More education won't work if you can't fix stupid

[flybye023]

This newspaper article is in response to the tsunami that hit the Oregon coast from Japan. Two points that were brought up: 1) people going down to the beaches to try and watch the tsunami and 2) people who didn't understand that it would be more than one wave and went down later thinking it was over. The people in charge seem to be attributing this solely to lack of understanding and say that educating people is the ultimate solution.


While I agree with several points and think that local governments definitely have room for improvement, I also remember what I heard on the radio that morning and I think that people just do dumb things. One the one hand, we had messages and interviews from police and scientists trying to evacuate and get people out of there and on the other hand heard DJs on the radio asking people to please not go to the beach as that was one of the complaints from officials at the coast. I'm sorry but if an expert tells me to get away from a potentially dangerous situation, I'm getting the hell out of there.

I guess I don't really have a point other than you're always going to have the people who want to pet the bison, the people who absolutely must feed the cute bears, the folks who want to get close to an erupting volcano and the people who want to watch the tsunami come in.

[ExRetailDrone]

I must admit that I am fascinated by footage of natural disasters. They are tragic, and the loss of life is horrible, but the erupting of a volcano or a tsunami washing over the land is a beautiful sight to me when separated from the aftermath. However, that doesn't mean that I'm stupid enough to think that it's a good idea to try to see one up close and personal! The fact that we have so much information about tsunamis, that the world was rocked by a gargantuan one a mere 6.5 years ago, and people still think it's ok to go to the beach to watch one come in or to think that once the first wave recedes then the danger is over is ridiculous! If people want to put themselves in harms' way in such an idiotic manner, then let them do so and deal with the consequences.

[HYHYBT]

Reminds me of one night at McDonald's... there were storms in the area, and I think we were under a tornado watch. Onto the lot comes a very full bus. Into the store pile sixty or more people; enough to pack the line area beyond any hope of forming lines, plus backed up to all the doors. We get maybe two orders taken, then someone (fortunately wrong) says they see a tornado forming behind the Burger King across the street. And sixty or more people pile back OUTSIDE to look, rather than, say, crawling under the tables or asking directions to the basement.

But I don't know if "stupid" is quite the word. They know these things are dangerous; that's their appeal.

[ExRetailDrone]

It's like the people around the area I grew up in who would like to take risks in going out near the water during really bad storms. I grew up near a great lake that is known for its turbulence and unpredictability. Storms on that lake can become really, really dangerous. Yet that wouldn't stop people from wanting to go out onto the breakwalls during a nasty storm to brave the elements and see the frothy waves up close. Numerous people have drowned over the years because of such daring stunts and there are plaques and signs up warning people not to go out near the water during dangerous conditions, but some people won't listen. Like you said HYHYBT, they enjoy the rush.

I can understand it to a point. I will admit to spending some time during some amazing lightning storms near the water. Not close enough to be washed away, but the conditions still weren't ideal. But that's not nearly as dangerous as being out on the breakwall during a raging storm, or standing on the beach while a tsunami is coming into shore. I'm all for thrill, but I'd rather my thrills be a bit more safe and predictable, such as at an amusement park or perhaps skydiving with a trained professional. But that's me

[Rapscallion]

How many things do we need to learn about? To what degree? I ask based on two separate aspects.

First of all, how much do people need to know about tsunamis? It's a big wave and it is sodding dangerous. Don't prat about with it. People rushing to see something like that are going to get weeded out by Darwin.

Secondly, and this for me is the biggie, we get rold on a regular basis that we should be aware of these symptoms, those symptoms, the other symptoms, this sign of impending doom, be aware of this, be aware of that... It's usually under the guise of 'raising awareness'. Most of the time it's because of a pressure group formed out of the tragedy of someone who didn't know and ended up dead as a result.

Just how many different things should we know about?

Rapscallion

[telecom_goddess]

Luckily, although I am in Oregon, I am far enough away from the coast that the tsunami didn't affect me...and if I was close enough I sure as hell wouldn't be going to the damn beach. I don't think it hit us too hard luckily but man.

All one needs to know or be aware of is GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY.

[Gravekeeper]

That's just straight up natural selection. Has nothing to do with education. ;p

[Cheshire]

These problems are only real evident in so-called "developed" countries. A severe lack of danger provides a hazard in its own, where people have become so ignorant to their own mortality, they don't think about such things when danger arrives.

A large wave rushes through, people don't think, "I should run." They think, "What's happening? I want to see".

[protege]

These problems are only real evident in so-called "developed" countries. A severe lack of danger provides a hazard in its own, where people have become so ignorant to their own mortality, they don't think about such things when danger arrives.

That's because we tend to coddle (and in many cases, reward) stupid people. I'm sure everyone remembers how Coke got sued because a couple of dipshits decided to tip the machines while attempting to score free cans of soda...and got injured or killed when gravity took over Instead of saying "look you stupid fucks, knock that shit off" the parents sued Coke because there "weren't any warnings not to do that." Are you fucking kidding me? Those machines weigh several hundred pounds. What the fuck do you *think* is going to happen if one falls on you?

Some of this crap goes on because of the coddling, but some of it is also because of ambulance-chaser lawyers...and because nobody wants to be responsible for their own actions. I've always said that doing something stupid should hurt. Why don't we remove all the warning labels....and let the problem take care of itself?

[ExRetailDrone]

Why don't we remove all the warning labels....and let the problem take care of itself?

This! If only it were realistic in our current society. But, unfortunately, at least in the US everyone is so sue happy and juries will give into the stupidest demands that businesses need those warning labels to cover their asses from frivolous lawsuits that they are likely to lose.

[Racket_Man]

"weren't any warnings not to do that." Are you fucking kidding me? Those machines weigh several hundred pounds. What the fuck do you *think* is going to happen if one falls on you?

and people of average intellgence wonder why there are MULTIPULE warning labels on almost EVERY SINGLE product sold in this country??????? becasue some dumbass actually did try to insert a heated curling iron up their neither regions (pick your niether region)got injured and sued claiming "NO WARNING label saying that I should not do something stupid like that" and wins big $$$'s

unfortuneately in todays world the stupid get coddled and rewarded not killed or maimed. which allows them to pass on their genes to the next generation.

I still fear I will see Idiocracy come true in my lifetime (if it has not already come to past)

[AdminAssistant]

I was watching CNN when the waves were about to hit Hawaii, and the Coast Guard was patrolling to stop people from surfing. *headdesk*

[Ginger Tea]

and people of average intellgence wonder why there are MULTIPULE warning labels on almost EVERY SINGLE product sold in this country??????? becasue some dumbass actually did try to insert a heated curling iron up their neither regions (pick your niether region)got injured and sued claiming "NO WARNING label saying that I should not do something stupid like that" and wins big $$$'s

Although not warning lables, nor about thinning out the herd, I have to explain to new starters in my department (dispatch) why things need lables on them

• Product lable and not just a blank box = WTF is this when was it made, is it still in date (and I don't care if it came in the same delivery as this lot)
  No lable on top = cook as is
  Remove plastic and place in oven = do as lable
  Cold desert do not place in oven = do as lable

One member of staff who has been here for over a year let a whole bunch of "Remove plastic" product out without lables and unless the other end caught this, they will have edible, but soggy product and we get a complaint, each time I find volume ammounts of wrong lables or no lables I have to explain to people that yes, one of our customers DID put a swiss roll in the oven as it had no lable telling them NOT to.

I also have to remind them that you cannot put lunch in supper or vise versa as one customer cooked the entire delivery then phoned up and complained that they had no supper, granted this was a small order, but didn't they think it odd they had more food than normal?