Why wouldn't you wear a helmet

[david k]

There is mocking of idiotic arguments, anecdotes presented as fact, wooly reasoning, appeals to authority, hypocrisy and inconsistency. And that's as it should be.

No one has been mocked simply for exercising their choice to wear a helmet.

Ben, this may explain some mocking, but often it appears to me posters are asked for their reasons why they wear a helmet. When they answer honestly they are often also mocked.

Some may not agree with their reasoning or even think it's plausible but it's their right to have that view, isn't that pro choice, choice to wear one as well as not to?

 

[Wafer]

Five likes for this post, supporting your right not to have to explain or defend your view.

Is it support for your 'view, or your right not to have to explain it?

If truly your right then there should be the same support for someone with the opposite view who refuses to explain or defend it.

If you're going to question/mock/criticise someone for not wearing a helmet, don't be surprised if they turn it around on you. Generally when I've seen people ask why others DO wear helmets, it's a response to wanting to know why they don't, not an out of the blue question.

 

[mcshroom]

You have no reason to explain your choice to wear one. It's when you start telling others what to do that it needs a defence.

You will struggle to find people on here who will tell you not to wear one. There is no one (despite mickle's claims) that is 'anti-helmet'. However we would like you to consider why you choose to wear one, and the evidence of their effectiveness (or lack thereof).

The premise of this thread however is backwards. It is the pro-helmeteers that need to show why people should change, not for the status quo to have to justify not changing.

 

[MontyVeda]

...

But are they mocking?

No, they're raising examples of comparable bits of safety kit and i suspect, hoping for an opinion as to their necessity. That you're compelled to feel mocked when such points are raised is another matter.

 

[david k]

If you're going to question/mock/criticise someone for not wearing a helmet, don't be surprised if they turn it around on you. Generally when I've seen people ask why others DO wear helmets, it's a response to wanting to know why they don't, not an out of the blue question.

I think your right on some occasions, but it's not always the case. Seems that as it's the case on some occasions, it's used to justify open season on anyone who wears a helmet or suggests a benefit of wearing one, it's doesn't have to be that way and often just turns the discussion into a battle of ridicule

 

[david k]

...

No, they're raising examples of comparable bits of safety kit and i suspect, hoping for an opinion as to their necessity. That you're compelled to feel mocked when such points are raised is another matter.

Sorry, it's mocking, dress it up as much as you like, it's mocking

 

[MontyVeda]

Sorry, it's mocking, dress it up as much as you like, it's mocking

No need to apologise. May I ask... as per the OP... Why wouldn't you wear a helmet?

 

[mcshroom]

Have you got an answer to the inconsistencies they highlight, or are you going to keep complaining that you feel mocked as a way of avoiding the question?

 

[Wafer]

I think your right on some occasions, but it's not always the case. Seems that as it's the case on some occasions, it's used to justify open season on anyone who wears a helmet or suggests a benefit of wearing one, it's doesn't have to be that way and often just turns the discussion into a battle of ridicule

Yeah, and having had friends angrily have a go at me for not wearing a helmet on the 1 mile I cycle to work from my car, it gets a little tiresome and perhaps occasionally react a bit quickly. I would suggest 80% of the time it's a response to people having a go about not wearing a helmet and 20% of the time people fed up of being made to defend not wearing a helmet getting it in first.

So now if you're tired of being moaned at for not wearing a helmet and respond, you're unfairly mocking all the helmet wearers or non-cyclists that question you?!

 

[david k]

Have you got an answer to the inconsistencies they highlight, or are you going to keep complaining that you feel mocked as a way of avoiding the question?

Wasn't complaining about being mocked, read back the posts, I was replying to a post that said helmet wearers are never mocked, I was pointing out that inconsistency

 

[snorri]

If truly your right then there should be the same support for someone with the opposite view who refuses to explain or defend it.

There is no call for anyone to explain their stance, unless that person tells everyone else to follow his/her example, that's when things get a bit out of hand.

 

[david k]

Yeah, and having had friends angrily have a go at me for not wearing a helmet on the 1 mile I cycle to work from my car, it gets a little tiresome and perhaps occasionally react a bit quickly. I would suggest 80% of the time it's a response to people having a go about not wearing a helmet and 20% of the time people fed up of being made to defend not wearing a helmet getting it in first.

So now if you're tired of being moaned at for not wearing a helmet and respond, you're unfairly mocking all the helmet wearers or non-cyclists that question you?!

As previous post, I was pointing out to a poster that there is mocking when they suggested there wasnt

 

[david k]

There is no call for anyone to explain their stance, unless that person tells everyone else to follow his/her example, that's when things get a bit out of hand.

Fair enough, as long as this works both ways

 

[Wafer]

As previous post, I was pointing out to a poster that there is mocking when they suggested there wasnt

Which at best is minor compared to the verbal traffic in the other direction.

 

[david k]

Which at best is minor compared to the verbal traffic in the other direction.

I'm not sure that's the case when you look at these threads, even at best