Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

Are people further up the autistic spectrum less privileged?

Hard to say, it's a mixed blessing.

^^ Since you're a cycling role model David, do you also wear a helmet? ;)

Would love to but for my topknot...

And what's your stance on (hot) airbags?

I prefer these

especially those on the autistic spectrum.

Everyone is on the autistic spectrum, some of us just higher than others...

Everyone is on the autistic spectrum, some of us just higher than others...

Are we ? thought the general consensus was that it wasn't really all inclusive ? (http://goo.gl/XeKH63)

Are people further up the autistic spectrum less privileged?

Hard to say, it's a mixed blessing.

Not in the context of how I used the word, as far as I am aware.

I'm not even sure what you're saying here. I'm increasingly confident, based on your form tonight, that you are even less sure what you're saying. Perhaps another of your 500 word essays will clarify the matter :-)

Then do me a favour and tell me what you mean

Nope, I am quite sure on this.

You're sure that you're not sure or you're sure that you're sure?

Then do me a favour and tell me what you mean

Privilege in the context that I used it ...

Ah, there's the trouble. I thought we were talking about "Autistic in the context that I used it...", the context being that you took one common symptom of autism and used it as a stick with which to beat somebody who disagreed with you.

For the avoidance of doubt, let me state that you didn't offend me, for two reasons; firstly, that you had edited out your crass comment about autism before I got online tonight, and secondly that I don't get offended by crass comments about characteristics or conditions being used as insults, whether the epithets could properly be applied to me or not. We have, for the most part, reached a point is society (and particularly on this forum) where the bandying of such epithets harms the person using them far more than it can ever hurt their target, intended or otherwise.

I need to rant so im putting it here.
5 cyclists killed on Londons roads in 9 days.

Even the fat arsed drivers in my office are talking about it.
One of which, knowing I cycle and knowing I can hear her, talks to a colleague about how cyclists should be made to have insurance, made to wear protective gear, made to be separated from other road users and made to wear a helmet.

I Had to put my fingers in my ears to stop me from screaming ' How the fuck could a helmet save you from a 10 ton bus you stupid fucking ignorant bitch ' at her across the open plan office in front of everyone.

Fuck ! and she is allowed behind a steering wheel !

ask her if she thinks people that don't smoke should be forced to wear gas-masks around people that do.. you know, for their own safety.

ask her if she thinks people that don't smoke should be forced to wear gas-masks around people that do.. you know, for their own safety.

This sounds fair.
Plus a contribution to duty. Non-smokers dont even pay cigarette duty.
Cunts.

/puts cigarette out in Smallfurry's face.

HE WAS ASKING FOR IT BY NOT WEARING A GAS MASK!

We're not friends. Please use my full name, Jesus H Motherfucking Christ to you sonny.

That attempt at humour (clearly it isn't a joke, as jokes are funny) was embarrassingly lame-arsed the first time round. It doesn't improve through repetition.

'common sense' is a less than worthless phrase used by people who think their subjective opinions that they can't be arsed orare incapable of quantifying, should be regarded as fact.

He "had had a broad education. He’d been to the School of My Dad Always Said, the College of It Stands to Reason, and was now a postgraduate student at the University of What Some Bloke In the Pub Told Me."

All of the courses covered were of course in the Science of Common Sense.

How in tarnation is this propaganda legitimate:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-25086451

"Ryan Smith, 16, was not wearing a helmet when he collided with a van in Lincolnshire."........so that's why he crashed then, no helmet!

^^ It's not, and I've tried to have it out with them on their Facebook page, but they're unwilling to even debate the issue. They appear to consider that the tragic circumstances of Ryan Smith's accident somehow gives them the moral authority to call for compulsory helmet use, but at the same time to be immune from criticism or challenge. They say 'we are not imposing our views on anybody' , but want to make it a criminal offence not to wear a helmet. They say 'All we are doing is trying to raise a debate' but then say 'we are willing to debate this topic in parliament', but apparently not elsewhere.

I feel sorry for Ryan Smith's parents, and suspect that to a considerable extent their campaign is simply an expression of the guilt they feel for not having made Ryan wear a helmet. However, the way they're going about conducting their campaign is, in my view, disturbing and wrong.

Common sense innit.

...so that's why he crashed then, no helmet!

1 Attachment

So she pulled out without looking because there was a car in the cycle lane. Seems legit.

Eyes are good, I recommend them.

Note the comic also points out car in cycle lane, lorry blindspots...RTCs often have more than 1 cause.

For commuting I prefer cycling extremely defensively over a helmet, but then I don't downhill/road race where I would wear one.

I also drive very defensively, as I've discovered I'm not the only idiot on the road :P

So she pulled out without looking because there was a car in the cycle lane. Seems legit.

lol

There is something worrying in society when people like this get lots of airtime. It is reasonable to listen to people's personal experiences, but when it comes to making the law it has to be based on evidence, and listening to people who are emotional as a result of having personal experience are the absolutely last people who should be setting or influencing the law.

In fact I would go further. It is disgraceful that society gives such airtime to such people as it completely undermines the job of society to teach our kids (and adults for that matter) to critically appraise sources and rely on the unbiased, unemotional ones. A lot of our problems come from people's inability to do this.

Nicely dealt with by Mitchell and Webb

Mitchell and Webb Train Safety - YouTube

.......and the dad did not mention compulsion when i heard him on the radio this morning.

The dad was on BBC Breakfast a few weeks ago saying that helmets should become compulsory and that a helmet would have made a difference to his child in this horrible accident.

I think it is in part because he is a paramedic that he feels he has the know all about safe cycling, let alone other activities which are perceived as dangerous. It's the same with nurses and coppers, with out any evidence they insist that wearing a helmet will prevent serious head injuries.