11-20-2006, 10:07 PM
[#505000]This will be my last two cents on the matter. First off I don't call anyone specifically a knucklehead or selfish. If it came across that way I apologize. I do however think that good, smart, and otherwise decent people take stupid risks and knowingly make dumb decisions. I'll let people decide for themselves if the labels fit.[/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Since there are so many more people and so much money involved then the simplistic view that it's just some guy drowning without the PFD, then it should no longer be up to that guy. When someones bad judgement costs thousands of dollars, that others have to pay, the choice should no longer be theirs. Sorry, plain and simple. If it was the individual, and the choice affected only the individual, I say more power to 'em. Frankly, it's just not that simple. We can spin it any which way we like and it's far more complex an issue than the "I shouldn't have to wear my PFD" crowd will admit. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Let's talk about selfish for a second. Not wearing a PFD is selfish on a couple of levels. Lets start first with the one that's easy to blow off. Since none of us are this guy (sarcasam included)...[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]For those who think a mandatory PFD law is a bad idea. Each person who goes out and drowns without a PFD, a law like this becomes more and more of a reality. Are you going to be the one who drowns next and makes it a reality for the rest of us? Is it selfish of them they are potentially subjecting us to a new law because of their personal choice? Of course we're all smarter than that guy and better boaters, swimmers, tubers ect...[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Let's hit it a little closer to home....[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Is it selfish not to wear a PFD out on the water? Absolutely. If something goes wrong you rob your children of having their dad/grandpa at their ball games, taking them fishing, their first dates, graduation, someone to talk to when posed with a life problem, ect... You rob your wife of financial security, companionship, and burden her with countless things. For what? Because nobody is going to tell you to wear a PFD? It's your right?What about the right of your family to have you around? Think about that next time you say goodbye to the family on the way out the door. If you drown and rob those you love, who love you in return of your lifetime presence because you choose not to be bothered with the discomfort of a PFD then I say that is selfish on a whole new level.[/#505000]
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[#505000]I think the government sticking their nose in every nook and cranny and regulating everything is absurd too, Kokeking. However something like this that costs thousands of dollars and significantly affects those who do survive their entire lifetimes goes well beyond one individual's personal choice. If people are too stupid to do it on their own, unwilling to sacrifice a little comfort while on the water, in exchange for the potential well being of their families, then the right choice needs to be made for them. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Just having it in the boat isn't always enough. The PFD and seatbelt argument are so similar I am going to use an example:[/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]When I was on the road and wrote tickets for seatbelts, people would tell me how wonderful they were at driving and they never got in any wrecks. I am guessing the no PFD crowd will tell me they are great boaters, swimmers, ect.. and have never had any problems. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]In response to those with that attitude about seatbelts and PFDs I offer the following picture....[/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000] [inline carresized.jpg][/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000] This picture was taken in December of 1999. No the picture is NOT upside down, but yes the car is. The car is mine and I was driving it at the time this happened.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I was headed to a medical emergency (lights and sirens), I drove the first block from the PD without my seatbelt on. I thought better of it and put the belt on. I was driving only 10 MPH over the posted speed (confirmed by full accident reconstruction). Seven blocks from my starting location an elderly gentleman attempted to make a left hand turn from the right curb side swiping my vehicle.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]There was just enough momentem from his car to send me over an embankment. The embankment was just steep enough to tip my car. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I remember clearly holding onto the steering wheel while the driver's side window broke out and the car slid 10-15 feet along the driver's side of the car before completeing the roll. Had I not been wearing my seatbelt I would have at the very least been scraped over that ground like I was being run down a cheese grater. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]When the car completed the roll, and came to a stop my butt was still planted in the driver's seat. I was upside down, with only a broken button on my shirt for the trouble. I did skin/cut my elbows a tiny bit as I climbed through the window and broken glass to get out of the car, but I was just fine. Not a scratch otherwise. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]The accident was reconstructed and found to be not my fault. The elderly gentleman's insurance covered the cost of the car, and since I had buckled up I didn't cost him an extra 10's of thousands in medical bills. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I was able to participate in the same activities I enjoyed the very next day. I was able to attend a family Christmas party that same evening; things I wouldn't have been able to do had I been injured or killed.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]The point being you may be the best boater, driver, swimmer, tuber, ect on the planet, but it's things beyond your control which can put you in trouble in a moment. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Prior to the unfortunate Roundy incident I would wager the owner of the boat would have told you he knew what he was doing and the trip was %100 safe. He was obviously wrong, and probably very surprised when the unfortunate events turned out how they did. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Yes a law to protect those familes and individuals who think they are immune from trouble, too smart, or who are too dumb to otherwise protect themselves is a very good idea in this case. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]To be compeletly honest I lose a lot of respect for those who make a concious decision to not protect themselves and their familes. Foolhardy is the word that comes to mind.[/#505000]
