Piercings and Paranoia

Piedmont · Post by **Piedmont** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:00 pm

So I pick up my Buddy tomorrow, and the random paranoia is growing. I accept that at some point I'm going to crash. One of the things that keeps popping back into my head is that I have a nasal septum piercing and slightly stretched ears.
I've got some silicone eyelets ordered for my ears since my ears got snagged on the helmet when I took my test drive, but what do I do about the fair sized chunk of metal sticking through my nose? My fear is that I'll get it lodged somewhere it shouldn't be if I go down.
Is this just paranoia, or should I get something softer to put in there while I ride?

toddrw2251 · Post by **toddrw2251** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:02 pm

Do you have a full face helmet? You nose shouldn't touch the inside of the helmet so you should be fine.

Dibber · Post by **Dibber** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:08 pm

Just remember, if you keep thinking that you are going to crash....you will indeed crash. Think positive thoughts and drive defensively.

madtolive · Post by **madtolive** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:22 pm

I've got some silicone eyelets ordered for my ears since my ears got snagged on the helmet when I took my test drive, but what do I do about the fair sized chunk of metal sticking through my nose? My fear is that I'll get it lodged somewhere it shouldn't be if I go down.

i'm in the very same boat as you, plus a vertical labret. which is one of the primary reasons i opted for a full face helmet. i also flip my septum ring up when i ride tho. as for the silicone eyelets - thats a good idea. i lost a steel one the other day taking my helmet off.

ScooterTrash · Post by **ScooterTrash** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:23 pm

If you go down that hard the nose ring is the last of your worries

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:59 pm

Piedmont wrote:I accept that at some point I'm going to crash.

What you should do is accept the possibility of a crash. Prepare for it, but expect and practice staying upright. =)

Otherwise, I agree with the suggestion for a full face helmet. It'll protect your nose with or without the chunk of metal.

Think of gear like an insurance policy. Chances are you won't need it. But if you do get hit or go down, not having it could be devastating.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:27 am

With some scooter clubs piercings are REQUIRED!

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:04 am

I miss my piercings, I had a horizontal eyebrow, both ears stretched... not too big... tongue pierced twice.... The accounting world didnt approve of said piercings... sigh....

ScooterTrash · Post by **ScooterTrash** » Fri May 16, 2008 3:41 am

MikieTaps wrote:I miss my piercings, I had a horizontal eyebrow, both ears stretched... not too big... tongue pierced twice.... The accounting world didnt approve of said piercings... sigh....

Conformist

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Fri May 16, 2008 2:55 pm

I've been working up a family tattoo and piercing design for a year. Both of my kids are threatening to leave home if I ever finish it. They seem to think that now you are being rebellious if you don't have a tattoo or piercings. Time marches on.

Dennis

Post by **ericalm** » Fri May 16, 2008 4:13 pm

DennisD wrote:I've been working up a family tattoo and piercing design for a year. Both of my kids are threatening to leave home if I ever finish it. They seem to think that now you are being rebellious if you don't have a tattoo or piercings. Time marches on.

It's Alex P. Keaton Syndrome all over again!

We knew it would happen.

Eazy · Post by **Eazy** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:00 am

Piedmont wrote:So I pick up my Buddy tomorrow, and the random paranoia is growing. I accept that at some point I'm going to crash. One of the things that keeps popping back into my head is that I have a nasal septum piercing and slightly stretched ears.
I've got some silicone eyelets ordered for my ears since my ears got snagged on the helmet when I took my test drive, but what do I do about the fair sized chunk of metal sticking through my nose? My fear is that I'll get it lodged somewhere it shouldn't be if I go down.
Is this just paranoia, or should I get something softer to put in there while I ride?

*edited to be posi*

ScooterMcGee · Post by **ScooterMcGee** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:36 am

Eazy wrote:You should put down your purse and stop being a wuss.

I've had multiple face peircings and my ears are well over an inch.

I've wrecked once and my piercings were the last thing on my mind.

Get a helmet and buck up.

p.s. It's not if you crash it's when you crash. It happens to everyone.

That came off rather rude and dickish.....not cool man

Eazy · Post by **Eazy** » Sat May 17, 2008 1:49 am

ScooterMcGee wrote:That came off rather rude and dickish.....not cool man

*Edited to be Posi*

Post by **ericalm** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:46 am

Eazy wrote:
ScooterMcGee wrote:That came off rather rude and dickish.....not cool man
I'd apologize but it came across exactly as I meant it.

Yeah, but that's not how we conduct ourselves around here. I'll refer you to the Posting Guidelines:

General Behavior
Be civil to one another. Treat everyone with respect. Stick to the one thing everyone here will want to talk about -- scooters. Keep it friendly and remember that not everyone shares your particular viewpoint, nor should anyone be ridiculed for not believing exactly as you do.

Which is to say that right or wrong, being a dick to people isn't tolerated. There are plenty of other forums and places online for that.

