It Is My Fault

And I'm prepared to take the blame...

from JoeUser Forums
I’m writing this in response to a number of pieces I’ve read here recently and to a disturbingly increasing amount of media reports about this as well. I want to know where people think personal responsibility stops and where public liability starts?

I believe there are very few instances where personal responsibility should stop. The way I see it, if I trip over the crack in the sidewalk or spill a hot beverage on myself, I am the only person responsible. If I drive my car into oncoming traffic because the sun has reflected off a building into my eyes, well, it is an accident but no one is to blame, unless you want to blame the sun. It is an Act of Nature that has caused the accident. The people who own the building or clean the windows can’t be held responsible. Accidents do happen. And when accidents happen, sometimes people get hurt. It is unfortunate or, in some cases, even tragic, but it is reality. Some of the suits I’ve read about recently are anything but realistic. Yet people still pursue them and judges still let them be heard.

How about if I were in my own kitchen and my wife had made a nice hot cup of coffee, which I then spilt over myself? I’m not going to sue her, am I? She knows I’m an adult and I should be able to hold a hot cup of coffee. Her trusting in this is preconceived, sure, but putting trust in pretty much anything or anyone involves having some sort of preconceived notion of how they will behave. (As an aside, I also am acutely aware of how clumsy I can be, so I am more than willing to say ‘Oops’, apply some antiseptic cream to the burn and clean up the mess).

Personal responsibility has eroded to the point in Australia where events such as school fetes and dog shows are unable to go ahead because the insurance costs are just too much for the organisers to cover. Most of the events hurt by this are usually community or charity events. The other group hit hardest are the small sports clubs. These clubs usually rely on nominal participation fees and are most often formed for the benefit of local children. With both media and politics focussing on obesity levels, particularly concerning children, this situation only highlights the inadequateness of our local, state and national authorities in not doing anything about stemming the flow of ridiculous suits.

Another option, as far as I can see, is for the government to instigate a public-funded Department of Blame, whose sole role is to take the blame for anything falling outside the brackets of personal responsibility. I envisage roaming Blame Clerks, who can be called to contentious mishaps and make on-the-spot decisions based on immediate facts. As I see it, there are only three decisions the incident can be decided against. The first is ‘No-ones Fault’, the second is ‘Individual Fault’ and the third is ‘Department of Blame’s Fault’. The only time a person can pursue a suit is if the incident is deemed the ‘Department of Blame’s Fault’.

The third and final option, in my opinion, is for someone to take the blame. For everything. Always. Sure, the first few people who sue will get something, but every one after won’t see a red cent. Hopefully, the world will forget one person is to blame and start taking their personal responsibility seriously. So with this in mind, I volunteer myself. I’ve even got my tag line prepared - “Oops, sorry, it will happen again.”
misc
11,690 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
This thread reminds me of a book I read years ago called 'Blaming The Victim"....
It's not always YOUR fault... so don't be so quick to apologise.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

Unfortunately, in this Litigious society, we are being taught by both lawyers and politicians, that nothing is our fault, and that SOMEONE must pay.  The concept of personal responsibility is being subverted by the concept of no one is mature enough to make decisions for themselves.

And I dont see it stopping until and unless The politicians quit trying to protect us from ourselves, and lawyers start getting penalized for frivilous lawsuits.

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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
You can't do this, everything is my fault, I said so years ago. Although, maybe I was wrong... Blame dynamaso, it's his fault
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Our modern society is becoming more and more like the ancient Greeks for whom lawsuits were a form of public entertainment.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
lawyers start getting penalized for frivilous lawsuits.


This is true. In the case of any individual who had something happened to them, if they personally don't take stock and say, ok, this is my fault. It will take another person, namely a professional like a lawyer, to see the situation from another point of view and see if it's valid. Until they start doing that, nope, nothing will change.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes, where I work the golden rule is COVER YOUR ASS! you don't want to be caught with the liability "hot potato" when the music stops!

I'm so glad your back, BTW!!!!!
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mano,

It's not always YOUR fault... so don't be so quick to apologise


I know its not always my fault, but I am happy to take the blame if it means freeing up our judicial system of frivilous suits. The book, though, sounds very interesting. You don't happen to remember the author's name, do you? Thanks for your comments.

Hey Dr. Guy,

And I dont see it stopping until and unless The politicians quit trying to protect us from ourselves, and lawyers start getting penalized for frivilous lawsuits


I think the media also has a responsibility. If less fuss was made about stupid suits, then there wouldn't be articles out there giving others similar ideas. I am still keen for the idea of a 'Department of Blame'. I really think it would work.

Danny, maybe we could share the blame or alternate it between us. Oh, I know, you look after the Northern hemisphere and I'll look after the Southern hemisphere. How does that sound?

Mason, I don't think many of us would find today's suits entertaining unless the losers were punished in some publically humiliating way. I think this would also stem the flow of frivilous suits as well. Now there is food for thought. Thanks for your comments.

Shovel,
where I work the golden rule is COVER YOUR ASS


What an awful way to work. It means no one is willing to take any risks or make any changes. And the only time anything new happens is after something has gone wrong. Like George Bernard Shaw said 'Progress is impossible without change'. Incidentally, I'm glad I'm back. Thanks for the comments, mate.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
That works, I can be the blamed one for half the world
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Danny, I had a better thought. Rather than dividing it by Northern and Southern hemispheres, to be fair, I think we should divide it East and West. At least we have a chance of having around the same number of people. As it stands, you have the majority of the world's population on your side. Unless of course, you're a glutton for punishment. If so, I'm happy to leave it as is.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Makes no difference to me, half is better then all in this case.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Okay then, I'll take the East and you can have the West. How does this sound?
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sounds round to me
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
No, no, its flat, I tells you, flat...
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
What's so strange about the letigious society we're starting to copy from the USA is that both the Left and Right are extremely critical of it. So whose fault is it? Can this be the first thing the Department of Blame takes the blame for: too much blaming.

