Printing this statement “skateboarding in town is actually on the decline right now, especially around the skatepark, due to the police enforcing the helmet law. “They’re handing out $140 fines to 14-year-old kids and taking away their skateboards,” says Arsenault. “Cops don’t want kids to exercise. Skateboarding sits lower than soccer or basketball on the head injury list, and they don’t need to wear helmets.” as stated in their best skateboarders bio piece in Best Of.
Either you don’t care how you made this poor kid look stupid or you are so anti establishment that you feel that kid’s reasoning/logic was worth printing. Skateboarding on the decline because of a fucking helmet law? Are you fucking kidding me? It is called ebb and flow, all things go through periods of more and less popularity. Too bad this kid did not take the opportunity to promote his sport instead of blaming an imaginary, unnatural decline illogically on the police. A lot of people sacrificed a lot and gave a lot to make that skatepark a reality and it is too bad people choose to give others a bad name by not following a SOOOO SIIIMPLE law.
If you choose not to follow it and get a ticket too fucking bad. If you quit something you love because you cannot do it without a helmet you have no passion for what you love so go buy a wii…one more fat kid! Being a leader or a hero in this case sometimes means being a role model. Being a whiner is a very poor example and does nothing but further perpetuate the stereotypes surrounding this sport. Build your sport, don’t make excuses as to why it is on the decline…and shame on the Coast for printing this shit and making him look like a fool when I am sure he is not as dumb as this sounds.
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This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2009.
Just because the head injury count is lower than soccer or basketball, it is not a good enough reason to not wear a helmut. I wouldn’t even WANT to risk a head injury! If there was only a small chance that I would die sky diving if I didn’t wear my parachute, wtf do you think I would do? I would have that parachute onnnnnnnnnnnnnn. Skateboarders! Wear your helmuts! Same as bikers, you never know what idiot on a cell phone is going to slam into you making a right turn. Skateboarders, it just takes that one crash to the pavement helmutless to lose your fine motor skills for life. Put some stickers on your helmut or something if you don’t feel ‘cool’ enough with head protection.
helmet helmet helmet. I got it now.
I think the OP has completely missed the point. They go on about passion for the sport, complaining, setting an example and all this bullshit when the poster CLEARLY brought to light an issue that affects *gasp* skateboarders. Fuck you, OP. Your logic about helmets does not extend to the “freedom class” and the post was perfectly appropriate in the Best Of publication. Who the fuck is whinin’ now, eh?
There was a time when boxing gloves were considered a required safety standard in that sport. Now we have kick-your-ass-with-my-bare-hands UFC. What does that tell ya? Fuck off. We don’t need you or government “keeping us safe from ourselves.”
You’re just as likely to trip while walking (past me) and break your head open on government laid concrete anywhere in this city so take your helmet laws and piss off. Skateboarding is not a crime and fuck you ALL for trying to make it so.
this bitch is the worst. the guy they’re talking about isn’t a kid, he’s 24 years old and has far more of an idea about how the skate scene in Halifax and around the country works than the OB could ever fathom.
the commons skatepark has deteriorated from a place for people to come and skate with their friends into a disgusting garbage, drug, booze, shit and pissed filled cess pool of dirty 14-18 year old alcoholics and thugs (who have never touched a skateboard,roller blades, scooter and probably even a bicycle in their lives for the most part). The police in this city will ticket someone in a second for casually riding their skateboard at the park and ignore a group of 50 kids fighting and drinking in public. There is no longer a suitable place for this activity in this city and yes IT IS BECAUSE THE HELMET LAW.
The funniest part is all the random people who don’t know a single skateboarder that go around judging them and assuming that skating sans-helmet is on equal grounds with drunk driving or chugging lysol. Or the police that give you the classic story “I just picked a kids shattered brain off the ground at ______(insert random made up place) so put a helmet on”. Well maybe if people did some damn parenting and watched what their kids were doing they would be wearing a helmet when they were first learning a difficult and dangerous activity, the same goes for any sport where safety equipment is required, you wouldn’t make every single person that wants to go ice skating wear a helmet just to make sure that a kid playing peewee hockey doesn’t spill his brains on the ice. This blanket law is bullshit and it will continue to be ignored.
