The Nanny State thread

[MO]

Just thought of one..the gov't has decided we're going digital tv. What if I don't want digital tv,too bad son its that or no tv at all.

[Franco Cozzo]

We're not allowed to use hammer and chisel at work because one of the guys accidentally put it into his arm when it slipped. So we're having OHS people come in to teach us how to hold hammer and chisel, how to stand, etc.

Oh and up until a few weeks ago, we weren't allowed to use ladders, they only just got approved.

One of the guys accidentally reversed a car into two yellow concrete poles at less than 5km/h, I'm waiting for the army of driving instructors to front up and teach us how to drive.

[MO]

@RG,don't start that one up again. You know as well as I do if the gov't was fair dinkum then they'ed stop production of tobacco and imports.

[RG]

Originally Posted by MO

@RG,don't start that one up again. You know as well as I do if the gov't was fair dinkum then they'ed stop production of tobacco and imports.

And stop the income from the massive taxes?

NEVER

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by MO

@RG,don't start that one up again. You know as well as I do if the gov't was fair dinkum then they'ed stop production of tobacco and imports.

If they do that then booze will be next. Oh wait they wont put stupid taxes on alcohol and then slowly make it socially unacceptable then ban it from everywhere......

[Franco Cozzo]

America tried banning Alcohol in the 20s/30s, it didn't work.

Banning smokes/alcohol would be a step backwards for the government, all the tax they lose out on.

[MAD]

Inbound lanes on citylink at 80km/h... How are they not safer than they were during the roadworks?

[Tray]

Originally Posted by vztrt

If they do that then booze will be next. Oh wait they wont put stupid taxes on alcohol and then slowly make it socially unacceptable then ban it from everywhere......

there trying to push goon/wine to tripple the price, sorry teenie bobbers...

[Spinner77]

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegr.../state_plated/

[4Vman]

I can't help but think the silent culprit in all of this "over regulation" is the ever increasing litigative nature of people and the corresponding reaction of Insurance companies...

Everyone is covering their bums, including Govts with regulations for fear of being sued and insurance premiums skyrocketing...

Damo, as an example the reason you probably cant use a hammer and chisel without training now is because the bloke who hurt himself probably sued (or could have) the company for millions and because you didn't have specific training in its use and the company, or its insurance company had to wear it...

20 years ago it wouldn't even get get a hearing, today, judges and lawyers are all over it. Nobody is ever responsible for their own safety, its always someone else.

The companies then react by "banning and training" as required by their lawyers and insurance company....

[MAD]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

I can't help but think the silent culprit in all of this is the ever increasing litigative nature of people and the corresponding reaction of Insurance companies...

Everyone is covering their bums with regulations for fear of being sued and insurance premiums skyrocketing...

Damo, as an example the reason you probably cant use a hammer and chisel without training now is because the bloke who hurt himself probably sued (or could have) the company for millions and because you didn't have specific training in its use the company, or its insurance company had to wear it...

20 years ago it wouldn't even get get a hearing, today, judges are all over it.
l
The companies then react by "banning and training" as required by their lawyers and insurance company....

This is where the justice system becomes a joke, that they actually allow that sort of garbage to happen. Anyone who enters a lawsuit for something like that should be publicly humiliated for being a douche.

Bring back common sense!!

[MAV50L]

These stupid self extinguising cigerates that NSW has made a requirement.
All because a handful of twits fell asleep and burnt their house down...........
Half way through a smoke the bloody thing goes out. You have to be a porn star and be able to suck a golf ball through a garden hose nowdays just to be able to have a smoke!

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

These stupid self extinguising cigerates that NSW has made a requirement.
All because a handful of twits fell asleep and burnt their house down...........
Half way through a smoke the bloody thing goes out. You have to be a porn star and be able to suck a golf ball through a garden hose nowdays just to be able to have a smoke!

Maybe its time to quit!!!

Yep and what you point out is probably due to a cigarette company wearing a huge claim for a fire caused by a cigarette...

[MAD]

I've heard stories of car audio shops adding a "dumb-****" fee, for when people bring in a car for repairs, when they have tried to install stuff themselves and clearly should have given it to the professionals.

We need to add a few lines to our constitution or something that basically states that stupid cases will not be given the time of day.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

I hate the fact that the world has gone health and safety mad as well as all the freedom encroaching.

