Oregonian 4 part series on evil ATVs

eljugador · 05-15-2007, 01:48 PM

The Oregonian is doing a 4 part series on how horrible ATVs are and how we need more laws to protect idiots from themeselves. Here is my response:

Not that it will do any good, but I thought you might enjoy what I e-mailed the author of these idiotic pieces as well as the editor of the paper:

I've been reading your series on ATVs with great interest. I am amazed by what I'm reading and the incredibly one-sided stance the paper is taking on the subject. Frankly, I'm disgusted. While it is a shame to hear about kids like Shelby Apple, the way you portray the cause of her accident lacks a certain amount of journalistic integrity. The ONLY person who should be blamed for Shelby's situation is the adult who allowed two children on the back of the ATV to begin with. With the exception of a few recently designed models that are intended for passengers, ATVs are intended for use by a single rider. There is no doubt in my mind that there was a warning on the vehicle as well as in the owner's manual regarding this fact. Your assertion that the only reason safety stickers are put on ATVs is to protect the manufacturers from lawsuits is absurd.

Yes, you can get hurt on ATVs, but that is a risk a reasonable person willingly accepts when participating in any adventurous activity. Many activities are extremely dangerous for people without the proper knowledge and skills to attempt -- rock climbing, hang gliding, kayaking, motorcycle riding, skiing, skateboarding, etc. It is the responsibility of the participant to understand the risks and how to manage them. Unfortunately what you are implying in your article is that the average person is far too stupid to realize the obvious and inherent risks of an activity like riding an ATV. Your solution? More laws, frivolous law suits and government intervention.

I'd like to suggest you extend your series to include a few more segments from the perspective Oregonians who have managed to figure out how to ride safely. Go to a dealership and see what information you get about safe riding. Take the FREE ATV safety class (that some companies actually pay new riders to take). Then go to some of the ATV trails in the coastal range or the dunes in southern Oregon and see what is going on. You might not get gut-wrenching photos like the one on today's front page, but you WILL see healthy and functional families enjoying the outdoors together. You will see children learning about responsible riding. You will see people having fun -- most of them doing it safely. I'd be happy to do the groundwork to help you make it easy for you to do and I'll even take you riding. I'm reasonably certain that you would also have a good time doing your research for these stories.

Perhaps you could follow up later with a series about personal responsibility and its positive benefit on society. You could call it "Yes, dumb ass, it actually WAS your fault" or, simply, "Darwin was right."

swamp thing · 05-15-2007, 02:03 PM

You do realize the Oregonian is *always* extremely one sided, right? It's annoying that I can't trust my local newspaper to give me unbiased local news.

I've been liking the Tribune more and more lately. It seems to give good coverage to politics, housing, and public transportation - three things which I think are pretty important for day-to-day Portland news. It also has nice coverage of local arts and entertainment in the friday paper. Best part - it's free!

BDFJ · 05-15-2007, 08:48 PM

The Oregonian is so far left they cannot even see a glimmer of right. They are like the North Pole on December 21st: Totally in the dark. Blind. Nada. Nyet. Nothing.

Your letter will fall on deaf ears as they cannot hear, nor see the forest for the trees.

The Oregonian is great for the bottom of your bird's cage. Great for wrapping fish in, and then promptly throwing it away. Great for picking up your dog's poop with, and also great for letting your dog, ferret, cat, gerbil, guinea pig pee and poop on, but please, please do not read the print. It will poison your mind.

Thank God we're not ATV'ers.

eljugador · 05-15-2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

BDFJ previously said:

The Oregonian is so far left they cannot even see a glimmer of right. They are like the North Pole on December 21st: Totally in the dark. Blind. Nada. Nyet. Nothing.

Your letter will fall on deaf ears as they cannot hear, nor see the forest for the trees.

The Oregonian is great for the bottom of your bird's cage. Great for wrapping fish in, and then promptly throwing it away. Great for picking up your dog's poop with, and also great for letting your dog, ferret, cat, gerbil, guinea pig pee and poop on, but please, please do not read the print. It will poison your mind.

Thank God we're not ATV'ers.

I am. And once you rip up a trail on one, you might be too.

mick_the_ginge · 05-16-2007, 11:14 AM

The fundamental issue here is something we see more and more of every year, people not taking responsibility for their own actions. They believe it's not their fault and that they are not responsible for whatever happened to them, which of course is a lie.

I hate this sort of stuff. People should understand that the only one responsible for their actions is themselves. No one forced them at gun point to get onto that ATV, they did it of their own free will. They are ultimatley responsible for the consequences of that decision.

It's like the person sueing mcDonalds for making them fat. BS, take responsibilty!!!! no one forced you to eat 4 big macs, 3 milk shakes, 4 large fries a day. Stupid, stupid, stupid........