You’re right its not a crime but kids should be wearing their helmets to protect themselves from injury. The difference between walking down the street and skateboarding is that people arnt walking down the streets doing flips and jumping off shit and making the risk of becoming seriously injuried high. I wouldn’t want to see any child become unable to do anything because of not wearing a helmet. It has nothing to do with freedom, it has to do with safety. To say don’t wear a helmet is fucking stupid. I’m glad the cops are down there issuing fines because if it were my child and they were stupid enough not to wear a helmet, I’d want them to get fined.
I agree with kay.
The article didn’t make the kid sound stupid by the way. I’m willing to bet that a 14 year old who has actually spent time at the park and talked to other skaters knows a hell of a lot more about this than the OP who doesn’t seem to understand the concept of local news. Skateboarding is on the decline IN TOWN dipshit.
Anyway, skating is not actually on a decline in this city (this city, OP). Don’t let an empty skate-park fool you. Instead they are going to sparsely populated areas to skate where they are less likely to be hounded by cops. They are at an increased risk of injury skating on some backstreet with their make-shift ramps than they are skating at the park without helmets.
I think the cops time could be better spent, oh I don’t know… hounding actual criminals?
virgomom – you’re responsible for yourself and your children and that’s great, good for you, however you have no right to tell others what they should be comfortable with and what they should do to protect themselves. Especially adults over 18. If I can go to war and get exploded by some improvised road-side bomb I’ll be damned if anyone is going to tell me that I HAVE to put on a helmet while I skateboard after doing it every day for over 10 years without ever hitting my head.
This is the only downside to living in Nova Scotia… Beautiful Place, Small town feel, People are generally nice. Too bad half the people are more worried about shit that has nothing to do with them than they are with their own lives.
I can see your point virgomom, that the helmet law protects young inexperienced skaters when their parents may not be around. I don’t disagree with that. But I don’t think that forcing kids out of the park and onto the streets by threatening them with fines is making them any safer. On top of that, the helmet law is making the money spent on that park a waste. That’s our money.
And it’s absolutely ridiculous that adult skaters are being included in this fine spree. For exactly the reasons fu.ck gave.
““Cops don’t want kids to exercise. “
Um…the cops don’t make the laws…they enforce them. Maybe city hall doesn’t want kids to exercise, but I doubt that too.
If someone is over 18, and/or an adult, then the police and the government have no businesses interfering what people choose to do or not do with their own body. Or put/not put on their body.
For kids, whose parents don’t have the sense to send their kids with a helmet? Fine “protect” them… but STFU and stay the hell away from me!!!
My fucking head, my fucking choice as to what I will or won’t adorn it with!!
kay, fu.ckthecoast, fizz and dartmouthy are complete fucking retards who have clearly hit their heads one too many times.
yep and I guess that means any skateboarder who has ever had a photo published in a magazine is also a “complete fucking retard who has clearly hit their heads to many times”. Not to mention 90% of the bike riding/ skateboarding population outside of this province. GTFO.
i’d love to see a picture of you “holla what” you’re probably a spitting image of one of those people in that faces of meth youtube video.
I should clarify… from a certain perspective if you allow your child to ride without a helmet that’s really no different than allowing them to go without a seat belt in the car… it’s irresponsible parenting and child endangerment. I think the onus is on government to protect children from their idiot parents as well as from their juvenile selves. They are juveniles. They (most) don’t have the capacity to make a comprehensive decision about risky behaviors (skydiving, having sex, drinking alcohol, smoking, surgical procedures, sailing around the world by themselves, etc) and we formally agree on age of majority/consent/adulthood. If I were the mayor and your kids were going to be in the skate park they wanted I suggest the rules include required use of helmets by children in the park and yes, break the rules in any city park, expect a fine to reinforce the rule. (If the charge were child endangerment I bet we’d have a whole different bitch here.)
(This helmet law is like forcing all children to wear life jackets at any city pool, lest they drown in learning how to swim)
I’m not with the OP but I’m with the poster whose story I read a while back. We don’t need government creating this kind of law for well educated, full-grown adults for the same reasons boxing gloves are a legal product in our marketplace. Government’s responsibility is to educate about risky behaviors. Since that education reasonably begins in grade school by the time we’re well-informed adults, completed our public education, our own government can trust we are able to make well-informed adult decisions and should.
