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03/18/2008 10:10:14 AM · #26 |
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Message edited by author 2008-03-18 10:10:21.
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03/18/2008 10:12:08 AM · #27 |
Reading ANY article in the onion you should be able to figure out that it is not serious. I was reading this paper on campus before it was ever online and always looked forward to it. It's been around for a long time and never runs out of funny takes on things.
As far as people who get hurt playing the Wii....well, I've gotten hurt walking on the sidewalk, at work, in my car, on my bike, cooking food, laying on the couch (got ambushed by my 4 year old son), etc. So I suggest we put out alerts for people to stop doing all these things too. If you're an idiot like me, you'll find a way to get hurt doing anything.
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03/18/2008 10:24:21 AM · #28 |
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03/18/2008 10:33:28 AM · #29 |
Where did you go to school?
Originally posted by jschro:
Reading ANY article in the onion you should be able to figure out that it is not serious. I was reading this paper on campus before it was ever online and always looked forward to it. It's been around for a long time and never runs out of funny takes on things.
As far as people who get hurt playing the Wii....well, I've gotten hurt walking on the sidewalk, at work, in my car, on my bike, cooking food, laying on the couch (got ambushed by my 4 year old son), etc. So I suggest we put out alerts for people to stop doing all these things too. If you're an idiot like me, you'll find a way to get hurt doing anything. |
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03/18/2008 10:59:39 AM · #30 |
unless of course you're playing rock band drums on xbox360. the sticks are pointy and they don't have straps to secure them to the user. you could definatley lose an eye. not to mention it's also a physically involved game. you might pull a muscle or something...
Originally posted by BugzEye:
I was just saying that I know two people who injured themselves playing WII games. So in fact the game is dangerous to play too an extent. More so than an Xbox or other systems where you are not going to be swinging the controller around the room. Unless you are one of those people that blame the controller for most mistakes and throw it around because of that.
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03/18/2008 11:12:58 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by Bugzeye:
I was just saying that I know two people who injured themselves playing WII games. So in fact the game is dangerous to play too an extent. More so than an Xbox or other systems where you are not going to be swinging the controller around the room. Unless you are one of those people that blame the controller for most mistakes and throw it around because of that. |
Yup, if you are the type of person to throw a controller around because of your mistakes, an xbox or a wii probably isn't for you. You might trip over a throw rug - who knows what could happen then. Some people should be wrapped in bubble wrap for their own protection and that of their loved ones. |
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03/18/2008 11:27:13 AM · #32 |
yeah, i have a buddy that chipped a tooth on a coffee mug. dentist told him he has to use paper cups from now on or have his front teeth pulled...
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03/18/2008 11:40:34 AM · #33 |
Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:
well, alota things happen in this world like... woman sues Mcdonalds because she burned herself with coffee... what did she expect, ice... and she won.... |
The real story of the McDonald's coffee victim
For years, across the country, accounts of bizarre jury verdicts and huge damage awards (like the $2.9 million collected by the McDonald's customer who spilled coffee on herself) have been used to prove that the courts are wacky or worse. But increasingly, some political scientists, legal scholars and consumer advocates are suggesting that outlandish examples have created a distorted picture of the legal system.
Huge punitive damage awards, for example, have become everyday events, right? Actually, a study of courts in the nation's 75 largest counties conducted by the National Center for State Courts found that only 364 of 762,000 cases ended in punitive damages, or 0.047 percent.
OK, but isn't it true that more and more liability claims are filed every year? Actually, a study of 16 states by the same center showed that the number of liability suits has declined by 9 percent since 1986.
Well, didn't that McDonald's coffee drinker laugh all the way to the bank? Maybe, but she was 81 years old, the coffee was scalding and she needed skin grafts for third-degree burns. And she settled for about $600,000 after a judge reduced the jury award.
Marc Galanter, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin, described these popular stories about the courts as "legal legends," in the Arizona Law Review last year. The label is sticking and some scholars and consumer advocates are starting to systematically challenge their accuracy.
They say legends like the one about the Texas railroad have been used to maximum effect by a national business-supported movement to make it harder for plaintiffs to win lawsuits under tort law, which governs civil injury claims.
One should always beware when being told things by people with an interest in having you believe what they are telling you. While there are instances of frivolous claims made by self-serving individuals just trying to game the system for a few bucks, the system actually does a pretty good job of weeding those out early. If something makes it through to the actual trial stage, there is generally some merit to the claim. (Note, this is not a "corporations are evil" post -- just an observation on human nature.)