We are no longer living in a world in which if a light bulb is blown you get a ladder and change it.
Now we sit down and have a meeting about it. Forget the ladder thats far to dangerous!!! You will need a cherry picker. Great, but hold on, you will also need a license to operate such machinery. You will also need a harness and be trained to work at heights. You will also be a qualified electrician before changing that bulb.

Now im all for keeping safe but nobody is allowed to use common sense any more.

I hope you have completed a risk assesment form before undertaking such a dangerous procedue and identified and labelled relevant risks.

The laws in this country are a joke.

[Bluntman]

Originally Posted by MAD

This is where the justice system becomes a joke, that they actually allow that sort of garbage to happen. Anyone who enters a lawsuit for something like that should be publicly humiliated for being a douche.

Bring back common sense!!

This is where are justice system fails???? I think our whole justice system is a fail. Criminals have all the rights, victims have none and idiots are rewarded with cash payments while the regular law abiding person foots the bill. There was a woman that sued Maccas successfully a few years back because she slipped on the floor and broke her ankle... but get this, she slipped on a coffee she had just spilled.

And the problem with common sense is it is not common. Idiot proofing our society just makes bigger idiots. Like I can't believe they need ads on TV to tell people to wear seatbelts... shouldn't people just have enough smarts to know to belt up on their own?

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Bluntman

This is where are justice system fails???? I think our whole justice system is a fail. Criminals have all the rights, victims have none and idiots are rewarded with cash payments while the regular law abiding person foots the bill. There was a woman that sued Maccas successfully a few years back because she slipped on the floor and broke her ankle... but get this, she slipped on a coffee she had just spilled.

And the problem with common sense is it is not common. Idiot proofing our society just makes bigger idiots. Like I can't believe they need ads on TV to tell people to wear seatbelts... shouldn't people just have enough smarts to know to belt up on their own?

You just need to look at some of the ridiculous obscure directions on packaging these days, especially in America, its not so much to protect people but protect the company selling the product..., read some of these Product Warnings:

* "Do not use if you cannot see clearly to read the information in the information booklet." -- In the information booklet.

* "Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." -- On a bottle of shampoo for dogs.

* "For external use only!" -- On a curling iron.

* "Warning: This product can burn eyes." -- On a curling iron.

* "Do not use in shower." -- On a hair dryer.

* "Do not use while sleeping." -- On a hair dryer.

* "Do not use while sleeping or unconscious." -- On a hand-held massaging device.

* "Do not place this product into any electronic equipment." -- On the case of a chocolate CD in a gift basket.

* "Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking." -- On a toilet at a public sports facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

# "Not to be used as a personal flotation device." -- On a 6x10 inch inflatable picture frame.

# "Do not put in mouth." -- On a box of bottle rockets.

# "Remove plastic before eating." -- On the wrapper of a Fruit Roll-Up snack.

# "Not dishwasher safe." -- On a remote control for a TV.

# "For lifting purposes only." -- On the box for a car jack.

# "Do not put lit candles on phone." -- On the instructions for a cordless phone.

# "Warning! This is not underwear! Do not attempt to put in pants." -- On the packaging for a wristwatch.

I bet all of these warnings came as a result of a successful law suit against the manufacturer....

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

These stupid self extinguising cigerates that NSW has made a requirement.
All because a handful of twits fell asleep and burnt their house down...........
Half way through a smoke the bloody thing goes out. You have to be a porn star and be able to suck a golf ball through a garden hose nowdays just to be able to have a smoke!

Um how about the numerous bushfires caused by inconsiderate smokers who toss their butts out the window??

If you burn your own house down thats one thing, but if you burn 1000s of acres of bush, other peoples homes, then that is a different story.

Unfortunately people no longer think of their actions... so in effect we end up with the more bizzare and stupid laws. No one to blame but our selves...

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Tray

there trying to push goon/wine to tripple the price, sorry teenie bobbers...

The only reason people switched to goon is because when that alcopop tax came in.

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Damo, as an example the reason you probably cant use a hammer and chisel without training now is because the bloke who hurt himself probably sued (or could have) the company for millions and because you didn't have specific training in its use and the company, or its insurance company had to wear it...

20 years ago it wouldn't even get get a hearing, today, judges and lawyers are all over it. Nobody is ever responsible for their own safety, its always someone else.

The companies then react by "banning and training" as required by their lawyers and insurance company....

We're covered by worksafe and all that stuff, we had meetings and things where they claim they "care" about us after something happens, the only thing they care about is how their work cover premiums have sky rocketed with all the accidents thats been happening in the last few months haha.

