Comments on: Quasi-off-topic musing

By: Overlawyering making America a laughingstock

Overlawyering making America a laughingstock — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:11:00 +0000

[…] More on the deservedly infamous McDonald’s coffee case. Similar discussion: March 2. […]

By: Tom T.

Tom T. — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:35:10 +0000

If you look at the rickety and often dilapidated condition of little amusement parks and carnivals around the US similar to Bon Bon Land, I think empirically it’s hard to argue that this is an industry that has been driven to defensive over-investment in safety procedures.

By: kimsch

kimsch — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:58:29 +0000

The Apenheul in The Netherlands is another. Monkeys run free in parts of the of the park. Spider monkeys will sit on shoulders and bounce off the heads of children in strollers. Other monkeys will take one's hand and lead one about. One pulled itself up on my shoulder and sat there for a while (a 20-25 pound monkey). He then wrapped his prehensile tail around my neck and hung down for a piece of lettuce that was on a drinking fountain I was standing next to. A chimp attempted to take my camera from me and got mad when I wouldn't let him take it. He bit my wrist even, but didn't break the skin. Couldn't happen here.

By: billb

billb — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:59:41 +0000

I think we’re litigious and because we’re greedy. Greediness leads to risk aversion when the risk is of being the defendant in a lawsuit but to risk taking (gambling, mortgage-backed securities (gambling), crazy stunts, etc.) and denial of the risks involved when there’s the possibility of economic gain.

By: Joe Bingham

Joe Bingham — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:22:38 +0000

Also related: the war on drugs (and now tobacco).

By: Todd Rogers

Todd Rogers — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:13:51 +0000

I wonder if you just let the cat out of the bag.