My Fundee Neighbor Says "Helmets don't protect kids heads... Jesus does"

[QueenOfCalifornia]

And so his 9 year old son who plays with my kids almost every day never wears a helmet. They ride their bikes, Ripsticks, skateboards and whatever else we have in the garage.

Last week I watched my son fall from his Ripstick and hit his head HARD on the curb. His elbow was skinned up and so was a knee but his head was protected because of his helmet. It scared the shit out of me but it made me even more aware of how his best buddy, the fundee kid, could fall and hit his head and then be on life support. I have tried to reason with them but they are absolutely sure that Jesus will protect that kids head....( Just like he protected the kids older sister from living on the streets and becoming a drug addict) --- There is nothing I can say to make them see that I do not want to be the one who watches as the kid is seriously injured and it could have been prevented. Nothing I say works. I am the only parent who sits in front and watches over the kids as they play... I feel like I am talking to a wall - I have said "How do you know that God did not inspire the creator of the helmet so that your childs' head would be safe?" This "reason" falls on deaf ears.

As a parent of 2 kids I find this to be very disturbing. As an Atheist it makes me want to scream.

[Ezlivin]

1. Do you still need chin straps?

Or is Jesus magnetized like he is in my car?

[Radical Activist]

2. Just sneak up behind the parent one day and smack them in the head, hard

maybe with a blunt object. Then ask if they think a helmet would have protected them any better than Jesus did.

[Ian David]

5. ROFL!!! n/t

[nini]

3. turn her in to child services

and let them deal with her child neglect.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

8. There are no laws

that I am aware of that forces a parent to make their kids wear helmets. I don't think the government should be telling us what to do at all times... I think REASON should be used but in this case there just isn't any.

I really like the kid. He is a nice boy and I hope he doesn't end up a vegetable.

[Doremus]

32. Tell them the sappy story that's a perennial fave of the repuke chain email network:

Something about a flood and some people standing on a roof as the waters rise. A boat comes by to rescue them and the people send it away saying Jesus will protect them.

Water continues to rise, another boat, same story, and so on.

Finally the water sweeps them away to their death. They ask God why he didn't save them. "I sent 3 boats," he says, "why didn't you get on?"

That one is trite enough that it just might appeal to your neighborhood mouthbreathers. If not, calm yourself with the knowledge that their progeny no doubt has inherited their extraordinarily thick skulls. ;)

[nxylas]

83. Or just the Bible passage with Jesus being tempted in the wilderness

The Devil says to Jesus "Go on, throw yourself off that cliff, God will protect you" and Jesus replies "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God". So your fundie neighbor is directly contradicting Jesus' teachings.

[Lars39]

48. You could have a nasty lawsuit on your hands if he gets hurt using

your equipment or on your property.

[nini]

61. there are laws

http://www.bhsi.org/mandator.htm

government shouldn't have to tell us what to do - you're right. But they end up doing so because of stupid fucking parents like your neighbor.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

63. Thank you for the

link.

I am going to print out this law and hand it to them.

[rvablue]

82. If you're in CA then yes, IIRC, there is a law mandating kids' have to wear helmets.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Does he wear a grilled Jesus sandwich on his head?

If not, he's playing with fire.

[pipi_k]

72. Don't forget the Holy Ghost pile of mashed taters on his face

They'll prevent his eyes from popping out on the sidewalk if he hits a tree.

[samplegirl]

6. Yeah and I'll bet

if one of his kids get hurt on your property he'd be the first person to sue you for the hospital bills.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

81. Ack....

They normally are riding around in the street in front of my house - they go into our garage to get soda pop from the fridge and they also use our restroom... I am the "neighborhood Mom" who the kids like (most of the time) until I get all shrill and scream at them for being knuckleheads.

[rpannier]

7. Maybe she buys Jesus Brand helmets and elbow pads nt

[QueenOfCalifornia]

10. You mean the

IMAGINARY ONES?

[JerseygirlCT]

9. What's the law where you are?

Are they required? Might that give you some leverage?

I completely agree with you - it gives me the heeby-jeebies to see kids like that now. That and the adults riding around on their motorcycles helmet-less... Terrifying.

Usually the kids who don't wear one have parents who just don't want to be bothered to have the fight. I'd rather my kid be pissed off at me and alive.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

12. My kids just always wear them

and so there is no fight. They have had a reasonable couple of parents explain how brain injuries can fuck up your day too.

As far as I know, no laws exist as to street toys (bikes and skateboards and such) there may be a bike helmet law... I don't know... But his head is "special."

