On 5/30/2010 4:28 AM, Boris Liberman wrote:
On 5/30/2010 5:36 AM, P. J. Alling wrote:
It's still bullshit. That money is in other peoples pockets, it's not
like its just lying in a pile and won't be used if this particular
forced good deed isn't done, (and a dedicated idiot will still override
the safety device). If you've got kids and you want to spend it on an
alarm system so you don't forget their own children, so be it. People
have to take some kind of responsibility for their own stupid actions.
Society isn't responsible for people who accidentally bake their kids.
The ones responsible are the idiots, who would do such a thing.. I'll
morn for the children, but but I won't force the rest of the world to
protect those kids, it's not their responsibility Unfortunately I can't
think of a punishment that fits the crime, that doesn't reek of pure
vindictiveness.
<sarcasm>
Let us remove all the street lights on all intersections. It is forced
good that is forced onto those idiots who cannot give right of way or
wait ten seconds until other cars pass.
We shall then create a huge pile of cash that we will know how to use
well.
</sarcasm>
Peter, it is 21st century out there and great many things involve
collective cooperation and mutual safety. And although criminal
negligence is a crime but it is not done on purpose. So, don't call
people "idiots" just because. One day you (or I) will get distracted
and it is better to have a 10 dollars worth of protective device than
let the unspeakable happen.
Boris
Boris
There might be some merit to that. Some studies, (I wish I had a link
but a Google search will probably turn up a bunch pro and con), have
show that in many cases intersections are safer with fewer lights, and
signs. Drivers are more cautious entering, they don't have a false
sense of security.
However I'll answer on point. Your example is a straw man. The
"benefit" from street lights and other traffic control improvements
accrue to all drivers and most pedestrians, pretty much all of society,
pretty much directly.
The only thing everyone gains from this is a good feeling, that we've
/done/ /something/. Which is still likely to a.) not solve the problem,
I believe in the idiocy of dedicated idiots, and b.) cause more had
wringing when it doesn't work. I know everyone can be and Idiot about
something sometimes. Hell I'm an idiot more than most, (someday I'll
tell the story of how I ran over my own dog. He survived...), but I
don't expect society to save me from my idiocy, because it can't!
To lose a child this way is a triple tradidgy, first for the child who
died a horrible death, second to the parent, who will feel the grief and
guilt for the rest of their life, and third for the rest of us who will
empathise with both. But we have to recognize that life is dangerous.
We cannot guarantee perfect safety, to all people at all times. We
can't afford it either financially or more importantly for the sake of
the individual's spirit. To even attempt to do so is a fools errand.
Somebody's got to say stop somewhere.
--
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Courier
New;}}
\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 I've just upgraded to Thunderbird 3.0 and the
interface subtly weird.\par
}
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
