what is this country coming to?

[risen]

Not quite in the same league but...

Do you remember those breath fresheners called 'Wrigley's Ice', small leaves of mint that dissolved on your tongue, off the market now I think.

There was a contribution to the Viz Top Tips that made me howl. "If you were thinking of putting one of those Wrigley's Ice over the end of your Jap's Eye, I would suggest you don't"

[billybunter]

All this madness comes from the "where's there's blame there's a claim" culture. If someone trips on a paving stone the next stop after the doctor is the solicitor.

[RyderKnightley]

Pl*yb*y was forever highlighting this crap.
The one that sticks in my mind was the US lawer who tried to sue a food producer because the packaging on a pecan pie didn't state that the product may contain nuts.
Rightfully, the judge threw the case out the window.
I had to think to myself is money more important than making yourself look like an idiot. I hope he never got any more work on account of people thinking that he can't be much of a very clever lawer if he doesn't know what a pecan is.

When I think of what this country has come to I usually think of the type of laws which seem to be the norm these days.
There seems to be a belief among the law makers that wrong doers can't be caught and punished, so as a result they bring out laws which punish everybody. The one that comes to mind at the moment is the Scottish government's proposal to have a minimum price for alcohol and making happy hours illegal.
Why? There is no question that the UK as a whole has a youth drinking problem which leads to violence and crime. But there are laws in place to deal with this, but either they are not enforced or the perpetrators have no fear of the law or belief that they will be caught or punished.
As a result, if this law is passed, me and countless other people will be punished by having to pay higher prices, despite the fact that even if we have too many we don't feel the need to start fighting.
This is not the first law which has been proposed which punishes the population as a whole, I just can't think of others off hand.

[bawjaws]

Originally Posted by office boy

I was about to watch Match Of The Day on Saturday night and just prior to it starting, a voice over came on and said, 'The following program contains flashing images.' For a football program of all things?

WTF. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. The flashing images turned out to be some advertising hoarding around the pitch. Nothing on the field. WTF!

I find those type of hoardings bloody annoying and distracting

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by RyderKnightley

When I think of what this country has come to I usually think of the type of laws which seem to be the norm these days.
There seems to be a belief among the law makers that wrong doers can't be caught and punished, so as a result they bring out laws which punish everybody. The one that comes to mind at the moment is the Scottish government's proposal to have a minimum price for alcohol and making happy hours illegal.
Why? There is no question that the UK as a whole has a youth drinking problem which leads to violence and crime. But there are laws in place to deal with this, but either they are not enforced or the perpetrators have no fear of the law or belief that they will be caught or punished.
As a result, if this law is passed, me and countless other people will be punished by having to pay higher prices, despite the fact that even if we have too many we don't feel the need to start fighting.
This is not the first law which has been proposed which punishes the population as a whole, I just can't think of others off hand.

The drinking laws the world over are an exercise in futility but then governments are only interested in keeping public health care costs down or grabbing more revenue

As we saw in Australia when they tried to raise taxes to combat binge drinking via pre-mixed alco-pops the party animals simply picked another cheaper deadlier poison
buy in bulk and make your own...suddenly the alcohol content is what ever you want it to be.....the legislation suddenly didnt appeal anymore so it died

I watched a friend lose a kidney recently due to years of binge drinking but I'd doubt this sort of scenario would even scare young bullet proof adults but it would certainly do more than any community warning message

[Mad Koala Bear]

Originally Posted by RyderKnightley

Pl*yb*y was forever highlighting this crap.
The one that sticks in my mind was the US lawer who tried to sue a food producer because the packaging on a pecan pie didn't state that the product may contain nuts.
Rightfully, the judge threw the case out the window.

The important parts of that are-1./ 'tried to sue' and 2./ 'the judge threw the case out...'. An idiot brought a fatuous claim and the judge treated it with the contempt it deserved. So sanity ruled in the end as it normally does in these 'what is the world coming to ?' scenarios, and no harm was done except to the claimant's bank balance presumably. On the other hand are you suggesting that people should be prevented from at least trying to redress what they think is a wrong done to them.

The problem these days is that many people think life can and should be, risk free. Whilst legislation has an obvious and welcome part to play to reducing much harm, clearly a fear of litigation or the refusal of insurance cover play a large part in what is percieved as molly-coddling. It isnt anything to do with so-called PC, whatever that is.

[RyderKnightley]

Originally Posted by damp-patch

On the other hand are you suggesting that people should be prevented from at least trying to redress what they think is a wrong done to them.

Not at all. Just hoping for a bit of sanity. How stupid would it be if a packet of peanuts had to have the warning 'may contain nuts'. The least I expect from a bag of peanuts is that it contain nuts, no 'may' about it.

Another one from Pl*yb*y I have remebered is the person who sued a bicycle shop or manufacturer after having an accident at night for not telling them not to use the bike in the dark without lights. Unfortunately, I think that one one succeded.

[blondifan]

Very recently they introduced laws in my corner of Oz for not eating or drinking while driving.
Quite likely brought about by similar mobile phone laws.

As a professional driver of too many years, I take umbrage
Even though I will admit to climbing a curb once after spilling a hot cup of coffee in my lap once (No one was injured, besides number one)
Many of my "meals" (well - sandwiches ) have been cosumed while on the road, and when you're busy and trying to meet delivery deadlines, you don't have time to park a semi (if you can, anywhere near a eatery, or at all really).

I hope they use some judgement in enforcing these laws, while doubting they will.
Just another revenue raiser, from the overpaid "pollies", probably dreamt up while on an extended lunch at taxpayers expense.

Can you really see me up in my cab? Gee, I better put some pants on!

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by RyderKnightley

There seems to be a belief among the law makers that wrong doers can't be caught and punished, so as a result they bring out laws which punish everybody. The one that comes to mind at the moment is the Scottish government's proposal to have a minimum price for alcohol and making happy hours illegal.

You make a valid point about the proposed minimum booze price but one could argue that the drink culture in Scotland imposes costs on the whole of society and therefore the price should reflect this .

If you make drink expensive people will drink less or not drink at all and society will benefit - just like it does with the high level of taxation on cigarettes. [ I get mine from Spain half price - I love Ryanair]

[Pnin]

Be thankful you're not in the USA. Every TV spot that includes a spectacular special effect or pratfall, like for example DRIVING A BUS OVER AN ****ING CLIFF, has the subtitle "Professional Stunt Driver: Do Not Attempt". Frankly anyone even thinking about copying it deserves to be thinned from the herd.