[signature]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Since there are so many more people and so much money involved then the simplistic view that it's just some guy drowning without the PFD, then it should no longer be up to that guy. When someones bad judgement costs thousands of dollars, that others have to pay, the choice should no longer be theirs. Sorry, plain and simple. If it was the individual, and the choice affected only the individual, I say more power to 'em. Frankly, it's just not that simple. We can spin it any which way we like and it's far more complex an issue than the "I shouldn't have to wear my PFD" crowd will admit. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Let's talk about selfish for a second. Not wearing a PFD is selfish on a couple of levels. Lets start first with the one that's easy to blow off. Since none of us are this guy (sarcasam included)...[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]For those who think a mandatory PFD law is a bad idea. Each person who goes out and drowns without a PFD, a law like this becomes more and more of a reality. Are you going to be the one who drowns next and makes it a reality for the rest of us? Is it selfish of them they are potentially subjecting us to a new law because of their personal choice? Of course we're all smarter than that guy and better boaters, swimmers, tubers ect...[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Let's hit it a little closer to home....[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Is it selfish not to wear a PFD out on the water? Absolutely. If something goes wrong you rob your children of having their dad/grandpa at their ball games, taking them fishing, their first dates, graduation, someone to talk to when posed with a life problem, ect... You rob your wife of financial security, companionship, and burden her with countless things. For what? Because nobody is going to tell you to wear a PFD? It's your right?What about the right of your family to have you around? Think about that next time you say goodbye to the family on the way out the door. If you drown and rob those you love, who love you in return of your lifetime presence because you choose not to be bothered with the discomfort of a PFD then I say that is selfish on a whole new level.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I think the government sticking their nose in every nook and cranny and regulating everything is absurd too, Kokeking. However something like this that costs thousands of dollars and significantly affects those who do survive their entire lifetimes goes well beyond one individual's personal choice. If people are too stupid to do it on their own, unwilling to sacrifice a little comfort while on the water, in exchange for the potential well being of their families, then the right choice needs to be made for them. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Just having it in the boat isn't always enough. The PFD and seatbelt argument are so similar I am going to use an example:[/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]When I was on the road and wrote tickets for seatbelts, people would tell me how wonderful they were at driving and they never got in any wrecks. I am guessing the no PFD crowd will tell me they are great boaters, swimmers, ect.. and have never had any problems. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]In response to those with that attitude about seatbelts and PFDs I offer the following picture....[/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000] [inline carresized.jpg][/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000] This picture was taken in December of 1999. No the picture is NOT upside down, but yes the car is. The car is mine and I was driving it at the time this happened.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I was headed to a medical emergency (lights and sirens), I drove the first block from the PD without my seatbelt on. I thought better of it and put the belt on. I was driving only 10 MPH over the posted speed (confirmed by full accident reconstruction). Seven blocks from my starting location an elderly gentleman attempted to make a left hand turn from the right curb side swiping my vehicle.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]There was just enough momentem from his car to send me over an embankment. The embankment was just steep enough to tip my car. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I remember clearly holding onto the steering wheel while the driver's side window broke out and the car slid 10-15 feet along the driver's side of the car before completeing the roll. Had I not been wearing my seatbelt I would have at the very least been scraped over that ground like I was being run down a cheese grater. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]When the car completed the roll, and came to a stop my butt was still planted in the driver's seat. I was upside down, with only a broken button on my shirt for the trouble. I did skin/cut my elbows a tiny bit as I climbed through the window and broken glass to get out of the car, but I was just fine. Not a scratch otherwise. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]The accident was reconstructed and found to be not my fault. The elderly gentleman's insurance covered the cost of the car, and since I had buckled up I didn't cost him an extra 10's of thousands in medical bills. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]I was able to participate in the same activities I enjoyed the very next day. I was able to attend a family Christmas party that same evening; things I wouldn't have been able to do had I been injured or killed.[/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]The point being you may be the best boater, driver, swimmer, tuber, ect on the planet, but it's things beyond your control which can put you in trouble in a moment. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]Prior to the unfortunate Roundy incident I would wager the owner of the boat would have told you he knew what he was doing and the trip was %100 safe. He was obviously wrong, and probably very surprised when the unfortunate events turned out how they did. [/#505000]
[#505000] [/#505000]
[#505000]Yes a law to protect those familes and individuals who think they are immune from trouble, too smart, or who are too dumb to otherwise protect themselves is a very good idea in this case. [/#505000]
[#505000][/#505000]
[#505000]To be compeletly honest I lose a lot of respect for those who make a concious decision to not protect themselves and their familes. Foolhardy is the word that comes to mind.[/#505000]
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