printed in the London Times.....Absolutely Dead Brilliant!!t
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, -by his parents, Truth and Trust, -by his wife, Discretion, -by his daughter, Responsibility, -and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 5 stepchildren; - I Know My Rights - I Want It Now - Someone Else Is To Blame - I'm A Victim - Pay me for Doing Nothing
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing
Paul,
Thank you for this thought-provoking post.
I hope Common Sense hasn't kicked the bucket and may yet recover from its present condition but, it doesn't look too likely.
Cheers and here's hoping for a great and improved new year.
Roy.
Paul, Thank you for this thought-provoking post. I hope Common Sense hasn't kicked the bucket and may yet recover from its present condition but, it doesn't look too likely. Cheers and here's hoping for a great and improved new year. Roy.
Paul, Thank you for this thought-provoking post. I hope Common Sense hasn't kicked the bucket and may yet recover from its present condition but, it doesn't look too likely. Cheers and here's hoping for a great and improved new year. Roy.
Hi Paul,
I join with Roy in his comments in his post above. I will continue to enjoy your posts in 2025.
cheers,
Ray
__________________
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the British and European Elders past and present, who introduced civil society and prosperity to Australia.
Paul, Thank you for this thought-provoking post. I hope Common Sense hasn't kicked the bucket and may yet recover from its present condition but, it doesn't look too likely. Cheers and here's hoping for a great and improved new year. Roy.
Thanks Ray.
Hi Paul,
I join with Roy in his comments in his post above. I will continue to enjoy your posts in 2025.
I know it is very easy to become misty eyed and pretend everything was wonderful when we were younger.
I remember when blokes used to beat their wife and the police would not intervene because "it was just a domestic matter"
I remember when I was 20 years old and considered too young to vote. The Government needed some cannon fodder for Vietnam so like many others, I got called up. What was really fabulous was I had no say in the matter because I wasn't old enough to vote, just go to a war. Remind me again how that all ended up. Thank God Gough got in and repealed the legislation two days before I was to enter into their war.
Although it is probably only posted to get the usual tub thumpers excited, quite a few of the statements are factually incorrect.
Firstly, of course you can defend yourself and your property against an intruder, Always have been. The persons who have been charged with assault are the ones who went beyond defending and instead took on the role of handing out a beating in retaliation.
The comments about the woman who sued for being burned by coffee is made by someone who did not read what that was about. The poor woman was handed a cup of boiling liquid in a container not fit for purpose and she didn't "just spill a little bit". It collapsed in her lap and she suffered third degree burns and months of skin grafts and rehabilitation.
But anyway, let's all get back to having a good moan about how much better we all were and how much better everything was back then.
As for all the younger people being self entitled and wanting everything now, we were the ones who brought in credit cards and easy finance. Who raised these "dreadful" people and who did they learn all these traits from? Oh that's right, our generation.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Thursday 26th of December 2024 04:34:04 PM
The comments about the woman who sued for being burned by coffee is made by someone who did not read what that was about. The poor woman was handed a cup of boiling liquid in a container not fit for purpose and she didn't "just spill a little bit". It collapsed in her lap and she suffered third degree burns and months of skin grafts and rehabilitation.
Liebeck was in the passenger's seat of a 1989 Ford Probe, which did not have cup holders. Her grandson parked so that Liebeck could add cream and sugar to her coffee. She placed the coffee cup between her knees and pulled the far side of the lid toward her to remove it.[10] In the process, she spilled the entire cup of coffee on her lap.[11] Liebeck was wearing cotton sweatpants, which absorbed the coffee and held it against her skin, scalding her thighs, buttocks and groin.[12][13]
Liebeck went into shock and was taken to an emergency room at a hospital. She suffered third-degree burns on six percent of her skin and lesser burns over sixteen percent.[14][13] She remained in the hospital for eight days while she underwent skin grafting. During this period, Liebeck lost 20 pounds (9.1 kg), nearly 20 percent of her body weight, reducing her to 83 pounds (38 kg). After the hospital stay, Liebeck needed care for three weeks, which was provided by her daughter.[15] Liebeck suffered permanent disfigurement after the incident and was partially disabled for two years.[16][17]
__________________
"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
I did not think the post was to be taken literally but it does highlight how society has changed.