Government is not daddy-for-adults. Government is not religion or a church. I wish people would get their heads around that and stop government from tightening the snare in the name of your “safety” (and in doing so becoming a “dictatorship”.) This issue is a good example of people missing or ignoring the big picture in trying to control other human beings…. a microscopic point of view. Is that why we created government? To tell adults how risky our lifestyle is “allowed” to be? “Oh please please please, Daddy, please trust me!”
Here is a list of things that really cramp my style:
Seatbelts
Smoke detectors
Speed limits
Gaurds on my tablesaw
Railings on the bridge
Laws preventing me from base-jumping the Martello
Traffic lights
and those mutha’ ‘ucking Helmet laws!!!!
If the MAN would stay outta my shizzznit I could maim, disable and kill myself in peace! Who’s with me?????
westcoastkid: wow you are sooo clever and witty, you need your own morning radio show where people can call in and you can destroy them with your spot on comparisons and total comprehension of the topic at hand.
moron.
on a serious note, this loser above my last post is the perfect example of people in this province forcing their shitty attitudes and closed minded ideals on others. “Some random guy I don’t know wearing a helmet skateboarding is as important to the safety of the public as smoke detectors, speed limits, and traffic lights.” or “Skateboarding without a helmet is on the same level as other wreckless activities, such as base-jumping the Martello”
how about “Skateboarding without a helmet is probably about as dangerous for your children as playing on the ice in the playground during recess” or “Wearing a helmet while skateboarding is a good choice… especially while first learning how to properly fall and while riding big bowls and vert” not “If you don’t wear a helmet skateboarding you’re a selfish retarded asshole… blah blah blah”
I think those who are against skateboarders ( & bicyclists, roller-bladers, etc) wearing helmets should be made to go to The Halifax Infirmary, 5th floor, Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and care for those on ventilators with head injuries because THEY WEREN”T WEARING A FUCKING HELMET WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN!!!
Don’t tell me to “mind my own fucking business” if you don’t want to wear a helemt while skateboarding, because it’s going to be MY fucking tax-dollars paying to keep your sorry ass breathing in intensive care after you smash your head open on the pavement because you chose not to wear a helmet!
wow you’re real worked about about this. why do people even try to say “my tax dollars” like you’re some how losing out on something if 2 cents of your hard earned money goes to pay for someones injury, illness. BOO FUCKING HOO.
And lets go on up to the infirmary, and see how many skateboarders you find in there with head injuries. I’m calling none you stupid cunt.
and no where in this post did anyone say “mind your own fucking business” you retarded fucking cunt.
Well it’s your tax dollars that pay for the injuries of every other sport. Compare the number of torn ligaments, dislocations, broken bones, etc of every other sporting activity to the number of head injuries by skateboarders specifically that puts the victim in intensive car. Do some math Yo Mama. By your logic if skaters can’t skate without a helmet than soccer players can’t play without being wrapped up in three foot thick bubble wrap.
Over 18 should have the option of not wearing a helmet that’s all there is to it. By that time most of these skaters are experienced and have learned how to fall anyway. The number of head injuries by seasoned skaters isn’t as high as everyone seems to think.
Dude, I have personal experience in that my sister suffered a skull fracture and brain injury after falling off a skateboard WITHOUT a helmet on. BELIEVE ME, that injury affected more than her life in that her family and friends were/continue to be left to pick up the pieces.
She is not the same person, incicentally, as she was before the accident when she won the University medal at her Uni for highest academic achievement out of >4000 students. These things drag on. She is waiting tables 4 years post-accident, unable to concentrate on study anymore.
I also happen to work in as a medical professional in the ER and ICU at the HI and I have seen far too many people fuck up their lives needlesly and cost the health care system thousands to millions doing so. Yes, with things as preventable as head injuries from inherently dangerous activities like cycling, ATVing, Skiing and even skateboarding.
It is in no way different than seatbelts. When they were legislated there was widepread outcry. But, eventually most people started to wear them and realized that it was not only a smart choice, but also not really a big deal to do so.
