Comments on: Open Thread for September 21-27, 2008 http://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008 ErieBlogs.com Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:53:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Billhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1905 Bill Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:50:56 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1905 Don't wear a helmet, just make sure your organ donor status is up to date. I guess the 'good' part about not wearing a helmet s that you're much more likely to become a fatality statistic, therefore saving John Q. Public the expense of $$$ in medical care, rehabilitation, and CAT Fund losses. This way, the only expense will be for the Coroner to come and scoop you up, and for your funeral expenses. Don’t wear a helmet, just make sure your organ donor status is up to date. I guess the ‘good’ part about not wearing a helmet s that you’re much more likely to become a fatality statistic, therefore saving John Q. Public the expense of $$$ in medical care, rehabilitation, and CAT Fund losses. This way, the only expense will be for the Coroner to come and scoop you up, and for your funeral expenses.

]]> By: DanZhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1904 DanZ Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:43:44 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1904 Defensive? That's entertaining. If by defensive you mean refuting anecdotal spin you are falsely advancing as fact (you would make a good politician methinks), then sure. Again, nice try. Sorry, but you need to go back and read your first post. It is clearly not all you were saying. And when I challenged your spin with facts, someone did indeed get defensive (hint, it wasn't me ;)). By the way, I'm a bicyclist. I ride more than a lot of people drive. I am nearly hit on an almost daily basis by inattentive/careless/plain bad drivers. I have been run off the road intentionally, sworn at, had things thrown at me, been threatened with arrest (by a rent-a-cop!) and violence. Oh, I've actually been hit twice too. It's dangerous out there and I have a responsibility to myself to ensure I am as safe as possible at all times. I don't have to wear a helmet, but I do because it's just plain stupid not to. Defensive? That’s entertaining. If by defensive you mean refuting anecdotal spin you are falsely advancing as fact (you would make a good politician methinks), then sure. Again, nice try.

Sorry, but you need to go back and read your first post. It is clearly not all you were saying. And when I challenged your spin with facts, someone did indeed get defensive (hint, it wasn’t me ;)).

By the way, I’m a bicyclist. I ride more than a lot of people drive. I am nearly hit on an almost daily basis by inattentive/careless/plain bad drivers. I have been run off the road intentionally, sworn at, had things thrown at me, been threatened with arrest (by a rent-a-cop!) and violence. Oh, I’ve actually been hit twice too.

It’s dangerous out there and I have a responsibility to myself to ensure I am as safe as possible at all times. I don’t have to wear a helmet, but I do because it’s just plain stupid not to.

]]> By: inkedhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1903 inked Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:06:34 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1903 Do you even ride? If not, you will never understand. again, my original point was about the story in the blog about a motorcycle accident... "every time there is a motorcycle accident the first comment is usually about a helmet - remember, wearing or not wearing a helmet does not cause the accident, so why make that the first comment..." It might be more appropriate to wish the poor guy well, instead of barking about whether or not he was wearing a helmet. That's all I started out saying and you got all defensive. Later. - I'm gone. Do you even ride? If not, you will never understand.

again, my original point was about the story in the blog about a motorcycle accident…

“every time there is a motorcycle accident the first comment is usually about a helmet – remember, wearing or not wearing a helmet does not cause the accident, so why make that the first comment…”

It might be more appropriate to wish the poor guy well, instead of barking about whether or not he was wearing a helmet.

That’s all I started out saying and you got all defensive. Later. – I’m gone.

]]> By: DanZhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1902 DanZ Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:47:14 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1902 I'm sorry, but you are the one who keeps trying to spin by using anecdotal evidence. Which means I'm wasting my time here. I’m sorry, but you are the one who keeps trying to spin by using anecdotal evidence.

Which means I’m wasting my time here.

]]> By: inkedhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1901 inked Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:41:10 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1901 Well, I have been in three accidents in 30 years - the first two I wore a helmet - State law - the third I did not. Basically the same injuries to all three - Knee - torn acl. - Scrapes and bruised. We all know you can skew statistics any way you want. I have seen just as many fatalities with helmets as with out - (Past EMT) - Well, I have been in three accidents in 30 years – the first two I wore a helmet – State law – the third I did not.

Basically the same injuries to all three – Knee – torn acl. – Scrapes and bruised.

We all know you can skew statistics any way you want. I have seen just as many fatalities with helmets as with out – (Past EMT) -

]]> By: DanZhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1900 DanZ Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:49:20 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1900 Well, if you read the PDF I linked to, it shows motorcyclists who wear helmets are actually <strong>less likely</strong> to be in an accident in the first place. You can draw your own inference here... Well, if you read the PDF I linked to, it shows motorcyclists who wear helmets are actually less likely to be in an accident in the first place.

You can draw your own inference here…

]]> By: inkedhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1899 inked Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:44:34 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1899 Also you have to take in consideration that there has been a huge surge in registered motorcycles over the past several years - so of course as new riders arrive, the accident stats go up before experience points go up - I bet when cars were new the accident rate was exponential for a long time. My beginning point was that again, every time there is a motorcycle accident the first comment is usually about a helmet - remember, wearing or not wearing a helmet does not cause the accident, so why make that the first comment... Also you have to take in consideration that there has been a huge surge in registered motorcycles over the past several years – so of course as new riders arrive, the accident stats go up before experience points go up – I bet when cars were new the accident rate was exponential for a long time.

My beginning point was that again, every time there is a motorcycle accident the first comment is usually about a helmet – remember, wearing or not wearing a helmet does not cause the accident, so why make that the first comment…

]]> By: Inkedhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1898 Inked Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:38:44 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1898 It always boils down to the fact that the people who don't ride a motorcycle are the ones who are always talking about helmets.... It always boils down to the fact that the people who don’t ride a motorcycle are the ones who are always talking about helmets….

]]> By: Richhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1897 Rich Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:48:25 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1897 Let's not forget <a href="http://www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/news/2008/head_injuries.html" rel="nofollow">this report</a> that just came out this year showing that motorcycle fatalities due to head injuries are up following the repeal of the helmet law. More discussion <a href="http://www.erieblogs.com/archives/2008/07/erie_pa_news_an_1027.php#comments" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Let’s not forget this report that just came out this year showing that motorcycle fatalities due to head injuries are up following the repeal of the helmet law.

More discussion here.

]]> By: DanZhttp://www.erieblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008#comment-1896 DanZ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:34:37 +0000 http://www.burghblogs.com/2008/09/21/open-thread-for-september-21-27-2008/#comment-1896 Nice try. From your link: The "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures," was a study conducted by the University of Southern California, with funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, researcher Harry Hurt investigated nearly every aspect of 900 motorcycle accidents in the <b>Los Angeles area</b>. The study I am referencing is <b>nationwide</b> accidents. Please read the following PDF: <a href="http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2006/810606.pdf" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2006/810606.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2006/810606.pdf</a></a> Nice try. From your link:

The “Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures,” was a study conducted by the University of Southern California, with funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, researcher Harry Hurt investigated nearly every aspect of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area.

The study I am referencing is nationwide accidents.

Please read the following PDF: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2006/810606.pdf

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