Not sure if he should have included the asbestos, I had a good friend die from breathing that stuff during the years he worked in the Philadelphia ship yard.
About the only thing I DIDN’T fall on when I rode my bike as a kid was my head. I am really glad for those days when I could ride around feeling the breeze blowing through my hair.
Come to think of it, my head is the only thing I didn’t fall on either. If I had a helmet on, I might have lead with my head as it would be most protected from injury. So in this case not having a helmet on protected my head. I still ride under that principle. I do always wear seat belts though.
Most of these safety initiatives would have been useful back then, if we had only known better, and are even more needed now with increased population. However, our litigious society has escalated many aspects to the point of being ridiculous. Listen to Bill Engvall’s “Here’s Your Sign” for good examples. E.g., “Turn off engine before installing” printed on fan belt wrappers.
If the goal is to be as safe as possible, don’t let the kid ride the bike at all! He’s much less likely to hurt yourself that way than by riding and wearing a helmet.
Auto fatalities peaked at 54,589 in 1972. That was 26 fatalities per 100,000 people in the US. By 2013, fatalities had dropped to approximately 35,200, which is in the range of 10.5 fatalities per 100,000 population. I’d like to keep them, with the shoulder harnesses and air bags, thank you very much.
And we never worried about an over populated planet, how we were going to support ourselves after we turned 100, what type of stress we would cause our families when they had to support us, or even that some dimwitted politician would do something to cause our social security to run out, like having more older people living off of what is paid into social security . . .
I fell on my bike numerous times and never hit my head. On the other hand I was was riding one day and was hit by a car (the guy was speeding a bit so he could make it to church on time to pick up his wife. Among other thing I had the first and last concussion of my life which I probably wouldn’t have had if I’d been wearing a helmet (which hadn’t been invented yet but the principle stands).
@wiatr – ewwwww i too remember those bicycle injuries – so thankful to still have been able to have kids (naturally) after a couple of those broken chain power strokes – course i could have ridden a ’girl’s bike’ then it might not have been as bad, BUT didn’t want to be a sissy! :)
just some food for thought – not DEEP thought just thoughts
to be enlightened as to the choices AND the results of those choices AND then allowed to make the choice and live with the results – is true freedom to choose
to be forced to make a choice because of mandate and punishment by someone else no matter how good the intention – is tyranny
to be ignorant of the capabilities of an adult and a child in making decisions and reasoning is to be completely unrealistic in mandating/giving choices
to be fearful of death is paralysis of life
life is about living – not about trying not to die
intelligence is about making the best decision with the best/most input available to you.
ignorance is about thinking you have the right to judge ALL decisions made by others in light of your experience.
@Barry1941“Not sure if he should have included the asbestos,”.That was the whole point.By the way, the pipes in our school were also asbestos coated. For years it was everywhere. The siding on my house was asbestos cement. The water pipes were asbestos cement. It usually didn’t kill nonsmokers
Templo S.U.D. over 9 years ago
Earl had a senior moment: he already mentioned bicycling with out helmets and riding in cars without seat belts.
Barry1941 over 9 years ago
Not sure if he should have included the asbestos, I had a good friend die from breathing that stuff during the years he worked in the Philadelphia ship yard.
GalleyOar over 9 years ago
Nelson may need ear plugs to mute the “when I was young …” noise.
ewalnut over 9 years ago
About the only thing I DIDN’T fall on when I rode my bike as a kid was my head. I am really glad for those days when I could ride around feeling the breeze blowing through my hair.
Jeff0811 over 9 years ago
Come to think of it, my head is the only thing I didn’t fall on either. If I had a helmet on, I might have lead with my head as it would be most protected from injury. So in this case not having a helmet on protected my head. I still ride under that principle. I do always wear seat belts though.
jtviper7 over 9 years ago
And we walked 12 miles to school there and back, Up-hill both ways in the snow.
rphbeta over 9 years ago
Most of these safety initiatives would have been useful back then, if we had only known better, and are even more needed now with increased population. However, our litigious society has escalated many aspects to the point of being ridiculous. Listen to Bill Engvall’s “Here’s Your Sign” for good examples. E.g., “Turn off engine before installing” printed on fan belt wrappers.
OldestandWisest over 9 years ago
If the goal is to be as safe as possible, don’t let the kid ride the bike at all! He’s much less likely to hurt yourself that way than by riding and wearing a helmet.
Charlie Fogwhistle over 9 years ago
Auto fatalities peaked at 54,589 in 1972. That was 26 fatalities per 100,000 people in the US. By 2013, fatalities had dropped to approximately 35,200, which is in the range of 10.5 fatalities per 100,000 population. I’d like to keep them, with the shoulder harnesses and air bags, thank you very much.
Skoally over 9 years ago
And we never worried about an over populated planet, how we were going to support ourselves after we turned 100, what type of stress we would cause our families when they had to support us, or even that some dimwitted politician would do something to cause our social security to run out, like having more older people living off of what is paid into social security . . .
JanLC over 9 years ago
Personal safety has nothing to do with morality.
Ratbrat over 9 years ago
In fact don’t let the kid out of his padded cell….er, room!
Ladibug1016 over 9 years ago
Also, back then there weren’t as many cars on the road, less probability of accidents.
MrBlowhard2u over 9 years ago
Yes. And thanks to seat belts, bike helmets, unleaded gas, no asbestos just think, nobody ever dies or has an accident any more.
bmckee over 9 years ago
I fell on my bike numerous times and never hit my head. On the other hand I was was riding one day and was hit by a car (the guy was speeding a bit so he could make it to church on time to pick up his wife. Among other thing I had the first and last concussion of my life which I probably wouldn’t have had if I’d been wearing a helmet (which hadn’t been invented yet but the principle stands).
platechick over 9 years ago
And there were no car seats for kids!
Radical_Knight over 9 years ago
Better than having to listen to “You must be a (insert political party name here) if you have to wear a helmet!”
Saddenedby Premium Member over 9 years ago
@wiatr – ewwwww i too remember those bicycle injuries – so thankful to still have been able to have kids (naturally) after a couple of those broken chain power strokes – course i could have ridden a ’girl’s bike’ then it might not have been as bad, BUT didn’t want to be a sissy! :)
just some food for thought – not DEEP thought just thoughts
to be enlightened as to the choices AND the results of those choices AND then allowed to make the choice and live with the results – is true freedom to choose
to be forced to make a choice because of mandate and punishment by someone else no matter how good the intention – is tyranny
to be ignorant of the capabilities of an adult and a child in making decisions and reasoning is to be completely unrealistic in mandating/giving choices
to be fearful of death is paralysis of life
life is about living – not about trying not to die
intelligence is about making the best decision with the best/most input available to you.
ignorance is about thinking you have the right to judge ALL decisions made by others in light of your experience.
NotNurmal over 9 years ago
Its true, we are the last of the ‘living dangerously’ generation
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault over 9 years ago
@Barry1941“Not sure if he should have included the asbestos,”.That was the whole point.By the way, the pipes in our school were also asbestos coated. For years it was everywhere. The siding on my house was asbestos cement. The water pipes were asbestos cement. It usually didn’t kill nonsmokers