Oh the irony...

CrazyRabbit · 05-07-2011 07:51PM #1

Darwin Award Winner of the Day:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/parish_man_protesting_motorcyc.html

Town of Onondaga, NY – A Parish man who was participating in a motorcycle helmet protest ride was killed this afternoon when he went over the handlebars of his motorcycle and injured his head on the pavement, state police said.

Philip A. Contos, 55, of 45 East St., Parish, was not wearing a helmet while driving a 1983 Harley Davidson motorcycle south on Route 11 in Onondaga with a large group of other motorcyclists, troopers said.

About 1:30 p.m., troopers said, Contos hit his brakes, the motorcycle fishtailed and went out of control and Contos went over the handlebars.

Contos was taken to Upstate University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, troopers said.

Evidence at the scene and information from the attending physician indicate Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a Department of Transportation approved helmet, troopers said.
The protest in which Contos was riding was organized by American Bikers Aimed Towards Education, Trooper Jack Keller said.

knird evol · 05-07-2011 08:05PM

Yes, but had he lived he would of convinced thousands to throw away their motor cycle helmets. Thousands would of died in future crashes. Don't you see by not wearing a helmet he saved thousands of lives. We need to BAN motor cycle helmets NOW. i think.

GSF · 05-07-2011 08:09PM

Its like Bertie Ahern bleeding to death from a papercut received from opening a brown envelope.

Rented Mule · 05-07-2011 08:11PM

Gary Busey called .....all he said was 'pussy'.

Toby Take a Bow · 05-07-2011 08:20PM

Apparently, he was protesting the right to wear or not wear a helmet. I don't see how his death is ironic.

Definitely one for the Darwin awards, though.

Dravokivich · 05-07-2011 08:26PM

Does he have kids?

A lot of people forget, that to nominate a Darwin, the nominee must not have had kids.

Guill · 05-07-2011 08:47PM

It's pronounced ironing..

Forest Master · 05-07-2011 08:49PM

Look up the definition of irony, OP.

Cookie_Monster · 05-07-2011 08:50PM

better than life as a vegetable due to a severe but not lethal head injury...

EarlERizer · 05-07-2011 08:54PM

Isn't this Ironic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc

"I'll get my coat"

CrazyRabbit · 06-07-2011 01:11AM

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

Apparently, he was protesting the right to wear or not wear a helmet. I don't see how his death is ironic.

Definitely one for the Darwin awards, though.

Forest Master wrote: »

Look up the definition of irony, OP.

A situation is often said to be ironic (situational irony) if the actions taken have an effect exactly opposite from what was intended. He was driving to promote his stance that helmets are not required for safe driving, and yet died during his journey precisely because he was not wearing a helmet.

Kevin Duffy · 06-07-2011 01:47AM

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

A situation is often said to be ironic (situational irony) if the actions taken have an effect exactly opposite from what was intended. He was driving to promote his stance that helmets are not required for safe driving, and yet died during his journey precisely because he was not wearing a helmet.

No, he died 'cos he had an accident and hit his head, he just didn't get away with it owing to not wearing a helmet. Others were also not wearing helmets and didn't die, so he didn't die precisely because he wasn't wearing a helmet.

brendansmith · 06-07-2011 01:51AM

What is irony though?

Fago! · 06-07-2011 02:03AM

brendansmith wrote: »

What is irony though?

A dentist with horrible teeth, a blind optician or a priest being raped.

Spunge · 06-07-2011 02:11AM

Darwin Award Winner of the Year:

Ryan Dunn

Superbus · 06-07-2011 02:12AM

brendansmith wrote: »

What is irony though?

It's like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife.

uncleoswald · 06-07-2011 02:19AM

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

No, he died 'cos he had an accident and hit his head, he just didn't get away with it owing to not wearing a helmet. Others were also not wearing helmets and didn't die, so he didn't die precisely because he wasn't wearing a helmet.

But they didn't crash? I think its impossible to say something is ironic these days without someone else saying it's not. It wasn't a normal journey but a demonstration to say cyclists shouldn't need helmets. What would have made it ironic?

Fago! · 06-07-2011 02:23AM

Spunge wrote: »

Darwin Award Winner of the Year:

Ryan Dunn

Well I suppose, but he died because he's a thick (was a thick) who drove drunk. The Darwin Award is kinda for absurd silly ironic deaths.

Fago! · 06-07-2011 02:25AM

uncleoswald wrote: »

But they didn't crash? I think its impossible to say something is ironic these days without someone else saying it's not. It wasn't a normal journey but a demonstration to say cyclists shouldn't need helmets. What would have made it ironic?

But wasn't he protesting against helmets, whereas the very thing he was protesting against could have saved him.

