UO - motorcyclists that drive without a helmet are really dumb.
When I used to work with a lot of doctors on a regular basis there was a running joke - what do health professionals call motorcyclists without helmets? Organ Donors.
H and his MD friends call motorcycles donor cycles.
Post by baileybaileybne on Apr 23, 2015 19:50:58 GMT -5
Thanks @pcrunk ! I knew this would get people fired up but I'm quite shocked no one shares my view at all.
We have very strict gun laws here and the statistics all show the level of gun crime, not only from mass shootings but with one victim, has drastically decreased since they were introduced.
The worst mass shooting in Australia since the laws were changed in 1997 involved 2 people dying. 2. And we were devastated because it hadn't happened until 2014.
The flip side of the argument about protecting yourself is that it's much harder for the criminal to get a gun too, so hopefully neither of you have one. Safer all around.
Ah well, you guys were asking for some heated debate: there you go!
baileybaileybne I think Australia's gun laws are awesome and I wish there were less guns here in the U.S. With stricter laws-I just don't see it ever happening. If it weren't as easy for criminals to get guns here, I think less people in general would have them. Many, many of the people that I know who legally own guns do so out of protection or sport. It's very easy to illegally obtain a gun here and really the only reason to do so is to do something shady.
In the UK there are pretty much no good reasons to get a permit for a firearm. There are huge controls on guns over there and its very hard to obtain a firearm. Even most of our police don't carry. That's not to say we don't have problems with violent crime, its just more knives than guns, although it is a growing problem even with the tight controls in place.
In Canada, I know there's still a fair bit of control, but I guess more people have them for hunting etc. I just couldn't imagine it for self defense - it kind of implies being able to kill someone if need be?!
I think it says a lot that even the police officers don't carry. I think that would be a very rare occurrence in the US (which also clearly leads to problems-but that is a whole other topic).
baileybaileybne I think Australia's gun laws are awesome and I wish there were less guns here in the U.S. With stricter laws-I just don't see it ever happening.
+1 for more restrictive gun laws similar to those in Australia and many european countries.
+1...100% agree! I get annoyed with my BFF all the time b/c she doesn't even try anymore. You're a mom; you're not dead!!!!
I totally get mom's wanting to look nice and dress up, wear make-up or make sure their hair is fixed. What bothers me is the emphasis placed on body image after delivery. So many women obsess about returning to a flat tummy or worry too much about what their vagina will look like afterwards. You can be 20 lbs heavier than your pre-pregnancy weight and still manage to look fabulous everyday!
I def agree. It's about taking care of yourself...being healthy and not forgetting about the stuff that made you feel good pre-baby. You can be a completely different weight or body shape and still make an effort to dress cutely, put on some makeup and stay fit.
It's hard to get pages and pages of threads if people don't respond to a little bit of serious discussion. So often people are all like, "I don't want to start a debate, I'm out."
I know there's a few people trying to spark some actual NPR discussions, but they never really take.
Yeah, where are all our newborn photography prop peeps? Come defend yourselves
Statistically speaking, just about the only thing owning a gun does for you is increase your likelihood of suicide by firearm and accidental firearm injury/death.
I'm pretty sure owning a car also increases your likelihood of accidental car injury/ death. Unfortunately, there's no clear-cut research pointing either direction. From having engaged in these debates previously, I know there are plenty of valid statistics supporting both viewpoints. I would be happy to present the statistics that support my decision to own a firearm, but I know that others can just as easily present information showing why one should not own a firearm and I don't think either side would be changing anyone's mind.
Just a thought for those that declare they "want more laws or a system similar to Europe":
The history of the US and the institutions that have been created will never be compatible with European style laws and/ or beliefs. It's one thing to "want" more laws or institutions like those in Europe, but it's another to actually believe that it would work here. American political ideals people- individualism is a major make-up of the American mind that is embedded in the Constitution.
Another +1 for wanting gun laws similar to Australia. Sadly, it won't happen because of our fanatic gun culture & fascination with violence and the crazy ass NRA.
Holy crap I think the fact that you own a gun at all not to mention that you have a concealable weapon is completely, utterly, unreservedly insane. Sorry to be so blunt but damn, I have never heard of an instance when someone carrying a gun ends and uses it turns out ok: someone gets hurt, often the person with the gun, and best case is you use it right and you've hurt/killed someone.
Sorry I haven't read the posts leading up to this but I just glanced at it and lost my shit. Hey! Something sis fire me up! Yay!
