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From: canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Frank Dibbell)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: seat belts (It's the lawyers' fault!)
Message-ID: <1491@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-May-85 15:00:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdahl.1491
Posted: Mon May  6 15:00:37 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 01:32:52 EDT
References: <2683@harpo.UUCP>
Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 38

>         The seat belt issue is interesting in the fact that all of a
> sudden we have new laws to protect ourselves. The seat belt law, the 
> child seat law, the school bus stopping law. [...]
> [...]                                     I was taught by my parents
> that crossing the street without looking could get you killed. It seemed
> to work then. [...]  Are
> people becoming more stupid as time goes on (i.e on a box of staples
> the discalmer "Warning - Staples have sharp points") Oh really, I did'nt
> know that !!

  (It came to me in a dream!).  Back in the days of our parents and
  before, people used to take responsibility for their actions.  If
  you fell on your face while horsing around in the park and busted
  your nose, you chalked it up to carelessness.

  Nowadays, you do something stupid, all you need is a lawyer and you
  can sue the shit out of anyone!  You can put a big fence around your
  house with a sign that says, KEEP OUT, and if someone climbs over the
  fence and breaks a leg, they'll sue you!  All because of lawyers!

  Lawyers have taught us that we no longer have to be responsible for
  our actions... you screw up, just find someone to sue.  Hurt your-
  self in the park?  Sue the city!!!

  This has made many manufacturers EXTREMELY nervous.  So nervous that
  they put ridiculous disclaimers like the one quoted above on their
  products!  Except I don't think it'll do any good.  Picture the twit
  who punctures his thumb on the above-mentioned box of staples - he'll
  get some smart fancy-pants lawyer to sue not only the company, but
  also the store that sold the staples.  If they ask him why he didn't
  read the warning, well, he can't read... so now he names his old
  school as co-defendant in the suit for not teaching him to read!!!

  And you want to know the worst part?  This asshole will probably
  WIN!!!  At LEAST $250,000.00!!!
-- 
Frank Dibbell     (408-746-6493)                 {whatever}!amdahl!canopus
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