[JerseygirlCT]

17. Oh yes - it also helps when they've just always had to wear one

Fewer arguments, to be sure. It's sometimes hard when I get the "but the other kids don't have to!" one.

I was hoping perhaps you could use the law as a lever - along the lines of "Are you aware that your child is required by law to have a helmet on?"

[michreject]

16. I don't wear a helmet while riding my bike (Harley)

when I'm in states that they're not required.

They're heavy, hot, causing fatigue and restrict my vision.

[JerseygirlCT]

18. Well, it's your choice

But the potential negative outcome, it seems to me, sure trumps hot and uncomfortable, you know?

[michreject]

21. If I go down at 70 mph

or hit a car while the driver is on the phone, I don't think it would make much difference.

[Dr.Phool]

20. Neither do I.

They restrict your peripheral vision and restrict your ability to hear a car along side of you.

The last time I wore one was in 1976, when they repealed the law in Ohio.

[michreject]

24. Lucky you

One of the things I love about Ohio. Our group of riders bring our dollars to your state instead of Michigan.

[Dr.Phool]

26. I'm in Florida now.

If I had to wear a helmet down here, I'd have heat stroke and fall off the bike. We can figure on 85-95 degrees until mid October.

The sun bakes that helmet to about 130 degrees.

[michreject]

27. Only problem I have is getting the knots out of my hair

I keep it in a tail with 3 rubber bands.

[Edweird]

36. Meh, I'm on the edge of Miami, and I wear a full face year round.

Dental work and plastic surgery is insanely expensive and I've heard that learning to walk and talk again is way overrated. You just have to ride fast to get the air flowing.

[Dr.Phool]

60. Not to mention picking luvbugs out of your teeth!

:rofl:

[handmade34]

40. 7 surgeries later

my leg works pretty good, and thanks to the helmet I'm alive. Unfortunately my bike (Honda) was totaled. I wish you the best and agree helmets are uncomfortable.

[NC_Nurse]

11. Has this person heard about the woman who let her daughter die of diabetes

while praying for a faith healing? She just got convicted of negligence, I believe.
Tell them God gave us helmets to protect our fragile noggins.

Geez, what a moron.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

14. I told them that...

Maybe Jesus/God inspired the creator of the helmet so that our soft heads would be all protected. They think I am a "worry wart." Yep... I am a worry wart. :eyes:

[Arkana]

13. OK, fine.

When Jesus allows your fundie neighbor's child to take a header over the handlebars and splatter his brains on the pavement, be sure to look at them, clasp your hands in prayer, and say "The Lord's will be done."

[GoneOffShore]

37. Or if you want to be really cruel -

Just say: "Well, that's evolution in action."

[QueenOfCalifornia]

64. LOL!

That made me laugh. :rofl:

[Motown_Johnny]

15. Maybe Jesus/God gave us the ability to create helmets and protect their heads ourselves

since we were given dominion over the earth, maybe we should use it to protect the heads of children

[HysteryDiagnosis]

19. Didn't the Roman soldiers wear helmets to protect themselves

from Jesus?

[donco6]

43. And I remember something about a Helmet of Salvation.

with a Breastplate of righteousness, etc. etc.

[Javaman]

22. You know the old joke about the guy stuck on the roof of his house right?

A floods coming. So a cop comes buy and tells the guy to evacuate. He says, no thank you, jesus will save me. the flood waters come up to his window and a fire boat comes buy and tells him to get in the boat. He says, no thank you, jesus will save me. Now the flood waters are reaching the peak of the roof of his house and he's stranded on top. Here comes a helicopter. the tell him to get in. He says, no thank you, jesus will save me.

finally the moron drowns.

He meets Jesus and he asks him why he didn't save him. and Jesus said, I sent the police, a boat and a helicopter, what else do you want me to do?

[rustydog]

23. Then Jesus didn't care before helmets became the norm!

http://www.ohsu.edu/childsafety/adults/helmet.php

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, each year, more than 500,000 people in the US are treated in emergency departments, and more than 700 people die as a result of bicycle-related injuries. Head injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes and is the most important determinant of bicycle-related death and permanent disability. Head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths, more than two-thirds of bicycle-related hospital admissions and about one-third of hospital emergency room visits for bicycling injuries.

The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet. Helmet use reduces the risk of bicycle-related death and injury and the severity of head injury when a crash occurs. Unfortunately, national estimates report that bicycle helmet use among child bicyclists ranges only from 15 to 25 percent. By wearing a helmet, more than 85 percent of all head injuries could be prevented. It is our intention to help parents and children learn that the simple act of wearing a helmet can save lives.

