At one point my parents were involved in what amounts to (but was never named as) a cult. Two very bright, but rather absurd people, were conned in their quest for enlightenment and answers. The cult drained them of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of their obsession. Had their "leader" suggested that a few hours in a sauna would be beneficial, I have no doubt they would have done it with minimal to no hesitation. And if they'd died? Well, it would have been their own damn faults.
But a bunch of people willingly put their lives in the hands of their "guru" and suddenly it's called murder. Lawsuits are threatened. Compensation will be made for the families of the 3 people who died. One was a mother of three! Nothing is said, however, about the sheer stupidity of the people who choose to do dangerous things -- of their own free will. The mother of 3 was selfish enough to ignore common sense, putting her life at risk, knowing that she might leave her children motherless. If she herself didn't care whether her children were left motherless, then why should someone else take the blame?
Despite my cynical nature, my expectations of the stupidity of the human race... I'm still sick of a society that refuses to take responsibility for their own actions. Stop blaming everyone else for your own actions! No one was holding a gun (figurative or literal) to the heads of those who got into that tent. No one made these people take risks. And no one, but those who blindly followed someone's directive is actually at fault.
Unfortunately, so long as there is money to be made, there will be lawsuits to make it. And society, what good is left, will continue to be hurt by the ripples caused by the waves of the idiot majority.
Interesting subject to discuss. Recently I read an article about brainwashing and manipulation. Cult leaders and gurus use the same few, but very effective manipulation techniques. Still, the scientists also discovered that these techniques don't work on people who don't want to be convinced. So, religious fanatics really don't have an excuse. If they believe a lie, it's partly because they WANT to believe that lie.
I agree with you here. That's why I added stupidity to my updated list of capital sins :-)
In the blog "Things That I Hate" (http://www.thingsthatihate.com/), somebody said that he (she?) hates "genes". Let me quote: "Stop attributing everything to genes. I know scientists are finding out more and more behavioral quirks are tied to genetics, but seriously, there is no 'niceness gene' or 'patience gene'. Those things are a choice."
Oh, and about lawsuits: people still sue tobacco companies whenever they get lung cancer.
Blame it on genes, blame it on the guru, blame it on whatever/whoever except yourself. Way to go.
Posted by: Gissel | 10/20/2009 at 01:21 PM
Miss Kirby Brown was from just down the road from me.
Posted by: Matt | 10/20/2009 at 01:48 PM
Gissel, We desperately need tort reform in this country, but it seems unlikely given the deep pockets mentality. If more judges would show common sense (rather than not marrying people because one is a minority *sigh*) then this wouldn't be such a problem, but those in power are just as bad as those who seek power.
Matt, so sorry that you're amidst the morons.
Posted by: The Queen of the Blog | 10/20/2009 at 04:10 PM
It's not so bad.
The entertainment just happens, you don't have to set anyone up for it.
Posted by: Matt | 10/20/2009 at 04:33 PM
Jen, Common Sense is rolling in his grave. And I don't think he will ever come to life again.
Posted by: Gissel | 10/20/2009 at 07:45 PM