Originally Posted by
qwaalodge
It doesn't matter if you're doing lots of positive things for other people even if you're Elon Musk or the president of a large humanitarian organization. It doesn't give you the privilege to endanger others when there are much safer options or choices to do one thing or fulfill your urges. It only turns you into an elitist, a snob for thinking everyone else is less important, less useful than you that it's a not a big deal if you end up hurting or annoying others with what you do.
All absolutely true.
There are many ways to satisfy your adrenaline urges without hurting others who doesn't wish to be part of the action. They do it in mountain tracks, race tracks, cordoned areas, officially sanctioned races / events, etc. Act like a professional instead of a deluded maniac and it will be good for everyone.
All these guys do this stuff too, in fact most of their respective content has nothing to do with endangering others. This past winter, Lucas Brunelle shot an absolutely crazy and incredible video of himself riding out on the (barely) frozen Charles River in Boston on his road bike, you;re not going to see content like that from anyone else... but he's also famous for riding like a dick. Safa's videos are some of the best cycling content on YouTube... and then he posted an incredibly annoying one of himself and another guy bombing a crowded two-way, mixed-use singletrack at top speed, bullying the hikers out of the way. As I said, I'm conflicted. Cycling is an inherently risky sport and seeing people embrace that risk is as compelling as it is in surfing or rock climbing. The problem obviously comes when you subject unwilling participants to the same risk. Does that wipe out everything else? Possibly.