Comments on: When did the United States become a nation of frightened wimps?! http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/ General interest observations and true web-log. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:29:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: G http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-827296 G Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:21:31 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-827296 I think it may have ended when we started being concerned with all the little people that couldnt otherwise take care of themselves. The term "little" being very loosely defined: anyone who is little intellectually, in terms of work ethic, in terms of aspiraction, etc. It actually pays to be stupid/lazy/ignorant nowadays. People can spill coffee from a fast food restaurant on their laps and get rich from it, eat too much and get on disability, not to mention the endless supply of various disorders that inhibit kids ablility to learn(adhd, add, etc etc etc.) Where were these excuses and handouts back in the times when we werent so spineless?...We dont take responsibility for our own actions/misfortunes anymore. We would rather have a disorder to explain our inability or have a government-provided program to help us out...and this has proven to be easier than the idea of "work hard and you will benefit from it." Hard work has become a thing of the past.... Everywhere you look there is someone/thing to blame for your screwing up. We have removed accountability from our vocabulary. In schools, when kids get in trouble, parents assume that the school is at fault. No accountability/responsibility placed on the child. Lies are an easy way out. With enough money, you can do no wrong. If you can afford a good enough lawyer, anything is possible. More removal of accountability. When things didnt work out for people in the workplace, school, fraternity, athletic team, etc, put up or get out. Now we look to change the establishment in order to cater to the little people. No more hazing, no more harrassment, no more getting picked on...these things used to make us stronger individuals. No more environment conducive to creating a strong individual. I think it may have ended when we started being concerned with all the little people that couldnt otherwise take care of themselves. The term “little” being very loosely defined: anyone who is little intellectually, in terms of work ethic, in terms of aspiraction, etc. It actually pays to be stupid/lazy/ignorant nowadays. People can spill coffee from a fast food restaurant on their laps and get rich from it, eat too much and get on disability, not to mention the endless supply of various disorders that inhibit kids ablility to learn(adhd, add, etc etc etc.) Where were these excuses and handouts back in the times when we werent so spineless?…We dont take responsibility for our own actions/misfortunes anymore. We would rather have a disorder to explain our inability or have a government-provided program to help us out…and this has proven to be easier than the idea of “work hard and you will benefit from it.” Hard work has become a thing of the past….

Everywhere you look there is someone/thing to blame for your screwing up. We have removed accountability from our vocabulary. In schools, when kids get in trouble, parents assume that the school is at fault. No accountability/responsibility placed on the child. Lies are an easy way out.

With enough money, you can do no wrong. If you can afford a good enough lawyer, anything is possible. More removal of accountability.

When things didnt work out for people in the workplace, school, fraternity, athletic team, etc, put up or get out. Now we look to change the establishment in order to cater to the little people. No more hazing, no more harrassment, no more getting picked on…these things used to make us stronger individuals. No more environment conducive to creating a strong individual.

]]> By: Ascii King http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-595169 Ascii King Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:32:50 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-595169 Boy, things sure were better back in the good old days when everyone was brave and used chainsaw's to do dangerous jobs. Not like nowadays where we have lawyers and bankers and such things that they didn't have 50 years ago. We were always pussies, as you put it. In the good old days, if something was dangerous you weren't supposed to do it. Nowadays it's the same except we are aware of more danger than before. We understand the long term effect on our knees and other joints of repetitive strain, so we caution against doing anything too much. If it were legal to let your kids rollerblade without helmets, would you let them? If not, then the law isn't affecting oyu that much. The problem is not that we aren't the rough and rugged people we once were. That whole notion is stupid. The problem is that we are giving in and allowing the fear mongering that is going on all the time in the media. You can sit here and try and figure out what happened in the past to make the now suck so much or you can look at the now to keep the future from sucking. What's going on right now that screw everything up are the myriad of lawsuits for trivial things (and the fear those cause) as well as the fear mongering put out over the airwaves. Put a stop to the useless security checks at airports. Demand your politician stop bowing to the current exciting issue of the moment and present us with some long term goals. Whining about how good things used to be is for pussies. Boy, things sure were better back in the good old days when everyone was brave and used chainsaw’s to do dangerous jobs. Not like nowadays where we have lawyers and bankers and such things that they didn’t have 50 years ago.