'MURICA! FUCK YEAH! I often wonder how people in other countries view the US for it's obscene obsession with guns so thank you THANK YOU for being so blunt on this one. We are very much a fear based society with screwed up priorities. Clearly I'm not one of the gun nuts.
ETA: My niece's fiance open carried at our wedding. Let me say that again... he openly carried his gun around at. a. wedding. And reminder, we are very hippie dippy, as are most of our friends and the people who were there, so it was a big deal and distraction and made everyone very uncomfortable. Why the fuck do you need to open carry a weapon at a wedding, just because you can, in the first place?!
I'm not stating that I'm pro or against gun control, but I believe in facts and analytical research when coming to a conclusion. I was more " wow, just wow" over someone wanting laws similar to Australia because of their belief and subjective opinion that the US culture is obsessed with violence and the NRA is crazy.
Holy crap I think the fact that you own a gun at all not to mention that you have a concealable weapon is completely, utterly, unreservedly insane. Sorry to be so blunt but damn, I have never heard of an instance when someone carrying a gun ends and uses it turns out ok: someone gets hurt, often the person with the gun, and best case is you use it right and you've hurt/killed someone.
Sorry I haven't read the posts leading up to this but I just glanced at it and lost my shit. Hey! Something sis fire me up! Yay!
'MURICA! FUCK YEAH! I often wonder how people in other countries view the US for it's obscene obsession with guns so thank you THANK YOU for being so blunt on this one. We are very much a fear based society with screwed up priorities. Clearly I'm not one of the gun nuts.
Ah yes, that's what it is. As a Canadian, I'm not naive to the fact that sometimes shit happens. It's more rare here, and if it does it seems to rarely be a random act. It's the living in fear part that makes me sad.
In saying that, and maybe this opens a whole new window, I've watched American news before and the coverage just seems so much more dramatic than what I normally watch here! The helicopters and live feeds and the go go go IS intimidating to watch! I don't know if that's an UO or just me living in a generally quiet society, but I can see where that adds extra fear.
I'm already annoyed by people on social media jumping on the Hilary Clinton train. I have no problem with any one supporting her or any other candidate, just be able to have an educated discussion over specific reasons why you like her. And not because "she is a woman" or " she has experience" or " she deserves it." I refuse to debate with those people.
i will also add celebrities mixing in and voicing their opinions over politics- def an irritant of mine.
Well she is, far and away, the most qualified of all the people, either party, who have announced they are running. She was more qualified than Obama was eight years ago and I would have rather have had her get the nomination over him back then. That said, we need someone other than another Clinton or another Bush running on either side at this point, IMO. Both of those families are too polarizing and the country is too divided already. We need someone fresh and more moderate who will say fuck you to the game playing and actually get shit done. I'm pretty over our two party system and would love to see a viable third party candidate emerge.
I'm not stating that I'm pro or against gun control, but I believe in facts and analytical research when coming to a conclusion. I was more " wow, just wow" over someone wanting laws similar to Australia because of their belief and subjective opinion that the US culture is obsessed with violence and the NRA is crazy.
I didn't say that's why I wanted stricter gun control laws. I said that's why they wouldn't happen. I have done analytical research and fact checking but I don't have time to write a history novel on my cell phone. But it can best be summed up by saying that the US has an over the top fascination with violence & the NRA is crazy.
Sorry- I was finishing up Grey's and didn't clarify myself properly. I don't agree with the why it wouldn't happen because of my previous comment over American political ideals that are embedded in the American mind and Constitution. Nobody was looking for a "history novel." I just felt that comment warranted some kind of explanation on your part. To each their own! This is one those things where I will agree to disagree with you.
ETA: My niece's fiance open carried at our wedding. Let me say that again... he openly carried his gun around at. a. wedding. And reminder, we are very hippie dippy, as are most of our friends and the people who were there, so it was a big deal and distraction and made everyone very uncomfortable. Why the fuck do you need to open carry a weapon at a wedding, just because you can, in the first place?!
Wow, that is a little nuts bringing a gun to a wedding. I am all for people wanting to own guns for protection, however I really don't like thinking people are just walking around with guns on their person out in the open. If you buy a gun for protection, I see no need to bring it out into the public...unless you are a police officer. Keep it in your house where it won't harm me or my kids accidentally.
I didn't see this part, but apparently it was getting uncomfortable while he was sitting at the reception so he just unholtered it and just sat it out on the table during dinner.
