Curse

Tatile · Dec 03, 2007, 12:58 PM // 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexion

some guy here (america) tried to sue god. he actually got to the supreme court for awhile. they blew it off because god had no witnesses :[

some lady sued mcdonalds because she spilt her 190 degree coffee in her lap. yes that is really hot to where it gave her 3rd degree burns. mcdonalds' CONTENTS ARE HOT thing was hidden w/ the lid on.

I remember reading about both these cases on another forum. The first went to court because of particular line (I can't remember where it was from, either a piece of the Constitution or from a dollar, please correct me) which said 'In God we trust). The man was suing God because of his bad back.

The second, she was drinking in the passenger seat of a moving vehcile and spilt it. She got money because it was too hot, but the way it was reported made in sound like she was trying to get money.

Sadly, these lawsuits are not uncommon and are becoming a major part of life.

I really have just one question to ask though: Positive freedoms - good or bad? (Not really on topic, but culture effects the answer here.)

RPGmaniac · Dec 04, 2007, 03:53 AM // 03:53

What are positive freedoms?

Terraban · Dec 04, 2007, 04:03 AM // 04:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPGmaniac

What are positive freedoms?

I am guessing positive freedoms are things you want...

Freedom to vote? Of course I want it....however, that also means stupid people can vote for stupid people, see Bush.

Freedom to sue? Yeah, thats cool....however, you get morons that let their kids eat toys, morons that spill hot coffee on themselves, and morons that get fat from eating fast food trying to sue anyone and everyone they can.

Freedom to a fair trial? Who wouldn't want it? However, you also get rapists, serial killers, and such that manage to get away with it. See O.J. Simpson.

October Jade · Dec 04, 2007, 05:48 AM // 05:48

Positive freedom at wikipedia.

Iz did serch gud.

I hadn't encountered this term before, but the article leads me to believe that it is not dissimilar from what we call political efficacy. PE is a measure of what people think they can control or influence versus what they cannot.

A simple example is voter turnout. Know that formal education is the single best predictor for voting in this country (it's probably true everywhere, but I haven't seen data to confirm). We could then theorize that a greater understanding of the political process makes one more likely to feel valued within that system and wish to participate. However, since education also correlates well with income, maybe they vote because they are wealthy and not because they are intelligent. As you can see, identifying the why is much more difficult than the who.

My personal efficacy is not overwhelming by any means. I have a polisci degree from my undergraduate days, but I've never worked on a campaign or anything...I always preferred economics anyway. I vote and follow the news regularly; that's about it.

Tatile · Dec 04, 2007, 11:42 AM // 11:42

Simply put, positive freedoms are 'freedoms to', such as the freedom to vote, lead a healthy lifestyle or not. The thing is, as Berlin put it (he who noted both positive and negative freedoms), these sorts of freedoms are lead by ideology. We all know where ideology leads, which is why I posed the question.

The flip side is negative freedoms, 'freedoms from', freedom from poverty, for example.

The positive freedoms have influenced some goverment's home and foriegn policies, I'm thinking of Britain's current 'Nanny State' debacle here.

A little bit of clarification, sorry for any confusion

Johnny_Chang · Dec 04, 2007, 07:59 PM // 19:59

There was an actual case where a guy tried to sue Satan and his staff for allegedly causing him misery and grief. It went to court, the judge even said the guy stated a valid claim, but the case was dismissed because one of the constitutional requirements is that the person who's being sued has to be served with a summons. Of course, serving Satan with a summons was impossible.

Also, a lot of other clever (yet ridiculous) lawsuits come about from unforeseen accidents. One case a guy got his home damaged from lightning and went to file a claim with his insurance company but the insurance companied denied him, saying that they are not liable for "acts of God." Accordingly, the man tried to sue God.

I love law... one of the most humorous things ever created.

Rexion · Dec 04, 2007, 08:23 PM // 20:23

someone in london:
will you ship me a whole bunch of walkers? they are the yummiest treat i have ever had :]

Johnny_Chang · Dec 04, 2007, 08:26 PM // 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muspellsheimr

How filing a lawsuit in America works is retarded. Basically, you can sue anyone for anything, and provided you can find a lawyer that will work for a percentage of the winnings (not to difficult), it will cost you nothing if you loose.

The sued must provide their own lawyer (if they do not defend themselves, the automatically loose), and will not be compensated for any fee's if they win the case.

Put simply, the suer pays nothing, even if they loose, and the sued pays numerous charges, even if they win, and you can sue for anything.

Like I said - it's retarded.

You're assuming that a lawyer can take any case that walks through the door. That is far from the truth. Lawyers are required to adhere to ethical guidelines, particularly they can't file frivolous lawsuits. If they do, they run the risk of getting their license to practice suspended or even permanently removed.

Even though some lawsuits might seem frivolous and ridiculous on its face, they really do have some valid policy considerations behind it. The McDonald case, for example, is what everybody considers to be the most outrageous lawsuit ever. Of course, it might be common knowledge to know that coffee is hot, but the law doesn't assume that everybody has the same level of understanding as everybody else. They are aware that there are people with very low levels of intelligence or born with certain mental deficiencies who might not understand that a cup of coffee is hot. Also, the law recognizes that big corporations have a duty to protect consumers because of their unique position over them in being able to affect their rights. In a lot of respects, consumers depend largely on corporations to give them certain protections and guarantees when they purchase their stuff or use their services. So really, holding McDonald's liable for not warning ALL potential customers that a cup of coffee is hot is not as ridiculous as it might seem.