The same will happen with helmets. Barring obstruction for selfish “me first. I don’t wannna wear one. Gov’t cant tell me what to do” clowns like yourself. If the rest of us didn’t have to pay the tab for the health care when somebody fucks themselves up in a totally preventable way, you might have an argument. Barring that, put on a helmet.
And just because there are other dangerous activities out there does in no way negate the validity of helmet laws. That is pure obfusication and also a very defeatist attitude.
Here is one thing we can easily prevent, so we should do so. Yes, there are other things that are dangerous to kids, but that does NOT mean that helmets are pointless. To argue so is ridiculous.
I’m confused, the OB’s OP was about how the coast made this person look less than smart by posting what is more or less poor logic and creating conclusions based on his opinions?
and Kay was he not quoting the so called expert as to the sport being on decline? You went on defending the sport where I think the OP was stating that this guy had a chance to build it instead of complain.
That being said…Can someone please present an argument as to why helmets are bad?
“”I’m glad the cops are down there issuing fines “‘
You’re not the only one…I’m sure many muggers, robbers, thieves and rapists prefer that they’re down there as well.
And of course, those of us that support the police in all that they do, are glad as well….those other criminals are dangerous and a cop might get hurt!
To me the solution is obvious. Helmets while using the skate-park and doing stunts – NO helmets when just commuting to class or work etc.
We expect to see helmets on drivers of hydroplanes and off-shore cigarette boats, when racing, for instance, but I don’t think any one would support helmets for toodling about the harbour in your new Bayliner. Gas-masks maybe, but not helmets.
Instead we get another “blanket ban” that just gives the cops another excuse for an unlawful search and “grilling”…you don’t want a $150 ticket? Then let us illegally root through your pockets like a pig after truffles…You say no to that? Well, you must be hiding something, up against the car.
I am constantly amazed at the support for increased and arbitrarily-introduced
police powers by the Coast readership! What’s wrong with you people? You want (more of) a police state?
What does the Coast itself think of the issue? Has there been an article?
Where is the Georgia Straight when we need it?
But Frosty, whos to say that the injury will occur while in the park? Or wont occur while just sidewalk surfing?
Anecdotal I know, but my sisters skatboarding head injury occured in her own driveway.
Why dont we only wear seatbelts on the highway? Well, the majority of car accidents occur within a few Kms of the driver’s home.
A differential law only confuses the issue. If you have a helmet law, it needs to be clear and free of confusing clauses. What defines a “skatepark”? etc etc
I say make it personal choice. Helmets can give people a feeling of invincibility and some people act accordingly.
Please present me viable argument against wearing helmets?
“”But Frosty, whos to say that the injury will occur while in the park?”‘
I dunno, but someone mentioned ‘flips and stunts” in the half pipe…I guess it stands to reason that more would be hurt in a skate park than riding just from A-B, on the way to class/work…
I skated briefly in the late 70’s and we didn’t do any of those tricks…we just cruised along…uninterested in ‘stunts’. Come to think of it, I don’t remember ANY of us getting hurt, ever.
I think it’s safe to say that a blanket ban is unfair, if the statistics show that people are usually hurt when ‘stunting’.
Sorry to hear about your sister.
The point remains though. Do I wear a life-jacket when water-skiing or running my little hydroplane? Yes. Am I going to wear one while going for a leisurley sail, or paddling a canoe? No.
If my canoe is being run down rapids…I’ll wear one. Paddling in a calm lake watching the sunset…no, of course not.
Riders in equestrian events like show-jumping wear helmets…do people wear them while being lead through Yosemite on an old sway-back nag? No.
A “differential law, as you call it, works fine for many other sports, why not skateboarding? Because it affects mostly those “truant hoodlum teens” that’s why.
I’ll tell you why else..because it’s not as much a “safety’ issue as it is one about law enforcement. This’ll get those pesky teens away from our parkade…’bust’ ’em with $150 fines under the guise of ‘safety’…it gives cops the “in” they need to “kick some teenage butt”…
I don’t see anyone calling for seniors to wear protective armour in and out of the bathtub, or up a ladder, and yet there’s a floor at that same hospital, I expect, dedicated to oldies with broken hips….spending MY tax dollars…
You make some valid arguments, Frosty. And it’s possible that I am biased on this topic because of my family experience and what I have seen professionally.
