View Full Version : a sad loss....
THE SAD PASSING OF COMMON SENSE
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
The reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they failed to do on disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student; but, could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a cup of steaming coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents; Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. Three stepbrothers survive him; I know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame and I'm a Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not join the majority and do nothing!
:cry: At least he is in pain no more.
Though on a brighter side we can probably produce enough cheap electricity to solve our problems; hook his body up to a turbine as he spins in his grave at about 7,000 rpm! :wink:
Spiderman
03-03-06, 12:05 PM
Very good and sadly very true too.
So who can we blame for this cos clearly its not my fault ;)
So true.
Such a pity, he will be sorely missed.
Maybe "Son of Common Sense" will help turn things to the way they were.
Biker Biggles
03-03-06, 01:32 PM
I think the final nail in the coffin was when Common Sense became a disciplinary offense at work and was re named Gross Misconduct.Round about the same time that "having a sense of humour" became a sackable offense too. :evil:
sharriso74
03-03-06, 01:58 PM
Yep dead as a dodo. In the papers today the government are suggesting that teachers consult children as young as 5 regarding discipline within the school.
You see, im good close mates with Commen Sense, we're pretty close.
Me and Brains though, we fell out ages ago. We only work together sometimes to get through issues. :lol:
Where i work (law firm), it seems most people are still good mates with Brains, but never had any contact with commen sense to start with, let alone build a relationship with it.
kinesin
03-03-06, 04:56 PM
[Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a cup of steaming coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
It a shame this line was included.. and the full details around the case make the summary worthless.
Liebeck v. McDonalds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's_coffee_case)
But otherwise .. very true!! :lol: :lol:
Cloggsy
03-03-06, 06:24 PM
How very very true :roll: :evil:
Well Oiled
03-03-06, 09:18 PM
[Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a cup of steaming coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
It a shame this line was included.. and the full details around the case make the summary worthless.
Liebeck v. McDonalds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's_coffee_case)
Well, AFIK coffee is a HOT drink made with BOILING water and coffee grounds. Unless she's defied the laws of physics it coudn't have been hotter than 100 degrees C and must have been a bit less by the time she spilt it. She should have known this and her clumsiness in spilling the drink (or the sharp braking of the driver) was the true cause of her scalds. Although some of the facts around this one have been distorted the idea that someone can get thousands of dollars for spilling a HOT drink on their lap is ridiculous.
Maybe someone spilling a freshly made cup of tea down them in my house will sue me for thousands. Who knows?
My £0.02 worth. Keith
P.S. Very nicely written start to the thread Keithd
[Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a cup of steaming coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
It a shame this line was included.. and the full details around the case make the summary worthless.
Liebeck v. McDonalds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's_coffee_case)
But otherwise .. very true!! :lol: :lol:
Agree completely, there's a lot to that story, more than most peeps realise.
.
Well Oiled
03-03-06, 09:51 PM
So we have to label cups of HOT coffee with "Caution - contents hot" (No **** !!). Maybe it'll be mandated that kettles must have a label saying "caution - may contain boiling water (especially when steam being emitted)". Gas hobs will be labelled "Caution - flames may burn you if you touch them". Etc. etc.
Bags of peanuts labelled with 'May contain nuts'... :lol:
Anonymous
03-03-06, 10:31 PM
SV650.org Idle Banter labelled with: 'May contain nuts'... :lol:
Agreed! :lol:
Once heard Billy Connelly ranting on about finding a hairdryer in a hotel with the instuctions not to use it while under the shower. This is why we have the nanny state - people are just too dumb.
So we have to label cups of HOT coffee with "Caution - contents hot" (No sh*t !!). Maybe it'll be mandated that kettles must have a label saying "caution - may contain boiling water (especially when steam being emitted)". Gas hobs will be labelled "Caution - flames may burn you if you touch them". Etc. etc.
You obviously haven't read the whole story then?
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm
The woman was 79 years of age, got dreadfully burned (not just a mild scalding) and only ever asked for her medical treatment to be paid for and not the huge punative damages awarded.
Maybe you might wish to reconsider your rash and IMO rather unfair appraisal of this particular case - particularly as it's not in any way (as I see it) connected with the death of common sense post above, which in the main I have to agree with.
.
Well Oiled
03-03-06, 11:52 PM
Yes, I'm aware of the background to the case. That's why I said the facts have been distorted (eg reports that she was driving at the time with hot coffee wedged between thighs etc. etc.) I lived in the USA in the late 90's. This, and other similar cases, were often discussed amongst my friends and colleagues (and most of the Americans held a similar view to mine).
She didn't ask for millions, but she did ask for many thousands of dollars for treatment of burns that were received due to (IMO) her fault. If I buy coffee I expect it to be hot, or very hot if freshly made. I take care not to spill it and if I do and burn myself I say it's my fault - I'm aware that hot coffee scalds and I should take care. I don't think I should sue for treatment to my burns if I do. The fact that this was an old lady is irrelevant, unless we say that senior citizens shouldn't be allowed to buy hot drinks as they are more likely to spill it and scald themselves.
The connection with the 'loss of common sense' theme is there - common sense says 'I am responsible for my mistakes, and their consequences' this case says 'I will try to blame and sue others for my mistakes' an increasing and worrying trend in our society.
I suspect that it is the big bad McDonalds corporation that were being sued that leads to this case getting a less than objective review by many.
I can see your opinion is different, and I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Thats IB for ya !
Cheers Keith
Before proceeding this reply may contain nuts and its contents is hot.
Ive got to do it I have to do it.
I HATE THESE COMMON SENSE IS DEAD RANTS
Now that the shouting is out the way I will try and put my reasons down as to my stance on this.