Aera · Dec 04, 2007, 10:23 PM // 22:23

Some more funny law suits:

Some guy broke into a house, he tripped and landed on a knife that was on the table. He pretty much accidentally stabbed himself. Obviously, he sued the people who lived there, and, yes indeed, won the case.

The funniest I've ever heard:

A woman took a walk in the rain with her cute little poodle. She wanted to dry off the dog, so she put it into the microwave. Obviously, the dog burnt to death, and she sued the microwave company for not putting "You cannot put dogs in the microwave" in the manual. She won.

Anywaaaaaays. No questions for the Dutch?

Little Shenanigan · Dec 05, 2007, 12:21 AM // 00:21

sure, i have one for the dutch. have you ever seen anyone walking around wearing those little wooden shoes?

Abomination · Dec 05, 2007, 06:03 PM // 18:03

I have a few questions:
I'm assuming the death metal scene is more popular over in europe?
espesially in sweden (with Dimmu Borgir, and Turmion Katilot originating there)
and is it illeagal to grow marijuana in amsterdam?

Ietwat · Dec 05, 2007, 06:47 PM // 18:47

its not illegal to grow marijuana in the netherlands as longs as you dont have more then 3 plants.

freaky naughty · Dec 05, 2007, 11:49 PM // 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ietwat

its not illegal to grow marijuana in the netherlands as longs as you dont have more then 3 plants.

So what if you have 4?

Terraban · Dec 05, 2007, 11:51 PM // 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaky naughty

So what if you have 4?

Crucified like baby Jesus

Mr. G · Dec 05, 2007, 11:59 PM // 23:59

A question to those american folk across the pond

how much of the outside world do you see? got talking to some people the other day as as far as i can tell you are born in USA, live in USA, holiday in USa and die there...do you ever leave?

Quote:

someone in london:
will you ship me a whole bunch of walkers? they are the yummiest treat i have ever had :]

what crisps/chips (w/e you wanna call em)

-ok as long as you ship me some mountin dew ^^

The Real Roy Keane · Dec 06, 2007, 12:02 AM // 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaky naughty

So to all British people:

Do you guys see us Americans as rude, impolite, lazy, sex-thirsty, obese, George Bush loving, idiots? There's a lot of anti-americanism just because of George Bush, and people insult our country right when they collect American relief dollars it's disgraceful.

I'm not British, and I personally don't mind Americans, but for some people it seems to be the accent that gets to them. Nothing attracts more hostility than a loud American in the middle of town. That and the fact that they can't drink to save their lives - it's hard not to be pissed off at a country that invented Budweiser and light beer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aera

Anywaaaaaays. No questions for the Dutch?

Yes - how come Dutch people in general have such good English?

freaky naughty · Dec 06, 2007, 12:03 AM // 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. G

A question to those american folk across the pond

how much of the outside world do you see? got talking to some people the other day as as far as i can tell you are born in USA, live in USA, holiday in USa and die there...do you ever leave?

Yes of course we travel! I have family outside the U.S. so that helps as well, but I'm been to several islands in the Caribbean, Canada, several places in the mideast, and France. For Christmas we're just staying at home this year, but most of our travel is to different states like Las Vegas, Nevada or NYC or other big cities in the U.S.

freaky naughty · Dec 06, 2007, 12:06 AM // 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Real Roy Keane

I'm not British, and I personally don't mind Americans, but for some people it seems to be the accent that gets to them. Nothing attracts more hostility than a loud American in the middle of town. That and the fact that they can't drink to save their lives - it's hard not to be pissed off at a country that invented Budweiser and light beer.

You don't like beer?!?!?!?!?! I'm only fourteen so I wouldn't know but to an adult that's blasphemy! My dad is no alcoholic but he doesn't hate beer either. Your post tells me you see Americans as loud drunks because when I asked your opinion of us you start a discussion about beer......

Mr. G · Dec 06, 2007, 12:08 AM // 00:08

some questions
hmm interesting, ok heres another - is the UK part of europe over there (I mean technically it is but whats the general view)

are we "those dam British"
or "those dam europians"

..........
also whats wrong with a country called wales, everyone seems to find that hilarious

some comments

Quote:

You don't like beer?!?!?!?!?!

Quote:

Budweiser and light beer

....thats not beer

some answers

Quote:

Yes - how come Dutch people in general have such good English?

sadly us brits are very inward focused, while Europe blends their cultures very well, we just tend to shove our English onto them without taking back
-Wales, UK

The Real Roy Keane · Dec 06, 2007, 12:15 AM // 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaky naughty

You don't like beer?!?!?!?!?! I'm only fourteen so I wouldn't know but to an adult that's blasphemy! My dad is no alcoholic but he doesn't hate beer either. Your post tells me you see Americans as loud drunks because when I asked your opinion of us you start a discussion about beer......

I like beer, but I don't like pisswater.
I like Americans too.