> Actually, since I resemble that mindset a great deal, I'll leap to
> it's defense--or at least a rationalization. There are a great many
> things that I did that I don't want my kids to do. Not go to
> college, do lousy at school, do every drug I could think of, have a
> body that looks like it was assembled from recycled parts. I don't
> think of them as purely mistakes--I am what I am. That doen't mean
> I want to encourage my kids to follow the same path.
I fully understand avoiding yor mistakes on stuff you wouldn't
do and don't do anymore. The argument, however, loses it
rational for things we/you say are wrong...BUT you still
do them today by choice.
> The idea is that we want better for our kids, and we don't want them
> to suffer for the same lack of judgement. I love riding motorcycles,
> but I will do nothing to encourage ANYONE to do the same. In my mind
> it is a hideously dangerous thing for a newbie to do. It's bad
> enough when you've been doing it for forty years.
But how does any "newbie" become experienced except by starting
with that first ride?
> Safety gear and classes are really not enough. Yesterday I drove the
> bike home that my sister-in-law's boyfriend just bought. He's been
> to a two day class and he has a helmet. When someone turns left in
> front of him the liklihood that he will run right into the side of
> their car is very high. I did nothing to encourage him, even though
> I'd really like to help him out. > Both of my daughters ride
> motorcycles--badly. Discouraging them doesn't work 100%, but they
> didn't ride them every second of every day like I used to, and
> they're alive and each have two grandkids. > Adam Petty, on the
> other hand, is quite dead. He had every possible advantage in
> training and gear. I wouldn't be his Dad for anything.
But it was his choice. Consider two the many people that choose
very hazardous careers...fire fighters, police, military, etc.
Life is not without its risks. I don't want anyone to die needlessly,
and to avoid that we should encourage safety and training whenever
someone chooses to follow suuch a path.
Cheers,
Bill Sohl
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