Current Event for Week of 2/5/07
New York may ban iPods while crossing street
New Yorkers may now receive a $100 fine for using electronic devices while crossing the street.
New York legislators claim that they have an obligation to protect their citizens, and that recent deaths as a result of people being distracted while crossing the street justify the action.
Read the article here.
Do you agree or disagree with the law? Is it the government's job to protect citizens from choices that may cause harm to themselves? Or is it our choice? Do we choose to drive/walk with ipods and cell phones at our own risk?
New Yorkers may now receive a $100 fine for using electronic devices while crossing the street.
New York legislators claim that they have an obligation to protect their citizens, and that recent deaths as a result of people being distracted while crossing the street justify the action.
Read the article here.
Do you agree or disagree with the law? Is it the government's job to protect citizens from choices that may cause harm to themselves? Or is it our choice? Do we choose to drive/walk with ipods and cell phones at our own risk?
posted by phs_sociology at 8:09 AM
32 Comments:
I agree with the new law to ban iPods while crossing the street.
- I know I can't get many of my friends attention when they have them on. I think when you are alone or in your own house then it is good to wear them for enjoyment just like you sit in front of a tv, but i don't think you should be able to wear them in public at all. Its bad enough that people walk around talking on a cell phone not paying attention. Now with iPods, both ears are being shut out from outside noises.
- I think it's the governments job to protect citizens from hurting themselves because obviously people aren't doing it themselves. People seem to go with whats "cool" and trendy, not about what is the smart/safe thing to do.
I think people get so into worrying about whats new and hip that they don't question to whether or not the new thing is actually a smart idea.
I dont understand why it's a big deal i mean yeah people may be getting killed but it could be our faults and we do take the risk but i think the big thing here is the driver's in New York because any body who drives in new york are carzy they dont care who is in there way it so stupid i have been there and it was crazy and even looking out for myself as i crossed the road people still didnt care and i still almost got hurt!
I think that this should depend on where you're at. I think that if you're in New York City it should be allowed to listen to iPods or talk on the phone while crossing the street, because in new York you walk pretty much everywhere. Majority of people dont own cars so when/where else are they supposed to listen to music or talk on the phone. In that case it is up to the individual to be responsible with their actions and to watch where they're going. However I think that if youre talking about a city like Canton then it shouldn't be allowed because there are a lot more cars. Less people walk around here.
I think it's kind of stupid to ban iPods just because a couple people were dumb enough to not listen or watch for traffic. It's the peoples choice whether or not they want to listen to there iPods while crossing the street. They are responsible for there own life and if they want to risk it then let them.
I think it's very sweet that the government is trying to look out for us by taking our money. Thats very generous of them. I think what you do with your ipod is up to you. Even kindergarteners know to look both ways before you cross the street so if you want to be dumb about that, then its your fault and its your own risk. But don't penalize the rest of us for not partaking in their stupidity. You can listen to music and be careful at the same time.
that is bull, let people listen to music while crossing the street. if they are to stupid to look or listen then they desirve to be struck by a car. just like seat belt and helmet laws are retarded. if you are to stupid to put one on then you desirve to go flying through a windshield, or kissing the curb.
I disagree with this new law. It's good that the're concerned and all ,but if you're paying the money for those types of things then you should be able to do what you want with them. Everyone knows to look and watch before you cross the street. At the very least you could pause it while you cross.
I don't like this new law. I also don't agree with it, if people think it's going to make that big of a change, then they're crazy. People need to be responsible for their own actions, and pay attention to what they are doing. Without intervention from the government.
I agree with them for banning iPods when crossing the street but I also think that it is the responsibility of the owner to not make stupid decisions. New York City is a very busy city and you have to be careful even when you are completely paying attention. People need to still be watching though because just because you can't hear doesn't mean you can't see a car coming. I trust my eyes more than my ears and being in NYC I would be watching for cars like crazy before I crossed the street. If these people actually looked they might have been okay. I think it is the government's job to protect us but I also think it is our own job to have common sense.
