Childhood Friend Just had a Motorcycle Accident

[BoberFett]

Where in the definition of wisdom does it state that dangerous activities aren't allowed?

 

[Pikachu]

The older & wiser people get, the less they do stupid things... period. Doesn't mean some old people don't do stupid things too. They say they are "young at heart", or never grew up. Ain't that cute?

 

[mattpegher]

Like many former bike riders with children, I still have my bike and miss the experience. I just can't take the risk that I might get hurt or killed. I do think that unlike smoking, bike riding can be enjoyed while decreasing the risk by riding only in unpopulated areas and for pleasure only ie the leasurely scenic ride. The best you can do is avoid the accident, for most of us this means avoiding the bike.

 

[Pikachu]

I'll be riding someday. I always tell my wife I'm going out with a bang. I intend to cruise all over the countryside, in a fast, two seater, with a glovebox full of drugs! I'd kinda like to enjoy my grandkids for a while first, so I figure I'll be around 85 years old when all this takes place!

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: ballmode
and i was thinking about getting a 500r ninja...

when I ride, im gonna wear a helmet and jacket...

You realize that the helmet is pretty much wearing you for protection, right?

ummm ever ride in colorado? rocks and gravel is everywhere, all i have to do is look at my windshield and taht is enough to realize that a full face shield would be a good idea instead of loosing an eye or tooth or having your nose broken.

 

[mordantmonkey]

hmmm, considering his wife on the back only got a concussion, i'm thinking wearing a helmet would have avoided the hospital all together.

 

[Pikachu]

I'm thinking you're right, but nothing beats the feeling of riding without a helmet. Besides, helmets are for pussies.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Pikachu
The older & wiser people get, the less they do stupid things... period. Doesn't mean some old people don't do stupid things too. They say they are "young at heart", or never grew up. Ain't that cute?

I don't consider riding a motorcycle stupid. If you do, that's your own damn problem. Leave your brother alone and stop butting into his affairs.

 

[Pikachu]

He called me...

BTW, it's not the riding that's stupid. It's having responsibilities and dependents, and riding that's stupid, unless you have a buttload of insurance. Hell, our friend may have a buttload of life insurance, but if he's a quadriplegic, it ain't gonna help much... for a while anyway.

 

[VanTheMan]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: VanTheMan

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Well, better sell your car too. I hear people get into accidents with those all the time.

Oh, and quit drinking. That causes liver damage.

Better stop eating fatty foods, might die of heart disease.

Smoking, eh? Lung cancer.

Oh, it's weed? People get shot for dealing that all the time.

:roll:

Sorry to hear that you lost your balls in a tragic hedge-clipper accident, but don't harp on your brother just because you're a pussy.

- M4H

QFT. I work in a hospital and I see more people dying every day from those types of things than there are motorcycle related deaths.

Perhaps because more people are doing those things???

Statistics 101 FTW

Granted, if more people were riding bikes then traffic conditions might be safer (due to people paying more attention), but still...

Traffic conditions would definitely be safer if many more people were riding motorcycles. Generally speaking, more problems are being caused by all the things M4H mentioned than motorcycle riding. I think it's just as, if not more, irresponsible to drink alcohol, eat bad, and smoke as some people are saying it is to ride. As far as I know, heart disease is still the number one killer in this nation. The aforementioned activities greatly increase the likelihood of heart disease. Does everyone who says motorcycling is irresponsible also think it's irresponsible to have a heart attack or stroke and die or become disabled when you have small children and a wife depending on you?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Mackie2k
Bike's don't kill people, SUV's and Old People do.

you can take a corner too fast and crash all by yourself. also rain.

Well, the first would be your fault, and the second isn't nearly as big a deal as you think. It sucks, but it's doable.

Believe me, I looked VERY carefully at the statistics before I got my bike. Motorcycles are certainly more dangerous than cars, but the statistics tend to get biased by the type of people who ride...meaning that if you're not one of the 20 year old kids on a crotch rocket riding at 100MPH down country roads at night after a few beers without a helmet, your risks go way down.

Taking out the accidents that just involved the stupidity of the rider, we're primarily left with people not seeing you and making a left turn at an intersection in front of you,which can be partially dealt with by trying to keep someone on your right as you pass through an intersection. That way people turning right onto your road will have to wait, and people turning left will see the car and wait.

The public perception of how dangerous motorcycles are is amusingly far from the truth.

Originally posted by: Pikachu
Why do people smoke, or drive without seat belts? Why do they knock up their teenage girlfriends, or get knocked up? Why do they climb mountains, ride motorcycles, race speedboats and fly ultralights?