[DJR-351]

I have to do a Job Safety Analysis, Risk Assessment Analysis and a Hazard Identification before taking a cr#p these days, and should something untoward happen while taking said cr#p, a full investigation and re-enactment is carried out, and should the incident while taking said cr#p result in a Lost Time Injury I shall be counting paper clips in the office until I recover so the company does not have to risk Insurance Premium rises by paying Workers Comp.
Meanwhile, while I am recovering, the results of the cr#p incident will mean a full rewrite of the cr#p procedures and more training and the wearing of a high visibility vests, hard hats and safety boots while doing future cr#ps...

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

You just need to look at some of the ridiculous obscure directions on packaging these days, especially in America, its not so much to protect people but protect the company selling the product..., read some of these Product Warnings:

* "Do not use if you cannot see clearly to read the information in the information booklet." -- In the information booklet.

* "Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish." -- On a bottle of shampoo for dogs.

* "For external use only!" -- On a curling iron.

* "Warning: This product can burn eyes." -- On a curling iron.

* "Do not use in shower." -- On a hair dryer.

* "Do not use while sleeping." -- On a hair dryer.

* "Do not use while sleeping or unconscious." -- On a hand-held massaging device.

* "Do not place this product into any electronic equipment." -- On the case of a chocolate CD in a gift basket.

* "Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking." -- On a toilet at a public sports facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

# "Not to be used as a personal flotation device." -- On a 6x10 inch inflatable picture frame.

# "Do not put in mouth." -- On a box of bottle rockets.

# "Remove plastic before eating." -- On the wrapper of a Fruit Roll-Up snack.

# "Not dishwasher safe." -- On a remote control for a TV.

# "For lifting purposes only." -- On the box for a car jack.

# "Do not put lit candles on phone." -- On the instructions for a cordless phone.

# "Warning! This is not underwear! Do not attempt to put in pants." -- On the packaging for a wristwatch.

I bet all of these warnings came as a result of a successful law suit against the manufacturer....

American cars and light aircraft carry stickers all over the place now.
All have the basic same warning "If you dont do this/ or If you do this... (insert action) it may result in injury or death"

Some of the dumbest cases in litigation history happened in the USA in the 1980/90s.

These inculde the following (and no these did not come from internet emails, but a well respected Aviation magazine in the 1990s, which was discussing litigation and how it affected/ killed American aircraft manufacturers)

A guy was cleaning a loaded Colt Peacemaker (as you do!). He dropped it and the gun went off and blew his big toe off. He sucessfully sued Colt for the "dangerous design" of his 100yr old collectors piece!!!
Nevermind it was know that you never leave the top chamber loaded as it was prone to go off.

Another one was a guy left a bar drunk and drove home.
He then drove down a one way street and had an accident.
He wasnt wearing a seatbelt.
He sucessfully sued; The bar - for getting him drunk!
The local council!!! - For designing a one way street which physically doesnt stop you from driving down the road the wrong way!!!
And last of all - He sued the manufacturer of the car, because no where did it say in the car or its handbook that failure to wear a seatbelt would cause injuries in an accident!

In a bizzare case the pilot of a small Cessna had run out of fuel and safely landed his plane near a freeway in the USA. Nearby there was service station and his plane was approved to run on automotive petrol. He had the plane towed to the servo and began filling it up.
A motorist driving along did the old double take when he saw a plane at the servo and rear ended the car infront!

The motorist sued CESSNA and won!!!! Thats right it was the fault of the manufacturer of the plane for his accident.

I know of several other incredible cases of stupidity... but the fact remains that we were also going down that very same path here in Australia.
This is why OHS is no so rediculas...
Why we have rules and laws for everything...
Why we have stupid warning signs everywhere we go...
Simply because of the lowest common denominator.... greed!

Blaming the government is not taking responsibility for our own stupidiy now is it?

[Franco Cozzo]

I think we just need some sort of magistrate/judge to come along and use his common sense.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by RG

Smokers have as much right to cloud me in their second hand smoke as I do to spit on them.

Thoughtless Smokers annoy the hell out of me
:

Fair enough . Im a smoker and i dont like someone blowing smoke in my face.
But as a australian citizen dont you think i have the right to sit on a empty park bench in the street or sit on the beach and have a cigarette if i wish .

I dont intend on invading anyones space but the way things are headed im not going to be able to leave my house until i manage to quit smoking .

