In rec.crafts.metalworking on Sat, 15 Jan 2005 20:45:19 -0500
Ed Huntress wrote:

Wow. Not only did you probably save his life, but you got an exceptionally
powerful lesson, at a fortunately young age, about the value of using mature
and responsible judgment. I'll bet that's stayed with you in other ways over
the years, no?

I'm not sure what effect it had on me, except to make me sure seatbelts
were a good thing!

I think it mainly taught me that **** *can* happen, and so small
inconveniences that prevent large consequences are best put up with.

Mind you, I wear an open face helmet, and still do so despite a crash
which scarred my face and lost me 3 teeth. I find it funny that people
who ride motorcycles - and thus have a statistically high chance of
serious injury that the best safety gear in the world won't save 'em
from - go ape at me about it...

The helmet choice is because the comfort and good feeling (I feel a bit
claustrophobic in fullface lids) is worth more to me than the possible
consequences, especially as in a long and varied career of falling off
motorcycles my head has only hit the ground twice. So I feel the reward
is worth the risk.

I am not sure how my decision is different to my father's except that
last bit about experience of crashes. He wasn't the world's best driver
but I think he had fewer failures than I did in my first few years of
biking!

Zebee