Do you think that people need to just be more responsible for themselves and for their own safety and actions?

Question

Read this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070207/us_nm/newyork_ipod_dc

Now there may be legislation to ban iPods for commuters, basically because people are clueless??? What next?

Are too many people trying to get the government to step in and run everyone's lives because everyone has suddenly become too LAZY to take care of themselves? What ever happened to common sense?

Ok, rant over. Discuss amongst yourselves....

Answer 1

YES. Oh God, YES.

Seriously. What kind of moron is going to use a hairdryer while sleeping? Who is going to eat the screw that comes with a basketball hoop? Who can't figure out that hot coffee is going to be HOT?

I say, if you're that stupid, you deserve what you get. The city of New York has gone bananas. If I want to eat trans-fats and get fat and get heart disease, THAT IS MY RIGHT. If I want to walk and use an ipod and not look both ways before crossing the street (as taught in kindegarten) or I don't want to look at the little flashing "Don't Walk" light then I deserve to be run over.

Answer 2

Yes, too many people think the answer to every question is pass a law or federal regulation, set up another piece of the bureaucracy to administer it, and pretend the problem is thereby solved. Many times it is only made worse, and every time it is far more expensive.

I'm for less government rather than more, and less taxes most clearly. I'm for the concept that we assume adults are responsible for themselves until proven otherwise. Insurance companies can raise and lower their rates according to lifestyle choices, and that should be all the influencing we need to make good choices. But we have the RIGHT to choices which run counter to the statistics on survival, just as we have the right to choices which many others would disapprove of. Not all -- there do need to be criminal laws against doing another harm, and civil remedies for those who are harmed. But we do not need this Nannie culture that assumes what's good for you is what's good for the majority, and to h**l with your individual needs or wishes.

Vote Libertarian for a change.

Answer 3

This case is certainly debatable. But we have all kinds of laws that are safety minded. We have speed limits, DUI laws, traffic signals, motorist laws, product safety laws, workplace laws, etc. They're intended to have practices to keep people "safer". And they're generally things which are not something where you can only hurt yourself. In this case, it only applies when you're crossing the street-- again, to keep one from being distracted.

One could argue that any of those laws is simply dealing with people being lazy or careless. But when those people's laziness or negligence endangers me something needs to happen. You can't expect EVERYBODY to be responsible and diligent in their actions-- they won't. And when that endangers others, somebody has to step in.

What ever happened to comon sense? Since when is common sense, all that common? Just because there are things which are "generally" true or common, doesn't mean there aren't exceptions. People have been doing stuipd things since the dawn of man-- and they will continue to do so. As long as they're endangering themselves, I'm ok with it, but if they endanger other, I have an issue with it.

I'm certainly against things like banning transfats at fast food rest. Nobody forces you to eat there-- you have a choice. But if some moron is oblivious to his/her surroundings and steps in front of my car, that's a different story. Of if they're so distracted by their cell phone call, they can't drive right, someting is wrong. How many of you have had to deal with idiots driving while on the phone and driving like jack-a**es.

I'm all for less government intrusion but there has to be a balance.

Answer 4

I think it's ridiculous that it has come down to it. People can, and seem to becoming more stupid with each day.
However, I do see where the government is coming from. By being distracted, they not only endanger their life, but the lives of others. The government feels that they must step in, just like they stepped in with drunk and otherwise impaired driving laws. They did that to protect the driver and other people from injury and death. I personally think that was a good law, especially knowing several people killed by drunk drivers.

I think the law would be ok. But it is sad that people can't take care of themselves and have absolutely no common sense.

Didn't your mom teach you to look both ways?

Answer 5

Our government already runs many aspects of our lives. However, they can not control or take away our knowledge and our common sense. I agree with you , we are becoming lazy as a nation i.e. in raising our children correctly and teaching them respect and common sense. On the other hand however, we have been enabled to take advantage of government programs, and it needs to stop, people need to get out there and take care of themselves ( those that physically and mentally can) and be responsible for thier failures and not blame it on society in general.
In regards to I-pods whatever the case may be , there are certain things that need to be done to protect the citizens, especially those without common sense. If you are driving your car down the road and some person on a bike is listening to an i-pod, portable cd player whatever the case, and pulls off the sidewalk and crosses in front of you, and you hit them because they did not hear the approaching vehicle, who loses, you do . You will be sued for every penny you have due to someone elses stupidity. Of course there should be laws to protect the innocent in that case, and you would be the innocent one.

Answer 6

I do think the government should be responsible for the safety of its citizenry. However, if you are old enough to own an iPod / Blackberry / Nintendo DS or whatever, you should know to look both ways before you cross the street. I'm sure the government will love collecting those $100 fines though...

Answer 7

Unfortunately in America it is okay for people to be stupid, they can just sue someone and get paid lots of money for it. Great examples include the lady who put hot coffee between her legs and didn't think it would burn her if it spilled. Another one, here in WA state some kid was out on a frozen pond and fell through the thin ice. Now his family is suing saying the city should be doing something to make the pond safer. I say the parents should have told their kid not to go out onto the pond. People are stupid, and America is just making it easier for them to survive. So much for survival of the fittest, now it's survival of the sue-happy.

Answer 8

Everyone is responsible for their own actions. Freedom of choice, but like I said to someone about iPod's earlier, it kinda comes into play like the cellphone ban that took effect a few years back while driving.

Answer 9

It all lies in the fact that parents aren't teaching their children personal safety, morals and ethics. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children to be the better generation. Stupid parents make stupid kids turn into more stupid parents......Is it ever going to end? The internet has opened up a plethora of information to help anyone with any question they may have and tons of self help information. Why don't we use it to help make the world a better place?

Answer 10

Well, something has to be done about idiots, and escalating medical/life insurance costs, but I don't think the GOV needs to be stirring the pot.

One cool way AZ deals with idiots, is to fine a person about $2500 when they choose to cross a flooded wash during Monsoon season, and they get stranded and have to be rescued, they call it the "stupid motorist law" :)