The Battle for Roethlisberger's Brain - Is freedom just another word for falling on your face?

Reason ^ | June 21, 2006 | Jacob Sullum

[Republican Wildcat]

I agree with you - as far as a state requirement for being insured. I think that is the case in many states that don't require helmets, although I'm not sure.

[metesky]

Look Gabz, only five posts before Nanny showed up!

[bfree]

Let know when the nanny state finds a cure for old age. Freedom haters are everywhere, even here on FR.

[Ace the Biker]

I wore a helmet in Viet Nam fighting for freedom. One of the freedoms I like to enjoy is not having a bunch of strangers telling me what I can do with my own head.

Head injuries occur in automobile accidents, so I ask you, do all the people in your car wear helmets when you drive?

If not why not?

[RobbyS]

You don't know that drivers in a car are now evveloped is airbags and as well wear seatbelts, have headrests and rise in a steel cage in a vehicle that weighs nearly two tons? A helmut is just a modest concession to the laws of physics, like wearing a condom when having sex with a total stranger.

[Ace the Biker]

You didn't answer my question, just like a liberal change the subject instead of answering a direct question.

[Ditto]

Not sure how bright Ben is though...

Bright enough to lead his team to the AFC Championship game as a rookie and to win the Super Bowl in his second season and compile the best win/loss record of any starting QB in the NFL.

He's only 23 years old (i.e. risk taker as most up us were that age) and a professional athlete (i.e. even bigger risk taker) who wouldn't even be able walk on the field full of 300 pound guys who want to tear him apart if he were a "safety first" kind of guy.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

100% agree with you that Ben is able to play brilliant football for 60 mins on a football field. As I was inferring from my post, being brilliant in sports doesn't translate to being brilliant off the field. Ben didn't show much intelligence by being on a rice rocket sans helmet and with an expired license. If that's a sign of brilliance to you, then god bless you.

[Ditto]

Ben didn't show much intelligence by being on a rice rocket sans helmet and with an expired license. If that's a sign of brilliance to you, then god bless you.

To me, it's a sign of youth, and nothing more.

[RobbyS]

No, because a driver in a car has lots of protection . A biker, on the other hand, has very little. As I said, it is hardly asking too much to ask a biker to wear protective gear.

[RobbyS]

You have it. He still thinks he is immortal. At least he knows what a concussion feels like and may be less inclined to play through one. A first rate quarterback with a concuission is not as efficient as a back up whose brain is not scrambled.

[RobbyS]

You have it. He still thinks he is immortal. At least he knows what a concussion feels like and may be less inclined to play through one. A first rate quarterback with a concussion is not as efficient as a back up whose brain is not scrambled.

[RobbyS]

You have it. He still thinks he is immortal. At least he knows what a concussion feels like and may be less inclined to play through one. A first rate quarterback with a concussion is not as efficient as a back up whose brain is not scrambled.

[BluH2o]

As I said, it is hardly asking too much to ask a biker to wear protective gear.

What about a seat belt?

[RobbyS]

I am not sure about that. A bit like strapping someone to a horse. BTW, I wonder if jockeys ride bikes?

[evets]

[CORedneck]

The Federal Government should butt out, period when it comes to state traffic laws and driver's licensing. It is a state decision to decide what speed limits are, restraints/helmets, license points and whether states want to participate in interstate highway safety compacts such as the new Driver License Agreement, Vehicle Equipment Safety Compact.

The Federal Government should not concern itself with the day to day operations of a given state. Time to enforce the 10th amendment.

I do not favor seat belt & helmet laws but when I ride, I wear a helmet and in fact do padding such as back protection, limb joints and I do a seat belt when in a car/truck.

[Petronski]

As a Steeler fan and a Roethlisberger fan, I have to say how he's an ginormous idiot for splurging his future on the pointlessness of helmetless riding at this moment in his portentious young life.

Nonetheless, it's quite absurd to think that the state can force the stupid to behave wisely.

[absolootezer0]

too few of them? have you looked at the prices on them lately? $3,000 is about as cheap as you can buy a new one, and that's a 250cc, barely big enough to drive on a highway model. and of course, we're also talking about second vehicles for most people, so alot of people just plain can't afford them. most bikes anymore cost as much as a new car.

[absolootezer0]

I agree with you - as far as a state requirement for being insured. I think that is the case in many states that don't require helmets, although I'm not sure.

if we get our optional helmet law (its on the governor's desk), one of the provisions is carrying an extra $10k personal injury insurance.