OT - Some people just don't get the message!

I think you will find the he is sending a different message joc - one that makes him a hero amongst his own group and aided by inappropriate law enforcement.

So I wonder , who it is that hasn't got the real message.

joc45,

sad hey, thats why these types of Laws don't work.... they may make a sensible person re-think what they are about to do.. but to others it's like a red rag to a bull..

Cheers

Richard

I wonder where he would be right now if he did the same in the USA.

I kinda agree with Robin on this FWIW. There seems today to be far too many rules and people ready to whinge and dob anyone in for anything that resembles a bit of fun and extroversion. Now I'm not refering to this story in particular as it may be a bit extreme but generalising on the subject of teenagers having a bit of adventure at the expense of the law...to a point.

When we were young there was much more opportunity to hoon around in your V8 cruising the main drag, the occasional drag off the lights or head out of town to see "how the old girl goes doin' the (imperial) ton" and dropping a patch of rubber. From what I recall we already had instilled at least a little nouse to know not to hoon in suburban streets or where you could lose it in to a flock of pedestrians but nonetheless there seemed to be less do-gooders around to dob you in for a bit of (mostly) harmless fun.

Kids of today generally do not have the opportunities to seek raw adventure and to develop their own sense of responsibility that we had, but instead are told not to even try it out because it's risky. I believe there are too many reasons to list why this has come about because it is a comples issue. We are de-evolving into a non-risk taking people. It appears that if it involves a hazard or risk, lets remove it or make laws to prevent people from trying it. This I again believe causes young males particularly to reach a point that they buck the law and the rules and the do-gooders and go a bit mental. They dont have the life-tools like we developed over many years of busted bones and busted egos.

On a recent trip to France and parts of Europe I was surprised to see that there appeared to be less rules, laws and whingers than here in Oz. A couple of examples; in the streets there were lots of motorised scooters parked up on the footpath near shops and pubs and even the occasional car with two wheels up. No one cared, there was mutual respect and responsibility. Do that here and watch the whingers. On the highways many people flouted the speed limit, sometimes by a LOT. No one cared and in fact made sure to pull to the left lane to let them through. Mutual respect and responsibility. Try that here. You can by alcohol anywhere and drink it pretty much anywhere, but I didnt see any morosely drunk people or fights etc. Mutual respect and responsibility. Try that here.

This country evolved from a convict beginning that snubbed their noses at authority and to dob someone in was just about a hangable offense. It was also a frontier society that would 'give it a go'. It seems that over the last decade or so that conformity is the new black and more people are wearing it. Our nation is turning into sheep. Sheep without mutual respect, personal responsibility, sense of adventure or patience.

Well in my 68 years i have never had a ticket for speeding and when I was

young couldnt afford a car till was about 19 anyway.

I had an Austin A70 which wasnt a car you could hoon in anyway.

I learnt car control in a 34 V8 in wet paddocks.

Certainly taught you to hang onto it and didnt pose a threat to anyone.

I lived for several years at the end of 79 miles of corrugated gravel which also

taught me how to handle the old Austin with its narrow tyres and lovely

English technology, NOT.

Was interesting to say the least to have the tail hanging out on corners etc.

Sad to think the guy I sold it to rolled it on a straight bit of tar seal LOL.

Part of the trouble today is the youg have too much money and treat the cars

with contempt

I broke an axle on the Austin ( quite a common thing) and had to leave it on

the side of the road till payday.

After that I treated it a bit more gently.

I have no answer and no clue on what to do to fix the problem. Just some comments. It is not just the young at fault.

It's real easy to be a boring old fart (self confessed) and knock the hoons and advocating crushing their cars etc. Yeah maybe we are too old to remember we were young once and did as bad or worse. How some of us survived still amazes us. Of course we are now such perfect drivers with unblemished records and short memories that we can smugly point out the faults of others and advocate ever more draconian and punitive measures for "them" especially if they are young.

When I drive to work each day I pass at least 3, it could be more, of those roadside memorials where a young bloke met his end at very high speed. Not that far from one I notice fresh burnout marks and think "How can they afford to pay for the tyres?" I keep driving and come to a stop sign. There is only one on the way to work.Well I stop. Hardly anyone else does. At least four out of five cars plough straight through. These are not young hoons they are of the age groups that are older and should have more sense. In the fullness of time unfortunately there will be another fatality at this intersection. It does not have stop signs for nothing! Oh we will hear the usual. "It was not my fault. He came out of nowhere. My brakes failed etc etc".

I think we could all improve our driving. See safety as an "us" thing and not a "them" thing. They may be young and reckless and we may be older and careless. All part of the same problem.

Flynnie