And @jimbobcooter some of the weddings I've been to, it's probably the only way you could keep control of the buffet line But seriously, I'd be distracted too...that's insane!
mathistm not trying to call you out, but honestly curious - weren't you worried, even if you drew and shot first, that you'd still be shot and killed, either by the assailant if you didn't instantly kill him/her or be shot by one of his/her buddies? The pepper spray incident is absolutely horrific but I can't help but focus on the fact that she did survive it. My concern is that bringing out the gun means all bets are off from the assailant killing you as opposed to (albeit horrific) beating/assault.
I come from a family of hunters so I get it for that purpose, but DH's cousin committed suicide with a pistol that had been locked in a safe. He premeditated it, found the key, etc. So we're not into guns. Obviously that has shaped our opinion the most.
Here's my UO: fast food workers do not need to make $15/hour
In general, based on the area where I live, I agree with this. However, in high COL places like NYC or SF, you can't even remotely survive on $15 per hour, working a 40 per week job. There needs to be a significant increase, nationally, in the minimum wage, because it is currently no where close to a livable wage in the vast majority of places. But how we accomplish that so that people/businesses in rural Kansas aren't paying to fund the high COL in other places escapes me. Different living wages in different states? I'm not sure I trust the individual states to do that fairly either.
For example, my parents have many guns in their home-my dad is an avid deer hunter and retired police officer. My brother who lives with them has struggled with depression and anger in the past pretty severely. There are no loaded guns in their home and my father holds the keys at all times to 2 separate cabinets-1 for the firearms and 1 for the ammunition. We were also all brought up to have a healthy respect for guns and life and learned how to use them properly and safely. My mother would not allow for there to be guns in our home unless every one who lived there knew how to handle them properly.
I grew up in a house like this. Without the hunting. My dad taught at prisons and police academies. He hung out with a lot of cops. (And let me tell you how much fun it was to grow up in a town where every police officer knew your father) He liked shooting, and we had guns in the house. But not loaded. And the guns were kept with trigger locks on them in a separate place from where the ammunition was kept locked. And as soon as we were old enough, he brought us to the shooting range and let us shoot, so we would know the feel and power of a gun - so there would be no fooling around at home or thinking they were toys.
We don't have any guns in the house, because frankly, I don't have a personal need for them, but I know how to use/handle a gun and I want to make sure my children do too. Personally I think every child should know about guns and gun safety to avoid the terrible accidents that occur.
I think delayed cord clamping/cutting is a bunch of bologna.
@bubbs119, I'm just curious as to why you think that. I'm always wanting to understand a differing opinion. After my last few Lamaze classes and learning about it, I've jumped onto the, "Id like to do this" train. I would anyway until at least the cord stops pulsating (2-5) minutes depending on baby.
Post by wegrowsheep on Apr 23, 2015 23:03:03 GMT -5
Okay, I've finally got one. I think the vast amount of money spent on prepping for a baby is out of control. If a Finnish baby can start out in a cardboard box, why do people feel a need to spend $800 on a crib? And the "luxury" carseats and strollers, oh my goodness....
Raising min wage to $15 isn't going to help the economy. A hike that is more than double the current min wage will only force fast food places to fire a portion of their workforce to save on operating expenses. If the fed min wage needs to be increased, fine, but do it marginally over a period of time. Places like CA and NY already have their state min wages above the federal wage. They somewhat take into account COL in those areas and I only say somewhat because I know that no one can live off of $9/hour in NY or CA, but when has fast food become a career choice? I don't feel that anyone should be entitled to make $15 just because you can't raise a family on $7.25 an hour. Work the fast food type job while spending 2 years at a tech college (you pay way less in tuition to get a highly sought after skilled job) make way more than $15/hour and start working up a ladder.
My UO is that I'm not against people having to take drug tests when they are on government assistance. People who work at pretty much any job have to take drug tests. I don't see why others should be exempt.
It's a fiscal issue, first and foremost, in addition to the other things. It cost significantly more to test every single person who is on assistance, the vast majority of whom do also work in addition to their benefits, than it does to just pay the extreme minority who are addicted. As a taxpayer, I'd prefer my money not be wasted wrongfully perpetuating a negative stereotype about low income families and be put towards actually funding programs that assist them in finding their way out of the system.
As an aside, I've never once had to take a drug test for a job.
Raising min wage to $15 isn't going to help the economy. A hike that is more than double the current min wage will only force fast food places to fire a portion of their workforce to save on operating expenses. If the fed min wage needs to be increased, fine, but do it marginally over a period of time. Places like CA and NY already have their state min wages above the federal wage. They somewhat take into account COL in those areas and I only say somewhat because I know that no one can live off of $9/hour in NY or CA, but when has fast food become a career choice? I don't feel that anyone should be entitled to make $15 just because you can't raise a family on $7.25 an hour. Work the fast food type job while spending 2 years at a tech college (you pay way less in tuition to get a highly sought after skilled job) make way more than $15/hour and start working up a ladder.
