Gov. interference

[Danger4u2]

  A recent thread on "Safety Gear" got me started, and I knew I would get way away from safety gear so I started this thread.
  I'm sick and tired of Government interference.  I know they are needed but they have gotten out of hand.  Every time I turn around I have to change my life to "protect the children".  If your child is being hunted by an internet predator the gov. is not the one to make laws that jack up my internet experience to protect your child.  The parents say they need laws to protect their children.  Give me a break, your the parent, you need to protect your child.  If your not keeping an eye on your children to protect them then that's child neglect.  You should have your kids taken away and you should go to JAIL.  Don't plug your kid into the computer like it's a baby sitter and then bit*h about how they need protection.  If you don't have time for your children then don't have them.  A child is a life long commitment quit whining about how someone else or the Gov. needs to "protect your child".
  OK. I opened the band-aid you can pour the salt in or add neosporen (agree or disagree).  Lets hear your gripes.
Danger
 
 

[gowen]

I fully agree with you. But I feel the same way about seat belts and helmets. I will wear them if I d**n feel like it, I don't need the Gov. telling me to. Also, the EPA. Earth's saftey......?

I agree 100% with the child statement.

[5dracing]

I agree. I have two kids and it just pisses me off to have other people tell me how I have to  raise them. I rased my kids to be very independent and they both show good judgement (so far!!). The one's that really make me mad are the ones that try to protect their kids from feeling a little pain. I had a neighbor mom threaten to call the cops on me for allowing my son to ride a dirtbike because he could get hurt. My son looked at me and said "Dad is she crazy".


Foxworhty covers this topic also.
If anyone has seen the skit that Jeff Foxworthy does were he states he rode to Florida in the back window ledge of his dads Nova because he was not to good to go through the windshield with the rest of the family.

[Danger4u2]

  Gowen, EPA where do we start.  Ok, I know dirtbikes, quads and off road vehicles cause environmental damage.  Most often its erosion.  I've seen trails erode so bad you could not use them any more.  But give me a break, 1 weekend of collage football across this nation causes more environmental damage than all the off road vehicles ever made (my opion).  Just look at the gas used to get to and from the University of Oklahoma football games.  And that's just 1 university.  Most states have at least 2 universities.  With the exception of Arkansas they don't even have grade schools, just a joke.  Then the trash it generates.  Don't forget the trees and land torn up to build the stadiums and parking lots.  Just because you cover with concrete doesn't mean you stopped erosion.  You still have rain run off, it has to go some where.
  We will see head lines like EPA Works to Stop Environmental Damage Caused by Off
Road Vehicles.  We will NEVER see EPA Works to Stop Environmental Damage Caused by Collage Football.  Off roaders are a small group in the big scheme of things and easy to single out.  There's another group that singled out the little guy, I think their leader was Hitler.

[openclass]

I agree with gowen. Seat belt laws are a farces, every time someone dies in a car wreck the local tv station always saids that seat belts were not in use. How do we know that they would have lived thru the crash anyway.
 Epa, football games may cause damage, but what about Golf Courses? Have you ever lost a good riding area to a golf course (Ben Geren race in Fort Smith). Do you have any idea how many chemical's they use on just one course.
 

[Danger4u2]

  Lake Stanley Draper Riding Area was moved to the other side of the lake and half the size of the old riding area because of a golf course.  In the late '80s I worked for a company that sold tons of fertilizer, herbicide and fungicide to golf courses.  I would deliver chemicals to Hefner golf course right next to the lake that supplys the drinking water to Okla. City.  The run off goes right into the lake.

Good point I forgot about golf courses.

[hughes]

I Agree.

[eprovenzano]

I didn't mean to start a helmet no helmet issue...  I just think its odd/strange, that when "most" people throw a leg over a bike, they usually put on at least a helmet, while those who ride quads, its rare that I see someone wearing a helmet.

I do agree its the individual's decision, no it should not be regulated.  I just thought it seemed odd how those riding a dirt bike wear the equipment, while those riding quads do not.

[John]

Sorry,

I fail to relate this to KX, MX enduro or even four strokes.

Maybe this is a topic for another forum or am I missing a point here?

//John

[gowen]

John, it has fallen off topic but does relate to the off road community as the states is regulating off road ages and gear (mainly ATV's but that is besides the point). At least North Carolina is.

[musturbo]

don't want to get on the AMA soapbox but...

[FuriouSly]

WOW.  Hot topic.  Anything that get's you thinking about how you/your family/friends prepare and protect themselves for a ride is a pertinent/important topic for discussion in my opinion.

I feel that anyone who cares about themselves and their immediate family/friends would make it a priority to have the best protection available within budget.  I would hope the goal is to enjoy, not only the present ride, but many more in the future. That goal is made successful with the more types of gear equipped and consistent use of that gear.

There are always people that feel vanity or masculinity are compromised when using such protection.  And as always, shear ignorance is the excuse for many.

Me, my wife, daughter, and son wear protective gear on every ride.  Atv (quads) and motorcycles.  Helmets, chest protectors, offroad riding gear with exhaust protection, gloves, and MX boots (Alpinestars and Berik).  But injuries have still occured (broken collar bone, ruptered spleen, bruised ribs, scrapes and burns).  I can imagine what could happen if the gear was not worn.

Thanks for letting me bend your ears...

Furious

[metallicarebal]

I personally think it should be the choice of the rider as to wheathor or not they wear a helmet or any other type of protection. I think you would have to be stupid if you can't even wear a helmet but thats your own beef, you know what I mean? I am religious with wearing my helmet and it already probably saved my life twice, or at least saved me from suffering permanent brain damage or even paralysis. Also, just because you use the safety gear does not make you invincable as a lot of people would like to think, you also have to use it correctly for it to efficiantly protect you. I once made the mistake of not strapping my helmet, and naturaly, that was the day I tasted the dirt (gravel actually ). I was going about 55 or 60 mph on the railroad tracks (I know, first stupid mistake) and I ended up hitting a railroad tie that was higher than the others, in effect throwing me off ballence and causing me to crash. Well my helmet was on but not strapped, it stayed on for the first impact and then flew off. If I wouldn't have had it on at all the first impact likely would have killed me, I still got 13 staples put in my mellon in 2 different places. So what I'm trying to say is, if you want to be safe, don't just use safety gear, use it correctly. If it is not used correctly, the safety gear can actually injure you more than if you hadn't worn it at all, trust me I've seen it happen. So if theres a functioning brain in that punkin of yours,   strap a helmet on and if your ambitious enough, a chest protecter and other important safety gear. I'm done with my lecture now . Just my $0.02

[John]

Yeah!

This is basic stuff. If you are clever enough to ride a KX5, don't become a nominee?.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_Awards

//John