When did we lose our minds?

[domwilson]

Just sitting here at work thinking...When did we, as grown, free americans, lose our minds?
Take that anyway you want. I was thinking how we don't have the fireworks that I remember as a kid.
If a kid blew his fingers off, we'd think he was a big dummy. We would try our hardest not to be "That Guy". But no one pounded down the doors to city hall to make a law against it. Then we had street racing. A part of America's love for cars. Usually it was done on some abandoned road away from public traffic. If someone got into an accident, we would try our hardest not to be "That Guy". Sure it was illegal. You may get a ticket. Oh well. Now, fireworks are illegal. If you race, the police just take down your license plate. Impound your car the next day for disposal or destruction. Yes this has happened. When did we lose our minds? You can rant about other things. After a few posts, I'll explain the nostalgia.

[Insaniac]

The problem isn't that we have lost our minds, the problem is that a large majority of Americans have ZERO self control...they pretty much do anything they want, whenever they want...murder, mayhem...doesn't seem to matter to them at all...which is why we now have so many laws and lawyers!

[Rumdog]

Fireworks have been illegal for a long time in MI. Doesn't stop anyone from driving one state away to buy them, and never will. Laws are in place for one reason.. $$$$$$. The almighty dollar rules all in this world, in every facet of politics, law making, religion... everything.

I love when fisherman call the police when I'm trying to enjoy a waverunner ride. I take that oppritunity to vent. Every time.

[GeoVW72]

I think it was the early-mid '90 when someone won a law suit against McDonalds for not labeling coffee hot

And I don't really think that we lost self control, more, accountability. Why think about doing something stupid when you can sue; property owner/company/god, after the fact and get away with it.

[domwilson]

The problem isn't that we have lost our minds, the problem is that a large majority of Americans have ZERO self control...they pretty much do anything they want, whenever they want...murder, mayhem...doesn't seem to matter to them at all...which is why we now have so many laws and lawyers!

Do you think self control starts with parenting? I mean teaching values and discipline; Respect yourself and others?

[Peregrine]

I believe the real reason for most of the ridiculous laws is that most people are unwilling, or incapable, of accepting responsibilities for their own actions (read, stupid stunts). Example; a woman buys what she expects to be a hot cup of coffee, places it between her legs and then gets burned. Now does she think "Geez, that was a real stupid thing to do, guess I'll get this treated."? Heck no, her first thought "D&mn, that McDonalds should make me rich for my stupidity!" and sues them. Next stupid piece to the puzzle, the liberal judge who hears the case and awards in her favor instead of; "Hey Lady, you bought the coffee expecting it to be hot. You did something stupid and got burned. Then you did an even stupider thing and tried to sue the restaurant! As a reward, I rule that you get to reimburse the restaurant for their costs to be here for this ignorance, now get your ignorant &^% out of here!!"
Had this been the result, and had a similar result occurred in so many similar cases, things might be a little better.
Case 2: a man breaks into a house in the middle of the night, he leans on the kitchen counter and cuts his hand on a knife, yells, home owner turns on lights, he flees the house. Next this upstanding citizen sues the home-owner and WINS for the damage (cut) to his hand and is awarded damages!!
As long as cr^p like this continues in our courts our society is doomed to continue to get worse.
This doesn't even begin to address how bleeding hearts financially reward the lazy and worthless for refusing to work for a living and in fact gives them a pay raise every time they pop out another welfare recipient!
OK, I'll get off my soap box now!

[Insaniac]

Do you think self control starts with parenting? I mean teaching values and discipline; Respect yourself and others?

I couldn't agree more. When the PC folks started telling everyone how they couldn't "discipline" their children all respect was lost...right down the crapper!

[dana]

stupidity isnt a disease, but it sure spreads like one. humanity is going downhill

[Jacked1]

Fireworks have been illegal for a long time in MI. Doesn't stop anyone from driving one state away to buy them, and never will. Laws are in place for one reason.. $$$$$$. The almighty dollar rules all in this world, in every facet of politics, law making, religion... everything.

I love when fisherman call the police when I'm trying to enjoy a waverunner ride. I take that oppritunity to vent. Every time.

Wave runners are probably the funest thing in the world!

And I agree with the money part, I just got a $300 late fee for not paying for a summer class that I didn't enroll in

I think spanking kids in grade school again would fix a little bit of the stupidity as well.

