nanny state

[polywideblock]

how is America as far as the "nanny state" mentality? here in Australia they are now trying to ban the birthday cake    when little jimmy blows out the candles he contaminates the cake and every one that eats it. i went to many birthday parties  as a kid I'm still here.they also have exclusion periods for sickness but they refuse to recognise a doctors cert. if kid gets better early , at the rate their going kids won't be able to play outside(germs)  . they are setting us up for a pandemic   for sure  

[mauve66]

holy crap

[mauve66]

as a side note to aussy, the local news had an episode on guns and some of YOUR brethern were here at the ranges shooting.  they said they loved it but thought that aus was safer now that they had banned all the guns.  what are you teaching these kids nowdays???

[Dino]

Despite age old tradition, in effect blowing out candles does transfer droplets to the cake, ingested by others.  If whomever blows out the candles has a serious illness, it can spread.  When an adult 'helps' to blow out the candles, he or she may make others, especially young kids, real sick.

Same goes for the tradition to cover your cough with your hand which is by far the dumbest thing you could do as you will be transferring whatever your cough produced onto objects and other humans.

I hear what you're saying and it all looks to be very strange but think about it, a lot of things we take for granted and a lot of things we grew up with and don't seem all that strange are in reality the cause of many problems.

There is always a debate over how far we should go to protect our children and yes sometimes it goes way overboard but that doesn't mean we should continue to ignore the issues either.

You're still here but that may change when the next parent blows out the candles for little Jimmy while having the flu, that stuff still kills hundreds of thousands a year.  I'm all for fun so I would love to see kids blow out their birthday candles but be smart about it and give the little fella his own little cake. 

I'm not trying to convince people that we should abandon all fun and start living in a bubble but don't see things in black and white.  How would you feel when your kid got violently ill after a birthday party next door?

[RECHRGD]

I agree that it's an easy way to spread germs.  But having the Government getting involved is just plain nuts.  Educate people of the dangers and leave it up to them whether they blow out the damn candles or not.

[mauve66]

and if you go to a party and they blow out the cake then don't eat any
if my kid got sick i would think he ate too much cake
kinda like smoking, i don't smoke but sometimes i go to an establishment that permits smoking indoors, its THEIR establishment, if i don't like it i can go somewhere else

[Dino]

I agree that it's an easy way to spread germs.  But having the Government getting involved is just plain nuts.  Educate people of the dangers and leave it up to them whether they blow out the damn candles or not.

I don't want the gov meddling in my affairs either but I am also capable of finding out what is best for me and people around me.  Not everyone can do this and some people need to be educated.  The only way to do this is having the gov involved.  What governments should do however is not blatantly decide for us what's going to happen next but get the experts involved.  The government should relay the findings of this and suggest or, if it's a public health risk, enforce a law to protect its citizens.  I find it extremely insulting that the government will decide something needs to be A when the experts in the field clearly say it needs to be B.  Why the hell do we have experts then?

In short, educate yourself and doubt and question everything.

and if you go to a party and they blow out the cake then don't eat any
if my kid got sick i would think he ate too much cake
kinda like smoking, i don't smoke but sometimes i go to an establishment that permits smoking indoors, its THEIR establishment, if i don't like it i can go somewhere else

Bingo

[mauve66]

exactly, but not everyone should be protected by the government, its called natural selection for a reason

[Dino]

exactly, but not everyone should be protected by the government, its called natural selection for a reason

I see what you're saying and I do agree up to a point.  My one concern here would be the children.  Wh owill protect them from possible Darwin award recepient parents?  Don't they deserve a fighting chance?

I'm not one to say hey let's put the government in charge of all of this, they know better.  But I am all for saying let's get some education going here, let's do mandatory health and safety education for all.  To my knowledge this is not a major part of standard education.  I'm pretty sure that many illnesses and deaths can be prevented with common knowledge and I'm also pretty sure that the vast majority of parents would make a few changes to their child's upbringing if they were better informed.  It's easy to say that people should be responsible but we all know that's not just going to happen. 

[RECHRGD]

When I was in school, many decades ago, health and science classes were required, has that changed?  If so, then, yes they need to be reinstated.  We've come a long way as a species in a very short period of time.  Ever hear the term, don't throw the baby out with the bath water?

[Dino]

When I was in school, many decades ago, health and science classes were required, has that changed?  If so, then, yes they need to be reinstated.  We've come a long way as a species in a very short period of time.  Ever hear the term, don't throw the baby out with the bath water?

