The study I looked at was 41,000 deaths for all of 2007, not just one month. I would venture to say that last year would be higher, but not significantly. Perhaps there were crashes where multiple people died, so even though there were 41,000 deaths maybe there were 38,000 crashes or something like that. So, as far as my logic goes, this was my on-the-fly reasoning: 1 in 20 crashes involves a cell phone. All crashes where someone died were still crashes and we should be able to reasonably say are subject to the 1 in 20 rule that has been established for all crashes whether someone died or not. 41,000 divided by 20 gives me 2050 deaths by cell phone. I am, of course, not assuming any more than a correlation between cell phone use and a crash, as you pointed out. There are lots of other distractions, again, so why choose cell phones? It's a pet cause. As I said, I avoid accidents all the time but usually by someone who isn't even on the phone. As far as meaning goes, I think you can tell that my words had a hint of sarcasm, obviously I don't think that avoiding drunk SUV drivers is the meaning of life, but I sure do get a lot of enjoyment bitching about it to my friends when it happens. But I was really referencing this quest for safety and security in a less than evitable world and how the illusion of safety that these laws give us are only hurting us. All those things you listed that give meaning are exactly what I am advocating, and my examples were merely hyperbole. We need to live dangerously, and this means taking risks.:)
1 in 20 crashes involves a cell phone, 41000 people died in car crashes last year, so maybe 2050 deaths a year are caused by cell phones. Who cares? I am tired of pet causes like this that demonize slightly risky behavior like driving buzzed and bringing a knife to school, you know, behaviors that make life exciting and worth living. So you might get killed by some dumbass on his phone, if you were a decent driver you should be able to avoid it. I know I avoid getting killed by some prick in an SUV at least twice a week.
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so meta
I see what you did there
Real hackers don't use windows...
Rupert Murdoch: Dragging us into the dark ages.
fixed that for you
The study I looked at was 41,000 deaths for all of 2007, not just one month. I would venture to say that last year would be higher, but not significantly. Perhaps there were crashes where multiple people died, so even though there were 41,000 deaths maybe there were 38,000 crashes or something like that. So, as far as my logic goes, this was my on-the-fly reasoning: 1 in 20 crashes involves a cell phone. All crashes where someone died were still crashes and we should be able to reasonably say are subject to the 1 in 20 rule that has been established for all crashes whether someone died or not. 41,000 divided by 20 gives me 2050 deaths by cell phone. I am, of course, not assuming any more than a correlation between cell phone use and a crash, as you pointed out. There are lots of other distractions, again, so why choose cell phones? It's a pet cause. As I said, I avoid accidents all the time but usually by someone who isn't even on the phone. As far as meaning goes, I think you can tell that my words had a hint of sarcasm, obviously I don't think that avoiding drunk SUV drivers is the meaning of life, but I sure do get a lot of enjoyment bitching about it to my friends when it happens. But I was really referencing this quest for safety and security in a less than evitable world and how the illusion of safety that these laws give us are only hurting us. All those things you listed that give meaning are exactly what I am advocating, and my examples were merely hyperbole. We need to live dangerously, and this means taking risks. :)
1 in 20 crashes involves a cell phone, 41000 people died in car crashes last year, so maybe 2050 deaths a year are caused by cell phones. Who cares? I am tired of pet causes like this that demonize slightly risky behavior like driving buzzed and bringing a knife to school, you know, behaviors that make life exciting and worth living. So you might get killed by some dumbass on his phone, if you were a decent driver you should be able to avoid it. I know I avoid getting killed by some prick in an SUV at least twice a week.
That way instead of there only being the possibility of an accident there will actually be one. Makes perfect sense to me.
Multi-ton vehicle? Jesus wtf do you drive, a tank? My car weighs 1700 lbs.
Get off your nuts
"Hey Beavis, I think I know what the next big thing is. It's in my pants."