Thirdly, how are people supposed to pay for the 2 years at a tech college while living on the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour? Raising the minimum wage to something that people can actually live on would give people the opportunity to pull themselves out of poverty.
DUH... take out thousands of dollars in student loans to cover tuition and the cost of extra child care for your kids, while you're in class full time (which it the only way you can do it in two years), from which the government will then reap the benefit of by gouging you with interest rates higher than they charge millionaires and that you will spend a good portion of your life paying off... hopefully.
Thanks @pcrunk ! I knew this would get people fired up but I'm quite shocked no one shares my view at all.
We have very strict gun laws here and the statistics all show the level of gun crime, not only from mass shootings but with one victim, has drastically decreased since they were introduced.
The worst mass shooting in Australia since the laws were changed in 1997 involved 2 people dying. 2. And we were devastated because it hadn't happened until 2014.
The flip side of the argument about protecting yourself is that it's much harder for the criminal to get a gun too, so hopefully neither of you have one. Safer all around.
Ah well, you guys were asking for some heated debate: there you go!
I love the fact that Australia has extremely strict gun laws. I just need to correct you here - the worst mass shooting was the Port Arthur massacre and that was 35 people killed and that's when Howard kicked in the gun laws. Best thing he ever did for the country. You can still get guns but the laws are extremely strict.
Also not in the States...but UO as prev discussed is I just cannot fathom why gun ownership is at all necessary. I've lived in some pretty fucking rough areas but still never had or needed to have a weapon.
Why have something that dangerous ready to use at any time? This is also partly an honest question...I'm totally curious why mentalities differ so hugely on this.
For me, it's a combination of enjoying shooting(that's my favorite date time with DH) and self defense. There are other means of self defense( pepper spray, taser, or martial arts) but a gun seems the most effective.
Do yall have strict gun laws where you're from?
@s.coffey1123 - a combination of enjoyment and self defense? They should be completely separate reasons. You can go to a shooting range and enjoy a date with DH. I've done it with my DH but the guns certainly don't come home with me and nor would I ever want us to have one in the house. Your reasons to owning gun as being half enjoyment and half self defense just sounds like you would be way to trigger happy in a situation that wouldn't require firing a gun. That's where I cannot relate in any way and do not understand. Owning a gun for enjoyment shouldn't be a reason at all to own a gun.
Just to add to the raising min wage debate - in SF, very few people can afford to live there, including the tech workers who are driving the COL up. I don't just mean in the cool hip neighborhoods either ~ San Francisco as a whole (the city and the county) are so expensive that no one can live there. So when you're working a min wage job but have to live 1.5 hours away via public transportation (about $10 one way), min wage in the city has to be above fed wage. It's so bad that a big concern is how many emergency workers who work in SF can't afford to live there - which will suck when the next big one hits! I think it needs to be raised - and I live in an area where it's already higher!
Also, question for the non USA residents RE gun control. Is hunting as big a culture where you are as it can be here? I grew up in rural California and around guns and hunters - I personally do not trust that I could shot a person if need be, so we don't have them in our house - but how do the strict gun laws work with hunting rifles and such, vs hand guns?
Thanks @pcrunk ! I knew this would get people fired up but I'm quite shocked no one shares my view at all.
We have very strict gun laws here and the statistics all show the level of gun crime, not only from mass shootings but with one victim, has drastically decreased since they were introduced.
The worst mass shooting in Australia since the laws were changed in 1997 involved 2 people dying. 2. And we were devastated because it hadn't happened until 2014.
The flip side of the argument about protecting yourself is that it's much harder for the criminal to get a gun too, so hopefully neither of you have one. Safer all around.
Ah well, you guys were asking for some heated debate: there you go!
I love the fact that Australia has extremely strict gun laws. I just need to correct you here - the worst mass shooting was the Port Arthur massacre and that was 35 people killed and that's when Howard kicked in the gun laws. Best thing he ever did for the country. You can still get guns but the laws are extremely strict.
Yep that's what I mean: the worst since the laws were changed (in response to Port Arthur) was the Linde cafe siege in Sydney last year.
Very glad for the change. I grew up in a rural area with loads of farmers who all went through the gun buy back scheme, got appropriate hunting rifles and permits and have not been any worse off since.
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