We are protecting the ignorant and the stupid (kids and parents).
What happened to survival of the fittest?
"Moog" alone attacks a Mastadon with a sharpened stick and gets crushed like a bug. Why, because he was ignorant and stupid!
Darwinism is taking a back seat.
How many of you wore a helmet on a bicycle? A helmet, knee, and elbow pads on a skateboard? A chest protector and full face helmet in little league? That stuff wasn't even a thought when I was a kid.
Is it more dangerous now? Possibly, because little Billy, in his skateboarding "armor" is now invincible and indestructable, and thinks that jumping off of a 20 foot staircase is safe because he didn't get hurt falling off of the 10 foot one earlier. Or, Jim thinks that he can't hurt the batter with a little "chin music" pitch because the batter is wearing his "armor". WRONG!
The media has taken individual, one in a million, tragedies and thrust them into the spotlight. "12 year old dies after being hit by pitch, ARE YOUR CHILDREN IN DANGER?". Hell yes they are, and have always been.
IMO, our society protects those who are weak, stupid, a danger to themselves, and also to others. Then add in modern medical break-throughs and we are propogating them.
[ 11. November 2004, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Rotarded ]