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A theory about how stupid society has become
Self | 6-1-2005 | Self

Posted on 06/01/2005 4:16:31 PM PDT by Cowman

In observing the sad state of our society I have noticed a few things that seem to be related. there is a tremendous proliferation of over reaching regulation to prevent accidents. There are air bags and passive restraints to prevent deaths in car crashes. There are all kinds of restrictions on how I can arrange things on my own property to prevent trespassers from hurting themselves. I can't buy a mercury thermometer because some idiot might get exposed to a small amount of a heavy metal. These regulations exist to keep idiots from hurting themselves in the normal course of being idiots.

The idiots appear to be taking over society. An idiot spills coffee on himself and they sue the restaurant and win substantially more than the price of the coffee. The cookie monster is made into the celery monster because cookies are unhealthy. (I just can't fathom Ol' Cookie singing C is for Celery!) Starbucks is able to call a small coffee a "Grande" and charge five bucks for something you can get at the gas station for a buck and a half. And Kerry was considered a serious candidate for President of the United States.

I believe these things are related that by regulating against accidents stupid people are not killing themselves like they are supposed to and the resulting increase in stupidity is pulling the collective IQ of the country down making us an entire nation stupid people.

Perhaps we should start letting the dumb play with blasting caps or grizzly bear insulting.

What do you think?


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: legalcorruption; offtochatwego; regulation; stupidity; thisissonotnews
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
I am a big fan of Douglas Adams, although I think the new movie is an abomination, I should, perhaps, amend my theory. In addition to the regulation / stupidity proportion I would include an infrastructure / dependence proportion. When I grew up the only infrastructure we had was electricity and telephone. If something broke we would fix it ourselves. If we needed something we would make it or generate sufficient income to buy it. If we needed something done we did it ourselves. The nearest police were thirty miles away so we were armed and defended ourselves against bad guys. When I moved to the city none of my neighbors could fix something without hiring someone or calling a government service. After years, and even generations, of not doing for themselves they have lost the ability to do so. When the town or other government authority wants to get them to do something like voting for a corrupt official or a dumb regulation or paying more taxes all they have to do is threaten to cut the services they have become dependent on. much like a pimp telling his girls they will have to do things or their drugs will be cut off.
41 posted on 06/02/2005 6:29:04 AM PDT by Cowman (Just when you hit the bottom of the stupid hole you notice the guy next to you is digging)
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To: Cowman
"Perhaps we should start letting the dumb play with blasting caps or grizzly bear insulting."

Ya know Darwin got a bad rap but his "Survival of the Fittest" theory has merit.

If he were alive to day I venture if he read the story of Rachel Corey he would nod knowingly.

42 posted on 06/02/2005 6:34:56 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg ("`Eddies,' said Ford, `in the space-time continuum.' `Ah,' nodded Arthur, `is he? Is he?'")
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To: Mad Dawgg
If he were alive to day I venture if he read the story of Rachel Corey he would nod knowingly

And then go out for pancakes

43 posted on 06/02/2005 6:43:41 AM PDT by Cowman (Just when you hit the bottom of the stupid hole you notice the guy next to you is digging)
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To: Cowman
I think the new movie is an abomination...

As do I. I was very disappointed. It started well enough but took a left turn to nowhere and went straight into the loo. I am currently recording the BBC Radio weekly broadcasts of the Quandary and Quintessential phases of HHGTTG. They feature most of the original cast and are quite good.

When I moved to the city none of my neighbors could fix something without hiring someone or calling a government service.

My old man taught me how to fix stuff and I am in great demand among my friends and associates as a "fix-it" guy. I am amazed at how many people are unable to do simple tasks. I am teaching my son the same skills. He seems very apt. There may be hope for the next generation yet.

44 posted on 06/02/2005 7:12:05 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (If you only knew the powerrrrr of the Tagline.)
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To: Cowman

Many of the regulations, etc., mentioned are to avoid and prevent law suits. The juries have made ridiculous awards for a lot of 'stupid' stuff. Perhaps, because they see it as a 'big corporation' and a poor person; however, it sets precedents, and that allows basis for further future law suits ... on and on . The boundaries keep moving. Law suits are the cause of many, many, problems in our nation.