Im not sure how i feel about the new law. I understand where New York is coming from, but walking is different than driving. If they said to band Ipods while driving I'd be for that, but walking is not the same. We all take a drivers test and it is our respondsibility as a driver to yield to pedestrians, may they be dumb and walk out in the middle of the road or not. I dont think they should band Ipods to those walking the streets of new york. THey arent harming anyone. THey simply are being careless with not paying attention, but they arent opperating a vehicle or anything along those lines.
while i don't necessarily agree that it's always the government's job to protect people from their own decisions, i do think it's a smart idea to ban ipods while crossing streets, because that's really just a stupid idea anyway. It's especially stupid if you don't look first to make sure there are no cars coming, although in NYC there's pretty much always a car coming. Anyway though, upon this legislation, i think that said unintelligent decisions will ultimately be greatly minimized.
this is an example of how our school works. 5% of the people do something wrong and then they punish the rest of the 95% of the school. I don't think they should make it a law because people are just going to keep breaking it and then these people will have to pay all of this money just for listening to music and it's just stupid. but people are dumb and can use their eyes so there's the conflict. but I don't think they should punish everybody for it.
This has to be one of the stupidest laws, and it's fringing on violating our rights. A good lawyer or politician could very well make the argument that it violates our 'pursuit of happiness' considering people listen to music or talk on the phone because it makes them happy. Taking away the ability to listen to your music, even if it's just outside, can be a serious infringement and would make plenty of people unhappy. I agree with some of the people here. Everyone can look out for themselves, and the ones who don't manage just as well as the people who can. It should be up to us whether or not we decide to listen to music while outside.
The government is overstepping its boundaries if it passes this particular piece of legislation. First of all, this would be near impossible to enforce all the time. When people cross the streets in large groups, it can be very difficult to identify somebody who is carrying a piece of technology, then stop them and punish them. Second, technology isn't the only reason that people cross streets unsafely. I personally have crossed streets at dangerous times when I was fully alert. If anything, I am more cautious when I cross the street while talking on my phone, becasue I know that I am not as focused on the task at hand. The government shouldn't have the ability to unreasonably regulate when we use our ipods or cell phones or blackberries. It is neither feasible nor desirable for the government to regulate our every action.
This policy seems like the start of a slippery slope of government control and regulation. If I am not allowed to talk on my cell phone while crossing the street, then why should I be allowed to cross while talkiing to the person next to me?
I do agree with the law banning electronic devices while crossing in New York. Then again it's just another right we're having taken away and once the government starts - they'll just keep doing it. It's pretty sad when our lives are endangered just because we're distracted by such gadgets. However, I do think the fine is a little ridiculous. It would probably make me nervous to be crossing and not hearing traffic or to be walking alone even during the day and not being able to hear what's going on around me. It could be traffic or someone who wants something from you. It's also annoying how rude people have become with their devices, they ignore others completely. I hate to go anywhere without my ipod but i definitely wouldn't have turned on while crossing, it seems like common sense.
I agree that they should be banned while walking down streets because when you listen to them you tend to tune out people and other things going on in the world around you. I know that my brother always has his on and he can never hear you unless you yell right in his ear.I think that at times it's ok to listen to them but they shouldn't be turned up very loud! I also think that it is the governments job to keep us safe but i also think that if someone wants to risk getting killed by listening to thier ipod or talking on their cell phone then that's thier choice as long as it isn't going to harm anyone else!
This is going to save a lot of lives because those people are probably to busy focusing on what song they want to play rather then the cars going by in front of them. Also if a car would honk to warn them of the danger they are about to enter there maybe a chance that they can't hear. It is the government's job to protect the people and that maybe the only way to do it, let them know that they can get a ticket and people will rather take it off then pay $100. But it is their choice to walk while talking on the phone or listening to an ipod.
I don't think that the government needs to make this into a law. People take their lives into their own hands when not paying attention while crossing a street and banning Ipods and other electrical devices will force someone to pay attention while crossing the street. I think that this problem should be delt by the user of the device not the government.
I can agree and disagree with this ruling because some people are more resposible when it comes to electronics. When I wear headphones while im out walking or riding my bike i wear one side of the headphone and not the other so i can hear the music and hear what is going on. But, a lot of people are not that smart. They wear both headphone ear pieces and they are not bale to hear what is going on. So if people would be a little more resposible with there electronics then New York wouldnt have to use their ruling and charge people 100$ for using their electronics while crossing the street.
I like the idea of this law, because I do think it is the government's job to protect citizens from hurting themselves, but I don't think it should be enacted. People get distracted just by other people talking or their own thoughts. So Ipods and other electronic devices can add to the distractions, but people in New York and other busy cities are used to multi-tasking constantly. I don't think taking away personal rights in this scenario are necessary. People should know the risk of walking/driving with cell phones, and if they choose to continue talking it is up to them. If, however, the government pass a bill that bans cell phone talking while driving, then this bill would have a better chance of passing. Operating a vehicle while talking on the phone is more dangerous than walking with an Ipod.