The Internet Explorer · 06-07-2011 02:28AM

Isn't irony that thing that women do ? You know ? With clothes and sh*t ?

Fago! · 06-07-2011 02:31AM

The Internet Explorer wrote: »

Isn't irony that thing that women do ? You know ? With clothes and sh*t ?

They make sammich's with clothes now?

Oh women! Crazy bastards!

CrazyRabbit · 06-07-2011 09:50AM

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

No, he died 'cos he had an accident and hit his head, he just didn't get away with it owing to not wearing a helmet. Others were also not wearing helmets and didn't die, so he didn't die precisely because he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Maybe you should give us an example of what you think irony is. As far as I can see, you really don't understand the word.

Forest Master · 06-07-2011 09:54AM

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

A situation is often said to be ironic (situational irony) if the actions taken have an effect exactly opposite from what was intended. He was driving to promote his stance that helmets are not required for safe driving, and yet died during his journey precisely because he was not wearing a helmet.

Eh, that's not ironic at all. This situation is the opposite of irony, in fact. You really need to look it up. And other people ITT are also saying "that's not ironic" (Kevin Duffy) but then they don't seem to understand why either.

Irony IS difficult to grasp, but I'll try to explain it:

In the case of this guy, he's protesting against helmets - so it would be ironic if a helmet saved his life.
It would also be ironic if he was someone who always campaigned for people to wear helmets and then he dies because he crashed and his helmet cracked & pierced his skull. Or is someone threw a helmet at him & it hit him in the head & killed him, etc. Basically, it's only ironic if he's saying helmets are safe & we should all wear them, and then a helmet directly causes injury or death to him. And it's also ironic if he's protesting against helmets, and he ends up being saved by one.

Cú Giobach · 06-07-2011 10:25AM

Seems like someone who lived and died just as he would have wished, lucky fella.

Feeona · 06-07-2011 10:28AM

I think it's ironic that none of us really know what irony is

Spunge · 06-07-2011 10:45AM

Feeona wrote: »

I think it's ironic that none of us really know what irony is

i don't think that's very ironic

Kevin Duffy · 06-07-2011 10:45AM

Kevin Duffy wrote: »

No, he died 'cos he had an accident and hit his head, he just didn't get away with it owing to not wearing a helmet. Others were also not wearing helmets and didn't die, so he didn't die precisely because he wasn't wearing a helmet.

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

Maybe you should give us an example of what you think irony is. As far as I can see, you really don't understand the word.

Forest Master wrote: »

Eh, that's not ironic at all. This situation is the opposite of irony, in fact. You really need to look it up. And other people ITT are also saying "that's not ironic" (Kevin Duffy) but then they don't seem to understand why either.

Irony IS difficult to grasp, but I'll try to explain it:

In the case of this guy, he's protesting against helmets - so it would be ironic if a helmet saved his life.
It would also be ironic if he was someone who always campaigned for people to wear helmets and then he dies because he crashed and his helmet cracked & pierced his skull. Or is someone threw a helmet at him & it hit him in the head & killed him, etc. Basically, it's only ironic if he's saying helmets are safe & we should all wear them, and then a helmet directly causes injury or death to him. And it's also ironic if he's protesting against helmets, and he ends up being saved by one.

Jaysis, aren't you great lads to come on and give us all a lesson in irony, we should be so grateful. Maybe you could take lessons in reading comprehension first though - I didn't mention any view on irony, generally or in this story. What I said was that he didn't die "precisely because he wasn't wearing a helmet" as was claimed, ie no cause and effect. Other members of the protest didn't wear helmets and didn't die, I'm not wearing a helmet right now and I'm not dying from it, so no cause and effect. Sarcasm is great when done well, but neither of you did it well. Poor efforts.

Spunge · 06-07-2011 10:52AM

irony: of, resembling, relating to, or tasting much like iron

eg1:
"The anvil was delicious, but irony."

the culture of deference · 06-07-2011 11:09AM

GSF wrote: »

Its like Bertie Ahern bleeding to death from a papercut received from opening a brown envelope.

Class

Fago! wrote: »

a priest being raped.

LOL I spat my tea out at this

Spunge wrote: »

Darwin Award Winner of the Year:

Ryan Dunn

140 mph + drunk + 911 GT3 + residential street

Feeona · 06-07-2011 11:38AM

Spunge wrote: »

i don't think that's very ironic

I think it's ironic that you think my post isn't ironic after I said that none of us know what ironic is

Spunge · 06-07-2011 12:43PM

Feeona wrote: »

I think it's ironic that you think my post isn't ironic after I said that none of us know what ironic is

Oh yeah

Oh the irony...

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