From: jpolito@sysgem1.encore.com (Jonathan Polito)
Subject: Re: Deer Claims Another; Thoughts
Organization: Encore Computer Corp.
	<18546@drutx.ATT.COM>
Date: 23 Jul 92 14:14:30


In article <18546@drutx.ATT.COM> brucer@drutx.ATT.COM (RobinsonB) writes:
   In article <JEP.92Jul21141223@thneed.cs.duke.edu>, jep@cs.duke.edu (Jonathan E. Polito) writes:
>   > 
>   > In article <9900936@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> ron@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Ron Miller) writes:
>   >    [ story of a motorcyclist colliding with a deer and some useful
>   >    thoughts on emergency equipment ]
>   > 
>   >    When you reject the "cost to society" argument, please remember that you
>   >    are also spitting in the face of suddenly involved strangers who will be 
>   >    inconvenienced by your decision. They cannot spit back at you as you lie 
>   >    unconscious and bleeding on (or off) the road.
>   > 
>   >    Ride Safe,
>   >    Ron Miller
>   > 
>   > 
>   > What kind of TV land do you live in that your priorities are so askew?
>   > How can you say that you are inconvenienced by someone dying that
>   > requires your help? There are not too many things more important than
>   > life.  Next time your mother/wife/child needs to be rushed to the
>   > hospital and you are not around you better hope that others don't
>   > think like you or at least don't spend an hour wondering what the law
>   > requires them to do. 



>	   What in Ron's posting implied that the thought of "what the law
>	   required him to do" ever even entered his mind?

>>   On a different scale, this lady's choice to (a) not wear a helmet and (b) to
>>   ride at dusk/dark in deer territory, severely traumatized about 12 people who
>>   came to her aid. These individual strangers contributed time, material and
>>   emotional energy on her behalf, all because they felt it to be right. 
>>   (and that the law requires rendering assistance.......)

I guess the fact that he mentioned it.

>	   Jonathan, you need to learn to read (for content) before you flame.

Looks like you need to also.

>	   Ron's posting was mostly about the kind of emergency equipment he plans
>	   to include in inventory so that he will be better prepared to help
>	   accident victims in the future.  If I ever had an accident and was
>	   dying by the side of the road the thoughts running through my mind
>	   would include " ... and please let Ron Miller be the next person
>	   to pass by ... "  That he mentions the "cost to society" issue indicates
>	   that he is also, in addition to being ready to help, is also ready
>	   to think; something you should try, Jonathon, after your knee finishes
>	   jerking.

I was flaming a specific point in the article. I mentioned in the top
of my reply that the article contained useful information on emergency
equipment.  

>	   Perhaps *you've* spent too much time watching TV, Jonathon.  Witnessing
>	   a bloody trauma in real life imposes an intense *cost* to the witness'
>	   emotional well-being, even though the predominant thoughts are of
>	   compassion for the victim.  Ignoring this cost blinds you to the very
>	   real possibility of intense, severe, and lasting personal damage.
>	   The complexity of the human mind and spirit allows for compassion and
>	   resentment to co-exist in the same soul.  Ron's posting recognizes that
>	   complexity in a way your favorite TV programs cannot approach.

Give me a break. I've been both very bloody after crashing off road
during race training and witnessed bloody accidents. I admit that the
human spirit is complex and contradictory. Maybe that is all that Ron
meant to say. However, it underscores a prevalent idea in many places
that you shouldn't get involved. As I said, there aren't too many
things more important than life. Yeah, maybe it will cut short your
ride that you've been waiting all week for, but you've saved someones
life - and I have a number (3) of best friends who were very near death
and I am thankful that they were saved from death.


>	   For the most part, I'm a radical person.  If I were to design society,
>	   people with severely damaged genetic make-up would not be *permitted*
>	   to procreate, people who were capable of earning but refused to work
>	   would be allowed to starve, criminals would *suffer* in proportion to
>	   their crimes, and society would not pay the cost of perpetual life-
>	   support for brain-trashed motorcycle accident victims.  In my society,
>	   the squidly choices of the young, foolish, and uninformed few would not
>	   be allowed to impose a large dollar cost on the many.  But, my vision
>	   of society will never come to pass, at least not until the bleeding
>	   hearts bleed this society to death.

Did you get this idea from an episode of Star Trek?

>	   (( bigot mode on ))
>
>	   Have you ever noticed that posters whose paths contain ".edu" often say
>	   such *stupid* things???
>
>	   (( bigot mode off ))
>	>
>	^ .................. brucer (DoD #0002)

Maybe you need to go to an ".edu."

I think Ron did a great job of rendering assistance and offering
advice on emergency equiptment. As I said, I just take exception with
a specific small part of his article. Life is much more important than
a temporary inconvenience.
- --
Jonathan Polito                                      DoD #x (K 100)
jep@cs.duke.edu                                  jpolito@encore.com 
              "You Don't Say...." --- Sylvia Plath

------- End of Forwarded Message

--
Jonathan E. Polito (jpolito@encore.com)                 +1 919 481 3730
Encore Computer Corp, 901 Kildaire Farm Rd, bldg D, Cary, NC 27511  USA