{/thread hijack} |
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03/18/2008 11:40:49 AM · #34 |
I am just remembering a time when Video Games only caused cramps, Then they started causing seizures, now people are breaking skin and bones. Next thing you know those controllers will have real bullets in them. lol
Anyway I was only mentioning it, Wasn't expecting the room to be full of Nintendo Lawyers. lol
FWIW, I have never heard of anyone being injured playing Pong or Donkey Kong! at least not physically.
Originally posted by soup:
unless of course you're playing rock band drums on xbox360. the sticks are pointy and they don't have straps to secure them to the user. you could definatley lose an eye. not to mention it's also a physically involved game. you might pull a muscle or something...
Originally posted by BugzEye:
I was just saying that I know two people who injured themselves playing WII games. So in fact the game is dangerous to play too an extent. More so than an Xbox or other systems where you are not going to be swinging the controller around the room. Unless you are one of those people that blame the controller for most mistakes and throw it around because of that.
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03/18/2008 11:55:40 AM · #35 |
"According to suggested guidelines, games that contain insipid language, vigorous paint scrubbing, and mild to moderate bell-ringing will be rated P for Pansy; those that include simulated sand-pouring and intense lily-pad racing will be rated NP for Namby-Pamby."
:D |
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03/18/2008 11:59:07 AM · #36 |
I guess I should keep quiet about the time that I damaged my sinus cavity by sticking a chess peice in my nose, then attempting a dramatic white rook from E4 to C6 to take black knight maneuver...
What's weird is that I can't actually tell which of these posts are attempting to complement the sarcastic humor of the Onion and which ones are serious. |
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03/18/2008 12:01:50 PM · #37 |
I should never be taken seriously.
Originally posted by eschelar:
I guess I should keep quiet about the time that I damaged my sinus cavity by sticking a chess peice in my nose, then attempting a dramatic white rook from E4 to C6 to take black knight maneuver...
What's weird is that I can't actually tell which of these posts are attempting to complement the sarcastic humor of the Onion and which ones are serious. |
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03/18/2008 12:20:25 PM · #38 |
I had a roomate once who I used to play Cyberball on the sega genesis. This one time he was beating me by a touchdown and there was only 5 seconds left in the game and he had the ball at his 10 yard zone for another touchdown. His quarterback was smoking (burning up) and I told him he might want to change his quarterback since it showed signs of danger. He thinking that he had the game, he ignored me. I manage to sac hi quarterback and it exploded causing the ball to be lose. I picked up the ball, and ran to the other side and manage to get a touchdown to win the game.
He got so mad that he got up and kicked this soft couch foot rest that had some change on it from work (I was a waiter) and everything flew everywhere. LoL
I meet with him once a week for lunch. and to this day, I never let live that moment down. It was a classic. |
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03/18/2008 12:41:15 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
This is the second time in as many days that I've seen people here at DPC astounded by what has been around for years.
Someone started a thread yesterday about the foreign lottery scam, and now The Onion.
Both of these have been around for a loooooooooooooong time.
I would think that by March of 2008, people would be smart enough to at least Google something before they embarrass themselves by starting a thread on something like this.
How can you read the article and *not* know it's a spoof????? |
CALM DOWN..lol.. wow, even though it's March of 2008, I've never heard of the onion.. I'm truly sorry that I requested clarification on it's truthfullness.. I swear it, I'm not a total idiot..My better judgement told me there was no way this could be true, but people never cease to amaze me..My bad !!! |
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03/18/2008 12:41:42 PM · #40 |
and i'm just being realistic err sarcastic... ;}
Originally posted by BugzEye:
I am just remembering a time when Video Games only caused cramps, Then they started causing seizures, now people are breaking skin and bones. Next thing you know those controllers will have real bullets in them. lol
Anyway I was only mentioning it, Wasn't expecting the room to be full of Nintendo Lawyers. lol
FWIW, I have never heard of anyone being injured playing Pong or Donkey Kong! at least not physically.
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03/18/2008 01:01:53 PM · #41 |
oh the onion makes me giggle!
