>>>>>>
>>>>>>Will you at least agree that society has a stronger role in protecting children than adults?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>
>>>>>In the abstract, yes I agree. It's the implementation of the ideal that gets me.
>>>>
>>>>On this, in principal, I agree with you completely. I lean more to the libertarian views - less government control and oversight - than to any other party. However, when it comes to children, I really think that society has a reponsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves when necessary. Being realistic, I also know that many children remove the helmet as soon as the parent is out of sight. However, given that many parents (like yourself) would not voluntarily enforce helmet protection on their children, I think it is fine for it be enforced by law. Same with car seats and seatbelts on minors. Now, when it comes to adults, I disagree. There should be no helmet or seatbelt law for adults. Wearing either protects oneself, not others. I do not see any proportional good to the masses being enjoyed by having such a law.
>>>
>>>Just to be clear, I am not a parent, yet. Nonetheless, you are correct, I will not enforce a helmet upon my children and since we live in the middle of nowhere the nanny-state will not either.
>>
>>I really am curious about this. What exactly is the downside to having your kids wear a helmet and be a little more protected? Maybe I could understand this debate a bit better if I understood the downside, but frankly, I don't see it.
>>
>>Pluses - the kid is better protected and in case of a bad fall is less likely to be badly hurt.
>>Minuses - ?
>
>Here's one that I know from personal experience. The likelihood of a bad fall increases with greater risks which tend to follow increased protection.
>
>At ages 11-15 I did wear a helmet, knee & elbow pads and wrist guards when skateboarding on our half-pipe and in our pool. We tried tricks we never would've had it not been for the protection we were wearing. The decision was mine to make as my parents would encourage its use but never force the issue. I never had a severe injury but several of my friends did, and I know they never would've occurred without the extra protection, because they never would've tried those tricks.

I think your childhood was vastly different from my own. We didn't wear protection mostly because it really wasn't around. But that sure didn't stop us doing incredibly dumb things.

>Fundamentally, I have a problem with the increased coddling of my generation and the overbearing coddling I see in the following generations. Kids must be allowed to try and fail lest they not learn important life lessons.

I agree wholeheartedly, but if they can be helped along by finding ways to not have them be killed while doing it, I'm ok with that.