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Tragedy at Indy
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August 31, 2010 at 1:08 pm #4215ranetteParticipant
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/racing/more/08/29/moto.gp.indy.ap/
Truly a tragic story. I haven’t seen it brought up on any of the motorcycle forums that I frequent, however, it is provoking comments on more mainstream news and opinion sites. Some of the comments are cruel beyond belief, one, which I responded to, actually accused the parents of killing their child. Others feel that the parents should be charged criminally, impossible of course as they were doing nothing illegal. Certainly there are posts, the minority from my unscientific observation, defending the parents, simply wishing them comfort at a horrible time for what was a horrible accident and a unthinkable family tragedy. Apparently the Facebook memorial page, which I haven’t taken a look at, is also littered with hate.
August 31, 2010 at 2:42 pm #27266JackTradeParticipantAnd it’s unfortunate that the annonymity of the internet seems to compell some people to act like jackasses and say things they would never, ever say in person. It’s always been my opinion that the internet will get A LOT more civil in the coming years once annonymity fades and we become personally identifiable.
As to what’s behind a lot of the debate (to what extent should society require parental authority over their children?), that’s a tougher question, esp. when it comes to kids and motorsports. At what age does one understand that they’re not immortal?
But I will observe that it’s not uncommon for minors to be charged as adults when they commit “adult” crimes, and no one bats an eye or demand that the parents be held accountable for allowing it to happen. But here we had a kid who was behaving like an adult in the good way, and rather than encourage that sort of maturity, people jump all over the parents for supporting this.
September 2, 2010 at 8:57 am #28410eternal05ParticipantYeah, I read about this when it happened…it’s bad enough when you hear about a guy in his mid-twenties losing his life, but at least a person of that age would have a better grasp of the risks taken. It’s a tough question, for sure.
September 2, 2010 at 12:26 pm #28412MunchParticipant………..that is left for the parent and participant, not any nanny type organization.
September 2, 2010 at 1:50 pm #28413ranetteParticipantMunch, I agree that this is a choice made by the parents. However, I wouldn’t condemn all “Nanny” organizations. In truth these races are governed by an organization that regulates them and licenses the riders. This is a dangerous pursuit and any 13 year old with a big set of balls and parents willing to sign a waiver shouldn’t be allowed to participate at that level. However, that is not the case with these kids. They are well trained riders, talented kids, who earned their places on the grid, and were working towards a goal that isn’t getting to level 98 on Halo 17.
I would say that choosing to enter your kid in motorsports at the beginner level-which these kids certainly were not at-is a decision that should be made only by the parents, not any sort of nanny organization, but even more importantly not by judgmental neighbors.
September 3, 2010 at 2:28 am #28446eternal05ParticipantI just realized that I met this kid at the track day at which I broke my collarbone a month ago (have I mentioned that? if not, ignore me). He’s from Vancouver, WA, and he was riding in the expert group on his little race bike. I didn’t catch his name at the time, but I recognized the face in the news photos immediately.
September 3, 2010 at 2:34 am #28447eternal05ParticipantIf you weren’t directly responding to me, disregard this altogether. Either way, there is no question in my mind that Peter’s decision to ride was his own, and his parents supported his passion. It’s not something that needs to be regulated by anybody. The only unfortunate aspect is the fact that a young kid cannot fully understand the risks they’re taking. Even I don’t think I do, and I’m more than a decade older than the late Mr. Lenz. It’s not a problem you can fix; it’s just a tough issue, especially when faced with the death of a talented 13-year-old. Parents are often seen as the firewall between a kid and a danger or decision that the kid is not yet ready for. While the rude and thoughtless reactions we’ve seen around the internet are reprehensible, you have to at least understand what might lead a person to react that way.
September 3, 2010 at 2:55 am #28448megaspazParticipantI’ve ridden with peter a few times at thunderhill. He certainly was fast and talented. The kicker about this tragedy is that he crashed and was ok, waving to the workers only to be hit by another rider. RIP rider.
September 3, 2010 at 3:00 am #28449ranetteParticipantA parent has many jobs. Granted the most important is as you put it is being the firewall between the youngster and danger. However just like we can tailor our electronic firewalls to our tolerances we have a right to raise our children in different manners. What is acceptable risk to some may not be acceptable to others. Hell, some parents feel that the ideas in the great books are too subversive for their kids, and some take it to the next level feeling the entire world is so dangerous they won’t even let their kids go to school, and instead choose to educate them at home. Personally I feel that is more dangerous to a child’s upbringing than jumping on a motorcycle at a young age. Along with protecting the child a good parent is also there to foster the child’s interests. Some of the crueler responses on the internet, accusing the parents of essentially killing their child, somehow think that kids can be raised in a bubble, out of the way of all danger; it just isn’t possible. This was an extremely rare occurance. Racing may be dangerous, broken bones aren’t uncommon, but thankfully fatalities are. It really annoys me when people feel they know what is right for everyone, not simply what is right for their particular situation.
This is part of an exchange that I had with someone on a non motorcycle board:
devildog21
Good for you. You’re not the parents who will live with a decision that killed their son for the rest of their lives.ranette
Ridiculous. The parents did not kill their son. The parents’ child died in a tragic accident. They deserve your sympathy not your scorn. Should you ever suffer a similar tragedy I hope that others treat you more humanely than you just treated the Lenz family.devildog21
As parents, we are responsible for the safety and well being of our children. You are either not a parent or are just naive, either way, I don’t treat my kid’s safety as something that is ridiculous. Those parents are just as responsible for the death of their child as those who would even consider having races like this in the first place.I would never suffer a similar tragedy because I’m not so ignorant as to think that a 13 year old should be riding on bikes going 120 mph.
ranette
Where do you draw that line? More importantly why do you choose to draw the line for other parents? Some feel that playing youth football or even little league is too dangerous for their kids. Isn’t getting run over by a kid 50lbs heavier than yourself dangerous? Parents have the right to raise their kids in whatever manner they choose, as long as they are within the law. However, they do not have the right to impose their views on others. You may feel that racing motorcycles is too dangerous for your kids. Fine. Maybe football is too dangerous for your kids, no problem whatsoever, your kids your choice. I live in Vermont, we have a youth hunting day where kids as young as 8 and 9 go out with shotguns. Is it something that I would choose for my kids? No. Should it be outlawed? Not in my opinion.Finally, I will restate my last statement, since you are too good of a parent to ever suffer a similar tragedy to the Lenz’s who do not possess your superior judgment. God forbid anyone close to you should die tragically, under any circumstances, I hope that you will be treated more humanely than you have treated the Lenz family.
September 3, 2010 at 3:28 am #28452MunchParticipant/applaud
September 3, 2010 at 3:35 am #28453MunchParticipantEternal I wasn’t really going after you…. just addin….. BUT….
“”While the rude and thoughtless reactions we’ve seen around the internet are reprehensible, you have to at least understand what might lead a person to react that way.””
(SIDE BAR: If I am misunderstanding your statement…. ignore me I am over worked in a town with the types of idiots described below)Umm no I don’t have to understand where any num nutz and where their brains are or are coming from. I operate under one rule….Unless it’s my ring on your finger or I brought you into this world….your feelings are not my responsibility. If they are pissed, disturbed or whatever about this brave young person doing what he loved…..then that’s their problem….no one elses. And should remain as such. It is astounding how so many people can’t control their own lives but try to make an effort to control others…. either by direct or indirect measures. Granted in this day and age… as someone above has said… some of those are likely trolls.
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