But I gotta say, folks, be nicer to your friends here at DPC! Even if they're asking what seems to be a "stupid" question. No one ever melted from being nice, but they sure did look good to those around them. |
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03/18/2008 01:31:06 PM · #42 |
Originally posted by Bugzeye:
I am just remembering a time when Video Games only caused cramps, Then they started causing seizures, now people are breaking skin and bones. Next thing you know those controllers will have real bullets in them. lol
Anyway I was only mentioning it, Wasn't expecting the room to be full of Nintendo Lawyers. lol
FWIW, I have never heard of anyone being injured playing Pong or Donkey Kong! at least not physically. |
Now wait a minute.
YOU said: WII is dangerous, A friend of mine broke his forearm. He was playing Tennis on the WII and tripped over a throw rug. Another friend of mine lost his grip on his controller and it hit his wife in the face, She needed 6 stitches on the corner of her eyelid.
YOU described two incidents that are plain and simple human error.
This is NOT the fault of the game.
TRIPPED OVER A THROW RUG???????
The guy's an idiot for not taking some basic precautions like clearing the floor.
Again I quote: lost his grip on his controller and it hit his wife in the face
Sorry, but on NO level does that imply responsibility of the game manufacturer.
I guess I'm just from a different generation.....when I f*ck up and hurt myself, I accept resonsibility for it and am more careful in the future.
Oh......and I don't run crying to a lawyer, either.
I wish somehow, some day, common sense would come back.
Of course, I'd like the $0.29 gallon of gas to come back, too.
Sadly, neither seems likely.
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03/18/2008 01:37:07 PM · #43 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
I guess I'm just from a different generation.....when I f*ck up and hurt myself, I accept resonsibility for it and am more careful in the future.
Oh......and I don't run crying to a lawyer, either.
I wish somehow, some day, common sense would come back.
Of course, I'd like the $0.29 gallon of gas to come back, too.
Sadly, neither seems likely. |
I agree, less people are wanting to take accountability for their actions. People love to have the freedoms but dont like the responsibilities that come with it. This will get me going on rant. It's like those idiots who run red lights and get flashed by a camera and yet complain when they get the ticket in the mail saying that its not fair.
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03/18/2008 01:46:02 PM · #44 |
Well, actually, it still didn't address the "real" story, neither was it the whole story.
Stella Liebeck put the cup of coffee between her legs and tried to pry the lid off, spilling it in the process all over some of the most sensitive flesh on the human body.
The "Whole" Story
Though I don't exactly condone the coffee being as hot as it obviously was, how much does the average person b*tch about tepid take-out coffee.
I know I would never put a hot cup between my legs if for no other reason not having any faith in the minimum wage earner inside that window not having the lid on right.
Why is it so unreasonable to expect people to use their heads and accept the consequences of their own actions?
If the lids came off too easily, people'd bitch about that!
So......that "paltry" $600k settlement to me still seems like a lot for a stupidity award.
ETA: If you read the article, MacDonald's is charged with having some legitimate culpability due to the temperatures of their coffee......which still doesn't remove responsibility from a coffee drinker to not spill it between their legs IMNSHO.
Message edited by author 2008-03-18 13:50:14. |
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03/18/2008 02:33:45 PM · #45 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
So......that "paltry" $600k settlement to me still seems like a lot for a stupidity award. |
$600K? Pffft. Come to the Pittsburgh region! You can get $28 million for raising a young car thief! |
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03/18/2008 04:05:00 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
I would think that by March of 2008, people would be smart enough to at least Google something before they embarrass themselves by starting a thread on something like this.
How can you read the article and *not* know it's a spoof????? |
Hmmm... I guess "Effeminate Violence" in the thread title was not enough of a clue. But I think it's ok that some folk missed it. Just makes this thread a funnier read - no offence  kandykarml! :) |
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03/18/2008 04:08:03 PM · #47 |
Jeb, what is with all the hostility in your forum posts lately? Seriously. I like you man, but I worry about your blood pressure.
If you read through the accounts of the case, you'll see that the jury did think that Ms. Liebeck was partially responsible for the accident and the jury award took her culpability into account, reducing the award by the percentage of fault that the jury felt was her responsibility. You should also know that not only do judges have the right to reduce jury verdicts that they believe go too far, they actually have the right to vacate the ruling entirely if they feel it is not justifiable given the evidence or even let the ruling stand but vacate the damage award. In this case you have a jury and a judge that -- when presented with all the evidence and the best arguments from either side -- determined that McDonald should not only pay for damages ($180,000 of the award), but should be sanctioned for the company's irresponsible conduct. The jury thought that should be a rather large number, the judge felt that the sanction should be a rather smaller number and adjusted the verdict accordingly -- in other words, the system worked. Why do you -- having not heard the testimony, not reviewed the evidence, but only relying on media accounts -- feel like you have such a better handle on the facts of the case than the jury and the judge?
