Thread: Hots dogs will kill you.

Originally Posted by JMS

Will you marry me?

Oooh I want invited to the wedding!

Originally Posted by ghostonthehorizon

Oooh I want invited to the wedding!

Only if we can ride horses to the altar. Which will be set on a yacht.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

"gave us?"

It was a figure of speech. It was lighthearted and not intended as serious comment. We ran the world before you. Some of our politicians think we still do.

Originally Posted by Bruno

In the US, everybody has a right to be stupid, and boy do people protect it.
I cannot comment on other European countries, but if we look at Belgium, our laws have a concept that literally translates as the 'good house father' which has nothing to do with houses, parenthood or gender.

It basically is a determination for assigning responsibility in liability / damages / guilt in cases where neglect or irresponsibility is relevant. There is some legal mumbo jumbo, but it boils down to the following: would a cautious and responsible person in a position of authority have done xyz. Our laws are written with the expectation that people actually think for themselves.

For example, an inflatable baby swimming pool I have carries only the following warning in Dutch: use only under adult supervision.
Our laws and regulations imply that an adult person knows the dangers involved when putting kids and swimming pools in the same area.
The US version otoh also lists all the things that ever could go wrong, as if it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to foresee all the stupid things that anyone ever could do if he or she was a complete moron. there are literally about 5 long paragraphs printed on the bottom of the swimming pool and the setup instructions.

Rather than making people culpable for their own stupidity, the US rewards them with million dollar settlements because the manufacturer didn't spell out in detail that kids can drown in water, chainsaws can take off body parts or vending machines can crush people if violently rocked.

Well, it is as they say. If you protect and confirm the right of the people to be as stupid as dirt, then you will get a proliferation of stupid people.

Just to set the record straight. Most US (individual state laws really) require a standard of "reasonableness" meaning would a reasonable person do this and if the answer is no the case should be dismissed. The problem is that this is decided by ordinary people sitting on a jury and they see an injured person (no matter how stupid) and a big company so they feel sympathy for the little guy, ignore the standard of reasonableness and give them money taken from the big corporation.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Well, it is as they say. If you protect and confirm the right of the people to be as stupid as dirt, then you will get a proliferation of stupid people.

This is so true. We should just kill all the stupid people.
Or just stop protecting them and let them kill themselves.

If someone is too dumb to do something, they shouldn't be looked after by anyone else not even until they can be taught to do that something.

Who else could we weed out of existence this way?

Originally Posted by sicboater

We should just kill all the stupid people.
Or just stop protecting them and let them kill themselves.

Who will do all the menial jobs?

Long live Darwinism.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Just to set the record straight. Most US (individual state laws really) require a standard of "reasonableness" meaning would a reasonable person do this and if the answer is no the case should be dismissed. The problem is that this is decided by ordinary people sitting on a jury and they see an injured person (no matter how stupid) and a big company so they feel sympathy for the little guy, ignore the standard of reasonableness and give them money taken from the big corporation.

In our legal system, the fines are calculated based on actual damage or compensation for loss of income. As macabre as it seems, the monetary value of a life can be calculated accurately.

Ham sandwiches can be lethal too. Just a warning to the wise.