I imagine this rocket scientist believes Kevlar doesn't stop bullets, Jesus does?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

88. Look... the Dad, the pastor of the church,

is an ex drug user who "found God" and who dedicates his life to Jesus and traveling first class to his HS reunions and on his new Harley while buying every movie he can on Blue Ray.

He is your typical self made, give me 10% of your income so I can save you from Hell, fundee. His wife is kind of like a really nauseating version of that character from the Mary Tyler Moore show, Georgette - Ted Knight's wife--- With a souther accent --- and she thinks she is an expert in child behavior even though she doesn't know shit about child behavior - (she wrote a book on raising your kids the right way) I'll get it out and quote some dang good instructional material if you want - She gave me a copy because my kids like to tell them that there is no God.... haaaaaaaa-

I am certain that they use the "it's God's will" shit for everything that is bad and then take credit for the good stuff.... such as their 20 year old daughter who is a street person and a drug addict - that is the will of the lord. I am not making this shit up. They are advocates of using "The Rod" on children - a good whipping is just what they need to keep them in line.

Oh, it's mind boggling.

[hfojvt]

25. oh no. How can you stand to live next to somebody

who doesn't believe in the same things you do. They should be tortured until they do the right thing.

[Stevenmarc]

28. If Jesus protects kids, he would have made the parents sterile before they had a shot at parenting.

[HughMoran]

29. Your neighbor is an idiot n/t

[jwirr]

30. People who argue this interpretation are idiots. So God cannot use

helmets and doctors, etc to carry out His will? They are limiting and degrading their own god.

[pipi_k]

73. Actually god does use doctors

to carry out his will, but that only applies when people are looking for a specific outcome...i.e. fertility treatments, etc. If it succeeds, they thank god. Like he had any more to do with the actual medical implantation than a bum living under a bridge.

Cherry picking assholes is what they are...

[Edweird]

31. I would look into a liability/indemnity waiver if that kid uses anything of yours.

If his kid falls and gets hurt riding your bike or skateboard I would bet the farm he would suddenly convert to the gospel of the personal injury attorney. I am not an attorney, but I've seen what can happen. CYA

[Stellabella]

33. Well, Jesus isn't doing a very good job.

Since so many children die every day.

[burning rain]

34. Well, see, your kid isn't from a godball family,....

and so he's subject to hitting his head. Real Christians presumably aren't because God's protective hand is better than any silly helmet. For instance, GPH protects your nose, too, and how many bicycle helmets do that? I guess if the neighbor kid ends up hurting his head, his parents will realize that he'd been lax in his devotions, or maybe God was just asleep at the till and Satan (or maybe some lesser demon) put a stick in the spokes of his bike. Satan is plenty mean and gets off on stuff like that. He's always coming up with some new trick to distract Jesus from His work of guarding the faithful, like sending a really hot demon chick with some killer weed.

[Marr]

35. I believe the Templars wore helmets.

So what's the deal?

[gratuitous]

38. I wonder why they're testing the Lord their God

Somre pretty heavy admonitions in the Bible against doing that, as I recall. Buy another helmet for Son of the Dimwits, and tell him that the rules are different at your house. He wears it while playing with your kids or he doesn't play. Probably as much as you can do, and if the kid reaches the age of majority, he'll probably remember you with a certain fondness that he may never have for his own parents.

[hedgehog]

69. Seconded. And point out this verse to them:

From Matthew 4;

5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

[SwissTony]

39. Your neighbour hasn't read this story...

Country GP tells how he saved boy with home drill

* Reko Rennie
* May 20, 2009

A country GP has described how he saved a 12-year-old Victorian boy by using a household drill to bore a hole in the child's skull.

Following directions over the phone from a Melbourne neurosurgeon, Dr Rob Carson made a deep incision in the boy's head and removed a deadly blood clot.

Nicholas Rossi, 12, was not wearing a helmet when he fell off his bike late on Friday while riding outside a friend's house in Maryborough, 170 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.

The boy hit his head on the pavement and was knocked out momentarily, but then stood up and said he was fine.

But after he complained of a headache, his mother Karen, a trained nurse, took him to the district hospital, where he experienced spasms and periods of unconsciousness.

The local GP, Dr Carson, recognised the symptoms of bleeding on the brain and realised he had only minutes to drill a hole to relieve the pressure on the boy's brain.

More at link

<http://www.theage.com.au/national/country-gp-tells-how-he-saved-boy-with-home-drill-20090520-beg7.html?page=-1>

[rustydog]

41. Does your Fundee neighbor trust Jesus...

Or does he wear seat belts in automobiles?