I am also generally a libertarian minded person. And I hear what you are saying about cops. I’m no fan of the fuzz either and recognize that many of them are power-tripping meatheads….
BUT, some of your comparisons are flawed, IMHO. Falling off a skateboard is unpredictable. One small pebble under the wheel while flying down SGR and you are on the pavement.
Much like cycling. You never know when a car door is going to open and take you out. For that reason, bike helmets make sense not only for guys doing backflips at the BMX track, but for commuters and weekend warriors alike.
As for the elderly. Well…. We all get old – not much we can do about that. Yeah I have seen more than my share of oldies with broken hips. Unfortunately, that is part of old age and I don’t think that will ever change. The difference is helmets have no downside if you just wear one instead of drawing a line in the sand and refusing. They are cheap, come in many models and styles. Etc etc….
ICU care is estimated to cost >10,000 / day, in Canada. My sisters stay in the unit cost us taxpayers over 100K – and very likely could have been prevented by wearing a $30 helmet. Not to mention the ongoing loss of productivity and rehab costs. Sighhhhh…..
I can’t believe that complying with a helmet law is the start of a slippery slope to Stalinism. It just a frickin’ helmet, put it on and have fun! Thats my opinion, probably not going to change….
Hey what about all those jump-stunt “Parkour” (I think it’s called) people you see around the base of Citadel Hill nowadays? That stuff seems just as dangerous as skateboarding. Are we going to make them wear helmets, too?
I’ve tripped and hit my head on the floor simply by walking – quick! Let’s make a new law requiring everyone to wear helmets while walking.
In fact, let’s just always wear helmets and wrap ourselves in bubble wrap with nice tinfoil hats because you just never know.
Skateboarding is an individual sport where the individual is responsible for their individual actions. You know what you are doing and know your own limits. I agree that helmet laws are bullshit and are likely pushing kids away from the sport as they are an unnecessary nuisance. Same with for bikes – I should decide whether I want to wear a helmet or not! I’m a grown adult who can make my own decisions and accept my own mistakes.
qpmzwonxeibcruv was that an argument against wearing helmets or laws in general…and what should we do about kids should they be given same freedoms as grown adult? What is the reason for not wearing one…just curious, as a guy who wears a helmet I seriously just want to know what is the reason people hate wearing helmets so much? Does it mess up your hair, inconvenience of carrying etc?
Truth, it is (obviosuly) difficult to come up with a reason for not wearing ahelmet – for those against helmet laws. I mean, a reason besides the personal choice argument.
In the case of helmets, which as you and I realize, there is no downside and a huge potential upside. As long as you haven’t convinnced yourself that a helmet law is the last stand before our society becomes the Gulag….
I enyoy freedom and am greatful for all of it we have. But I also recognize that sometimes, people are too stupid for their own good OR haven’t considered the consequences of their actions before it is too late. I think this is one of those times. And as you say, what is the downside of just wearing one? Avoid the fine AND a run in with the Cops AND protect your most important organ. Win-win if you ask me.
People seem confused as to why we utter “freedom of choice” when our government limit our choices with outward deterrents (ie. outrageous fines). It may only be a helmet and not a big deal especially when the numbers show obvious reasons we they should be worn… unless you prefer to NOT live under a dictatorship.
Here’s an example that you should be able to identify with, with regard to “freedom”…. careful, you may end up thinking outside the box should you get your head around this…
Our government has concluded obesity is a problem. Fat Canadians are sickly and cost the health care system loads every year in addition to their lack of productivity while catering to the next obesity-related doctor’s appointment or emergency room visit. If people would just manage their eating in a healthy fashion, and we educate them with the Canada food guide, but they don’t and obesity still happens. Their kids inherit their unhealthy lifestyle and the cycle continues. Our scientists tell us sugar and fat are responsible. I argue obesity is still a problem because of flimsy EDUCATION (shhh don’t say the “F” word [fat] because you might hurt that boys widdle feewings). Not because we don’t have laws limiting what and when and where and how often Canadians eat.
If we wanted a government that is Daddy-For-Adults then bad bad Daddy for letting the idiot Canadians eat what they want, when they want (some NEVER stop), how they want and where they want. In the name of your safety and your health this helmet argument could be applied to almost any lifestyle especially one that includes, get this… eating. Not much left for free thinking or making choices when Daddy calls the shots.
