From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos
From Address: liam{at}valentijn.nu
Subject: Re: Antimatter experiment produces first beam of antihydrogen

Your Name schreef op 25-1-2014 06:21:
> In article ,
>  wrote:
>> On Fri, 24 Jan 2014 19:09:54 +0100, Wouter Valentijn
>>  wrote:
>>> GettingCloser{at}here.com schreef op 24-1-2014 18:23:
>>>>
>>>> I want my antimatter cigarette lighter, please!
>>>
>>> Nah, smoking is very unhealthy.
>>> But once you get your hands on some serious amounts of antimatter, why
>>> not take inspiration from 'The Doomsday Machine' and create a
planet killer!
>>> Oh, wait.... That might be unhealthy also.....
>>
>> People do a lot of unhealthy things. As long as they do them to
>> themselves, it's really none of your business.
>>
>> Now when they do such things to OTHERS, especially the helpless, that
>> makes it EVERYBODY'S business.
> 
>
> I tend to agree, but there are added problems.
>
> Firstly, in many places your taxes are wasted to help people who make
> stupid decisions, for example health services for people who CHOOSE to
> smoke, rescue services for people who CHOOSE to climb a mountain, etc.
> Public taxes should not be used for these purposes, the people who
> choose to do those things should pay for any consequences themselves.

I also tend to agree here.
However, I also think that these services, like justice, should be 
blind. The principle of solidarity with all should be upheld. It is the 
foundation of society.

>
> Secondly, the people doing stupid things often cause damage to innocent
> bystanders. For example a drunk driver or idiot trying to escape the
> police crashes into an innocent road user or pedestrian.

Indeed. Jail time for those I'd say.

>
> The point of where to draw the line in interferring in what people do
> is difficult to establish ... although in 99% of cases, the
> policitcally correct fools are way over the line.
>

The trouble is that life consists out of a lot of gray areas.
Things might indeed not always be clear and humans, imperfect as they 
are, can make mistakes. On either side of that vague line.
Society has people (we hope) that are qualified to make that judgment 
call. I try not to be the first one to throw stones.


-- 
Wouter Valentijn http://www.j3v.net

"Nothing in Hell can stop the Timberwolves"

Motto of the 104th Infantry Division (United States)

http://zeppodunsel.blogspot.nl/

liam=mail
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