Afaik, they are still being taught but probably not enough.  I probably agree with the average adolescent here when I say teach less algebra and more common knowledge classes.   
Even if health and science would be taught a lot, we still couldn't cover everyone but that will never happen anyway.

I am familiar with the term and I do agree that we are on our way to become better humans, I just don't necessarily believe that we need to wait for things to happen when we can make them happen now.  I believe in evolution but I don't always agree that it has to take so friggin' long.   

This applies to many aspects of life such as designing dangerous intersections.  We all know several I'm sure.  If we can tell they are dangerous do we wait until an accident happens so we can say ha I told you so or do we fix it before something does happen?  Some will be extra carefull around the intersection, others will completely avoid it and others still will be oblivious to anything but their iphone and end up in the ER.  I'm stating simplistic examples here but you get my drift.

In a way this is the same with things like blowing out candles.  Suppose a kid blows out the candles and does it in such a manner that you just know some droplets were released.  One parent may say, it's only spit, what harm can it do.  Another may say that kid spit on the cake and we're all going to die!  (ok never encountered one of those but admit it's funny  ) and a third parent may say that kid spit on the cake, I wonder what the consequences may be.  When given a choice, I'm putting my money on parent #3.

[mauve66]

kinda like the warnings on a hair dryer, don't immerse in water, i learned that electricity and water don't mix in 1st grade, they had a funny little cartoon, why do they need that warning on every damn item in the world?  are we as a people that stupid??
if i'm at a traffic light to make a left turn and i can see 1/4 mile up the road and NO cars are coming, why do i need to wait for the left turn, do i need to wait for the light to change for my own safety?
if the box says rat poison do i need a warning that i shouldn't eat poison?
if yes then we NEED natural selection to take place
sorry, i'm not saying your wrong, kids do need some protection (by their parents) but damn we are turning into a society of "its your fault i got hurt doing something i wasn't supposed to do and now i'm gonna make you pay for it.

before you know it we will be calling this country  Australia, territory 1, United States

[JB400]

How many birthday parties did you guys attend where they blew out the candles on the cake?  How many ate that same cake?  Common logic is to postpone the party until the birthday person is feeling better any way. 

IMO, the more you try to protect your kids, the dumber they become anyway.  It makes them less aware of the surroundings and how to survive.  It's part of the thing called life.  Live and learn.  I'll use myself as an example.  When I was 16, I went into a bar with my dad and his friends.  They spent 8 hours in the bar getting drunk.  I met one guy in there that would come in with $50 and drink till it was gone.  I got the pleasure of driving everyone home that night.  25* outside and I had the window partially rolled down going down the highway listening to everyone getting sick.  To this day, I have yet to have a drink.  I don't want to be like that.  Would I have learned that by someone saying that I shouldn't do that, probably not to the same extent as experiencing it first hand.

Let kids be kids. Let them have their fun.  Just keep an eye on them.  But, as a parent, you guys need to learn to let them go.

[mauve66]

my mother used spit on my face many times and i'm ok, well.. i guess thats all relative, depends on your definition of ok.............

[Dino]

kinda like the warnings on a hair dryer, don't immerse in water, i learned that electricity and water don't mix in 1st grade, they had a funny little cartoon, why do they need that warning on every damn item in the world?  are we as a people that stupid??
if i'm at a traffic light to make a left turn and i can see 1/4 mile up the road and NO cars are coming, why do i need to wait for the left turn, do i need to wait for the light to change for my own safety?
if the box says rat poison do i need a warning that i shouldn't eat poison?
if yes then we NEED natural selection to take place
sorry, i'm not saying your wrong, kids do need some protection (by their parents) but damn we are turning into a society of "its your fault i got hurt doing something i wasn't supposed to do and now i'm gonna make you pay for it.

before you know it we will be calling this country  Australia, territory 1, United States

Unfortunately we live in a society where people are looking for ways to get paid without lifting a finger, that is why we have those damn warnings on everything.  I'm waiting for a warning to appear in my underwear that says don't crap in here as you may develop a stench.  

