Complete nonsense. Unpaved ground is not. Most parts of a motor vehicle are not -- which is why door dings, and cracked bumpers and windshield exist. Most parts of most animals are not. Most plants are not. Water is not.
That was the silliest attempt at analogy that I've seen in years. Lights work. Brakes work. Helmets do not. And, without attempting to give your nonsense more credit than it deserves -- which is none -- even if lights and brakes did not work, they are legally required.
Attempt to make an argument, then -- not just a declaration of your opinion. Attempt to explain why every study ever done finds that the biggest reason Americans stop cycling is perceived danger, when the danger is far less than other activities.
Attempt to explain why every municipality that has attempted mandatory helmet laws experienced a reduction in cycling and an increase in the danger thereof.
Please plug in your brain before continuing. A kevlar vest can stop all manner of protrusions into your body, not just bullets -- which I already explained.
I note here with interest that you declined to address the other items -- motorcycle leathers, real helmets, and BMX armor.
This is not difficult at all. A bicycle helmet significantly increases the outer dimensions of your "head", and therefore, there exists an entire array of situations in which a bare head makes no contact with anything, but a helmet does. There are at least as many situations where a bare head just barely contacts an object, but a helmet suffers a significant impact. I've done these at least twice, personally. Once, I lightly collided with a friend riding through a parking lot at 5 mph -- miscommunication about our direction resulted in a bump. I fell over, but I caught myself with my right hand on the ground and I stopped my head just before it touched pavement. Other time was on a wooded singletrack where I brushed my ear on a tree, unintentionally -- that would've been a solid hit to a helmet.
Increasing the effective size of your "head" necessarily means it will suffer more and more-severe impacts than otherwise. This should not be difficult for you to puzzle out, and if you cannot do so, you might should consider that this topic is beyond your capacity to discuss. Increasing the effective size of your head with a useful helmet -- like a quality motorcycle helmet for example -- can be a net positive, as the earlier statistics demonstrated, but increasing your head size with a plastic placebo, does not create a positive safety effect, again, as earlier demonstrated.
Unpaved ground can be quite hard (it can also be a bit softer but not some fluffy pillow to protect your head) and most people are not falling on animals or water and in the water such as for kayaking and white water rafting people do wear helmets. Motor vehicles do dent but that isn't to say no you shouldn't wear a helmet. Sometimes condoms break so we should have unprotected intercourse?
I see a light on a bicycle I feel it is unsafe same with brakes. It is a silly analogy but no more silly then what you are talking about. Helmets have been proven effective. Despite it increasing the "effective size of your "head"" they do help prevent impacts and are not just plastic but specifically designed foams to protect you.
You did have some great anecdotal evidence on two little things that happened to you and that is wonderful you used your hands to stop everything (I won't get into gloves) and in the other case you used your ear to protect you even though generally your shoulders stick out more than your ears but whatever something happened and you used your ear to protect your head great. That means nothing in this context. I have fallen as well and didn't hit my helmet or any part of my head. It happens but would I rather have something protecting my head in an impact or not I think I will stick to the helmet.
Yes kevlar vests can stop other stuff. In terms of motorcycle and BMX gear go for it I am all for more safety that doesn't mean you cannot also wear a helmet or shouldn't wear a helmet in fact all of that other gear just as you would say "increases the effective size of your body". Generally though crashing and hurting my arm is a lot less damaging then hitting my head a fact that seems to elude you.
Real helmets? What perchance is a real helmet and what is a fake helmet? Beyond actual fake helmets that aren't properly tested and hopefully exceed national or international standards. Saying a helmet is bad but a helmet is good doesn't really help your case much, motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets are different because generally the two vehicles go at different speeds but yes a motorcycle helmet will generally be more protective for a reason. However again saying one is bad and one is good kind of undercuts your argument because it seems as if you are advocating for one based on the same argument you are advocating against the other.
In terms of mandatory helmet laws I am not for those as stated in my other response. You can drop that one it won't do you much good I am all for people wearing helmets but not for making them mandatory which causes a lot of other issues unrelated to safety.
Also just curious about your studies, you mention studies and so far I haven't seen links to STUDIES from you. There was someone who had their own personal opinion piece from 2002 which was not a peer reviewed study.