45 posted on 06/02/2005 7:35:46 AM PDT by Countyline
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To: teenyelliott; BerthaDee; pissant; thag; MamaTexan; Dashing Dasher
stupid people ping

As my sweetie knows, I work with realtors all day. The most dangerous of the stupids, are the ones who actually think they are smart. And there are more and more every year.

46 posted on 06/02/2005 8:51:03 AM PDT by carolinacrazy (What?!...That could never happen in a.... world.)
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To: elbucko
These regulations have less to do with the stupidity of society than with the larceny of lawyers.

And society permits, nay, encourages the lawyers? Case closed.

47 posted on 06/02/2005 8:54:02 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (Grant no power to government you would not want your worst enemies to wield against you.)
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To: Countyline

Tell ya what,
Buy a baby crib these days.

It comes with SO many warning lables-- some permanent even--- that it doesn't even look pretty anymore.

It looks scary and kinda creepy because it details all the horrible things that could happen to the baby. But they're the kinds of things that usually happen when idiots parent.

So if they remove the lables, the idiot population might decline. ;)


48 posted on 06/02/2005 8:55:39 AM PDT by najida (www.lotusdance.com/FreeperettesHunks.html)
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To: carolinacrazy

realtors are genuises next to most lawyers I've met.


49 posted on 06/02/2005 8:56:14 AM PDT by pissant (forget the darn fish!)
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To: Cowman; Mad Dawgg

Saint 'Rachel Corey' Pancake.... LOL!!!

I called a local radio talkshow the other day.
The host was whining about a school named after one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. He said that now that is was known that Jefferson owned slaves, we should change the name and he was soliciting new names...

I called in and said, Saint 'Rachel Corey' Pancake.

He hung up on me.

Party pooper!


50 posted on 06/02/2005 9:03:39 AM PDT by Dashing Dasher (Ruby Red Sharpies for EVERYONE!!!)
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To: Skooz; pissant; patton

That reminds me...

Some comedian used to say that the one thing we all had in common is that ALL of us thought we were above average drivers.

Ain't that the truth!!!

;-)

PS... I'm a very good driver!


51 posted on 06/02/2005 9:06:32 AM PDT by Dashing Dasher (Ruby Red Sharpies for EVERYONE!!!)
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To: pissant

You must live in DC.


52 posted on 06/02/2005 9:21:34 AM PDT by carolinacrazy (What?!...That could never happen in a.... world.)
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To: teenyelliott; carolinacrazy; BerthaDee; pissant; thag; MamaTexan; Dashing Dasher

Leveling the gene pool.....one idiot at a time....


53 posted on 06/02/2005 9:29:10 AM PDT by thag (Cuffs and leather and a whip that stings-These are a few of my favorite things.........)
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To: Dashing Dasher
PS... I'm a very good driver!


54 posted on 06/02/2005 9:30:57 AM PDT by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: teenyelliott
stupid people ping

First a prostitution ping, and now this!

My dear, are you trying to give me a complex???

8^)
8^)

55 posted on 06/02/2005 9:32:59 AM PDT by The SISU kid (Defiantly coloring outside the lines since 1964)
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To: Cowman
>In observing the sad state of our society I have noticed a few things

I would like to see
statistics on IQ's and
VANITY thread counts . . .

56 posted on 06/02/2005 9:35:20 AM PDT by theFIRMbss
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To: teenyelliott

He was NOT as good a driver as I am!

I'm a VERY good driver!

;-)

But, boy could he count toothpicks!


57 posted on 06/02/2005 9:41:14 AM PDT by Dashing Dasher (Ruby Red Sharpies for EVERYONE!!!)
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To: The SISU kid
*sigh*

The ping is about stupid people, not that you are a stupid people! Sheesh!

58 posted on 06/02/2005 10:03:01 AM PDT by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: thag
If only that were the case . . .

Maybe we could make Soylent Green out of stupid people. Or how bout Green can be made outta libs, and Blue can be made outta dolts.

59 posted on 06/02/2005 10:05:04 AM PDT by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: Dashing Dasher

Even my wife says I'm a good driver, so it must be true.


60 posted on 06/02/2005 10:07:27 AM PDT by Skooz (If everyone knew everything about everyone, no one would have anything to do with anyone)
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