do with the fact that I don't like wearing a helmet and I choose not to wear one except on big group rides and when I race. The point that I was trying to make is that I don't really see the need for everyone who chooses to wear a helmet tell me that I should be wearing one. No shit. And that I could drum up statistics to refute their claim that wearing a helmet is safer. And that me not wearing a helmet has nothing to do with the rising cost of health care.
What gets me is when I am out riding by myself, see another rider going in the opposite direction, I wave hello to them and 80% of the time their response is to either point at their head or respond "where is your helmet?" WTF? Do I comment to them that their bike fit is crap and they could be more efficient if they changed it or their lack of awareness of what is going on around them with traffic as they weave all over the place poses a threat to themselves and motorists or any other number of critiques I could come up with? No, I wave hello. Because at the end of the day we are all just out there riding our bikes and enjoying the freedom to do so. Allow me the freedom to ride without a helmet.
Anon~ I think you'd be more convincing if your arguments weren't riddled with straw men, non-sequitors and ad hominum attacks.
Rocket~ of course the Nazi analogy doesn't help since it is a false analagoy itself.
Joe~ nice glasses
Me~ I got nothing to add but bitter recriminations and overly defesive responses.
I hate the helmet argument. It's worse than the lifting/no lifting. There are no good studies that accurately address the issue. Is it better for your health to sit on the couch or ride your bike? If you’re riding your bike, are you more likely to get seriously hurt with our without a helmet. Who cares – I think seatbelts should be optional too. Laws that protect you from me, or me from you – fine. Laws that protect me from me – not sure I need that.
What would Coach Curly suggest? To wear or not to wear??
I think a helmet is a useful thing that you should wear. It doesn't do any harm and can only help avoid more serious injury.
How 'bout everybody who wants to wear a helmet wears one- and everyone who doesnt want to wear one, dont wear one. And everybody stop trying to convince the other side that they should or should not.
I just find it interesting that everybody has the need to convince others the way they see a certain topic is the right way.
I mean really what should anonymous, or anybody else, care if another decides they dont want to wear a helmet. Does it really affect them, I think not. It would be a much better use of their time to find something that does affect them and get people to change those habits. Like global warming or recycling or something much more important than wether or not the stache wears his helmet.
I do think a proposed "fat law" would be pretty funny though. Thats good stuff.
Bottom line wear a helmet if you want to, dont wear one if you don't want to.
“actual analogy” WTF? How about an oxymoron instead would that be better? Won’t waste my time with a metaphor either.
Anyway don’t even try to blame healthcare costs on helmet less riders. That is a minuscule statistical blip on the radar. Instead you should ask why doctors (in general) do not consult with each other about their patients. Instead they treat symptoms and not the patient. It’s far easier and more profitable than to worry about the real health concern of the patient. Not to mention it fattens up their stock portfolio in pharmaceuticals. Or maybe you would like to examine the ridiculous waste that occurs in hospitals and nursing homes, etc.? Besides it could be argued that you are more likely to sustain a crippling injury wearing a helmet instead of being killed. Being a paraplegic or worse costs a wee bit more than a funeral doesn’t it?
Myself, I do wear a helmet when on the road but not on bike paths. After all if I do get hit and survive I want to sue the motherfucker and make his life as miserable as possible; Even if I have to drool and X to sign the complaint.
Ummm, yeah, I would say most doctors in the case of helmets would prescribe wearing as a prevention... How's that for treating the patient?
Regarding doctors/magic pills, that is what f-ing people want, they don't want doctors to "treat the patient", in other words, make lifestyle changes which would avoid expensive medicines, etc. People are lazy, accept it.
Granted, there is tons of waste in hospitals, and the ridiculous charges are a direct result of the uninsured. Those of us with insurance are actually subsidizing those without insurance, not to mention the various services which hospitals generally provide as a loss, ie psych, neuro, er, etc.
With regards to the pharm stocks, don't we all have the opportunities to invest in the same stocks?
I'll agree on the death/cripple point, much less costly for the former.
Personally, I put in way too much time training to waste by being off the bike for three months with a concussion. Ask big Ben how his season is going: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2480830
Out.
Anon, don't bring Big Ben and my Steelers into the discussion. That might make me real mad....
I don't think I like your tone with "Those of us with insurance are actually subsidizing those without insurance..." I had to have emergency surgery for a detached retina when I was 19 years old as a result of some redneck piece of shit throwing a beer bottle at my face which broke over my eye when I was riding out to a club race (and yes I was wearing a helmet). Since I was 19 and out of high school I was no longer on my parents insurance and since I was not yet in college and working some dead end job at the time making ends meet, I did not have insurance of my own. Why? Because I could not afford it at a time when the decision was made to pay my rent, utilities and car insurance on time and to feed myself. My point? Insurance is a very costly affair, even more now then what it was in the late 80's and there is a huge % of Americans out there that can't afford it. Now I am not talking about the WT out there blowing money on their white trash survivial kits (lottery tickets, a carton of cigs, a case of beer in cans and their sattelite dish), I am talking about hardworking people trying to make ends meet (god I am starting to sound like Johnny Socialist here). Health care and insurance is expensive and the costs are in large part a result of the insurance companies, pharmecutical companies and mindless litigation that is so prevalent. I don't think most people choose to not have health insurance so stop throwing stones at the uninsured.
Out.
Ahh, but nowhere did I write that being uninsured was a crime (or whatever term might apply), but rather was offering an explanation in part why healthcare costs are high (or least higher than need be).
The expenses of the uninsured (and unable to pay) have to be paid by someone, a large part of that burden is met by the insured via higher costs.
I suppose we'll all see soon enough if Massachusetts' experiment in universal healthcare works.
By the way, I've known you long enough Joe to call you a retard, but I'll retract the Richter-tard.
Fair enough.
And I like Andrew's comments.
Trevor gets a buckeye too.
This discussion is officially over.
How many smokers have died due to smoking related issues? or needed hospitalization due to smoking related illnesses?
How many cyclists have died due to not wearing a helmet? or needed hospitalization?
Then you can tell me which group has the greater impact on the health care system and creates that greater costs. I'll wait while all you commentators use ze Googles and I'll laugh at you all in the meantime.
I place a helmet on my head by choice- but I don't do it all the time, but I smoke when I'm in Vegas, while I attend the bike show, because I am cooler than you.
Sorry Joe I know you officially ended the discussion, but I'm not the one that originated the continuation.
Fstrblly asks, "How many cyclists have died due to not wearing a helmet? or needed hospitalization?"
The short list might be Fabio Casartelli & Andrey Kivilev. IMHO it probably would've made a big difference in both cases.
One that would've made the list if the UCI hadn't mandated the wearing of helmets for racing - Saul Raisen.
One that it didn't help - Isaac Galvez.
Personally (as one who also frequently trains in the Banjo country of greater Kitsap County) - I agree with Old as Dirt, wearing a helmet is cheap insurance. I've got a wife, daughter & 2 more on the way and a career to look forward to. And I'll still give you a wave.
Now I propose we all chat about all the guys who ride thru stop signs like the law doesn't apply to them verses those of us who stop; or are dimpled rims really better; or is Floyd just the stupidest racer in history :)
Older than Old as Dirt
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