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I think we just need some sort of magistrate/judge to come along and use his common sense.

How sexist of me, I must change that to his/her before I get sued.

This isn't related to "Nanny state" but its political correctness, I saw a little while ago while reading some propaganda called "The Herald Sun", anyways there was a fight going on between a group of woman and something about turning some melbourne club into allowing woman into it, even though its a "mens club". Who would want to hang out with a bunch of old pasty men anyway?

I'm sorry, but you don't see me complaining about why the chain of Fernwood womens gyms wont let me sign up? It goes both ways.

EDIT: I'm not sure if its the mens gallery, but damn this sounds awesome:

The Men’s Gallery is Melbourne’s most prestigious and glamorous table top dancing club with an International reputation for our service and quality entertainment.

.

EDIT2: Wait that isn't it haha:

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/a...rne_club_pink/

There we go, some background info.

[JMO]

Originally Posted by snappy

Fair enough . Im a smoker and i dont like someone blowing smoke in my face.
But as a australian citizen dont you think i have the right to sit on a empty park bench in the street or sit on the beach and have a cigarette if i wish .

I dont intend on invading anyones space but the way things are headed im not going to be able to leave my house until i manage to quit smoking .

I agree. If it is legal to buy and consume tobacco products, why shouldn't you be able to smoke in the open as long as you dispose of the butts and your not breathing it out onto someone.

The day they ban smoking in open areas had better be the same day they ban the sale of tobacco products.

(note: I'm not a smoker, I just don't like hypocrisy :P)

This alcopop bs is obviously a money grab. What's next? beer? wine? If teens want to drink they will find a way, I doubt the cost is an issue especially if it's split four ways.

Don't get me started on the internet filter (read censorship). Small breasted women are now considered RC (refused classification) as they may 'resemble' a child and liable to be blocked if the filter gets through. That's a far cry from the beastiality, pro rape CP etc (that you'd be hard pressed to find anyway) that CONroy likes to babble on about. Funny how he seems to always miss the other not so illegal stuff that would be blocked also.

I can't believe such a thing is even being considered in Australia....

Mods: Sorry if this is too political.

[RG]

Originally Posted by snappy

Fair enough . Im a smoker and i dont like someone blowing smoke in my face.
But as a australian citizen dont you think i have the right to sit on a empty park bench in the street or sit on the beach and have a cigarette if i wish .

I dont intend on invading anyones space but the way things are headed im not going to be able to leave my house until i manage to quit smoking .

The problem is most smokers believe it is their god given right to walk down a crowded street ciggy hanging by their side and leaving a trail of smoke as they go along.

The ones that do this along known running paths are the worst as when you're really sucking in wind the last thing you need is a lung full of smoke.

Perhaps payback with BO is in order

[XR8GRL]

Originally Posted by snappy

I dont intend on invading anyones space but the way things are headed im not going to be able to leave my house until i manage to quit smoking .

With the way things are going towards smokers, it won't be too long before you aren't allowed to even do that.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by XR8GRL

With the way things are going towards smokers, it won't be too long before you aren't allowed to even do that.

GOOD.

[MAD]

Originally Posted by RG

The problem is most smokers believe it is their god given right to walk down a crowded street ciggy hanging by their side and leaving a trail of smoke as they go along.

The ones that do this along known running paths are the worst as when you're really sucking in wind the last thing you need is a lung full of smoke.

Perhaps payback with BO is in order

Maybe cyclists have an argument too... How dare cars drive around spewing out fumes? Last thing they need is a lung full of carbon monoxide.

I guess we better ban cars.


I dont see the problem walking in a crowded street with a ciggy. Some food smells worse to me than what cigarette smoke does. I dont complain when I'm walking along Lygon street passed the restaurants and one is particularly pongy.

Better stop food smell from reaching the streets because the smell of meat might offend the vegans of our city.

[RG]

Originally Posted by MAD

Maybe cyclists have an argument too... How dare cars drive around spewing out fumes? Last thing they need is a lung full of carbon monoxide.

I guess we better ban cars.


I dont see the problem walking in a crowded street with a ciggy. Some food smells worse to me than what cigarette smoke does. I dont complain when I'm walking along Lygon street passed the restaurants and one is particularly pongy.

Better stop food smell from reaching the streets because the smell of meat might offend the vegans of our city.

What a ridiculous thing to post.

If you are going to make an argument from a smokers POV at least make it one with some substance. Sorry if that's a little harsh but come on mate.