Never ban it, never change it.
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I am a parent and there is NO way I would expose my sons to this type of sport.
I am also a parent (not a dictator), but unlike you I accept that I am not in control of my sons lives (at the ages of 20 and 24), nor would I attempt to.
The son was racing with the father in a sport well known to have a higher than average risk. Sidecar racing is fairly niche (certainly in the UK) with a tight knit community where they all know each other. Not only will the father definitely have known someone who had either died or suffered life changing injuries, chances are his son will have too.
So to suggest that he went into it without being fully aware of the risks, is perhaps insulting (which to clarify, is not the same as saying it is insulting).
As for the young son dying I would not be surprised if there was a lot of peer pressure
This on the other hand?, well if you were to say that in front of a family member, relative or friend within the sidecar racing community, I'd fully expect you to experience, fairly swiftly, whether or not they felt it an insult.
Edited by badbusdriver on 12/06/2022 at 16:03
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At 21 you are regarded an adult. You are free to serve in the military, go rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, vote, drive a car etc etc.
The default position is that adults make informed decisions about that which they do. It would be completely unacceptable to deny an adult their choice, providing only that it does not immediately threaten uninvolved others.
Spectators and marshals are there by choice. Family and close friends have the opportunity to discuss participation before the event.
I have no desire to see competitors seriously injured or killed.
But risk is fundamental to all competitive challenge in motor (and some other - eg: rugby) sport. Making motorcycle races safer by (a) limiting bikes to say 50cc, and (b) using an airfield runway with wide run off areas would render the event very safe and utterly tedious.
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Personally, I am in favour of leaving the TT in the hands of the organisers, officials, competitors and the sensible legislators of the I o M.
They know more about it than most who call for a ban.
We in England suffer from an ever increasing nanny state, the expansion of which is driven by 'green' activists, special interest minorities and a 'we know best ' attitude in Government Civil Service and the Education establishment.
The latest idea (copied from New Zealand) is to raise the age to buy cigarettes so that present children never grow old enough to buy them!
Whoever thought that would work mustn't have heard that kids now can get cannabis, MDM, ecstasy and other substances, which have been banned for years, they clearly live in a fantasy world where making activities illegal actually stops them.
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Personally, I am in favour of leaving the TT in the hands of the organisers, officials, competitors and the sensible legislators of the I o M.
They know more about it than most who call for a ban.
I am not calling for a ban, It is something as a discussion point. I once saw on TV an aquaintance killed in a sideswipe of a tree at 200+kph..rallying.
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Following the logic of denying folk the freedom to do that which they choose because it is dangerous leads to the logical conclusion that ultimately we should consider banning tobacco, alcohol, sugar, cycling, swimming, horse riding, driving, etc.
Additionally any activity unless possessing certificate of competence - DIY, car maintenance, cooking (knives and hot things) etc.
To optimise longevity we should all be housed in cells fully covered in soft surfaces (for safety), fed a balanced diet (calories and nutrients) to avoid obesity and obliged to undertake medically supervised exercise.
Sounds stupid I know - but living is about fun, friends, food, stress, emotion, ambition, effort, aspiration, concern for others etc. Remove risk from existence and all that is left is an organic blob - life only evidenced by a capacity to breathe.
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Following the logic of denying folk the freedom to do that which they choose because it is dangerous leads to the logical conclusion that ultimately we should consider banning tobacco, alcohol, sugar, cycling, swimming, horse riding, driving, etc.
Additionally any activity unless possessing certificate of competence - DIY, car maintenance, cooking (knives and hot things) etc.
To optimise longevity we should all be housed in cells fully covered in soft surfaces (for safety), fed a balanced diet (calories and nutrients) to avoid obesity and obliged to undertake medically supervised exercise.
Sounds stupid I know - but living is about fun, friends, food, stress, emotion, ambition, effort, aspiration, concern for others etc. Remove risk from existence and all that is left is an organic blob - life only evidenced by a capacity to breathe.
You have hit the nail on the head.
Many things which were possible and 'normal' 50 years ago have been made illegal or declared to be antisocial behaviours.
There is the EU plan to fit all cars with speed limiters that 'read' what they think the limit is where the vehicle is travelling. Such gadgets in the 'Black boxes' fitted for cheaper insurance are known to get this wrong: the proposed ones will also track location, no doubt the powers that be will eagerly follow the EU plan, seeing the possibilities it offers to control users.
I may be paranoid here, but CCTV is so widespread I am reminded of Orwell's '1984'. My local council sent an email survey which was solely concerned with what I was doing to reduce my CO2 emissions (insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, how much I cycle, walk and even how many days a week I eat meat).
I find this propaganda insulting, at a time when Russian shells and rockets are burning entire towns and cities, emitting more CO2 than I will cause in a lifetime, there are more important contributors to global warming than my Sunday roast or bacon sandwich.
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"""he latest idea (copied from New Zealand) is to raise the age to buy cigarettes so that present children never grow old enough to buy them!
Whoever thought that would work mustn't have heard that kids now can get cannabis, MDM, ecstasy and other substances, which have been banned for years, they clearly live in a fantasy world where making activities illegal actually stops them."""
Well the argument is slowly being won in that both smoking and alcohol use by young people. Caring parents I hope are also helping educate their children as regards the dangers they face as the are growing up with the many temptations but you cannot I think just leave it to them to decide.
With regard to motorbikes i remember having many conversations with my kids when they got to the age that they wanted to be more mobile and advised them against this form of transport on todays roads When they both had their first cars yes they had a few minor prangs as many do.. I am in no way a controlling parent but I hope my sense of common sense has rubbed off on them as they lead their adult lives
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No ban, never change it. Since the mid 70’s when the circuit was removed as one of the world championship Grand Prix events, anyone who now takes part knows the potential risk and takes it willingly.
Every death or serious injury is a tragedy, but there’s no compulsion on anyone to take part and every year it seems to get more popular.
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