Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

Hi reida; unfortunately the opinion most people have regarding lawyers in general is drawn from what we hear, see, and read. We seldom hear about the good, honest lawyers who as you pointed out make life safer. Let's face it, good news doesn't sell papers. I spend about 1/4 of my working day dealing with lawyers, doing litigation research, attending depositions, and appearing in court as an expert witness on behalf of my employer. My opinion is tempered from 30 years of experience with mostly meritless lawsuits generated by the deep pockets theory, and now I see lawyers advertising on TV, with veiled statements that basically say, "sue someone, TODAY, you may have cash waiting". As one wit put it,"if it wern't for the lawyers, we wouldn't need lawyers." On the other hand, if it wern't for lawyers we would still be settling our arguments on Main Street, at high noon, with 6-guns.

 

[saylor]

Re: Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

AMEN,SLOOPY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DJ]

Re: Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

reida,<br /><br />No problem with the profession here. I have two of them in the family.<br /><br />The profession has a bad reputation. Much of it very deserved. It's up to you to change it, not the public.<br /><br />Granted, beside the schlock lawyers I see advertising on TV, the dentists are right behind.<br /><br />The lawyers are playing on every plaintiffs wish to become rich quick. What do you suppose would happen to the profession if "winning" became taxable. I know, it will never happen, every (almost) legislator is a lawyer.<br /><br />The dentists, on the other hand, actully perform a service that helps people. As much as I despise the term "self esteem", if you don't look it, you don't feel it.<br /><br />Lawyers are needed in this (US) society to help the average Joe weed through the tangled mess of legislation (read tax law) that they (lawyers) have created. Also, until individuals start taking responsibility for themselves , the profession will continue to enjoy a "field day".

 

[Lake Diver]

Re: Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

Not sure if this is pertinent to all the above, but I'll give it a try: I'm retired Navy, and in our endless safety lectures, one thing always came out. That is, if you light off ships' boilers, handle live ordnance, fly aircraft off carriers, hover in a helocopter low over the water, and a long list of others, those are all dangerous things to do. But we do them because, if successful, the results are worth the risk. <br /> Civilianizing that, I'm a diver. Scuba diving is dangerous, just as being anywhere around a boat prop in gear is. There's risk involved in nearly anything we might do, however we persist because of the desired results, be they recreational pleasure, catching fish, or relaxation. <br /> Bottom line is, whether someone stands up in a small boat that is underway, refuses to wear a lifejacket, gets tanked up on the water, or grab-asses at inappropriate times and places, those are risks for which the return positive result is minimal at best. <br /> Far too many people out there throw common sense to the wind, hurt or kill someone, then refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. Next step is unscrupulous lawyers willing to abuse the system. Plenty of lawsuits have lots of merit. It's sad that in our modern era, legal merits are all too often manufactured. This not only takes away individual responsibility for being bone-headed, it also encourages more such frivolity.<br /> It's enough to make some of us wonder about the massive efforts underway to circumvent the Law of Natural Selection!

 

[coupedeville]

Re: Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

Just heard about a class action suit where a bunch of fat teenagers are suing the fast food industry for making them fat! <br />I've really got to wonder sometimes where we're all heading with this mentality, as a society.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Boating Law (Warning - this is long and may upset you...)

I've lived in Southeast asia for a few years. They could use some lawyers there. Everything is totally unsafe.<br /><br />But, the lawyers need to take into consideration the cases they take on.<br /><br />Lawsuits should not bankrupt companies or churches. There needs to be logical limits to awards.<br /><br />There also needs to be a common sense test. Poll individuals to see if they knew riding on the front of a boat while it is moving is dangerous.<br /><br />Ken