-- Posted by Nestariyuchyy at 9:56 pm on May 9, 2008 I've had a number of conversations in recent days, and in the past, about the way society today almost seems to pander to and protect the chronically stupid. One prime example are our laws and policing systems: by law, we are required to wear seat belts, and drive under the speed limit. These laws are policed by individuals who risk their own lives in order to protect the lives of those too stupid to think about the consequences of their actions. Admittedly, they are there to "protect the innocent" but at times one has to wonder. Further more, this stupidity seems to propogate almost endlessly, and if evolutionary fitness is at least lightly defined as the ability to produce the most offspring, then these traits seem to be the ones carried on into future generations. See the attached link and segment from a movie for a little more of an expansion on my reasoning: http://www.egodialogues.com/general/idiocracy.php I appreciate any reasoned commentary on this matter, although preferably not from those that apparently have the modern evolutionary advantage, as I fear too many of them already stalk the fora of LiveWire. -- Posted by Bobster the Lobster at 9:57 pm on May 9, 2008 HAHAHA, the modern evolutionary advantage? Ummm, fuck you? -- Posted by Nestariyuchyy at 9:59 pm on May 9, 2008 Might I raise the post directly following my original as a case in point? Unfortunately intellectual status inhibits me from expressing my thoughts more succinctly. -- Posted by Bobster the Lobster at 9:53 pm on May 10, 2008 Awww, people like you are so cute.  So full of big words to use! It's adorable.  I feel silly really, being the only fool who bothered to respond to you.  I, however, get this itch in my finger when I hear, or in this case read, obvious ignorance. -- Posted by nikki at 1:34 am on May 11, 2008 Laws on seatbelts and speed limits aren't just there to protect the "idiots" who can't think to drive safely, they are there to protect the people who don't break the law and who do drive safely. Surely the deserve to be protected? I don't see those laws as pandering to the stupid, merely to try and ensure the safety of the innocent. I don't think you can go around and say that people shouldn't reproduce because they are, according to you, "stupid". They have the same right as you to reproduce and do what they want to so long as it's not harming anybody else. -- Posted by Daleacus at 3:48 am on May 11, 2008 Seatblets and speed limits are not there to protect the idiots or the normal, safe drivers. They're there to minimise the cost to health services in the event of an accident. And accidents do happen. If you can make the injuries less severe, the state has to pay less to help you recover and clean up the mess. It's not about protection, it's about cost. People having accidents is costly.