Kids look cool sailing when they learn to freaking duck. If they can't do that, then maybe Nanny should not let them out on the water.
There is also the matter of situational risk. Larry sails on a big boat with a big honking sail and a big honking boom which could pulverize his grey matter (wouldn't that be a crying shame?) so he is perhaps wise to wear a helmet. A kid in a dinghy is less likely to experience a serious injury from the boom, and if we're trying to protect kids from even minor bruises, we're raising a generation of sissies which will be dangerous to the species due to natural selection.
Another issue is education. For example, I am all for helmets when kids ride bicycles (I wear one too), but unless we FIRST teach them to avoid being hit by the goddam cars which are being driven by incompetent adults (mostly), then giving them a helmet and thinking we're making them safe is industrial strength stupid. Getting hit by a car is going to ruin their whole day, helmet or no.
Education and judgement are far more important than "safety gear". There is a place for both, but without the former, the latter isn't going save them most of the time.
PS - before I get blitzed by critics, notice that I did not say that people should not wear a helmet when sailing if they (or their guardians) so choose. I only said there are more important priorities in making sailing a safe activity and that helmets do not look cool.
Precisely. Helmets are for the sissies and the uncool. Darwin takes care of the rest. Don't make us wear a helmet every time we leave the safe environment of our cars and homes to explore nature.
After my first retort regarding sailing helmets, I was going to leave this one alone. But these two said it all, especially Pandabonium. You really got that bear's hackles up, Tillerman!
We're seriously considering helmets for our high school league. A few kids are already using them. The racing environment is hectic, and bonks are inevitable in gusty and shifty winds. Most teams have had several kids out for many weeks because of concussions.
I think helmets will be mandatory in most sports eventually...the long term health effects are just beginning to be understood.
Kids look cool sailing when they learn to freaking duck. If they can't do that, then maybe Nanny should not let them out on the water.
ReplyDeleteThere is also the matter of situational risk. Larry sails on a big boat with a big honking sail and a big honking boom which could pulverize his grey matter (wouldn't that be a crying shame?) so he is perhaps wise to wear a helmet. A kid in a dinghy is less likely to experience a serious injury from the boom, and if we're trying to protect kids from even minor bruises, we're raising a generation of sissies which will be dangerous to the species due to natural selection.
Another issue is education. For example, I am all for helmets when kids ride bicycles (I wear one too), but unless we FIRST teach them to avoid being hit by the goddam cars which are being driven by incompetent adults (mostly), then giving them a helmet and thinking we're making them safe is industrial strength stupid. Getting hit by a car is going to ruin their whole day, helmet or no.
Education and judgement are far more important than "safety gear". There is a place for both, but without the former, the latter isn't going save them most of the time.
No, helmets don't look cool.
PS - before I get blitzed by critics, notice that I did not say that people should not wear a helmet when sailing if they (or their guardians) so choose. I only said there are more important priorities in making sailing a safe activity and that helmets do not look cool.
ReplyDeletePrecisely. Helmets are for the sissies and the uncool. Darwin takes care of the rest. Don't make us wear a helmet every time we leave the safe environment of our cars and homes to explore nature.
ReplyDeleteAfter my first retort regarding sailing helmets, I was going to leave this one alone. But these two said it all, especially Pandabonium. You really got that bear's hackles up, Tillerman!
ReplyDeleteWe're seriously considering helmets for our high school league. A few kids are already using them. The racing environment is hectic, and bonks are inevitable in gusty and shifty winds. Most teams have had several kids out for many weeks because of concussions.
ReplyDeleteI think helmets will be mandatory in most sports eventually...the long term health effects are just beginning to be understood.