Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

[arboldt]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

The one facet being forgotten here is that *everything* entails a certain amount of risk.

If I merely sit in my easy chair at home, there are certain risks for me. There might be a gas leak and the house explode. A tree limb might fall on the house and crush me. The driver of a car going by might lose control and crash into the house. A meteorite might fall through the roof right over me. Etc. All of these have a certain risk factor. Other than possible negligence in my not trimming tree branches, none of these example catastrophes would be a result of my neglecting to take precautions.

I would further have to balance the health risks of inactivity vs. the risks entailed by any activity. And so I knowingly take on some risk by going out on the water, swimming out to the raft, bicycling around the block, driving to work, playing with grandkids...

While I understand JB's assertion that everything we do (and don't do) entails a certain amount of risk, I cannot accept that negligence is part of it. I never have a choice or risk or not risk. The best I can do is choose between which risk and level of risk I'm willing to accept.

 

[tommays]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

IMHP a lot of thinking on this subject comes from the current sad trend of not taking personal responsibility for your actions

 

[mike64]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

While I understand JB's assertion that everything we do (and don't do) entails a certain amount of risk, I cannot accept that negligence is part of it. I never have a choice or risk or not risk. The best I can do is choose between which risk and level of risk I'm willing to accept.

Once again, I think the sticking point here is JB's unique definition of 'negligence' vs. most other peoples'. Maybe if you imagined JB used the phrase 'level of assumed risk' rather than 'negligence'.

Driving a car while following the laws of the road is a moderate level of assumed risk (moderate negligence in JB-speak?), and no one would consider this 'negligent' by the common definition. Driving drunk is a very high level of assumed risk, and very negligent by the common definition (and JB's).

I think JB has a fine philosophy of life, his use of the word 'negligent' is just confusing people.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Applying JB's theory to life in general dictates or defines every action ever taken as negligent.........and to assert the fact a premeditated (read conscious (sp)) decision is required to execute those actions......................well that qualifies our daily lives as being run with "premeditated negligence"........It seems when the risk appears negligible.............using the term premeditated negligence to describe ones action is a stretch.....................at best......................again mt .02 pents..........FWIW..........

 

[QC]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Do you make those .02 pents in a size 31 waist, 30 inseam? :redface:

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Okay, today I had one or the other. I was working on a blower and motor assembly on a large HVAC unit. The whole assembly slides out of the unit for maintenance. The defective blower had some missing blades on the squirrel cage causing it to be unbalanced. As I was installing the new blower running screws into it, a piece of metal that is the base for the motor/blower broke causing it to fall on my left leg. I could not tell that the metal was broke/cracked because it was hidden out of sight in the guide slide. If I had planned this to happen, it would seem to me that it would have been premeditated. However due to my ignorance of knowing that the metal was broken, how can that be considered negligence?

I'm calling it accident since I seem to be accident prone ...........SS

 

[QC]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

I seem to be accident prone....

Well I personally do think your problems are "premeditated" as you continue to choose to get out of bed in the morning . . .

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

If I had planned this to happen, it would seem to me that it would have been premeditated. However due to my ignorance of knowing that the metal was broken, how can that be considered negligence?

The way I am comprehending this thread, it is considered premeditated negligence, because you knew (or should have) that something could fall out and hit your leg. That could have been prevented by not working on the HVAC unit.

I have to say I can see where he is getting at this. If you take apart any "accident," you can say that it was related to your fault (auto accident - you took a risk getting in the car; falling down stairs - you took a risk descending one story, should have stayed safely on the ground; losing a finger to a circular saw - that board had no issue being a full 16 feet long etc.)

I do think it could have been taken to far. What are we left to do, sit out in an open field, with no possibility of a rainstorm? Oh, wait, you could fall in an earthquake fault - that was a risk you took for not taking any risks.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Well I personally do think your problems are "premeditated" as you continue to choose to get out of bed in the morning . . .

How come you were able to tell him basically the same thing I did in much fewer words? Oh wait, that again was premeditated, as I shouldn't be typing, in fear of someone outdoing me.

 

[mike64]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Okay, today I had one or the other. I was working on a blower and motor assembly on a large HVAC unit. The whole assembly slides out of the unit for maintenance. The defective blower had some missing blades on the squirrel cage causing it to be unbalanced. As I was installing the new blower running screws into it, a piece of metal that is the base for the motor/blower broke causing it to fall on my left leg. I could not tell that the metal was broke/cracked because it was hidden out of sight in the guide slide. If I had planned this to happen, it would seem to me that it would have been premeditated. However due to my ignorance of knowing that the metal was broken, how can that be considered negligence?

I'm calling it accident since I seem to be accident prone ...........SS

Well, you could say it was not an accident because the company that made the blower was at fault for shoddy work. I wouldn't say "there is no such thing as accidents", though. Like QC's original example of the giant hailstone coming through your windshield, that is an accident to me, unless you want to say it's God's fault.

I read somewhere a guy talk about rock climbing-- obviously a risky sport. He talked about what he called "subjective dangers" vs. "objective dangers". Subjective dangers were the ones he had control over-- making sure his equipment was in good shape, checking the weather report, etc. Objective dangers were risks he had no control over and just had to assume that risk-- like a handhold unexpectedly giving way, etc. The point is whether driving, boating, or just leaving the house, you try to remove all the risks you have control over and accept the risks you don't.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Well I personally do think your problems are "premeditated" as you continue to choose to get out of bed in the morning . . .

Yep, and eventually we will "All" come to that time we will never get out of bed again For some it will be soon and some will be later...............I just want to have more time boating is all I want,,,,,,,now that is premeditated!

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Do you make those .02 pents in a size 31 waist, 30 inseam? :redface:

Yes..................especially suited for those of shorter stature.................

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Well I personally do think your problems are "premeditated" as you continue to choose to get out of bed in the morning . . .

Let's not get started on "premeditated negligence" in the bedroom now QC........................you know what they say...................................Play safe..........................
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accidents cause people

 

[QC]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Even those of us of "shorter stature" can cause accidents. His name is Brian . . .

 

[bootle]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

After following this thread, i do believe that i am very much in need a drink.

I have been premeditatedly driven to do so, due to the fact that QC neglected to attach a warning to this thread.

 

[JB]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Well, one of my pet peeves is misuse/distortions of the true meanings of words in our language. "Negligence" is a good example of a perfectly good word that means to neglect. It is only common useage that has given it a negative connotation. If I had used "risk acceptance" my post wouldn't have had the impact is has had to make people think about decision making.

 

[QC]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

After following this thread, i do believe that i am very much in need a drink.

I have been premeditatedly driven to do so, due to the fact that QC neglected to attach a warning to this thread.

Great . . . Now I am not only negligent, but legally liable . . .

JB,

How is the root word neglect not negative?

Yes I know that is a double negative, but at least I used the word negative in said double negative, right?

 

[bootle]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Well, one of my pet peeves is misuse/distortions of the true meanings of words in our language. "Negligence" is a good example of a perfectly good word that means to neglect. It is only common useage that has given it a negative connotation. If I had used "risk acceptance" my post wouldn't have had the impact is has had to make people think about decision making.

Er...hic!...Quite right young man...er...Quite right you ..hic!...are....What happened to... my..er.. other shoe?..

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

Even those of us of "shorter stature" can cause accidents. His name is Brian . . .

Case in point................

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Accident or "premeditated negligence"?

In the original case of the grapefruit sized hailstone killing the driver, etc...
My answer is that it is clearly premeditated negligence, on God's part.