We were always pussies, as you put it. In the good old days, if something was dangerous you weren’t supposed to do it. Nowadays it’s the same except we are aware of more danger than before. We understand the long term effect on our knees and other joints of repetitive strain, so we caution against doing anything too much. If it were legal to let your kids rollerblade without helmets, would you let them? If not, then the law isn’t affecting oyu that much.

The problem is not that we aren’t the rough and rugged people we once were. That whole notion is stupid. The problem is that we are giving in and allowing the fear mongering that is going on all the time in the media. You can sit here and try and figure out what happened in the past to make the now suck so much or you can look at the now to keep the future from sucking.

What’s going on right now that screw everything up are the myriad of lawsuits for trivial things (and the fear those cause) as well as the fear mongering put out over the airwaves. Put a stop to the useless security checks at airports. Demand your politician stop bowing to the current exciting issue of the moment and present us with some long term goals.

Whining about how good things used to be is for pussies.

]]> By: ECA http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-594665 ECA Mon, 16 Apr 2007 01:44:15 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-594665 Last point... I want a LEGAL description of the word FREE' That does NOT include... signing me up to a monthly distribution of SOMETHING. Dont sign me up for adverts. dont LIST me for someone to sell my name. DONT use '*' or '**' or any OTHER sign to ADD to a contract, I DIDNT intend to signup for... Last point…

I want a LEGAL description of the word FREE’

That does NOT include…
signing me up to a monthly distribution of SOMETHING.
Dont sign me up for adverts.
dont LIST me for someone to sell my name.
DONT use ‘*’ or ‘**’ or any OTHER sign to ADD to a contract, I DIDNT intend to signup for…

]]> By: ECA http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-594553 ECA Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:44 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-594553 Another POINT: How many of you Old techies, Remember... That the software people used to bounce around, and share the info and knowledge?? Those that left Atari, and went to other companies? When REVERSE engineering WAS allowed?? when you learned from decrypting/decompressing Others programs and How to shortcut routines?? When programs WERENT made for only 1 machine, but ALL of them. Multiplan, one of the first wide spread Spreadsheets was on the C64, PC, Mac, every machine and environment you can Name... Games werent Made just for 1 machine or environment...Look Now at the ATARI games packs, and they are Still being profited and spread to New machines. The atari, activision, and other Games from previous machines are being ported to the New. BUT the copyrights are being held by Distributours, NOT the orinal makers. Another POINT:

How many of you Old techies, Remember…
That the software people used to bounce around, and share the info and knowledge?? Those that left Atari, and went to other companies?
When REVERSE engineering WAS allowed??
when you learned from decrypting/decompressing Others programs and How to shortcut routines??
When programs WERENT made for only 1 machine, but ALL of them.

Multiplan, one of the first wide spread Spreadsheets was on the C64, PC, Mac, every machine and environment you can Name…
Games werent Made just for 1 machine or environment…Look Now at the ATARI games packs, and they are Still being profited and spread to New machines. The atari, activision, and other Games from previous machines are being ported to the New. BUT the copyrights are being held by Distributours, NOT the orinal makers.

]]> By: pedro http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-594193 pedro Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:23:20 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-594193 #43 more like "Harold & Kumar Visit White Castle" #43 more like “Harold & Kumar Visit White Castle”

]]> By: ArianeB http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-594085 ArianeB Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:22:46 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-594085 Awesome article! Is America turning into George Orwell's <i>1984</i>, Huxley's <i>Brave New World</i>, or Stallone's <i>Demolition Man</i>? Awesome article!

Is America turning into George Orwell’s 1984, Huxley’s Brave New World, or Stallone’s Demolition Man?

]]> By: ECA http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593874 ECA Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:40:52 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593874 42, Close, but NOooo Pickle... REMEMBER, plz... The Slump in the economy AFTEr WW2.. That was because of the EXTRA workforce... WHAT BECAME the problem was AFTER BUSINESS figured out, that MOST of these folks, HAD extra money... WHICH took a few years. IF you have abit of extra money, you can SPEND IT...You can take the KIDS out... IF someone takes it away...you dont have the EXTRA leasure... OF the 50'-60's... The basic concept goes like this.... KEEP them BUSY so they CANT think about whats going ON...Whats happening... MAke them NEED to work to put food on the table, and be Sooo tired they DONT have time to THINK or decide or make a decision...Or Riot or CHANGE what we are doing... Make them LOOK the other way while we make LAWS and change things.... MAKE WAR if we REALLY have to hide something...DONT let them get comfortable... REALLy look at it...This is happening in the USA as well as in Mexico... 42,
Close, but NOooo Pickle…

