Oof-Da! Canadians just as ignorant as Duhmericans

[Frank Lee]

Yes I should have specified why I titled it so.

I'd been reading a couple of online stories about this case and some of the reader comments to it; the linked story had many Canadian commenters and the majority of them at the time were doing the same thing Duhmerican commenters love to do and that is pass judgement- oftentimes wildly inaccurate because it is obvious they didn't comprehend many of the facts of the case either due to not reading the article they were mouthing off about, or stupidity, or willful ignorance.

Then I thought, Ah-ha, I'll go see what the Brit's Daily Mail says about it, because I have the general impression that the Mail is a somewhat more objective provider of news than most Duhmerican op/ed dispensers (our media). But I was disappointed to find much the same ignorant reader commentary there too.

But no, in the U.S. most people would like to stone her to death, than hang her from a tree, then shoot her, then put her in a Guillotine. All after life in prison.

[sheepdog 44]

Originally Posted by UltArc

By this article, Canada has stupid people and they make an example. In the US, the stupid people just do what they want without recourse.

*Cough* Florida *Cough*

[whatmaycome14]

I've stopped for animals, but I pull out of the way (WAY OFF THE ROAD) and always make sure that if I'm going to brake, there isn't anybody behind me. The lady was stupid. You ALWAYS have to be aware of everybody else on the road. I take personal responsibility to ensure that nobody collides with my car. Maybe that comes from my days riding motorcycle...?

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Why does the luck of the outcome have anything to do with the severity of the punishment? Many people have caused dangerous situations that could have resulted in death, but the particular circumstances did not happen, so they were not charged with severe crimes.

You know why the sentence for attempted murder is less than the sentence for murder? It's because you're not that dangerous.

If you're careful, you can stop on the road (or juggle chainsaws, smoke, shoot an apple off of your kid's head...). If you're careful, nothing will happen and passing traffic will go around you: you probably won't get caught. If one of those passing cars is a cop, he'll see your lack of flashing lights, orange cones or flares as evidence of your not being careful. Depending on how close to being careful you are, he may tell you to moce along or he may cite you- so you got caught, but let off lightly because you apparently aren't that dangerous. If you cause an accident, the cops will show up. They'll see clearly how careless and dangerous you are and won't just tell you to be on your way.

The punishment for stopping on the road is pretty low because generally people can be counted on to be somwhat careful and generally nothing bad happens. When something bad happens, other laws kick in. Because killing people isn't about "but all I did was stop my car, what's wrong with that?"

[Mustang Dave]

Originally Posted by roosterk0031

I just wash my windshield when followed close, it's cheap, harmless, and may alert them to how close they are.

Sometimes it works. I use a lot of washer fluid.

[Cobb]

Is that what causes a fog like over the roof of a vehicle? Ive seen that when some other people get tailgated when doing so to me fails or they just pass me cause Im driving a hybrid.

Originally Posted by Mustang Dave

Sometimes it works. I use a lot of washer fluid.

[redneck]

.

You may want to stop for these ducks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxlg5unYTyU

>

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

If you're careful, you can stop on the road (or juggle chainsaws, smoke, shoot an apple off of your kid's head...

The punishment for stopping on the road is pretty low because generally people can be counted on to be somwhat careful and generally nothing bad happens. When something bad happens, other laws kick in. Because killing people isn't about "but all I did was stop my car, what's wrong with that?"

The second part of what you said exposes the error in logic of the first.

An action poses a certain level of risk and challenge to others. The risk introduced by that action is independent of the risks others introduce to the situation. Whether or not someone dies due to the risk that was introduced is irrelevant.

If almost everybody can avoid a stopped vehicle, then the person that does not avoid has added their own risk to the situation, and is responsible for that portion of additional risk.

What if I dressed up in a clown outfit and went for a walk. While on the walk, someone sees me, is startled by the unusual circumstance, and jumps off a cliff to their death? Have I committed manslaughter due to the outcome?

The woman stopped for ducks clearly made a poor choice and should receive a punishment. I assure you that the fact that knowing her actions contributed to the death of 2 people is the most severe punishment one could receive. She should also receive a citation for whatever is the maximum amount allowed for such an infraction.

If her car had run out of gas and stopped in the same spot, with the same outcome, she would have not been given such harsh treatment, even though both situations are within her control.

[jamesqf]

But OTOH, cars may stop for reasons completely outside the driver's control. I once found myself stopping in the middle of a street (about a block from the freeway entrance I was planning to take) because a wheel fell off.

(Yeah, I should have checked that the tire place had actually put the lug nuts back on the vehicle before returning it to me, but I was much more trusting in my younger days :-))

[Frank Lee]

People aren't all that. I'd just as soon stop for ducks.