Helmet Debate
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 144
From: Burleson, TX
For that reason I think health insurance companies should be able to deny coverage for smokers too. Sure I'll catch crap for that one, but why should my premiums help pay for someone's lung cancer due to their known risky choice?
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 182
Likes: 11
From: Arizona
Any of you no helmet guys use a seat belt in your car/truck? Curious if you also take the "it's my life, my choice" there too. I mean it's your choice to wear a seat belt right, statistically you just die easier without a seat belt just like without a helmet.
Good discussion, definitely interesting to see other opinions.
Good discussion, definitely interesting to see other opinions.
I do not where a seatbelt when in my POV, I have to wear one at work as policy dictates, I would not want my family to have to go through litigation and have my life insurance (significantly more for on duty death) questioned due to my actions.
I am curious as to why anyone cares, what my "life choices are" don't say you don't care because if you didn't then why would you be wasting your time posting on this thread! I choose to eat healthy, I choose to run 5 miles at least five times a week, I choose not to Ski (wife and son love it, I prefer the lodge) for fear of injury. I choose not to smoke, I choose not to take illegal drugs. I also choose not to impose my will on others, you want to die because of smoking go right ahead, you want to eat yourself to death go ahead. Life is about choices we should all be free to make our own!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 254
From: US
Any of you no helmet guys use a seat belt in your car/truck? Curious if you also take the "it's my life, my choice" there too. I mean it's your choice to wear a seat belt right, statistically you just die easier without a seat belt just like without a helmet.
Good discussion, definitely interesting to see other opinions.
Good discussion, definitely interesting to see other opinions.
Someone else decided it's in my better interest to wear a seatbelt. I was against it at 1st, but wore it just to avoid the ticket. Now its just automatic to wear it and think nothing of it. Actually feel naked if I drive off without it on till I strap in. I'm sure if they made me wear a helmet, in time it'd be no different.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 144
From: Burleson, TX
Hell yeah I care for you Brother! We need you alive and riding so you can buy more motorcycle parts and accessories to help keep costs down!!
Mainly I'm here discussing opinions on this topic like I mentioned a few posts up. Nothing wrong with discussing why we make our choices, right?
Weird that you seem to make really health conscious decisions MeanGreen02, but not in a personal car or motorcycle. I'm not attacking or forcing my opinions on you, just a discussion.
Mainly I'm here discussing opinions on this topic like I mentioned a few posts up. Nothing wrong with discussing why we make our choices, right?
Weird that you seem to make really health conscious decisions MeanGreen02, but not in a personal car or motorcycle. I'm not attacking or forcing my opinions on you, just a discussion.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
Please, I smoked for ten years and quit! There is a huge difference between eating and stuffing your face. Sad you don't know the difference. I don't have hard numbers but I bet the number of people that ride is coming close to that which smoke, **** I don't know anyone who smokes anymore but know plenty that ride! And you are right riding a motorcycle is something not everyone does so you would be ok if they decided to make it illegal because it was dangerous? Please help, not understanding your logic.
I don't know where you are but here in the desert it is riding weather/conditions almost everyday, year around. And for every scooter I see there are a countless number of cages on the street. Don't fool yourself, there would be a major difference between the number of people that ride a motorcycle and the number of people that are invested, psychologically, enough with motorcycles, to 'fight back' against any oppressive laws.
As far as "so you would be ok if they decided to make it illegal because it was dangerous"? That, unfortunately, could be decided by relatively few politicos and is what I am trying to prevent. I wouldn't be OK with it, but there isn't much I could do.
Last edited by rjg883c; Feb 4, 2016 at 10:06 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 265
Likes: 14
From: Abilene TX
Unless you are the only policy holder with your insurance company, your actions certainly do affect the other policy holders with that company. It's not unheard of for privately insured companies to go under when a few of their employees undergo major health circumstances.
For that reason I think health insurance companies should be able to deny coverage for smokers too. Sure I'll catch crap for that one, but why should my premiums help pay for someone's lung cancer due to their known risky choice?
For that reason I think health insurance companies should be able to deny coverage for smokers too. Sure I'll catch crap for that one, but why should my premiums help pay for someone's lung cancer due to their known risky choice?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,421
Likes: 108
From: Tennessee
Since it's Been Asked: No, I Don't Wear a Seatbelt, Either
If anyone thinks that politicians in local, state and federal governments care one iota about your safety and well being, I've got some ocean front property in Arizona I'll sell you.
Seat belt and helmet laws were schemed up by insurance companies, who then sicced their "bought & paid for" lobbyists on naive and corrupt politicians who envisioned self enrichment and/or new revenue generator scams in the name of "public safety".
I've learned over the years that whenever some politician starts championing some new "public safety" legislation, it time to grab my wallet, hide my money and take stock of what freedoms and liberties I still have and enjoy.