[alfredo]

42. The helmet must be too expensive

[Canuckistanian]

44. Trust in Physics, not the Lord when it comes to skateboarding

Let THEM trust the Lord for salvation from major cranial traumas. Just keep a helmet on YOUR kid.

Remember, your kid can always get NEW friends.

[dflprincess]

45. Did you get your son a new helmet?

I was told you need to buy a new one if they've taken a good hit as it might compromise them.

BTW, I'm not an Atheist and this makes me want to scream. Remind them, "The Lord helps them who help themselves". :evilgrin:

[mitchum]

46. Yeah, but I bet he locks his doors when he's away

[Mnemosyne]

47. If the kid is on your property and using your equipment, I'd worry about being sued.

I would advise keeping an extra helmet for the helmet-less kid(s) and make them wear it on your property for their and your own protection.

Fundies howl loudly and sue often when they see $$$ possible from their god.

:hi:

[LiberalFighter]

49. I would advise you that if any kid is on YOUR property to require them to wear the helmet.

That way it should reduce the possibility of a lawsuit against you.

When you are on someone elses property you don't have the right to tell them but you do have the right regarding your own kids.

[csziggy]

54. Or require that if their child will be on your property the parents sign a release

Absolving you of any liability in case of an accident. Make sure you find one that has lots of serious legal language describing the kinds of things that the parent is promising not to sue you for.

[LiberalFighter]

80. Yes, the release form should be at least 5 pages long with font no bigger than 10.

[votingupstart]

50. sad to say but darwin will have to rear his ugly head

nothing you are going to do - unfortunately you will have to let the parents se the error of their ways when their child gets hurt. HOPEFULLY it will be just a small bump on the head with no serious implications that will jolt them to reality.

[Ilsa]

51. Remind them that Jesus didn't invent skateboarding. Then call their minister

and warn him that eventually, he'll be paying them a bereavement call because they were too stupid to figure out that bad things happen to good people all the time.

[Stephanie]

52. You can insist he wears a helmet while on your property

You could claim your liability insurance demands it or something. At least protect him while he's with you.

[demodonkey]

57. But if the kid got hurt BECAUSE of the helmet (it does happen, rarely) there would be a BIGGER suit.

Also, if you provided the helmet to the neighbor kid, in the event of an injury, the parent could claim you didn't FIT the helmet properly or you gave their kid a defective helmet, etc. etc. etc.

Anyone uses a helmet on my property, THEY buy it and they fit it.

[RagAss]

53. Look, you can't win.....these freaks are the scourge of our generation.

[Zomby Woof]

55. Grab that kid by the head

And repeatedly smash his head into a concrete wall.

He probably won't learn his lesson, but you'll feel better.

[krispos42]

56. Snip, snip, there go his seatbelts

And with a little creative use of a screwdriver, there go his airbags. Hell, Jesus is better than a seatbelt and airbag setup, right?

[knitter4democracy]

58. Here's a crazy thought: call their pastor.

See if you can find out which church they attend (they should tell you this easily, though be careful to hide the question so they don't think you want to attend--something like, "Is it your church that does that big Easter cantata? I could've sworn that one I read about in the paper was yours. Which one is that again?"

Then, call the pastor and tell him this (remember: for most churches, even fundy ones, pastors have to have college degrees and aren't always as insane as the members). If it's a big church, see if they have a children's minister/children's ministry coordinator and talk to that person. They can handle that family more easily, and that might keep the kid safe.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

70. He is the pastor.

The Dad is the pastor of their church... That's why they can buy new cars (Cadillac Escalades) every 2 years and paid cash for their house when they moved here 6 years ago.

[knitter4democracy]

90. Crap. There's no hope for that family, then.

Yikes.

[Statistical]

71. Good idea.

Pastor might be shocked to learn that members of his congregation are endangering their children in the name of faith.

Then again he may be hardcore fundie and say the same thing.

Most pastors I know take the view that medicine, vaccines, safety equipment, etc are "works of God". They benefit mankind and to not use them based on "faith" show a lack of understanding of what faith is.

Does this same family not get vaccines? God will protect them from viruses
Do they not wash their hands? God will protect them from germs
Do they not wear seat belts? Do they disable the airbags so God can protect them? Not use smoke detector? Not eat healthy food? Not take their kids to doctors? Not take their kids to dentist?

I mean where do you draw the line. Most churches (90%) would draw the line to include protecting kids from one of the largest killers of children. Falls kill 3x more kids than firearms.

