OK - what needs to be done to prevent people being killed by police officers?
In another 'Ferguson' thread I posted:
To that I'd like to add something that has struck me as an outsider about America: the culture of not having to be personally responsible for your choices.
A couple of examples: Years ago I used to read 'Climbing' and similar magazines. There were articles and new stories about landowners in America closing access to cliffs on their land because of lawsuit fears. Someone who chose to climb on a cliff might hurt themselves (fall, rockfall, etc), and then sue the landowner. That mentality (I chose to do something inherently dangerous, got hurt, and now I'm going to blame someone else) is quite alien to me.
A second example: Universal Studios in LA. There's a outdoor escalator, going down a not very steep hill. I counted something like six separate instructions on how to use the escalator played on a loop over loudspeakers as you went down the escalator - Face forward at all times - Hold on to the handrail - Do not lean over the sides - things like that. Basic Common Sense, yet in America it has to be blasted at you. I know, to avoid lawsuits.. ..but again, it's the culture of "I can goof off, hurt myself (somehow) and sue you to compensate me for my lack of responsibility".
I wonder if/how much this 'culture' feeds into people's decision-making, where the link between choices and consequences that follow has been weakened.
Anyway, I'd love to hear constructive ideas on what needs to change to 'make things better' in this area. I'm also open to borderline outrageous posts from the usual suspects...
In another 'Ferguson' thread I posted:
Originally posted by MaxVel
To that I'd like to add something that has struck me as an outsider about America: the culture of not having to be personally responsible for your choices.
A couple of examples: Years ago I used to read 'Climbing' and similar magazines. There were articles and new stories about landowners in America closing access to cliffs on their land because of lawsuit fears. Someone who chose to climb on a cliff might hurt themselves (fall, rockfall, etc), and then sue the landowner. That mentality (I chose to do something inherently dangerous, got hurt, and now I'm going to blame someone else) is quite alien to me.
A second example: Universal Studios in LA. There's a outdoor escalator, going down a not very steep hill. I counted something like six separate instructions on how to use the escalator played on a loop over loudspeakers as you went down the escalator - Face forward at all times - Hold on to the handrail - Do not lean over the sides - things like that. Basic Common Sense, yet in America it has to be blasted at you. I know, to avoid lawsuits.. ..but again, it's the culture of "I can goof off, hurt myself (somehow) and sue you to compensate me for my lack of responsibility".
I wonder if/how much this 'culture' feeds into people's decision-making, where the link between choices and consequences that follow has been weakened.
Anyway, I'd love to hear constructive ideas on what needs to change to 'make things better' in this area. I'm also open to borderline outrageous posts from the usual suspects...
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