It doesn’t stop there. Let’s look at alcohol and all the arguments for prohibition. What good, exactly, comes from drinking booze? Does it improve your well being or does it lead to destructive behaviors, addictions and dangerous drunk driving? Is a rum glaze really worth the cost (should your argument be to cook with booze)? Before prohibition all we really knew about it was how the men would drink their hootch then beat their wives, which was their right at the time. Somehow our government concluded that since not all human beings are going to become destructive while drinking and not all people will become addicted, Canadians have a right to choose…. this IS the land of the “Free,” right? The mode of this blanketing helmet law is no different than the mode of prohibition except the lifting of prohibition did create a ‘differential’ in that children are not permitted for their own safety. Really, how is telling an ADULT he can’t partake in risky behavior unless…. how is that different from the full grown adult drinking themselves to oblivion and do we want to live in a country where the choice is not yours?
I’m not sure about you bitches but I don’t like to be told. In fact, I have yet to meet a reasonable adult who does. WHY do you think it’s government’s duty to treat adults as children? I argue it’s government’s job to educate and that’s where the buck stops in the true North if we wish to remain strong AND FREE.
Sure, I see your angument, Kay. But I think you are generalizing too much and drawing comparisons with things that are obviously different in many regards.
Upsides to alcohol/downsides to prohib:
1) MONEY – a huge entertainment, brewing, distilling, vineyard industry relies on alcohol’s legality. Jobs.
2) Culture – drinking is part of our culture and to not aknowledge that is part of the reason prohibition was stupid.
I totally disagree with Prohibition for alcohol and cannabis – but for different reasons:
Alcohol: pros and cons to its use, but the practical side wins out in favour of legality and regulation.
Cannabis: minimal cons to its use (IMHO) and questionable pros. Overalll; unproven to cause any harm, some people enjoy it –> legal
In the case of helmets, I think a fitting comparison is seatbelts. They are also cheap, simple and without downside. Yet they have the ability to prevent alot of injury and societal cost when used consistantly. Naturally, societal leadership (AKA Gov’t) recognized this innovation and (rightly) decided this was a good thing that all people should do when driving – whether they want to or not.
Who know, maybe you disagree with seatbelt laws. If you feel that being forced to wear one is the daddy state interfering with your autonomy, I think you might have issues. I’m guessing you just put it on, avoid the fine and also protect yourself from serious injury or death in doing so. A win-win as I said.
How is that different than helmets?
In the last para of you post, you say “you don’t like being told”. And ask if any other adults do.
No. I don’t like being told what to do either. But, I do recognize that to live in an organized society there must be some rules. There may even be rules that I dont agree with (i.e. No left turns up Cornwallis from Barrington…) but I am obliged to follow those rules as well.
Its one thing if a rule causes harm to a person or group within the society. i.e. all Intellectuals must go to Siberia OR all recreational pot smokers must go to jail. In those cases society has (or – I predict – will…) united and overturned the law because they recognized it was wrong.
Youth are the future of our society and it is in all our best interest to protect them both from injury and from an excessive individualistic (or selfish) attitude. Yes this is a free country.
But, I think too many people interpret that to mean this is the “United States of ME” and I can do whatever the hell I want, whenever I want to, and if you dont like it, go fcuk yourself! I feel that is a poisinous attitude detrimental to our collective future and should not be encouraged in youth.
I dont think that makes me a fascist. I think I am just realistic.
So… westcoastkid,
1) Money – The booze comparison doesn’t stand because there’s not a big enough job/retail/manufacturing tax base? Because gov’t has no business charging a “luxury tax” on a skateboard these issues are different? I think profits and money have little to do with freedom in this sense.
2) Culture – I believe the western “culture” created the skateboard. Enough said.
“Youth are the future of our society” I TOTALLY agree 100% and that’s why I propose we manage children with these laws of safety and not adults capable of comprehensive understanding of personal risk.
If a skateboard were a deadly weapon while in motion and riders were outfitted with training and registration the seat belt comparison may fly but it doesn’t. I think we agree because driving a car is driving a deadly weapon that safety practices on public highways are governmental responsibility, their efforts to control applied AFTER registration and training are accomplished.