I agree...and i do agree that the people should have the choice to get hit by a car...but whenever the cars and buses cause other crashes and hurt other people and ect... and insurance rates go up...then i think that there should be something done. I don't think that they should be banned in public, but i do think that they should have a certain limit of volume, so you can still here the music, and also be able to hear the outsider world aroung them.
I don't agree with this new law. I think the government is partially just trying to get more money by finding people that have no common sense, and then punishing everyone else because of them. It is the person's choice of whether they want to listen to music while crossing the street, but they should have more common sense and pay more attention. It is their own fault if they don't take precaution when crossing the street, especially in busy cities like New York. There shouldn't be a law for how to cross the street. What's next, the government charging people for not looking both ways?
I agree with this law because the government's job is to protect its citizens. If people are dieing then I completely think they have the full right to stop citizens from using iPods when crossing the street. When a person does something like this or talks on a cell phone in their car, they are not the only person at risk: they can hurt of even kill others when they are distracted.
I agree with mcg3309. I think it all depends where your at. He has a point that if your in a city where there is a lot of walking that you should be able to use your cell phones and ipods. I just think that people need to think when they are on there cell phone or using ipods.
I agree and disagree with the law. I agree because it is a safety hazard if someone is not paying attention. However i disagree because it is the persons choice to have them on or not and govermental influence would be taking away our choice. We also need to look at what is really at fault for the accidents. I believe it is the people not just the people with the ipods and cell phones but the drivers too. People know the risks of not paying attention it is drilled into our heads before we leave school so it is our choice to put ourselves into danger.
I can understand why they want this law to take effect. Yet at the same time it should be the citizens choice to whatever they want while they are crossing the street. If they want to listen to music while crossing the street its their choice. Just because a few people chose to do the wrong thing I dont think the other citizens who enjoy listening to music while walking should be punished. I can understand however why they want to passed this law. If someone is messing with their i-pod they tend to get distacted and dont pay attention to where they are walking. Also if they have headphones in they cant hear anything around them. I think all the govt. is doing is protecting the people from any danger.
I do not think that it is the governments job to tell us whether or not we should be able to talk on cell phones during everyday life. When we talk on a cell phone and listen on our iPods we are choosing to put ourselves at risk, and if someone is dumb enough to walk out in the middle of the street and get smashed by a car because they didnt look both ways, which i learned when i was like 2 by the way, then they deserve to get killed and shouldnt cause the rest of us to be put through laws such as this to ban an item of everyday life that is only harmful if you make it that way.
i don't understand why they are making a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be. if we are listening to our music or what ever and we get it, its our fault. if the people crossing roads want to listen to their music and stuff i think it should be their choice.
I don't think that the government is responsible for our safety to this extent... Yes, they provide protection for terrorist organizations and disease and what not but this is a little extreme. People are being killed from being distracted and not paying attention while crossing the streets but this is our own faults. Many more people I'm sure are NOT being killed while listening to their Ipod or talking on the phone compared to people that are being killed. It's up to us and only us to decide what and when we should and shouldn't use certain devices.
I think that its a pretty good idea to ban the use of ipods and things because U know that I dont pay much attention to anything when im listening to my ipod. also when I talk on the cell phone, I pretty much have a one track mind and its hard for me to pay attention. So I think that its good , so that maybe not as many people get killed while crossing the street. Exspecially in New York, becasue its a huge city, and there are people all around and if people could pay more attention to the road thenit would be a safer way of life.
umm well i do agree with this law because of the fact that people get caught of track very easily and cell phones and i pods and all that good stuff will do that to a person.. plus when walking across the street you need to hear if a car is coming.. like if it is blowin the horn and what not but they need to pay more attention for there safety.. This law makes sense and i agree with it!!!!
This is hilarious, it is def. going to be one of those crazy laws that people laugh at. Ok so maybe talking on your cell phone should be banned WHILE DRIVING but geez c'mon..now walking????...how dumb is that going to sound "Um hold on a minute i have to call you back im going to cross a street." It's honestly your own dumb fault if you get hurt because your not paying attention when you cross the street..what's goign to be next?...having people cross the street one at a time because the other people are a distraction and could possibly cause harm?...wow..dumb!..but funny!
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