Rigpig wrote:
SafeSpeed wrote:
Rigpig wrote:
SafeSpeed wrote:
:) But you won't and I won't and that's how we know the rule-makers are on the right track.
I don't have the same unswerving faith that you do I'm afraid. I've seen enough people nibbling away at the edges of what previous generations once considered good, sound and sensible laws to believe that we're crumbling into the mess that now extinct civilizations once found themselves.
Mercifully for us, such processes are measured in centuries not mere decades so neither of us is likely to be around to say "told you so"
I agree. But who do you blame?
OK, lets take a simple everyday example - the minutae is not important, its who we blame that we're considering here.
You're driving along the motorway and some rep in 2 ltr jacket hanger comes tooling past you at 120mph, tailgates a car that gets in its way and then shoots off again. Undeniably illegal behaviour with an element of anti-socialness thrown in. Who do we blame?
The rep himself - he should behave more responsibly
His parents - shouldn't have indulged him when he was a kid
His boss - for putting profits before the wellbeing of his employee
His fellow workers - for putting up with his bad behaviour without saying anything
The car manufacturer - for giving him the tool to do the deed
The tailgatee - for being in the way
The police - for not being there often enough to stop such nonsense from happening
The government - for not providing enough police
Safespeed - for offering succour that such behvaiour is acceptable and that the offender is in fact a victim (not exactly true but take it in the vein intended)
The media - for glorifying self indulgence
So we can blame everyone.
Or we blame nobody and just decide that this is the way societies develop, theres no point moaning about it even though history has told us that one day we'll propbably implode into an arrogant, self-pitying mess.
Better that than to go the way of other civilizations, to the enforced will of some invader with bigger fire-sticks who nick your land and divide it up between themselves with a ruler and pencil.
Bottyburp wrote:
So if there was a new law introduced that said you must drive as recklessly as possible, without regard to other road users, would you adhere to that?
As this routinely appears to be the best type of argument you can muster, I won't bother dignifying it with an answer
Society begets the government it votes in through apathy and zero interest in politics and world events.
It also begets the society it created through pee-cee nonsense and a culture which holds everyone else responsible for its woes.
Automation does not help matters either. We are a social creature. We respond to other human beings. Perhaps the over-reliance on gadgets is "dehumanising" us to the extent we think fellow humans are an "extension of these gadgets".
Let's face facts... I bet in the heat of debate face to face.. or on phone when you hear a human voice.. I bet some woould never dare to be as rude or as vulgarly abusive or as spiteful as they can be on-line. Cyber bullying .. the latest form. Glad that it can now incure fines now. Step in right direction. Now .. for the libel campaign. Swiss family joined in battle on the bullying one with result .. they now switching to defamation.
I try to instil decent values into my kids and into those I foster as well. I admit that I have no idea if I have been successful as my eldest turns 19 next week. My twins are only just 17 years and those older fosters still in this age group. So I guess .. way to early to complacently think I have raised a decent brood. They are still young enough to make some mistakes... and I guess I am as well too. We all can err to compromise or hurt another. You can only hope you do what you believe to be right and safe all the time. Drive-wise - think preaching COAST and POWER could help the road safety side.
As for getting back to genteel values of manners, politeness, calm attitude, refined behaviour.. (as in not lude, bestial, drunk, drugged...) ...I think we have our work cut out on this one.
As said - had one hell of a wake up call with the latest foster. I think we are slowly getting a corrected attitude on drink matters and just about cutting it as regards basic manners and language. He does
as norm rather a lot
Let's just say - Wildy is using the continental approach in that nothing wrong with a drink at the dining table. It's normal. You do not have to drink a whole bottle to enjoy. Similarly - we sit down to a fully laid table each evening. Not TV dinners and nothing other than a low volume level CD of Mozart, Chopin in background. We use this time to chat and be a family
I can really recommend this
But back to the topic... part of me sees no issue with registration and plates. Part of me thinks this not a bad idea.
But.. the rebel streak nips in - like the ABD view.. more regulation.. rules... and since we know that these ideas, like the speed cam, seemed to make sense.. - these laws get abused by those keen to raise cash.. fine for nit-picking "offences" which do not cause harm to anyone. I do fear that cyclists will get a taste of this.
Perhaps it will help our cause.. removing automation and getting back to human contact.
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