For example, I was at a climbing gym in Colorado recently, and the staff absolutely FREAKED OUT when I climbed up the wall with no harness or belaying gear. I know what I'm doing - I am a freeclimber, and have been for years - but they went into full panic mode anyway. However, when I went to a climbing gym in Thailand last year, I free-climbed with no problem. Nobody yelled at me or freaked out. It's the same at the firearms range. I load my own ammo, and I like to run "hot" loads that provide more FPS than most people are comfortable with. I know what I'm doing; I majored in chemistry in college. But when I pop off these rounds at indoor ranges in America, the staff will often freak out and ask me to stop shooting. When I lived in Cambodia and went to the local ranges around Sihanoukville, people actually COMPLIMENTED me on the FPS I was able to get out of my ammunition. I was also able to keep and own fully-automatic rifles after reaching an agreement with the local cops. In America, you'd need to get a federal Class III permit, and permission from the local sheriff. It's absurd. Have we become a nation of cowards and risk-averse scardey-cats in America?
Politics - 23 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Speak for yourself.
2 :
So a handful of people represents America? Did you know we have the second largest military in the world, if you actually take into account all our troops at home and in foreign countries?
3 :
It's because they are afraid that you will hurt yourself and sue them.
4 :
That makes us all cowards? You should say: "Why is America mostly a nation of frivolous lawsuits?"
5 :
Not necessarily. I think that kind of thing just happens so infrequently makes it a little...surprising. Plus, unless you had clues indicating you knew what you were doing, people probably just assumed you weren't experienced and would end up getting hurt. I dunno, it depends on where you go.
6 :
This nation is sue happy and they were affraid if you fell you would sue them and win money because of stupid liberal judges.
7 :
Everybody in America is afraid of lawsuits , in America you can sue McDonalds if you get fat for heavens sake.
8 :
Maybe you should move to South East Asia then tough guy. America is a law suit happy nation. NOT a cowardly nation.
9 :
Listen Retard. I am a Smokejumper for the Forest Service. We jump out of a plane at 1500 feet into trees and rocks in the mountains. Just to have the oppertunity to fight a fire. Americans are bad ass, and I am a liberal. So take that for what it is worth , while you are climbing a wimpy cliff somewhere.
10 :
Law suites.
11 :
Climbing without safety equipment is not brave, it is stupid. Of course they freaked out. If you had fallen and broken your neck, they would have been liable.
12 :
I don't believe they are afraid of your actions, rather they are afraid of the possible lawsuits they will face from the whiny brainwashed masses who have been taught the government always knows best.
13 :
Too much television.
14 :
No we are not a nation of cowards and sounds like you are just a kid fishing for compliments.
15 :
You've just been hanging out with the wrong crowd.
16 :
Yes. That's why All Liberals and Most Democrats never join the Military. In fact, they Hate the Military. USN CT3 (I wish to point out that some Democrats do serve. No Liberals.)
17 :
No, just misinformed & biased people.
18 :
I agree, but for different reasons. In the USA, people whine that their guns are their only way of preventing the US government from bullying them, yet when the big bad Muslims come knocking they cower behind their sofas and plead with their president to "keep us safe". Transatlantic air travel fell by over 25% in the months after Sept 11th 2001. By comparison, following Basque separatist bombings in Spain, and a Muslim extremist massacre of tourists in Egypt, tourist numbers from the UK actually increased; people there are so used to giving the finger to terrorism that they hate the idea that terrorists have gotten the better of them. Has there ever been a more cowardly, snivelling, pitifully fearful nation than the USA in its current state? It's a good job you don't have to deal with terrorism on a regular basis or the bloody place would grind to a halt.
19 :
We are NOT a nation of cowards. Rather, we are a nation of litigation. What they were freaking out about was called LIABILITY. They would be liable if you had hurt yourself because they have specific rules that have to be met in order for their insurance to be valid. That is rules put in place BY THE INSURANCE CARRIER. What I hate are people that really think that nothing will happen to them, and then when something does, they go and sue someone else, and then wonder why people freak out when they do something STUPID. You want to "free climb"? Do so where no one is liable for you getting hurt. Because a private place will be liable, and they aren't going to want you there. It will save you a bit of hassle.
20 :
i think you're half right. in some ways we have become a nation of cowards... i blame it on liberal metrosexuals. however, sometimes it's justified because we've also become a nation of frivolous lawsuits. it wouldn't shock me if the people at the climbing wall were more afraid of you suing them if you fell than of you falling. so, i guess i blame both liberal metrosexuals and lawyers.
21 :
No were a nation where no is responsible for them self's, we have law suits to make sure some one Else pay's. That is why your right to do a lot of things is lost the wall & range want to stay in operation.
22 :
No, we just want to keep all this explosive stuff out of the hands of radicals. Tim McVeigh comes to mind. If you think of it in that sense, then you should be in agreement. As for the free climbing, I am sure people in a gym see very few free climbers. They're doing their climbing in a gym after all.
23 :
I dont think any of the people you interacted with are cowards I think your just acting like a crazy as***** and need to obey the rules. If you want to free climb and run "hot" loads then you should buy your own property and do it. Or go back to Cambodia where i'm sure you can do whatever you like being that its one of the poorest countries in the world.
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