It's depressing how people want the entire world to be kiddie-safed. There are dangerous things in the world: deal with it. God or whoever didn't make trees with safety mats underneath, It didn't make rocks with foam on the inside. Kids will fall and break their arms, and then the arm will heal.

We have become so obsessed with trying to tblame someone else, trying to seek revenge that we can't face the idea that sometimes no one is to blame, as you said. An excellent point.

"I think the media also has a responsibility.'

ARRRGGHHH! My pet hate: blame the media. If you don't want a crap media, stop watching ACA, don't buy the Courier Mail and don't listen to Lawsy. They churn this stuff out because the public wants it. That's no excuse, but there are journos who do the right thing...and you've never heard of them because no one tunes in to read well-considered, unsensational journalism. In fact, Ray was a good journo until he realised that he was going to make more money doing Channel Nine stuff. The public can whinge all they like, but the media only gives the public what it will pay for. There's a case for personal responsibility on a grand scale.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I know its not always my fault, but I am happy to take the blame if it means freeing up our judicial system of frivilous suits. The book, though, sounds very interesting. You don't happen to remember the author's name, do you? Thanks for your comments.


read this link....
Link
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
We have become so obsessed with trying to blame someone else, trying to seek revenge that we can't face the idea that sometimes no one is to blame


Exactly. I couldn't have said it better.

If you don't want a crap media, stop watching ACA, don't buy the Courier Mail and don't listen to Lawsy...
Ray was a good journo until he realised that he was going to make more money doing Channel Nine stuff


I agree completely. My wife has to watch ACA (she is a commercial radio news journalist whose demographic is very similar to ACA's). I refuse to watch it and she sits through it cringing and gagging. But don't get me started on what is very loosely called 'news' these days. It is going to be the subject of an article I am currently working on.

There's a case for personal responsibility on a grand scale


Maybe this is why a lot of news these days has been sanitised to the point of triteness, just so no one feels like they could be or are personally responsible for all the crazy goings on in the world.

Thanks so much for your comments.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mano,

Thanks for the link. The reviewers gave me a bit of an idea of what the book is about. I do not consider myself a victim, never have, but I appreciate what you're saying. Thanks again.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
hi ya maso nice to see ya,, now to adress your inquiry.

You have a level clear thinking mind, you see personal responsibility as "who you are" many others don't they see litagation as there private lottery, a way to easy riches.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Modman,

Nice to see you too and thanks for the compliment.

they see litagation as there private lottery, a way to easy riches.


I think most who see litagation this way are not aware of the processes required to get their pot of gold. All they hear about is the end result of someone else's suit. It can take many years before any financial gain happens. Of course, by the time most realise this, their suit is already under way and clogging up the machineries of justice.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
Did you know that companies offer wedding insurance to couples? For around $250 to $1,000 you can cover your ass in case some guest drinks, drives, and hurts another person; trips and falls and breaks a toenail; or if Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade and you weren't smart enough to have a backup plan that included a roof.

Not to lay blame further, but I will: Shouldn't judges be the ones weeding out frivolous lawsuits from the system? And at home, shouldn't parents be enforcing personal responsibility instead of taking out their embarrassment on other parties? If your kid falls off a slide at the city park, you don't sue the city; until s/he's 18, you're responsible for that kid. I fail to see how they're setting a good example for their children, and I fail to see how judges are setting a good example for citizens of my country.

But the hardest question is, how do you reform society?



-A.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
19 by dynamaso
Tuesday, May 10, 2005


think most who see litagation this way are not aware of the processes required to get their pot of gold. All they hear about is the end result of someone else's suit. It can take many years before any financial gain happens. Of course, by the time most realise this, their suit is already under way and clogging up the machineries of justice.


I think most greedy frackers are shooting for the fast settlement , the go away you bother me money.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
And a lot of large organisations are their own worst enemies in this respect because, rather than fight the suits, they go for the out of court settlement just to get the monkeys off their backs.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Anglo,

The wedding insurance idea is nothing but a money-making scam. Do you know if anyone has actually taken out a policy?

I believe judges, lawyers, the media, and the public at large should all take some responsibility to ensure our legal systems are not bogged down with unnecessary cased. I believe it all started when 'precendent' became more important than common sense.

Thanks for your comments.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
The wedding insurance idea is nothing but a money-making scam. Do you know if anyone has actually taken out a policy?


Not personally, but while I was engaged I frequented theknot.com and there were tons of brides who did it. When you're spending $30k on a wedding, a paltry couple hundred is just a drop in the bucket. (Not my style, in case that wasn't obvious.)

Le sigh, eh?

-A.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
$30k! Oh my god, if I had that sort of money to spend, the last thing I would spend it on is a wedding. My wife agrees with me on this too. I think we spend a grand total of $600, half of which was for the clothes we wore on the day. We still think our wedding was the best we'd ever been too, even if we do say so ourselves.

Incidentally, did you hear about the couple who got married over your way and had local businesses sponsor most of the wedding. The couple had to invite the sponsors to the wedding, make sure the sponsors were thanked in the speeches and have a place card listing all the sponsors for each guest. It is the first truly commercial wedding ever. Bizzaro...