FREEP THIS POLL!!

WTNH TV ^ | 4/11/02 | puppage

[Psalm 73]

"I would love to rip a big fart in a crowded restraunt..."

Pretty high aspirations there, buddy,
Your mother must be so proud of you.

[Puppage]

WOW...first Greenwich, now a direct hit on me personally. Now, is that a nice thing for a Christian to say? Who says that EVERYONE who talks on a handheld phone while driving, drives like an idiot? So, because YOU don't have the ability to do so safely, we ALL should forfeit that liberty?

I guess if you can't swim, we need to ban pools, too? And, once again you FAILED to answer my direct question. It seems that you'd rather attack the messenger than the message. Quick, somebody call the Democratic Underground, we have their lost patriot.

[Thommas]

Where this mentality is taking us next is obvious. To protect the citizenry from that portion of the population that is inept, we will all be required within the next ten years to purchase new vehicles that weigh less than 1500 lbs., and all vehicle occupants will be mandated to wear saafety helmets.

My prediction. I hope that I'm wrong, but I see this road plainly.

[Puppage]

Do you want to ban handheld cell phones in vehicles,or do you want to ban distractions?

[Psalm 73]

"once again you FAILED to answer my direct question"

I've answered it three times, you chose to ignore it.
There are certain rules we must all live by in order to have a free society.
You must stop at red lights and stop signs, and obey yield signs.
Is THAT an infringement on your rights?
Who are THEY to tell you when to stop? Or what lane to drive in?
Those darned traffic Nazi's want to control every aspect of your life...
Sound irrational?

[Puppage]

Those happen to be existing LAWS, not a right or liberty. By adhering to them, "they" are NOT taking anything AWAY from you. Get it? Big difference. So tell me..do we ban the handheld cell phone, or the DISTRACTION? Seems a simply question.

[Psalm 73]

"Those happen to be existing LAWS, not a right or liberty."

They weren't ALWAYS existing laws! They were passed for the safety of everyone engaged in driving on public roads.
When cars first appeared, you could pretty-much drive as you pleased - you could even talk on a hand-held phone.
Show me where driving while using hand-held cell-phones is a right or liberty. In the Constitution? In the Bible?
Ban hand-held cell-phones.

[Puppage]

Those are LAWS, not rights, nor liberties.By putting up a stop sign, what are they taking away from you? Nothing, that's what. I understand your point of view, MY point is if this law IS passed, where does it stop? When will the next silly law that some people want passed in the name of safety, be deemed just that...silly?

I liken it to all the political correctness BS that's out there. A Tug of Peace, instead of Tug of War? Come on..THAT'S silly, wouldn't you agree? Yet, that's what some towns are now calling it.

[Legion]

And after that ban precedent is set? What's next on your list? What else won't I be allowed to do to make you feel safer?

Or will the banning of cell phones stop all distraction-related accidents?

And if it won't then what will you crusade against next? Surely there will be something...can't have you feeling unsafe now, can we?

Ban this, ban that... quite an American response.

I'd like to enjoy the few liberties I have left, thanks very much. Granted, it's not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, but lots of everyday things we do aren't, either.

Cell phones in and of themselves are not the problem they're made out to be. It's distraction, and not paying attention to what you're doing that causes accidents.

[Psalm 73]

"What else won't I be allowed to do to make you feel safer?"

Feelings aren't fact. It's not a question of me FEELING safer, it's actualy BEING safer.
I'm all for hand-held cell-phones if they also pass a law that lets me shoot your ass for cutting me off or driving 40 mph in the left lane because you're too busy talking on the phone to notice my car.

[Psalm 73]

"By putting up a stop sign, what are they taking away from you?"

They're taking away my right to an UNITERRUPTED drive.
Who are they to tell me when I can stop and when I can go?
And SPEED limits? Why does the MAN hassle me when I drive 100 mph? If that's not Naziism...

[Puppage]

Now, how did KNOW you'd say that? Don't you have anything better than that?

[Ima Lurker]

If you are stupid enough to walk down the stairs with your shoe untied that's your problem. No one will be hurt but you. When you are driving a car and doing anything that distracts you from your driving you are endangering other people. Actually, there are very few accidents anyway. Accidents are not avoidable. Car crashes are avoidable for the most part, if people would just pay attention to driving. We need start treating crashes as the crimes they are instead of "accidents". What on earth do so many people have to talk about that is so important anyway??

[Puppage]

So, EVERY accident involving a cell phone injures not ONLY the cell phone user, but other people as well? What if I'm walking down the stairs of shopping center with a loose shoelace? Doesn't THAT endanger other shoppers as well? So, there goes your lame argument. Let's legislate laws that ban EVERYTHING that could EVER hurt me or others.

[Ima Lurker]

LOL....good one!

[Ima Lurker]

"So EVERY accident involving a cell phone injures not ONLY the cell phone user, but other people as well?"

Huh?? When did I say that? I can tell there is no reasoning with you on this subject. Your mind is made up and you don't want to be confused with the facts. So I'll go do something more valuable with my time.

[Puppage]

When you are driving a car and doing anything that distracts you from your driving you are endangering other people.

This is what you said.....I was speaking to YOUR point of endangering others. Shoelaces untied in a public setting, endanger OTHERS. Get it now, Lurky? Do ya get the gist?

[Puppage]

Sound silly? Kind of like the cell phone ban? I think it is.

[Puppage]

Perhaps, you should enlighten us with your "facts". Come on big boy....you can do it. Just because YOU can't talk on a handheld cell while driving doesn't mean that those that CAN should be denied to do so.

[Legion]

Temper, temper...that's not spoken like a responsible gun owner now, is it?

Still, wouldn't you BE safer if other distractions were removed as well?

Once the cell-phone Dragon is slain, shouldn't other distractions be outlawed one by one, if your guarantee of safety is at issue? And if not, why not? I'd like to know what activities you'd allow me to perform in my car in order to avoid your gunfire. Oh, but if you do shoot, please don't miss me... the safety of others is at stake here! Stray bullets just may be more dangerous than cell phones.

Luckily, you can keep your weapon secured around me. I do not use my cell phone in the car. Why? Because I see it as a distraction and I make the personal decision not to use it so. I use my own judgement, I don't need to be beaten about the head with another frivolous law.

Therefore, I won't be incurring the death penalty for a sloppy lane change (due to cell phone use, but no other reason, yes?)or because I'm travelling slower than you would like.

Of course, I'm joking around a bit with you here, just as I'm sure you're joking with me concerning the advocacy of murder should I inconvenience you on the road.

You want to ban hand held cell phones. I want to minimize the myriad of ineffectual laws on the books.

I guess we just have differing philosophies.