Bottom line: Government Gruberment politicians don't give a fat rat's *** about anyone's safety;they never have and never will. It's always been about money...our money.
Seat belt and helmet laws were schemed up by insurance companies, who then sicced their "bought & paid for" lobbyists on naive and corrupt politicians who envisioned self enrichment and/or new revenue generator scams in the name of "public safety".
I've learned over the years that whenever some politician starts championing some new "public safety" legislation, it time to grab my wallet, hide my money and take stock of what freedoms and liberties I still have and enjoy.
Bottom line: Government Gruberment politicians don't give a fat rat's *** about anyone's safety;they never have and never will. It's always been about money...our money.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 182
Likes: 11
From: Arizona
My logic is that smoking, even to people that don't smoke, is understood and accepted as an addiction by the general population and wouldn't be subject to laws preventing smoking everywhere. And since everybody eats, most not to excess, 'eating' is an activity that even more so really can't be limited. Since most people, apparently not in your 'circle', don't and wouldn't ride a motorcycle there wouldn't be any bad reaction to attempts at decreasing motorcycle ridership. Especially since this can be done indirectly, not obviously, by things such as requiring more insurance, riding restrictions, increasing fees, etc.. It wouldn't have to be something obvious such as laws forbidding riding.
I don't know where you are but here in the desert it is riding weather/conditions almost everyday, year around. And for every scooter I see there are a countless number of cages on the street. Don't fool yourself, there would be a major difference between the number of people that ride a motorcycle and the number of people that are invested, psychologically, enough with motorcycles, to 'fight back' against any oppressive laws.
As far as "so you would be ok if they decided to make it illegal because it was dangerous"? That, unfortunately, could be decided by relatively few politicos and is what I am trying to prevent. I wouldn't be OK with it, but there isn't much I could do.
I don't know where you are but here in the desert it is riding weather/conditions almost everyday, year around. And for every scooter I see there are a countless number of cages on the street. Don't fool yourself, there would be a major difference between the number of people that ride a motorcycle and the number of people that are invested, psychologically, enough with motorcycles, to 'fight back' against any oppressive laws.
As far as "so you would be ok if they decided to make it illegal because it was dangerous"? That, unfortunately, could be decided by relatively few politicos and is what I am trying to prevent. I wouldn't be OK with it, but there isn't much I could do.
First, I would say if you don't think there is a enormous problem with eating in this Country, then why is 65+ percent of the population obese? Sorry I don't follow the second half of that paragraph.
I don't follow much in the second one either. If not wearing a helmet has no effect on anyone but me and my family (wife chooses to wear one) why pass a law (revenue perhaps)? I live in the same area of the Country!
I completely agree with your last paragraph, I was just stating that if you are ok with passing helmet laws because of danger, well than you are not that far from passing laws against operating a motorcycle because of danger. Again some things are dangerous, we should be free to make those decisions when our actions have no direct impact on others.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 182
Likes: 11
From: Arizona
Hell yeah I care for you Brother! We need you alive and riding so you can buy more motorcycle parts and accessories to help keep costs down!!
Mainly I'm here discussing opinions on this topic like I mentioned a few posts up. Nothing wrong with discussing why we make our choices, right?
Weird that you seem to make really health conscious decisions MeanGreen02, but not in a personal car or motorcycle. I'm not attacking or forcing my opinions on you, just a discussion.
Mainly I'm here discussing opinions on this topic like I mentioned a few posts up. Nothing wrong with discussing why we make our choices, right?
Weird that you seem to make really health conscious decisions MeanGreen02, but not in a personal car or motorcycle. I'm not attacking or forcing my opinions on you, just a discussion.
I guess I would chalk it up to a calculated risk/preference. My health choices are made so that I don't succumb to death at the hands of another at work and if I do I will know that I gave everything that I have! See we all weigh the risks of every day life against what is important to us, what we can control and what we are willing to leave to the hands of others. I would not argue that me riding without a helmet is smart, recently totaled the bike in the SIG coming home from the gym because someone did not want to wait their turn to make a left. For some reason or another this is a calculated risk I am willing to take. Immediately after my accident I swore I would never buy another bike however, I had a new 2016 Custom RGS in the garage before the insurance check cleared. Also for anyone that reads this I love to discuss/argue/debate helps pass the time. I mean no disrespect to anyone and I take none as you stated this is simply a discussion.
I may have to start wearing the vest at home if the wife sees the receipts. Just did the Bars, head tubes are next!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,166
Likes: 1,801
From: Puget Sound, WA.
I don't have to justify my choices to anyone- as for the insurance slavery mantra, how's those policy rates going for ya?
If you don't believe in individual freedom then you're nothing more than cattle in a slaughter yard.
If you don't believe in individual freedom then you're nothing more than cattle in a slaughter yard.