I can only assume that the people who refuse to sing Happy Birthday have no kids?
No idea. I hate it because people sing out of tune and it's horrible to hear. I can appreciate (and will join in) on a group that can sing reasonably well.
I usually just mumble/lip sync it so I don't add to the chaos (ie: A bunch of tone deaf individuals singing in like 4 keys simultaneously). I much rather join in a loud "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" cheer.
I don't agree with your "I don't wear a helmet" position generally but you are spot on. Imagine going out for a pint with your buddy's and having to lug around your helmet. In fact, when I went to the Flames game this spring and rode my bike, I felt like a tool carrying my helmet around at the game. It was inconvenient, in future, I'll likely just leave my helmet at home.
Actually, I do wear a helmet when I'm meeting friends for a pint, because I know I'll be riding home on the street at night.
But like I said, it's all about letting people use their own judgement and discretion.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
What do you think the public reaction would be if the Canadian College of Physicians recommended all motorists and passengers wear helmets whenever they traveled by car? And if the provincial government introduced a bill to make helmets mandatory for everyone under 18 in a car? How many people do you think would be onboard with that trade-off of convenience and comfort for safety?
And frankly, it's a lot less of a hassle for motorists to wear helmets because you can just leave a helmet in a car rather than need to carry it around with you everywhere. That's the other big hassle with helmets: carrying them everywhere when you're not on your bike.
In Canada, we consider cycling an activity. We put on helmets, special clothes, and say we're going for a bike ride. When we get in our car to go to Starbucks to get a coffee, or to the drug store to get some Advil, we don't say we're going for a car ride. We say we're going to Starbucks, or to the drug store.
Cycling will grow when it's no longer considered an activity, when it's simply a common means of transportation. And when you use cycling as a common means of transportation, you end up places with other people. And now you have a helmet in your hand. You have a helmet in your hand at the mall, you have a helmet in your hand watching a movie, you have a helmet on the table at Earl's. And yes, people, especially women, are not going to want to go out to the mall, or to a movie, or to Earls, with a helmet in their hand and their hair messed up.
There's a reason that the only major city where a bike share a program has flopped is Melbourne, Australia, which has a helmet law. The idea of bike share programs (and widespread urban cycling in general), is that people can on the spur of the moment and as a convenience hop on a bike to ride 4 of 6 or 10 blocks to meet with friends. That's just not going to happen if every potential rider has to carry a helmet with them 24/7.
I do want you to know that I'm 100% convinced now after reading all the data and doing a lot of thinking that helmet laws are awful in trying to accomplish what it wants to do.
I'd still wear my helmet when I bike, but I'm more acutely aware of how much of an inconvenience it really is, and how it prevents people from biking a lot.
Cheers.
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What do you think the public reaction would be if the Canadian College of Physicians recommended all motorists and passengers wear helmets whenever they traveled by car? And if the provincial government introduced a bill to make helmets mandatory for everyone under 18 in a car? How many people do you think would be onboard with that trade-off of convenience and comfort for safety?
And frankly, it's a lot less of a hassle for motorists to wear helmets because you can just leave a helmet in a car rather than need to carry it around with you everywhere. That's the other big hassle with helmets: carrying them everywhere when you're not on your bike.
In Canada, we consider cycling an activity. We put on helmets, special clothes, and say we're going for a bike ride. When we get in our car to go to Starbucks to get a coffee, or to the drug store to get some Advil, we don't say we're going for a car ride. We say we're going to Starbucks, or to the drug store.
Cycling will grow when it's no longer considered an activity, when it's simply a common means of transportation. And when you use cycling as a common means of transportation, you end up places with other people. And now you have a helmet in your hand. You have a helmet in your hand at the mall, you have a helmet in your hand watching a movie, you have a helmet on the table at Earl's. And yes, people, especially women, are not going to want to go out to the mall, or to a movie, or to Earls, with a helmet in their hand and their hair messed up.
There's a reason that the only major city where a bike share a program has flopped is Melbourne, Australia, which has a helmet law. The idea of bike share programs (and widespread urban cycling in general), is that people can on the spur of the moment and as a convenience hop on a bike to ride 4 of 6 or 10 blocks to meet with friends. That's just not going to happen if every potential rider has to carry a helmet with them 24/7.
Please note that the paper you post for reducing bike riding with mandatory helmets is about youth and states the following
"The results above show that state laws adopted over past two decades that require youths to wear helmets when riding a bicycle reduced youth bicycling fatalities by about 19 percent, increased helmet use by 20-34 percent, and (unintentionally) reduced bicycling by 4-5 percent."
So there is a slight reduction in youth biking. The discussion states that the youth are more likely to skate board or inline skate instead of biking so the physical activity is there, so the exercise and heart problem excuse is gone. Nothing about adults changing habits either.
so 4-5% less biker because it is uncool and they probably change there mind when older, and it a 19% less youth fatalities. fair trade.
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It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
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I kind of feel like CliffFletcher is channeling a bit of Sliver with such a passionate stand against such a common sense thing. You don't hate dogs, do you CliffFletcher?
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I kind of feel like CliffFletcher is channeling a bit of Sliver with such a passionate stand against such a common sense thing. You don't hate dogs, do you CliffFletcher?
Disliking dogs =/= lack of common sense. I've outlined several rational reasons why I don't like them:
poo everywhere
pee everywhere
attack
smell
shed
loud barking
owners insist you like them
etc.
Disliking helmets makes no sense whatsoever.
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What is the per capita rate of head injury with a dog wearing a helmet vs. dog with no helmet? Any situational data? What about by country? How does the netherlands compare in dog head injuries where most dogs don't wear helmets?
What is the per capita rate of head injury with a dog wearing a helmet vs. dog with no helmet? Any situational data? What about by country? How does the netherlands compare in dog head injuries where most dogs don't wear helmets?
Great questions
Also
And
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I kind of feel like CliffFletcher is channeling a bit of Sliver with such a passionate stand against such a common sense thing. You don't hate dogs, do you CliffFletcher?
I'm not against helmets. I just like to look at data and make my own decisions about things rather than rely on 'common sense.' Especially when it comes to risk assessment, which is an area where modern society, collectively, its absolutely terrible.
And mandatory bike helmets is in fact a very controversial issue most everywhere where it's been implemented or discussed. Canada is an outlier in terms of support for helmets (we're both an extremely careful and an extremely conformist society).
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
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