While Lieback's case of suffering severe burns is awful, at the time, receiving a cup of boiling coffee was common. McDonalds did nothing different from what many other venues did. So, life's experience should have said to be careful with it.
The end result is that receiving boiling coffee today is now rare, which is a good thing. Except I often find the opposite, that it is luke warm. If that same incident happened today, when the expectation is for coffee not to be so hot, there would be more justification for claiming damages.
It reminded me of the case of Kobi Graham, an experienced surfer and lifeguard and star of TV series Bondi Rescue. He surfed the break at Cape Solander in Sydney's south. It was notorious as being very dangerous and there is no doubt he knew that well. He had a serious dumping and broke bones in his neck. Because he had not been warned by council of the dangers he successfully sued and was awarded damages. No doubt there is signage now for all the surfers to continue to ignore.
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Thursday 26th of December 2024 05:44:15 PM
I know it is very easy to become misty eyed and pretend everything was wonderful when we were younger.
I remember when blokes used to beat their wife and the police would not intervene because "it was just a domestic matter"
I remember when I was 20 years old and considered too young to vote. The Government needed some cannon fodder for Vietnam so like many others, I got called up. What was really fabulous was I had no say in the matter because I wasn't old enough to vote, just go to a war. Remind me again how that all ended up. Thank God Gough got in and repealed the legislation two days before I was to enter into their war.
Although it is probably only posted to get the usual tub thumpers excited, quite a few of the statements are factually incorrect.
Firstly, of course you can defend yourself and your property against an intruder, Always have been. The persons who have been charged with assault are the ones who went beyond defending and instead took on the role of handing out a beating in retaliation.
The comments about the woman who sued for being burned by coffee is made by someone who did not read what that was about. The poor woman was handed a cup of boiling liquid in a container not fit for purpose and she didn't "just spill a little bit". It collapsed in her lap and she suffered third degree burns and months of skin grafts and rehabilitation.
But anyway, let's all get back to having a good moan about how much better we all were and how much better everything was back then.
As for all the younger people being self entitled and wanting everything now, we were the ones who brought in credit cards and easy finance. Who raised these "dreadful" people and who did they learn all these traits from? Oh that's right, our generation.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Thursday 26th of December 2024 04:34:04 PM
Oh you Lefties, try a little bit of Monty Python Cobber ie. Take look on the bright side of life.
It's not all doom & gloom. Cheer up and try having a great & Happy New Year.
Cheers.
__________________
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the British and European Elders past and present, who introduced civil society and prosperity to Australia.
Hang on cobber. You were the one decrying how everything used to be better and when you get shortened up you try to laugh it off and call people lefties.
Take some of your own advice for a change.
Hang on cobber. You were the one decrying how everything used to be better and when you get shortened up you try to laugh it off and call people lefties. Take some of your own advice for a change.
Is that an official "Legal viewpoint"
__________________
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the British and European Elders past and present, who introduced civil society and prosperity to Australia.
I think if I was seeking to improve my demeanour or sense of humour you would be the last person from whom I sought advice.
Face up to it. You were in such a hurry to rush in and mouth off you didnt realise what had been quoted was factually incorrect.
When in a hole, stop digging.
This joke or whatever you call it has been doing the rounds for many years. I am sure those with common sense will appreciate it for its general message.
Browsing the links you see the vast majority of comments found it amusing. The negativity and bickering in this thread tops what I found. Check for yourself.
For those who appreciate the message and humour, here is a link to a book with a similar theme. Cheap enough if you have a Kindle.