[jpak]

59. Darwin had a term for this...

natural selection

[snooper2]

75. That's why NO kids are supposed to wear helmets

:)

[Statistical]

62. Reminds me of the farmer in the flood

A farmer is in Iowa during a flood. The river is overflowing, with water surrounding the farmer's home up to his front porch. As he is standing there, a boat comes up, The man in the boat says "Jump in, I'll take you to safety."

The farmer crosses his arms and says stubbornly, "Nope, I put my trust in God."

The boat goes away. The water rises to the second floor. Another boat comes up, the man says to the farmer who is now in the second story window, "Jump in, I'll save you."

The farmer again says, "Nope, I put my trust in God."

The boat goes away. Now the water is up to the roof. As The farmer stands on the roof, a helicopter comes over, and drops a ladder. The pilot yells down to the farmer "I'll save you, climb the ladder."

The farmer says "Nope, I put my trust in God."

The helicopter goes away. The water comtinues to rise and sweeps the farmer off the roof. He drowns.

The farmer goes to heaven. God sees him and says "What are you doing here?"

The farmer says "I put my trust in you and you let me down."

God says, "What do you mean, let you down? I sent you two boats and a helicopter!!!"

[malaise]

65. Why are you disturbed?

They are prime candidates for the Darwin Award.

[Are_grits_groceries]

66. When I was in college, a lot of members of Campus Crusade for Christ never studied.

They ran around doing all manner of "godly" things, and they would say that Jesus wouldn't let them fail.
I told them that Jesus was going to fail their butts.

[sweetpotato]

67. Thinning the heard, Darwin awards, too dumb to live

Sorry - but if they believe that that is how faith in Jesus works, then leave them to it. You can't save them all.

[The Wizard]

68. Send your fundie neighbor

this website
http://landoverbaptist.org/
Or mail them pictures of head injuries with a return address from Jesus in Heaven.
You can probably find head injury pictures at rotten.com

[peekaloo]

74. Shame on you!

Jebus's dad maintained a hand's off approach to his child's safety and he turned out okay.

:hide:

[NeedleCast]

76. I never wore a helment.

I lived. I hear that, contrary to current belief, the vast majority of my non-helmet wearing peers did as well.

[Dappleganger]

77. Tell him that he has pudding for brains...

that's what happens when you choose not to think!

[prolesunited]

78. After a fall like that

I hope you replaced your son's helmet. It might not protect him in future falls if its structural integrity was compromised.

[surrealAmerican]

79. Ask these neighbors if Jesus provides food for their child, ...

... or do they do that themselves. Even if you believe in a benevolent diety, you still have responsibilities as a parent.

[Renew Deal]

84. Tell him that God invented helmets to make Jesus' job easier

O8)

[warren pease]

85. Excellent... As it happens, I need a liver transplant within the next couple of years (really) ...

... and if they take this illogical nonsense to its illogical conclusions, helmet use among fundie loons will start to decline and the number of "harvestable" organs will increase accordingly.

Harsh I know, but I'm shameless enough to accept a good liver regardless of the religious insanity of its previous owner. Beats hell out of the alternative.

And now, for the ironically challenged... it's all just :sarcasm:

As in... "It's a JOKE, son. Don't get all het up about it. Whoaa there, Betsy. Ah'm on yo sahde."

Meanwhile, just send your extra livers this way and spare me the misplaced scorn.



sf

[fujiyama]

86. Just make sure he doesn't play on your property

or with your kid's stuff.

These kind of fundy people are probably most likely to sue you if Jesus is looking the other way when junior clonks his head.

[lame54]

87. Give him this...

[Stephanie]

89. CA Helmet Law for Minors >

http://www.lodi.gov/Police/helmetlaw.htm

Section 21212(A) of the California Vehicle Code States:

A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a non-motorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a non-motorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

What this means?

If you ride a bike, non-motorized scooter, or skateboard and you are under 18 years old, it is a violation of the California Vehicle Code for you to ride on any public street, highway, bike path, or trail without wearing a properly fitting and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the above listed agencies.

If you wear in-line skates or roller skates and are under 18 years old, it is a violation of the California Vehicle Code to for you to skate on any public street, highway, bike path, or trail without wearing a properly fitting and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the above listed agencies.

If you are a passenger on a bike, non-motorized scooter, or skateboard and you are under 18 years old, it is a violation of the California Vehicle Code for you to ride on any public street, highway, bike path, or trail without wearing a properly fitting and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the above listed agencies. (This also includes persons who ride upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed behind the bicycle.

For further information bicycle laws or the California Vehicle Code please visit the DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov.

[cagesoulman]

91. This is who the Darwin Awards are made for.

:smoke: