Personal Freedoms vs. Texting While Driving

Sierra1

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I think it's a generational thing. Most of us were taught by our parents that there are consequences for our actions. Many parents are either afraid to, or don't want to, discipline their children. Then it comes down to "if you give an inch, they'll take a foot". Small indiscretions are overlooked, which lead to larger indiscretions being overlooked. IMHO.
 

DTOM Gadsden

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"COMMON" sense, and "COMMON" courtesy....that's the only two things needed to set everything else right. But, as we know....
Right on!

Another point to consider in this regard; we have nothing in common anymore.

Think about it the next time someone decries the clear and too-apparent lack of common sense in our society.
(Common courtesy fits nicely into this discussion as well.)

I am on the grumpy side of 50, but my particular age has no lock on this phenomenon.
As we age and take note of behaviors around us, we all see this decay as a process - not a singular event pinned on a certain year.

There was a time when our morals, core-convictions, and personal beliefs regarding acceptable behavior were somewhat aligned and accepted even when we may not completely agree on the finer points. In the middle of the country, I met few Jews and even fewer Muslims or Hindus. The only Buddhist I knew was my Japanese stepmother, and her active faith was something to be respected and allowed to remain her private pursuit - at the risk of my Christian father putting a very large boot in my ass.

So, dispensing with the notion that a particular faith is supreme (for the sake of this discussion) at least we accepted the social incentives to behave in a manner not to offend the sensibilities of others. I wasn't in church every Sunday, or participating in every program they sponsored or encouraged, but I knew from an early age that at least some public compliance was a good idea.

Now none of this matters.
The young'uns are indoctrinated to believe this in every "socially-acceptable" or "hate-free" information outlet.
Look who we can't offend nowadays, for instance....

We no longer get our news from the same paper or radio station as all our neighbors.
We are no longer limited to the programming of the only three broadcast TV stations.
No longer influenced by the same pastors or priests, the same schoolteachers, the same grumpy-ass old man next door, or the crazy cat lady living two streets over.

With the explosion of first cable television and then the internet, we no longer have any INFLUENCES in common.
I do not advocate trying to put the information genie back in the bottle, but I will preach loudly to my dying breath that we have NOTHING IN COMMON anymore because we are pressured at every turn by those seeking ratings, clicks, or poll-proven popularity to be "different" and think like THIS GUY instead of THAT GUY.

So, the fix?
Let's get back to what we do have in common.
What would that be?
If you are an American, and you don't like my Bible, I will take the position of our Founding Fathers:
Fine with me, as long as you have some kind of belief system instead of just making sh!t up as you go along.
Pick a faith or a value system, learn it, and actually do what you should to set an example.
Then get involved in your community and civic causes that REALLY MATTER.
I would purposely exclude anything involving "victim status" predicated on race or sexual preferences, or redistribution of "free" stuff by any government agency. Get involved in civic matters from the private or charitable side.

More importantly (and was taught with vigor in my high school government & economics class) is the notion that if you are an American, ACT LIKE ONE. Being an American is the one thing we definitely have in common, regardless of your intent to join in as our Founders knew would be required to prevent the collapse of our society. I must state that I do not believe our 50 states have a lock on Liberty and personal freedom in the 21st century, as that's another discussion thread. But we have a Constitution in common, and we are well-served to understand the Original Intent and cut out the middle-man B.S. that only serves to obscure and obfuscate it.

Or just go back to your shameless immersion in Facebook, sports, or pornography and pretend to be offended when something you don't understand catches your attention. It probably hurts too much to give things that really matter some critical thought.

My $0.02
 

HeliMark

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I think it's a generational thing. Most of us were taught by our parents that there are consequences for our actions. Many parents are either afraid to, or don't want to, discipline their children. Then it comes down to "if you give an inch, they'll take a foot". Small indiscretions are overlooked, which lead to larger indiscretions being overlooked. IMHO.
I saw this a lot before I retired. But you need to add that most parents are not interested in "raising" kids. They have them, love them, but don't want to take the time to take care (the discipline part) of them. It gets in the way of their careers, which of course is important to show the kids that you too can have a career and a family. That is what the government is for now. And shame on the government for saying little Billy or Sally is bad.

Until you change the perception/idea in the minds of people that no matter how good they think they are, they are not, texting will actually get worse. Texting is not always easy to spot, unlike speeding/red light/stop sign...etc., so people are not worried about being stopped, and of course their superior driving skills will prevent anything.

The only reasonable way to stop it, is by hard coding in the phone to not allow texting over 10 mph, and use of bluetooth over that speed. But that will never happen.
 

OldRider

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[QUOTE="HeliMark, post: 344383, The only reasonable way to stop it, is by hard coding in the phone to not allow texting over 10 mph, and use of bluetooth over that speed. But that will never happen.[/QUOTE]

You would have to be able to tie the phone to just the driver. A bus load of people not being able to text would start a riot.
 

Sierra1

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Joshua TX
I agree. IF the law is to prevent texting, the law needs to be hand-free only. It won't actually stop the texters, but if enforcement is the end goal, you have to make it easier for the enforcers. You can't tell if somebody is texting, finding a number, music, or using their maps; all of which distracts equally. And I love the part about "superior driving skills". HA! " I'm a very good driver".
 

Checkswrecks

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My Verizon S7 goes into "Phone Mode" and it's easy for the software to know I'm moving then go to that mode. The phone OR the towers could easily be programmed to not accept calls or texts at more than 10 mph. Oldrider hit on how the phone lobby has prevented any kind of automated halt to using the phone, like HeliMark described.

Can't tell you how many accidents I've been to and then heard "He was the BEST pilot I knew."
 
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