Re: Helmets

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>I have far greater respect for people who are aware of the 
>other, very real, costs associated with wearing a helmet and 
>have decided to take their chances with wearing a helmet because 
>they think the benefits outweigh the risks than I do for those 
>people who blindly assume that there are no risks.
>

I have snipped pages of unsubstantiated diatribe defending an indefensible
subject.  I have yet to see *any* of these horrid "costs" associated with
WEARING a helmet that you have stated exist.  Exactly what are these terrible
consequences that I should be weighing?  Please enlighten me.  I'll be sure to
let my family friend and fellow co-worker, a neurosurgeon, know since he'd be
most interested!  

If you check out the AMEA (who does, BTW, actually keep statistics on horse
related injuries...that's their whole reason for existence), you can find out
more actual real facts about this subject.  I might be more interested in your
pontificating if it were at all based in fact.  Sorry, but you could write a
book with so many pages of superfluous verbiage but it won't hold up without
something real in content.

Sheesh...I'm starting to sound like Tom! ;-)

>
> p.s.  As a completely separate issue, the fact that some other 
> people, and maybe even society, may volunteer to undertake the 
> consequences of what they consider to be foolish actions on my 
> part is totally irrelevant.  I have never asked anybody to volunteer that,
> and volunteering to pay for what you perceive to 
> be other people's mistakes does not give you any right to then
> tell people they aren't allowed to do things that you think are
> mistakes.


I wish it could be a voluntary thing!  Unfortunately, the costs are borne by
those of us that have to pay for medical insurance (because, even as a
nurse, I
can't get it totally paid for due to the fact that it has to pay so much
out to
those with catastrophic emergencies and subsequent long term care)...AND those
of us who pay taxes.  Nobody has asked me if I *wanted* to do this...I know
what my answer would be...they just take my money.  I hate the thought that I
have to pay for something that could have been prevented.  I'm more forgiving
if the person is truly ignorant of the consequences...but I have little
compassion for those that flagrantly refuse and then proceed to try to talk
others into believing their uncorroborated verbosity.

This is my last post on this subject unless someone has something specific
they
would like to know.

And getting up and down off of this soapbox is more tiring than step aerobics.
<g>

Sue 
"If all you can do is what you've always 
done, then all you can be is what you are right now."
                              author unknown

sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.
ARICP Certified Riding Instructor
Recreational Riding II, Dressage I