I will firstly start with the statement "dont take what you read or see as gospel". One of the comments KD makes is about not being able to defend yourself in your own home. this is just plain wrong and the lie is proporgated by the press.
You have by law a right to defend your home with reasonable force. This means that yes if you get into a tussle with a burgalar and he ends up getting stabbed and dies because you used a knife to defend yourself you will not go down. Yes you will have to go to court to defend your actions but after all a life has been lost and this needs to be investigated and the truth to be known. FOr those he think a burgular looses his rights when they entered your property think on this. Do you really want people to be able to kill others for simply being on there property, land. There are many cases in america where people have been killed simply for knocking on the wrong door. Or they heard noises down stairs and just shot at what they thought was a burgular but turned out to be their partner or children. No thanks!!
The coffee, well thats America for you. Everything is about money. I can only imagine what it is like to be poor and ill or in an accident in America. Even with health insurance it does not cover the whole bill. Imagine the costs involved in the treatment of the burns, this was probably her motivation for seeking damages to cover medical costs so that it didnt criple her and her family financially for years to come. As for the eventual reward, this was probably more to do with he lawyers wanting to stick one on McDonalds and make a name for themselves, then having any relevance to the inccident.
I also remember an advert which ironically was for a newspaper (the Guardian I think) from quite a few years ago which showed a skinhead running towards an old lady and reaching for her bag. This was shown in the ad from all different angles and different stories were given for each angle. One for theft, one for running away from a crime, one for a immenent attack. THis scene eventually panned out to show the skinhead grabbing the old lady and saving her from being crushed by some falling debris.
My basic message is if you really if you are insensed by news article on television or in the written press. Do a bit of research. I think you will be suprised at what a majority of these so called journalists leave out, becuase "its a better story"
Just my two pennies.
setanta
04-03-06, 02:57 AM
Applying common sense.
This was funny to me at the time, still is.
I bought a pair of armbands so that my young child could go swimming in the pool, while she was paddling merrily in the pool I idly read the instructions. It said "do not put these on the child's ankles"
That had me laughing for ages afterwards :lol: .
Its a good job common sense was alive that day :P
philipMac
04-03-06, 06:08 AM
I think it was in a Douglas Adams book... at one point the guy picks up a tooth pick.
On the toothpick wrapper there are step by step instructions about how to use it.
The guy concludes the whole world has gone insane, and builds a mental asylum. However, the walls of the asylum are reversed, with the wallpaper, and soft furnishings facing out, and the bare brick facing in.
He then went inside to the outside of the asylum, safe in the knowledge that the lunatics were now confined inside the loony bin he had just built for the planet, and lived out his days.
I smiled anyway. :oops:
I am not going to say anything about common sense and or people's lack thereof. Since, I live in America, in acedemia, in science. And there are distinct people living in glass houses type feelings flying about the place.
So I will say nothing. :P
Other than, once I was too close to a small bomb I made when I was "testing" it. I try to casually sort stroll past the old parents shortly after, not quite realising I had burnt all the hair off my face, up to about the middle of my head, and had a distinctly shell shocked look about me.
I was standing there, and they were quizing me what exactly i was up to, denying as much as possible, while feeling feathery things falling down my face, every time i moved my eye lids.
What do you mean Mum? Flutter flutter. Nothing Dad. No, I have no idea why I would smell like gun powder and burnt hair. And yes I am aware that my hands are a bit burnt looking. I think its time for bed. Yes, I bleeding know its four o'clock.
Jaysus.
I can see your opinion is different, and I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Thats IB for ya !
Fair enough ;).
But I still think I'm right :lol:.
.
furrybean
04-03-06, 08:54 AM
I heard a while ago of someone buying a big ass winnebago and was driving along a long stretch of road. He decided he wanted a coffee so he put cruise control on and went into the back to make a drink. Didnt realise he had to steer still. Genius! So now apparently it specifically states you still need to drive while using Cruise Control!
Dan
Common sense died after being abused by Political Correctness.
Common sense died after being abused by Political Correctness.
Sadly how true :cry:
Tolerance shouldn't be a one way street.
PhillipMac wrote:
I am not going to say anything about common sense and or people's lack thereof. Since, I live in America, in acedemia, in science. And there are distinct people living in glass houses type feelings flying about the place.
Please dont miss understand my comments about the two points I was trying to make. I used America as I do know a little about theirs laws and in particular those pertaining to protecting your property.
The second, referring to the coffee incident at McDonalds, was in America. I was simply summising on the reasons why the case would have been taken to court in the first place. You have to admit that if you are not well off or dont have healthcare insurance, America is not the sought of place you want to get ill or need expensive treatment.
I know alot of Americans read this forum and it was not my intention to offend.
philipMac
05-03-06, 04:48 AM
PhillipMac wrote:
I am not going to say anything about common sense and or people's lack thereof. Since, I live in America, in acedemia, in science. And there are distinct people living in glass houses type feelings flying about the place.
Please dont miss understand my comments about the two points I was trying to make. I used America as I do know a little about theirs laws and in particular those pertaining to protecting your property.
The second, referring to the coffee incident at McDonalds, was in America. I was simply summising on the reasons why the case would have been taken to court in the first place. You have to admit that if you are not well off or dont have healthcare insurance, America is not the sought of place you want to get ill or need expensive treatment.
I know alot of Americans read this forum and it was not my intention to offend.
No no. What I am saying is.. since *I* live in the US, and since I am in acedemia, I cannot say anything about people having or not having common sense. The US does, in all fairness, have tons of people with dubious common sense. And Acedemics, are often nutcases too. So, me, in my glass house, I can say nothing.
And, I would completely 100 per cent agree that the US is a brutal place to live unless you are in a nice job. And, then its quite a nice place to live.
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