REMEMBER, plz…
The Slump in the economy AFTEr WW2..
That was because of the EXTRA workforce…
WHAT BECAME the problem was AFTER BUSINESS figured out, that MOST of these folks, HAD extra money… WHICH took a few years.
IF you have abit of extra money, you can SPEND IT…You can take the KIDS out… IF someone takes it away…you dont have the EXTRA leasure… OF the 50′-60’s…
The basic concept goes like this….
KEEP them BUSY so they CANT think about whats going ON…Whats happening… MAke them NEED to work to put food on the table, and be Sooo tired they DONT have time to THINK or decide or make a decision…Or Riot or CHANGE what we are doing…
Make them LOOK the other way while we make LAWS and change things…. MAKE WAR if we REALLY have to hide something…DONT let them get comfortable…

REALLy look at it…This is happening in the USA as well as in Mexico…

]]> By: pedro http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593808 pedro Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:00:23 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593808 #16 it began with the women's movement. Double the workforce, the same number of jobs. Then, when you met someone, they had tehir own jobs already and most of them were unwilling to let their lifes go because of marriage nor kids. This reminds me of a very funny pic that a nephew of mine drew. You know, the typical shrink pic when he/she asks the kid to draw its family. Both parents had their own medium/high profile managerial job. The kid drew him and his dad. You had to see the mother's face at the drawing. Best of all, she was blaming the father for this. Hilarious. #23 sound decision. #28 let me refrase that. That's what happens not only when you don't spank your kids, but when you allow them to spank you. #16 it began with the women’s movement. Double the workforce, the same number of jobs. Then, when you met someone, they had tehir own jobs already and most of them were unwilling to let their lifes go because of marriage nor kids.

This reminds me of a very funny pic that a nephew of mine drew. You know, the typical shrink pic when he/she asks the kid to draw its family. Both parents had their own medium/high profile managerial job. The kid drew him and his dad. You had to see the mother’s face at the drawing. Best of all, she was blaming the father for this. Hilarious.

#23 sound decision.

#28 let me refrase that. That’s what happens not only when you don’t spank your kids, but when you allow them to spank you.

]]> By: ECA http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593708 ECA Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:53:49 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593708 What I find funny, in childrens clothing and fire safety... Is when the changed the CLOTH from Cotton, to polys... NEVER use Poly bed clothing..It melts to the skin... It was taken OFF the market, SOON after. What I find funny, in childrens clothing and fire safety…
Is when the changed the CLOTH from Cotton, to polys…
NEVER use Poly bed clothing..It melts to the skin…
It was taken OFF the market, SOON after.

]]> By: ECA http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593703 ECA Sun, 15 Apr 2007 07:46:39 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593703 What is a motorcycle helmit for... To identify the body AFTER he broke his neck. Insurrance, is interesting...Without it, and making you RESPONSIBLE for a wreck... Wouldnt that make you drive MORE safe?? What is a motorcycle helmit for…
To identify the body AFTER he broke his neck.

Insurrance, is interesting…Without it, and making you RESPONSIBLE for a wreck… Wouldnt that make you drive MORE safe??

]]> By: Mr. Fusion http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593537 Mr. Fusion Sun, 15 Apr 2007 04:52:13 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593537 Although there was some movement earlier, my own suggestion would be the impact of Love Canal. Once it come to be widely understood that none of us are totally safe in our neighborhoods, each little safety effort was easy to swallow. Whether it is seat belts, improved drug safety, lead in paint, flammability of children's sleepwear, mercury in fish, toys with easy to dislodge parts, or polio immunizations, each has saved more lives then we can imagine. No, removing hazards from our lives doesn't make us wusses, weak, cowards, inconsequential, or wimps. But it does extend our life expectancy. Although there was some movement earlier, my own suggestion would be the impact of Love Canal. Once it come to be widely understood that none of us are totally safe in our neighborhoods, each little safety effort was easy to swallow. Whether it is seat belts, improved drug safety, lead in paint, flammability of children’s sleepwear, mercury in fish, toys with easy to dislodge parts, or polio immunizations, each has saved more lives then we can imagine.