What you are arguing for in theory is "personal responsibility" - that everyone should just take responsibility for their own (in your opinion, stupid) actions. But what this line of argument is really advocating in practice is a system of pushing all liability risk onto the consumer.
Shouldn't "personal responsibility" extend to corporate actions as well? We treat corporations as legal persons under the law, they get a lot of benefits from this distinction, shouldn't they also have to take responsibility for their "stupid" actions? In the McDonald's case the company knew of over 700 other incidents of people being seriously burned because of the temperature at which they had kept their coffee. It was, in fact, so hot as to be not drinkable at the moment of sale. When Ms. Liebeck first approached the company she was only seeking to have her medical expenses paid, but the company outright refused to even entertain paying for her damages or later to settle for $200K when the suit was first filed. To me -- and please note that I am a corporate lawyer, if admittedly a fairly new member of the tribe -- all of this comes across as pretty stupid, irresponsible, arrogant, and unwise actions on the part of the company. Shouldn't your philosophy demand that the corporation be held to at least the same level of responsibility as it's customers?
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Well, actually, it still didn't address the "real" story, neither was it the whole story.
Stella Liebeck put the cup of coffee between her legs and tried to pry the lid off, spilling it in the process all over some of the most sensitive flesh on the human body.
The "Whole" Story
Though I don't exactly condone the coffee being as hot as it obviously was, how much does the average person b*tch about tepid take-out coffee.
I know I would never put a hot cup between my legs if for no other reason not having any faith in the minimum wage earner inside that window not having the lid on right.
Why is it so unreasonable to expect people to use their heads and accept the consequences of their own actions?
If the lids came off too easily, people'd bitch about that!
So......that "paltry" $600k settlement to me still seems like a lot for a stupidity award.
ETA: If you read the article, MacDonald's is charged with having some legitimate culpability due to the temperatures of their coffee......which still doesn't remove responsibility from a coffee drinker to not spill it between their legs IMNSHO. |
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03/18/2008 04:24:11 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by shutterpuppy:
I like you man, but I worry about your blood pressure. |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Why is it so unreasonable to expect people to use their heads and accept the consequences of their own actions? |
I'll side with Jeb on this one. There are few things that raise my own blood pressure more than the society of greed and entitlement we live in nowadays. Everyone is looking for their "ticket," no matter who they have to trample on to get it. Paaaah-thetic. |
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03/18/2008 04:41:24 PM · #49 |
Guys, for what it's worth this is a contentious issue in general, not just the Wii. There is no answer and it's just another of those hot topics for endless debate.
In my area of research I previously looked into infusion pumps, used in Medicine to deliver drugs. There have been incidents of people dying because of overinfusion (e.g. diamorphine) and there has been large debate over whether to err is human, but how much of that error should be supported and handled by the system (i.e. we;re all fallible ) and where does User Error end and Use Error start.
My point is there are times when it is right to question the User, and other times when it's right to question the System. In the case of the Wii, I personally feel that some common sense needs to be applied on the User side before questionning the system (e.g. a clear gaming area).
N
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03/18/2008 04:44:33 PM · #50 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
I'll side with Jeb on this one. There are few things that raise my own blood pressure more than the society of greed and entitlement we live in nowadays. Everyone is looking for their "ticket," no matter who they have to trample on to get it. Paaaah-thetic. |
Perhaps, but I find it curious that persons of a certain political bent are quick to see this motivation in individuals, but slow or blind to the same tendency of corporate entities to "game" or "work" the system for their own corporate interests, "no matter who they have to trample on to get it." I've even heard certain right-leaning commentators speak admiringly of such tendencies when they originate from business interests or prominent business persons, going so far as to say that it is a company's or businessman's "duty" to exploit every legal loophole possible and push the legal envelope as far (or further) than it can stand. Under this line of thinking, abiding by the spirit of the law, not just it's letter, is for suckers.
Do left-leaning commentators perhaps have the opposite bias? Probably. But to have one standard for one set of legal entities, but a different standard for another set of legal entities, doesn't seem to make much sense. |
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