[T.S.Davis]

I don't know when it happened but it sure seems money based to me.

There are so many things that make me want to scream at times. Here's another gem.

Most every state has it's own building code. Most of them are based on the International Building Code. Affectionately referred to as the IBC. Pretty much every aspect of construction is regulated by these texts. They're the "law" so to speak. It's not all crazy things like you would think either. It's actually based on science, and safety, and many years of experience from architects, engineers, builders, etc. You know, written by experts in the field. Seems sensible right?

Now if you build, you have to comply with the standards set forth by the building code. If you're building a hospital.......and you want to service medicaid or medicare patients.......and you want to be paid for doing so....you have to also comply with the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Standard. A separate set of standards entirely. Compliance with the IBC does not necessarily guarantee compliance with the CMS. Follow the money! Yet another layer of bureaucracy to gobble up tax payer dollars and drive the cost of construction up. Resulting of course in higher health care costs.

A little venting. Sorry guys.

[osprey21]

LBJ's "Great Society" played (and continues to play) a large part.

[domwilson]

Many of this countries financial issues could probably be traced back to Woodrow Wilson and his Liberty bonds. They were a good idea at the time but he underestimated the greed of his fellow Washingtonians.

But keep it coming....

[domwilson]

I asked this question to pick some brains. We all have a thought on the things that are going wrong. We have different focuses. Some say that it's the government's fault. Some think it is social issues that lead to the financial mess. While still others blame the media. What would happened if we treated each other with a little more kindness and respect? If we accepted what was fair and not what we think we are entitled to? If we smiled a little more at each other and not bury our faces in pocket gadgets? If we listened first to others rather than talking down to each other? If we traded and bartered rather than depend so heavily on money? Even if we thought more of what we are going to say before we say it? What if were didn't formulate opinions on whole groups based on the actions of a few? What if we didn't impose ourselves on others who don't impose upon us? And finally, What if we thought of ways to make other's lives easier rather than trying to gain power and control over them? What made this country great was our ability to overcome adversity and "Unite" to become one. Instead, we have let ourselves become divided and bicker over petty issues. We have the power. Let's use it for our betterment rather than our destruction. After all, we are the "UNITED STATES" and not the "INDIVIDUAL STATES"
Just my thoughts. What are yours?

[m4a1usr]

People are people. Doesnt matter what continent you live on. No matter the society, education level, financial ability. There will always be a percentage who are basicly greedy or feel they have to have more then what they have now or even any amount they hope to strive for in the future. Whether its money or not. And it doesnt have to be money either. Its about possesing something they feel is required to exist. Money is just one symptom of their issue. It could as well be about power over others. Its plain human fraility. A moral weakness.

If humanity wanted to be at peace with all its population, then restrictive binding laws would have to be placed in effect on every single person. Failure to obey and "the penality" would be a mandatory. No other option is possible. As a homogenous society we could make those changes but the very people enjoying such a lifestyle may very well be the ones doomed to tear down its majesty. Choices, being able to make independant decisions is what makes us do some of the greatest accomplishments and from which we grew. Being all the same, no individuality (logans run?) seems to be too far to the opposite side.

Dont worry folks. We are headed that way even if its not even remotely envisioned by us today. The 64 dollar question is what do I mean right?

Well in the last 40 or 50 some years we have been oddly enough creating something amongst us that might do that very thing. Maybe not control us but its going to be very much involved in every single thing mankind does and its is rapidly emerging as being smarter then us shortly. I dont mean next year, in a decade. Much further out. But AI is coming to your local electronic devices in greater numbers then ever and its always being developed to perform better then us mortals.

It will start with menial tasks. Sweeping the house (Roomba x10). Doing what we dread. It will morph to another form. Then another and another. Soon all that sci fi stuff we see on TV will be staring us back in the face. Seem too far to imagine? Back to our frailties!

So we are back to the orginal question? When did we lose our minds? We handed it over with total glee and assumptions of fairness. "No wait Dave, I feel something strange" (2001 a space oddesey). Coming someday to the reality of our destiny.

John

[domwilson]

Good points! But I think this is just one symptom of a bigger issue. I remember reading back in the 90's that apathy was going to be our biggest social issue. A silent epidemic.