No, removing hazards from our lives doesn’t make us wusses, weak, cowards, inconsequential, or wimps. But it does extend our life expectancy.

]]> By: Olo Baggins of Bywater http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593305 Olo Baggins of Bywater Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:10:12 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593305 Proud Alien...try <i>Flags of our Fathers</i> --either the book or movie-- and get back to us about that wuss comment. It's but one example of millions...no....Billlions Proud Alien…try Flags of our Fathers –either the book or movie– and get back to us about that wuss comment. It’s but one example of millions…no….Billlions

]]> By: Oil of Dog http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593273 Oil of Dog Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:05:06 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593273 When did the United States become a nation of frightened wimps?! The day our attitude changed from screw you to sue you!! When did the United States become a nation of frightened wimps?!

The day our attitude changed from screw you to sue you!!

]]> By: TJGeezer http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593207 TJGeezer Sat, 14 Apr 2007 22:12:51 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593207 Requiring car companies to make seat belts standard equipment makes sense. Requiring people to USE the seat belts was stupid. Setting standards for motorcycle helmets makes sense. Requiring motorcycle riders to USE helmets was stupid. Making drivers responsible and liable for their own mistakes makes sense. Requiring them to buy insurance if they can afford to post a reasonable bond is just a scam by the insurance mafia. Personally, I got the sense we had stepped over a line where personal liberty succumbed to authoritarian rules when they made motorcycle helmets mandatory for riders. I personally wear a helmet when riding my bike, and would choose to even if they were optional. But I'm an old coot. Requiring them on ALL riders, to me, represented one of the first real incursions against my personal liberty. I felt that way years ago and I haven't changed my mind. I feel the same way about the drug laws. I wish to christ it had been easier for my son to buy beer than to buy dope, the way it was for me. But the drug laws are about maintaining black market money flows. Helmet laws are only about hacking away at personal liberty in the name of other people's delusional safety. And that is exactly the spirit of the frightened wimp. Requiring car companies to make seat belts standard equipment makes sense. Requiring people to USE the seat belts was stupid.

Setting standards for motorcycle helmets makes sense. Requiring motorcycle riders to USE helmets was stupid.

Making drivers responsible and liable for their own mistakes makes sense. Requiring them to buy insurance if they can afford to post a reasonable bond is just a scam by the insurance mafia.

Personally, I got the sense we had stepped over a line where personal liberty succumbed to authoritarian rules when they made motorcycle helmets mandatory for riders. I personally wear a helmet when riding my bike, and would choose to even if they were optional. But I’m an old coot. Requiring them on ALL riders, to me, represented one of the first real incursions against my personal liberty. I felt that way years ago and I haven’t changed my mind.

I feel the same way about the drug laws. I wish to christ it had been easier for my son to buy beer than to buy dope, the way it was for me. But the drug laws are about maintaining black market money flows. Helmet laws are only about hacking away at personal liberty in the name of other people’s delusional safety. And that is exactly the spirit of the frightened wimp.

]]> By: ECA http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/04/13/when-did-the-united-states-become-a-nation-of-frightened-wimps/comment-page-1/#comment-593175 ECA Sat, 14 Apr 2007 21:46:09 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=10887#comment-593175 1 more thing... When did reaising a child, become Raise a child. we ARENT raise children to be KIDS, we are raiseing kids to be adults... Life is LIFE.. The best way to raise a kid, is STILL, on a farm.. Sex, accidents, ALways work to be done. natural life is experienced. Bad cellphone reception, Bad TV reception, and Highspeed wireless is NOT a concern(it aint there). It amazes me that a family with 2+ kids still has a home that looks like crap... the kids are SUPPOSED to be doing some work... I dont CARE what it is, KEEP them busy. 1 more thing…

When did reaising a child, become Raise a child.
we ARENT raise children to be KIDS,
we are raiseing kids to be adults…

Life is LIFE.. The best way to raise a kid, is STILL, on a farm..
Sex, accidents, ALways work to be done. natural life is experienced.
Bad cellphone reception, Bad TV reception, and Highspeed wireless is NOT a concern(it aint there).
It amazes me that a family with 2+ kids still has a home that looks like crap… the kids are SUPPOSED to be doing some work… I dont CARE what it is, KEEP them busy.

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