Eazy · Post by **Eazy** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:50 am

Edited my posts.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:49 pm

I can't get with the whole "it's not IF but WHEN you crash" thing. I know (cognitively speaking) the danger of riding a scooter- it didn't take too long down here to feel like every car is out to get me- but I'm not putting "crashing on my Buddy" in the same category as death and taxes.

For every crash story, I've read another that indicates that a life of safe riding is possible. I just read an article (on MV maybe?) talking about a study (don't know where the study was) that indicated something like 80% of 2-wheeled crashes involved some degree of rider error. My DMV book told me about the increased chances of wrecks in the first 6 months. I read another safety article from a motorcycle magazine online that told me how there had only been two accidents among their entire 2-wheel rider staff over a considerable number of years.

I'm smart enough to realize that I have to ride knowing a crash is a definite possibility and my awareness is always super high, but I think riding like "it's not IF it's WHEN" is just a recipe for a crash.

Call this a new rider's naiveté if you like, it just doesn't make sense for me to concede that I'm absolutely positively going to crash.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat May 17, 2008 4:44 pm

jmazza wrote:For every crash story, I've read another that indicates that a life of safe riding is possible. I just read an article (on MV maybe?) talking about a study (don't know where the study was) that indicated something like 80% of 2-wheeled crashes involved some degree of rider error. My DMV book told me about the increased chances of wrecks in the first 6 months. I read another safety article from a motorcycle magazine online that told me how there had only been two accidents among their entire 2-wheel rider staff over a considerable number of years.

I'm smart enough to realize that I have to ride knowing a crash is a definite possibility and my awareness is always super high, but I think riding like "it's not IF it's WHEN" is just a recipe for a crash.

I see what you're saying and some of it is semantics... I don't think it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, but a lot of it comes down to the language and a person's approach to life and everything else. Half full, half empty, likely to spill anyway? The language may be bothersome to some people (and I'm not really fond of it myself), but I think it's well-intentioned. In one way, the whole "it's not IF but WHEN" thing is a way of letting riders know that crashing is not always the result of circumstances within your control and that, yes, it can and possibly will happen. I doubt most people read it and consider it an absolute.

Safe riding definitely helps prevent the chances of a crash, but can't protect you in all cases. Same with the 80% figure... There are no 100% perfect riders. In fact, the more experienced riders I know who have gone down have often done so due to their own overconfidence. Usually in a sharp turn.

But that's all besides the point, because it's not really about whether a crash is inevitable. It's possible, and happens fairly frequently, which should be enough to let sensible riders know that sound judgement, skills, experience, gear and preparation are the best defense against a crash and even then, it may still happen.

As always, with scootering, it's about assessing the risk and deciding for yourself what you're willing to do and then taking responsibility for your decisions. Because it doesn't really matter how many times other people have or haven't crashed or what sort of language is used to encourage riders to gear up and ride safely. The risk is constant, crashes happen, no one is invincible, exempt or immune.

KABanshee · Post by **KABanshee** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:18 pm

What are Septum Rings and Silicone Eyelets.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat May 17, 2008 5:51 pm

ericalm wrote: I see what you're saying and some of it is semantics...

Yeah, I started to think that as soon as I posted my reply. However, I do remember when I was still browsing this forum considering a scooter purchase that I read "It's not IF you'll crash... it's WHEN" and I took it pretty literally. In one way it was good because it caused me, like you said, to heighten my awareness of the possibility of a crash and consider it as something that might likely happen at some point. But on the other hand, it caused some unhealthy fear in an almost paralyzing way. I think the OP is going through that same thing to the point of "random paranoia." I was in the same place at one point- I had thought through consequences and likelyhoods to the point that I said "that's it, I'm not getting a scooter." But that would have been, in my opinion, a poor way to make my decision.

Anyway, I realize this kind of discussion is cousin to gear, oil change, and octane discussions so I hope not to stir it up that way- I only wanted to say that it rubs me the wrong way when I read "It's not IF it's WHEN" because I think it's hyperbole that isn't super helpful to new riders at best, and harmful and debilitating at worst.

MarsR · Post by **MarsR** » Sat May 17, 2008 7:07 pm

jmazza wrote:I can't get with the whole "it's not IF but WHEN you crash" thing.

You can pretty much say the same thing about cars. I totalled a car when I was 16 and a new driver. Now I'm 53. I've been in one other accident that wasn't my fault. I (generally

) don't do stupid things when I'm driving. I have lots of experience and consider myself to be a very safe driver. I've learned to watch out for other people's mistakes (somebody needs to

), and drive accordingly. Of course, I might die in a big flaming ball of scrap metal on the freeway tomorrow, but I won't lose any sleep over it tonight.

Same thing with my scooter. Yes, I might have an accident sometime, but I'm not expecting to. I plan to drive as safely as ever, be extra vigilant in watching out for other peoples stupidity. I know people don't see me as well on my scooter so I have to be extra careful about that and I do everything I can to make sure I am seen on the road. I prepare for the worst, but be careful, use my brains, and enjoy the ride.

Modern Buddy

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