Every question you posed here makes absolute perfect sense to those of us who can think.  Yes, there are people that stupid that do not know water and electricity do not mix well.  Have you seen the pics of the guys in the pool with an extension cord resting on a piece of plywood or a shoe?  (I've seen both)

This morning I saw a car turn left as soon as I had passed in the other direction while the light for him/her was red.  Now in this state you either tun on the green, the flashing yellow when safe or on red when turning right or either direction if it's a one way street but you do NOT turn left on a red when turning into a two way street.  So why did this driver do so?  Confused?  Stupid?  Whatever the answer, education may be in order here.
I saw a letter recently about a woman who had solved the issue of crossing deer on the highway.  She said why not move the deer crossing sign to a safer place so they can cross there?  Yes people are that stupid.

I also believe in natural selection, in fact I think it's a necessity but man I cringe when I hear about the loss of a child that could have easily been avoided.

And no I don't think the government should decide who can have kids and who can't, they're screwing up plenty as it is.



I'm supposed to be studying today (ironically) so I'll revisit this thread later.  Have a good one folks!

[mauve66]

but if you think about it if we let natural selection happen most of those idiots would be gone BEFORE they had kids, yes there would be an overlap period until we cleaned out the "chaff" but...............

anyway, i vote if we become a territory of Aus that we make sure they don't make us drive on the left side of the road, i mean, USE SOME COMMON SENSE PEOPLE, 

[RECHRGD]

I don't understand why kissing hasn't been banned.  What a disgusting display of affection.....

[mauve66]

they banned "high 5's" at a school because they spread too many germs, like 20 guys touching the same football doesn't ??
damned AUS again

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mt-martha-primary-schools-no-contact-policy-bans-tiggy-and-high-fives/story-fn7x8me2-1226395143679

and then here in london

http://digitaljournal.com/article/307243

and these were the countries that started the weapons ban......................................................

[John_Kunkel]

When I was in 4th grade (1952) we were required to use an eraser to clean the textbooks before turning them in at the end of the year, I remember the teacher severly scolding anybody she saw blowing off the residue because they were "spreading germs". The concept isn't new.

[polywideblock]

they banned "high 5's" at a school because they spread too many germs, like 20 guys touching the same football doesn't ??
damned AUS again    

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mt-martha-primary-schools-no-contact-policy-bans-tiggy-and-high-fives/story-fn7x8me2-1226395143679

and then here in london

http://digitaljournal.com/article/307243

and these were the countries that started the weapons ban......................................................
they have baned kissing/hugging in a lot of schools

and if you go to a party and they blow out the cake then don't eat any
if my kid got sick i would think he ate too much cake
kinda like smoking, i don't smoke but sometimes i go to an establishment that permits smoking indoors, its THEIR establishment, if i don't like it i can go somewhere else

they have baned smoking in public areas, sporting events, clubs, pubs, restaurants  etc

[XH29N0G]

kinda like the warnings on a hair dryer, don't immerse in water, .....

Why not use the hair dryer to blow out the candles.  Saves the guy in the bathtub and all the little kids at the party.

[charge69]

Ha! That's funny! While we are at it, be sure to tell the kids not to touch anything or anyone while having fun at the Birthday Party!

[RallyeMike]

It's about time someone did something about this. Just look at how many children have gotten sick since the birthday cake was invented.
I hope they tackle handshaking next.

[Mopar Nut]

It's about time someone did something about this. Just look at how many children have gotten sick since the birthday cake was invented.
I hope they tackle handshaking next.

Next will be kissing, then sex in private or public.

[polywideblock]

It's about time someone did something about this. Just look at how many children have gotten sick since the birthday cake was invented.
I hope they tackle handshaking next.

Next will be kissing, then sex in private or public.

they have already baned kissing/hugging in a lot of schools

[Ram07]

put wax paper over the cake, let 'em blow out the candles....fast!

[Ghoste]

Images of SWAT teams busting through doors and windows with weapons drawn and laser sights giving an entire room full of six year olds a case of hillbilly measles keep running through my mind.

[Daytona R/T SE]

We need to institute a

"Common sense birthday candle ban"

[XH29N0G]

If you do away with candles and cake, I have some advice.  My wife filled one pinata with baggies of broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms and another with candy (hidden).  Trauma and mayhem ensued, stomping on the veggies, crying, complaining about veggies.  Worst of all, they were completely out of the mood when the real pinata came out with candy in it. 

Things that explode turned out to be much more popular - but that was the next party.

[bull]

We the people are not smart enough to take care of ourselves. We need the gubment to intervene in all aspect of our lives. It's for our own good.

[charge69]

Please Mr President, take ALL my money and TELL me how to live. We just can't have anyone running around doing things on their own! They might do something the .GOV doesn't approve! Oh,  The Horror !!!