Originally Posted by
JoeyBike
The base issue here on the helmet thread is basic human
tribalism.
"Tribalism implies the possession of a strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates one member of a group from the members of another group. Based on strong relations of proximity and kinship, members of a tribe tend to possess a strong feeling of identity." -Wiki...see tribalism link above.
Helmet wearers as well as bare-headers often IDENTIFY with certain things in their lives. Diet, religion, political or sexual orientation, country of origin, etc. We tend to OWN or beliefs as if they were freckles on our noses. It is nearly impossible to change a tribal belief or superstition. So all of the data in the world will almost never change the mind, no...the PERSONA, of anyone here no more than you can change their religion (based on facts?) or the color of their eyes.
But it's fun to nudge the other tribe isn't it?
Absolutely. My point was that we helmet-threaders are exposed to more information than most folks, regarding helmets.
Side note about how non-cyclists are less informed. My mom asked me several months ago, "Did you hear that Dallas has repealed their bicycle helmet law?"
Somewhat enthusiastically, I said, "Yes. We've been trying to get rid of that for years."
Dumfounded, she said, "Wait, you don't want the law? YOUR HELMET SAVED YOUR LIFE. Shouldn't everyone wear one?"
I spent the next 20 minutes explaining that yes, I wear a helmet. But nobody should be required by law to wear a helmet. Along with the rarity of bicycle accidents, and even rarer accidents involving head strikes, and even rarer still, the head strikes that would be more than minor flesh injuries. She claims to be a conservative libertarian. I'm afraid she's just part of the unwashed masses. (See, I too, can look down my nose at those less informed.)
