• Call me Lenny/Leni
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    1811 months ago

    Not just motorcycles in my case but literally any child or adult I’ve ever seen ride a bike or use a skateboard in my entire life while strolling through town. Not a single civilian wears a helmet these days. I see preteens rolling and doing tricks on their skateboards like they’re living out some early 2000’s Tony Hawk game for the Playstation. A few people even hook their strollers up to their bikes and wear nothing.

    One time cops had to be called in because some vengeful people who probably would’ve otherwise been shooters were using the opportunity to trip riders as they rode. Did it change anything? Nope, they still wore nothing and still made themselves vulnerable to the same thing if anyone would ever want to do it again. Cops never enforced what is actually a helmet/pad mandate and I guess it’s not a CPS concern either, which stands out given their history.

    Only a couple of friends of mine serve as an exception to the observation. One day some peers asked “why are you wearing a helmet and pads, you know, like little girls” and I’ll never forget how they responded with “why are you wearing nothing, you know, like poor people?”

    • @[email protected]
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      811 months ago

      Tbf that’s not toxic masculinity usually, just stupidity. It’s the same shit for men and women a like, and some idiots even teach their spawns to ride without one. But I guess you only buy helmet for the kids you want to keep…

      If something I’ve learned from 15 years of bmx and MTB, is that there’s no such a ride that doesn’t warrant using a helmet; was it visiting shop, picking kid from daycare or a day ride

      • @kameecoding
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        611 months ago

        I disagree I would say most kids/teen’s refusing to wear helmets for cycling and skating are doing it because they think it’s uncool, why is it uncool? Because it makes you look less tough afraid of falling, definitely toxic masculinity.

        Head injuries, accidental bad falls can ruin your life.

        • @[email protected]
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          211 months ago

          I’d call it toxic masculinity if it was primarily a male problem. In skateparks sure it is, but when you look at the streets people commuting, a helmet is a rare sight and it’s almost even more common to see a guy with helmet than a woman.

          It’s similar to toxic masculinity, but I’d rather call it hivemindlessness lol

          • @kameecoding
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            11 months ago

            I’d call it toxic masculinity if it was primarily a male problem.

            Toxic masculinity is not a solely male problem, it’s a set of behaviors that’s harmful or potentially harmful to either the person itself or people around them that is perceived as normal masculine behavior.

            It’s similar to toxic masculinity, but I’d rather call it hivemindlessness lol

            Those are the same things, Toxic masculinity is literally the product of the hivemind, the idea that you are a wuss if you protect your brain and wear a helmet isn’t something that you are born with.

            • @[email protected]
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              -111 months ago

              Yes, it is the same thing except the “masculinity” part. The “feminine” counterpart is toxic femininity.

              We’re talking about a problem that’s not specific to either of those

      • @AchtungDrempels
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        411 months ago

        It’s not just stupidity, some people might just make different risk calculations than you. BMX and MTB is way different than visiting a shop.

        • @[email protected]
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          11 months ago

          If your risk calculations exclude every other person on the streets, sure I can understand why skipping helmet in order to preserve cool factor and hairstyle seems reasonable.
          If you count in the fact that any idiot might just hit you down with their car after mixing pedals or some kid run in front of you, it’s just obvious to wear a helmet unless if you’re an idiot.

          Using a helmet is basically comparable to a seat belt. Zero effort really, just a habit you’re supposed to learn from childhood and automatic ever since.
          How would you call a person refusing to use seatbelt other than a idiot?

          • @AchtungDrempels
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            011 months ago

            You should stop mountainbiking if you really care about risk avoidance so much, “unless you are stupid and an idiot”. It’s much riskier than casual cycling without a helmet.

            • @[email protected]
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              111 months ago

              Yes exiting your house is also a huge risk, and statistically staying home is even bigger risk. Better just lock yourself to a soft room in an institute or commit unalive. /s

              You clearly seem unable to understand what a stupid risk is. You’re ignorant to the point you’d take a risk with zero possibility for a positive outcome, just for your fragile ego. Just like the rednecks too cool to wear a seatbelt or a construction worker at hights without harness.
              I’d call it fair if it was for the thrill, that’s cool and we all have done and are doing stupid dangerous things for it. That’s maybe not always smart, but it’s what keeps us alive. That’s what we’re talking about when we think of calculated risks. If I hit this trail, there’s a chance I’ll hit a tree if I make a mistake. Or I’ll grind that rock garden with my face. I’m well aware of those risks.

              Stupidity is to imagine those risks don’t exist or let your ego ignore them because “I’m so fucking tough” or “I don’t want to mess my haircut and I’m not gonna fall anyways I’m not a kid”

        • @AchtungDrempels
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          411 months ago

          I wasn’t trying to define grades of douchebagness, but to tell you that your friends come off just as bad as their counterparts in your little anecdote. Since you seem to think your friends had a cool rebuttal, i suspect you’re a douche too.

          • Call me Lenny/Leni
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            011 months ago

            I never implied that, I just didn’t know what you meant by a “proper” douchebag. Excuse me for having non-native-English skills.