Obviously, some of us take life a little more seriously than others.

Wow, so mature people don't ride bikes, ride motorcycles, climb mountains, go skiing, go boating, drive sports cars, travel to other countries, drink any alcohol, eat ice cream, or basically do anything at all fun?

Thanks, I think I'll pass.

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: Pikachu
The older & wiser people get, the less they do stupid things... period. Doesn't mean some old people don't do stupid things too. They say they are "young at heart", or never grew up. Ain't that cute?

So climbing a mountain is unwise? And yet... many stories involve wise old hermits living atop mountains.

 

[VanTheMan]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: Mackie2k
Bike's don't kill people, SUV's and Old People do.

you can take a corner too fast and crash all by yourself. also rain.

Well, the first would be your fault, and the second isn't nearly as big a deal as you think. It sucks, but it's doable.

Believe me, I looked VERY carefully at the statistics before I got my bike. Motorcycles are certainly more dangerous than cars, but the statistics tend to get biased by the type of people who ride...meaning that if you're not one of the 20 year old kids on a crotch rocket riding at 100MPH down country roads at night after a few beers without a helmet, your risks go way down.

Taking out the accidents that just involved the stupidity of the rider, we're primarily left with people not seeing you and making a left turn at an intersection in front of you,which can be partially dealt with by trying to keep someone on your right as you pass through an intersection. That way people turning right onto your road will have to wait, and people turning left will see the car and wait.

The public perception of how dangerous motorcycles are is amusingly far from the truth.

Originally posted by: Pikachu
Why do people smoke, or drive without seat belts? Why do they knock up their teenage girlfriends, or get knocked up? Why do they climb mountains, ride motorcycles, race speedboats and fly ultralights?

Obviously, some of us take life a little more seriously than others.

Wow, so mature people don't ride bikes, ride motorcycles, climb mountains, go skiing, go boating, drive sports cars, travel to other countries, drink any alcohol, eat ice cream, or basically do anything at all fun?

Thanks, I think I'll pass.

Agreed. People just love to say "Oh motorcycles are so dangerous!" Pikachu, the old people who do your "stupid things" are the ones who are in the best physical and mental condition. They know that life is worth living and don't spiral into depression. Are you just concerned that your brother is going to die in a motorcycle crash? Are you maybe a little jealous that he's doing things he loves and enjoying his life? What kinds of things do you do for fun?

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: VanTheMan

Agreed. People just love to say "Oh motorcycles are so dangerous!" Pikachu, the old people who do your "stupid things" are the ones who are in the best physical and mental condition. They know that life is worth living and don't spiral into depression. Are you just concerned that your brother is going to die in a motorcycle crash? Are you maybe a little jealous that he's doing things he loves and enjoying his life? What kinds of things do you do for fun?

WRONG. a lot of people cannot get the perception of bikes being more dangerous out of their heads. once an accident does happen, you're better off in a vehicle. no argument there.

If my bro rode a bike, i'd be worried sick. Ya I already know that bikes isn't that much safer than riding in anything else... but i'd still be worried.
ya sure statistics show a lot of things, but it's just ingrained in our heads. The OP has every right to be worried, especially for his brother.

 

[natep]

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: Pikachu
The older & wiser people get, the less they do stupid things... period. Doesn't mean some old people don't do stupid things too. They say they are "young at heart", or never grew up. Ain't that cute?

So climbing a mountain is unwise? And yet... many stories involve wise old hermits living atop mountains.

I think the man who does what he loves is wiser than the man who tries to live the longest. I would much rather take wisdom from the first man.

 

[SophalotJack]

Originally posted by: Mackie2k
Bike's don't kill people, SUV's and Old People do.

if (women && (cell phone || blind intersection))
{
population--;
}



Hopefully your bro won't end up the same way. But you can't protect him all the time.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: natep

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: Pikachu
The older & wiser people get, the less they do stupid things... period. Doesn't mean some old people don't do stupid things too. They say they are "young at heart", or never grew up. Ain't that cute?

So climbing a mountain is unwise? And yet... many stories involve wise old hermits living atop mountains.

I think the man who does what he loves is wiser than the man who tries to live the longest. I would much rather take wisdom from the first man.

Game, set and match.

 

[Pikachu]

...wiser than the man who tries to live the longest.

I've already heard in this thread, about "the wisdom" of wearing a helmet on a bike. Most mountain climbers take extreme precautions. Why is that? Do they have shriveled balls and lack the true lust for life?