Riding on four wheels anchored to a piece of wood with no motor is far from this. Riding a wake board behind a boat, surfing, wind surfing, skiing, playing soccer, ice skating… these are similar risky behaviors. Adults don’t need a government to protect them from their idiot selves. Children do. Adults, having access to education, get to suffer their own consequences. How that concept goes against an organized society totally escapes me.
I just think gov’t needs to be kept in it’s place and that’s not in governing non criminal risky behavior performed by adults. Canada is not a daycare and government is not your Dad.
Unfortunately Kay, Canada is a daycare, and the government here is the worst kind of socialist nanny state on planet earth. This helmet law is proof of that. Enough said.
Ultimately the government works for the people. We are sooooo far away from a dictatorship that to suggest such a thing makes me think you don’t really know the meaning of the word. If you have a problem with government policy, then write letters, tell all your friends to write letters, alert the media and vote in a new government. If you can’t rally enough support to make the changes you want, well, that’s democracy in action for you. The government doesn’t come up with helmet laws because they want to control you. They do it because some pissed off mommy lost her son or daughter to a needless head injury and kicked up a big enough stink and the governments wants to make a good PR move to get reelected. Or, because large volumes of evidence says wearing helmets saves lives, and doctors lobby the government for change and the government thinks saving lives can get them reelected. If the process didn’t work then we never would have outlawed smoking in public places.
And just a tip Kay, if you want people to start listening to your ideas, you might want to consider refraining from calling them sheep and dishing out other insults.
Miles, remember, Hitler was their BELOVED leader interested only in what was good for Germans and Germany. Exchanging freedom for a sense of safety is how all that happens. It’s important our youth recognize that. A lot of them hang out here on LTWWB and they understand insults better than compliments, don’t they? Judging by their own posts…
But I wouldn’t equate laws that strip Jews of their citizenship to bylaws that require skateboarders to wear helmets. As long as we have charter rights and a democratically elected government, I wouldn’t worry too much about Canada turning into a dictatorship.
However, we do pass some stupid laws that are unnecessarily restrictive when it comes to personal choice. It’s good to be aware of that, but it’s also good to maintain perspective.
Kay wins!!!!
Godwin’s Law (also known as Godwin’s Rule of Nazi Analogies)is a humorous observation made by Mike Godwin in 1990 which has become an Internet adage. It states: “As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.”
Wow and in a thread about skateboards!
I would just like to thank Miles for being the voice of reason. For presenting reasonable arguments without grasping at ridiculous straws.
Spoken like a good Daddy-pleasing Canadian, Jennie. Life is real easy inside a small box, isn’t it?
For the record, I’ve never gone looking up Nazi anything on the net. My education included a fair-comprehensive study of history, that’s all.
Just one more thing, if this blanketing helmet law is so well accepted by Canadians who can “keep it in perspective” then WHY is there a debate? Democracy only takes you so far. There was no referendum, there was no public interest rally, there was nothing but a complaint, a trend (maybe) and a municipal leader who thinks they should do all the thinking for us. There was no vote and on this issue the majority does NOT rule. In this case, the majority waits for another election. Democracy at it’s finest *sigh*
I assure you I don’t live in a small box, Kay.
And for the record, I find your “Daddy” fixation reeeeeeeeally creepy.
Thanks for the thanks Jennie…I try.
Kay…the sheep aren’t as dumb as you think. We know enough to know you are NOT our shepherd.
Just because someone isn’t opposed to a law that aims to protect people from traumatic head injuries doesn’t mean they’re a “sheep”. Believe me Kay, I’m well-read, well-traveled, and educated. Lots of causes get me fired up. A law designed to keep people safe isn’t one of them. That doesn’t mean I’m some spineless wallflower who bows down to “the man”. (Or “Daddy” as you prefer)
Well Jennie, do you know who your Daddy is?
My father passed away four years ago, QP. Your point?
Oops, bad joke attempt that ended up being very bad. I’m sorry.
