EDIT: Wow, didn’t mean to start writing an essay, for what directly relates to my thaughts on the smoking age specifically, please skip to the last paragraph. (End of edit.)
@Chicago_CA I’ve seen equal amounts of reckless driving across every age category, as well as proper driving. People just need to take responsibility for themselves, and the fact that they’re in a two ton death trap. I saw a woman blow through two stop lights on a very busy stretch of road with a baby in the back. You just can’t fix stupid. Though I tried, followed her home with the police on the phone. Speaking of, I’ve nearly been hit by law enforcement blowing stop signs while they were staring at their phone, and once an older gentleman reading a newspaper while he was flying down the road. I’ve seen people changing, doing makeup, reading books, writing something down, anything and everything but watching where they are going and what’s going on around them, any of it. All ages, genders, races. It’s a miracle that there aren’t more accidents.
Just in the parking lot at my work today I witnessed over half a dozen near misses, and I don’t spend much time looking out there.
When I get behind the wheel, my rule is this “Everyone else is drunk, even if they aren’t.”
I think we should just teach people how to be accountable for their own actions,
but with ever increasing disciplinary restrictions, how are we supposed to do that?
Hell, I remember getting my fair share of licks as a kid, and I always felt it was appropriate.
One time, without sarcasm, I told my father he needed to hit me a couple more times
because I had yet to learn my lesson. I think I was five at the time? Couldn’t tell you what I did,
but I can tell you that I never did it again. Hahaha Not saying there isn’t such a thing as abuse,
but I got hit plenty, and it was never abuse. There was always a thorough conversation about
whatever I had done to earn it too. The lectures were worse than the hits, by far, but the hits really
helped the message stick.
Though I agree, there should be much more pressing matters than when people can smoke.
Or even drink for that matter (in my opinion). If people learned how to respect themselves,
others, and things for what they are, there would be far less issues.
If someone can’t figure that out, then there should be repercussions for the offender,
not them and everyone around them.
“But there are multiple offenders,” some say, but I don’t think it’s right to restrict those
capable of behaving themselves.
While I was disciplined heavily, I was allowed the room to make my decisions
and learn things for myself at the same time.
Take all of this with a grain of salt though, last time I checked the county I work in has the most accidents in the U.S.A. per year? (Worcester county, MA) It really is just about everyone around here. Haven’t been to Cali myself, so it could be predominately the youth, but that has not been my experience over here on the east coast. It feels like an accomplishment any time I get anywhere without incident, and *knocks on wood* I’ve never had an incident, but it’s come far too close, far more often than I like to think about.
I just think it’s kind of silly to state a blanket age at which people can be responsible for themselves.
I know plenty of people younger than me that are, and many older that are not. (and the opposite, obviously.)
I know a handful of teens that I’d let borrow my car any day of the week,
I can think of more than a handful of adults I’d never let near my ride.
Not meaning to come off as preachy, I’m just good at rambling on. Hope someone enjoyed it. Haha
