Rights vs Privileges vs Social Responsibility

[James Deuce]

Excellent essay. Old folks will get it, I'm sure.

http://torontosun.com/News/Columnist...9/1180425.html

[Paul in NZ]

Interesting - we have the right to buy a 300kph bike but should use it responsibly?

Hmmm.... That old bloke at the gas station that asked me if I was one of the mad cu%ts on the hill might have an opinion on that? ;-)

[Odin]

no its good to be told what to do and not have to take any respocibility. I think its the nabors resposibility to keep my kids from drowning in his pool. They ofcaurce have the right to be roaming arround his backyard and should they get fat I'll sue McDonalds and the local take away as it's clearly there fault. If they, when they get a learners license, drive 200kmh and kill themeself and/or others i will blame society and demand rules and regulations put in place so no one else will have the freedom to do anything.
No there is no reason for assuming resposibility, regulate and sue instead.

[Ixion]

I'm old and I don't get it. Is he objecting to people having rights in law? If they don't that is by definition autocracy. A man accused (not convicted) of even the most serious crimes does indeed have some rights. The right to the presumption of innocence for a start. I think the author was a bit of a grumpy old man maybe

[Sharkey]

I agree with the author. Human Rights are a myth, a selfish contortion of the noble truth that all people are equal. If others are equal to me, and there are lots more others than there are me, then I have a responsibility to consider how my decisions might benefit others. And everyone else has the same responsibility to me as part of their "others".

I am not sure if that makes sense, but at least I know what I mean.

[James Deuce]

I'm old and I don't get it. Is he objecting to people having rights in law? If they don't that is by definition autocracy. A man accused (not convicted) of even the most serious crimes does indeed have some rights. The right to the presumption of innocence for a start. I think the author was a bit of a grumpy old man maybe

No he's objecting to people claiming that their individual rights are more important than common sense law, that is beneficial to society as a whole. It's hardly surprising that he's grumpy, he has the same distilled world view as me. That's enought to make anyone grumpy.

It's not about the right to purchase 300km.hr sportsbikes and use them responsibly, it's about not attempting to gain compensation from road builders and farmers for damage that you caused to yourself when you exceeded your own skill/luck limits. You certainly still have access to the same medical treatment as anyone else, or indeed a legal defence. People just need to stop blaming everything except themselves when they create a problem for themselves.

[Big Dave]

Fuck being grumpy. And those grumpy old men on TV can get fucked too.

We live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet - with the best motorcycling going - we enjoy freedoms, democracy, quality of life, health, food, society etc etc etc - that most of the poor sods alive can only dream about.

Fuck being grumpy - go outside and look around - we are soooo lucky

[Lou Girardin]

Mao Tse Tung considered that the peoples responsibilty to the State was superior to their right to feed themselves. So he exported food stocks to Russia to pay for the nuclear technology he wanted.
Tens of millions died in the ensuing famine.
Rights and responsibilties are very difficult to balance correctly. But I'd rather have it our way than his.

[Big Dave]

Mao Tse Tung considered

So pwofound gwasshopper

[Motu]

SUNSHINE GIRL

STACI, 24, is going back to school this fall to become a lawyer. When she gets rich, she’ll be able to buy more shoes, which she loves

Nice chick....thanks for the link - you're right ,it'd be a priviledge to get involved with her, but I have social responsabilities .

Dunno if you needed to make a whole thread out of her though?.....

[Hitcher]

Social responsibility versus individual responsibility: Danger, may contain hot liquid; objects in the rear-view mirror may be closer than they appear; do not feed the animals...

[Biff]

Fuck being grumpy - go outside and look around - we are soooo lucky

Give that man a cigar.

Respect and earn respect. Be courteous and invite courtesy. Be honest and demand honesty. Be responsible for your actions and demand responsibility from others.

Be grumpy and be told to shut the fuck up.

[sels1]

We live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet - with the best motorcycling going - we enjoy freedoms, democracy, quality of life, health, food, society etc etc etc - that most of the poor sods alive can only dream about.

Fuck being grumpy - go outside and look around - we are soooo lucky

And thats from an imported Austrailian ( )- high praise indeed. But you're right Dave

[Lias]

I'ts a well written article bemoaning how indivduals "rights" now outweight the good of society, and how political correctness has run amok.

I'm not an old fart, but I still wish we lived in the "good old days", where a spade was a spade, and society was more important than individuals. Bring back personal responsability.. Courts should tell people "You did not commit that crime because mommy didnt love you, daddy beat you, the baby sitter molested you, or because you were on P.. You commited that crime because your a sodding crim, and your going to do 15 years breaking rocks and being buttfucked at her majesty's pleasure."

[Big Dave]

And thats from an imported Austrailian ( )- high praise indeed. But you're right Dave

I say the same things about my homeland too - well maybe not the beauty and the motorcycling bits, but the rest is trans tasman.

I have a shot at getting a feature in an Aussie mag at the moment. (negotiating) - On the differences between motorcycling in Aus and NZ and how good i think the touring is here:

'Dances with Wool'