Curious to know what all the anti govt intrusion people have as political affiliation. How did the NDP get voted in if we want less gov’t control? I certainly did not vote NDP. I am so sick of hearing the anti establishment argument for such pathetic things such as helmet law. You don’t mind free health care but you don’t want the other part of the establishment. Good and bad with living where we live…suck it up and stop your fucking whining about things that really should not be that big a deal.
The original post was about the Coast printing what was most likely a more well rounded statement by the kid…24 is still damn close to kid, and making him look foolish or uninformed. When I say uninformed I mean to state his sport is on a decline due to the police when any logical person knows that would not be the case. I agree they could have given him a more positive spin through this opportunity and maybe he could have slighted the police and promoted his sport.
“things that really should not be that big a deal” so let’s go creating a whole bunch of administration over it? Pass a law and everything? It’s not a big deal to comply, I’ll grant you that. It’s fundamentally a pretty big deal to not have a choice in the matter, is all.
About the OB… 24 has had adult privileges for a while. We recognize this in liquor stores, motor vehicle offices, army registrations and, not least of all, our Canadian court system.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if use of the skate park were on the decline as a result of negative feedback and negative press and general squawking from the adults who want to use the park. Of course the teenagers will whine but they whine about not drinking beer too. They whine louder when the adults carry on their cause. If the adults could agree the kids would have a better time complying with the park rules… The adults could chose to set a good example or not. And I don’t think the proposed LAW is to force adults to “set a good example” for the kiddies wanting to also engage in a risky sport.
“It’s fundamentally a pretty big deal to not have a choice in the matter, is all.” Not really…the choice is inherent in the law, no one is forcing you to wear a helmet. No regime pummeling you with batons if you do not comply…you might get one of the few hundred tickets a year that get handed out…your CHOICE.
I said “24 is still damn close to kid”and the spirit of the comment is that he is still young enough to speak before thinking more often than he may be likely to at 34 or 44. Semantics… and I am sure my point was understood.
The LAW is there to protect people too stupid to think about doing it themselves, I think that is fairly clear and obvious. Sometimes things like this are an example of “keeping people honest”. I have on many occasions where I might have not thrown a helmet on in the past thought…”wow am I stupid” heading out the door to take spin to store and back. Not just because of the fine but the inherent danger in being at risk on our roads/sidewalks etc. If you are moving on a board, bike etc your brain can get hurt. Before anyone pipes in with the trip and fall examples fuck off because we both know that is shit comparison and not relevant.
I skateboard and so do many of my friends. Most of us don’t wear helmets. We’re all over 18, and we all know how to fall. Nobody I know has ever been hospitalized for hitting their heads skating. Although, there has been lots of broken wrists, ankles, even femurs.. personally, I don’t really have a legit reason as to not wearing a helmit, it’s just unfair that the police single us out and slap us with so many tickets! People are playing baseball just on the other side of the path without helmits.. isn’t that a safety issue? I don’t think there is a law against it though.
Anyways, my point is wearing a helmit isn’t a big deal, but equal rights is.
sorry about your sister westcoastkid, but i’m willing to bet she was on a skateboard for the first time.
Where are the studies that concluded basketball and soccer caused more frequent and more traumatic head injuries than skateboarding? I’d like to know more about them and how they reached their conclusions. It doesn’t seem possible on face value.
Not the first time. She was pretty inexperienced, however. She had been skating for several months before the accident.
Incidentally, she was on a land-yacht longboard. Not even a traditional skatepark board.
I can’t help but feel sad at all the posts along the line of “the new laws and increased police powers are there to help us…” and “people need to be kept safe by the gov’t…” and so on and so forth…
What do you think IS the first step to despotic rule? It doesn’t happen overnight…it’s a slow gradual process…and you folks are like the frog being happily boiled to death by turning up the heat slowly!
Maybe put down the computer mouse and pick up a history book for a change?
Right now you have no empathy because the focus is on those insolent “teens”…just wait until you are prevented from sipping your stupid lattes while driving, forced to wear a life-jacket at the beach, prevented from leaving your homes in a blizzard…we’ll see how fitting your stupid references to “Stalin” are then…
Ridiculous.
truthx2, “The LAW is there to protect people too stupid to think about doing it themselves”
WRONG AGAIN… Dear God, please let some of the very young people visiting this board get a fucking clue.
Kay try making a counter point next time as most adults might do.