Taking responsibility for one's own life

[myvice]

Fukit, ride naked, hope for the best and no one will remember your face!

[SPman]

Going boating with no flares....

You wont get me wearing flares in a boat - or anywhere else, for that matter...!

[Hitcher]

And no, they're not what randy young Aussie men send their girlfriends on Valentine's Day...

[mstriumph]

thank you mr hitcher - i have mountains of respect for you and enjoy your posts, hugely .... even when i can't agree with them or when the arguement isn't taken thru to its logical conclusion.

i have followed this thread thru its various meanderings .... "taking responsibility for one's own life" ... sounds like an 'either/or' situation but, actually, it's really only a matter of degree/just a line drawn in the sand, isn't it? a line that wavers first one way, then the other following the general perception of what is "acceptable" and what is not?

the level of welfare in nz may seem like overkill to you [does to me, too ] but as long as people continue to elect/support people who perpetuate and extend this it won't diminish - instead of bemoaning those that wrought the system, working through the political process to CHANGE THE SYSTEM might be the way to go? pull that line in the sand back a little? - needless to say, though - those more liberal than either of us will be working just as hard to push the boundary forward .... and a balance will be struck

similarly - safety gear whilst riding .......... if you honestly believe that legislated measures are inadequate then, instead of bemoaning those that excercise their democratic right to wear the bare minimum, working through the political process to CHANGE THE LEGISLATION might be the way to go? --- needless to say, though - those with a broader viewpoint will be working just as hard to draw parallels between motorcycling and other inherently dangerous passtimes [sporting activities, recreational angling and the like]... so that the balance can be maintained.

because - when it comes down to it, THAT may change behaviour ..... which calling people who don't agree with you names and denigrating them for taking responsibility for themselves by making up their own minds what legally-permitted choices are appropriate for them won't?

[Hitcher]

Another way of looking at this issue is captured nicely by a sign at a golf club where I was once a member. It goes like this: "Do not use cellphones on the course. Please don't make us pass another rule!"

There are many laws and regulations whose need could be obviated if people played together nicely and used some common sense.

[idb]

Another way of looking at this issue is captured nicely by a sign at a golf club where I was once a member. It goes like this: "Do not use cellphones on the course. Please don't make us pass another rule!"

There are many laws and regulations whose need could be obviated if people played together nicely and used some common sense.

And there, dear Hitcher, is the fly in the ointment of your dream.

[scumdog]

Would be gaitors, to prevent trench foot.

Hey, I wear them, and d'you know what? I don't have trench foot!!

[mstriumph]

but ... if it just says "Don't ..........." without a 'please' in front, then its already a regulation? .........

a world without rules sounds great in theory ..... but in practice even two people trying to live together have to have some sort of framework of do's and don'ts, formalized or not, to operate within ......

[James Deuce]

Legislation and common sense "rules" are related in the way that book and bible (koran, talmud, whatever) are.

Enforced compulsion with punitive penalties, and a framework of common sense cooperation are two very different animals. In fact one is probably a mineral rather than an animal because it calcifies into precedent, regardless of changes in general or personal behaviour, particularly over time.

The issue described here makes me wonder why "the media" decided to make an issue out of this story at all. Many people get turned down for all sorts of help they are supposedly entitled to, every day. Many of them just get on with it without fanfare.

There is no plight in this particular case at all, no real struggle apart from that which many people experience during their life without making an arse of themselves, and counselling is nothing more than someone listening to you and acknowledging that you need to get your shit together. You know, that job that parents, friends, family, co-workers, teachers, community leaders, and church leaders are supposed to do.

Life goes on. You can't stop that unless you choose to, and a great lump of our society needs a good kick in the arse so they know they need to make that choice.

Wasting your life waiting for a Government sanctioned "listener" goes waaaay beyond ridiculous.

[idb]

I reckon there could be a lucrative career opportunity for big-bosomed middle-aged women in flowery dresses and aprons and smelling of baking to give out big motherly hugs and say "There, there".

[Lou Girardin]

I had a Merkin rental customer in today. He thought that T shirt, jeans and boots was just dandy. Gloves are for when it's cold and $150.00 fine for no helmet is worth the risk.
Different strokes etc.

[Badcat]

I had a Merkin rental customer in today. He thought that T shirt, jeans and boots was just dandy. Gloves are for when it's cold and $150.00 fine for no helmet is worth the risk.
Different strokes etc.

well - in Bill Hicks immortal words...
"oops - we're down a moron".

[idb]

I had a Merkin rental customer in today. He thought that T shirt, jeans and boots was just dandy. Gloves are for when it's cold and $150.00 fine for no helmet is worth the risk.
Different strokes etc.

You were observing Darwin's theory in action.............

[Lou Girardin]

Maybe, but he's in his forties, never wears a helmet at home, and he's still alive.
Go figure.

[idb]

Maybe, but he's in his forties, never wears a helmet at home, and he's still alive.
Go figure.

That's not say his theory was right.
There are still a lot of idiots about have you noticed?