Why I hate America!

I just read a piece in the newspaper where able bodied people are renting electric scooters to trip around Vegas. Since we have cut out the personal contact out, why not cut out the excercise?

There were two idiots, both under thirty, who rented scooters....One was a 22 year old AH from Texas who wanted to be able to drink and not worry about driving.

There are no laws that bar the rental of a scooter to an able bodied person-
but having my ankle cracked a few times by people who really needed an ES what can I expect from some drunken idiot?

Hmmm....

Taking care of the elderly gives you a new appreciation for your own two legs. I've had nerve problems in my legs since I was born but I haven't stopped walking. I always park in the first spot I see available when I get in a parking lot rather than driving around for a closer spot. I always say it gives me more opportunities to come across dropped money. If it weren't for parking farther away, I wouldn't have found $10 in a walmart parking lot once :)

Well, that's kind of silly, I admit.

But, what's the difference in that and calling a cab?

I guess some people just want to be lazy on their vacations. So? It's their money, and their time.

I just saw a Segway for the first time yesterday. I couldn't tell whether the person using it was using it for health reasons (I have a trick knee, and often have to put up with huffing and puffing and cussing behind me on the escalator from folks who want me to climb) but it certainly looked foolish.

They were originally advertised as being great for people like postal delivery workers, who need to handle cargo without dealing with parking, and elderly folks with physical limitations. But the Postal Circus certainly can't afford them, and neither can elderly folks with physical limitations (except for the ones who can afford cabs or chauffeurs already anyway) so I can't see the point of them at all.

Love, Columbine

I can hardly wait for someone (probably an American) who tries to climb Mount Everest with a Segway. :D

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Hmmmm,

I guess we can look forward to GPS/Nav systems, WIFI capablilty, iPod docking ports, cooled and lighted cup holders, collision avoidance systems and airbags on the carts....

Better yet,
Save the planet. Save fuel and money.

Stay at home and play poker on the 'net.

Aside from people with legitimate limitations, I was just talking about the "laziness" of America these days. They got Roombas to vacuum your house, Scubas to wash your floors, a gadget to clean your shower stall. How lazy can one be?????

As for those two drunks...if they're going to allow them on the roads, there should be laws set for them, like for motorcycles.

I don't care so much if someone rents one to be lazy, that's their choice, but are you allowed to ride anything drunk legally? I know you can get in trouble on a bike.

I was at Disney last year and a couple, maybe in their 50's, had both rented scooters to get around. I saw them twice - once sitting next to me in a nice restaurant with scooters presumably outside. They got out of their seats for the bathroom easily without assistance - no sign of any handicap at all. The next time I see them they show up for the Disney bus when there is a super long line of which I am near the front, having been waiting. They got to ride up and go straight on the bus but it took so long for them to maneuver the wheelchair apparatus that another bus came before they were on.

I am upset at myself for not saying anything but I was afraid people might think I was wrong. If they want to use scooters fine, but if they want special handicap treatment shouldn't they have proof that they are handicapped? It is a shame anyone would actually abuse handicap "privileges". I'm sure any handicapped person would gladly give up a front parking spot for a chance to not be handicapped.

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Originally Posted by moosmom

Aside from people with legitimate limitations, I was just talking about the "laziness" of America these days. They got Roombas to vacuum your house, Scubas to wash your floors, a gadget to clean your shower stall. How lazy can one be?????

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Apparently VERY lazy, don't forget about the car that parks ITself. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by RICHARD

Stay at home and play poker on the 'net.

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Or chat on an internet forum ;)

As for the shower cleaner.... I want one of those LOL I have a wierd phobia about the shower..... I'm wierd and it takes a lot of explaining and you still won't understand it lol but hubby has to clean the shower.... I won't. I can't even STAND to take a shower so my showers are super short lol. Doesn't make me lazy.... just makes me strange :D

And as for the couple on the scooters.... you know there are a lot more than just visible physical handicaps that will allow you to use a scooter. Such as sever asthma. I knew quite a few older people that suffered so badly from asthma as they got older that even walking around the store could trigger an attack. and perhaps they can't walk long distances.... hence the walk to the bathroom would be relatively easy.... but walking around a park all day could prove difficult. BUT in reality they probably didn't have any of these issues. But you can get a handicapped sticker for MANY things.... many of which can not be seen by the average person passing by you.

Just like those parking spaces for expecting mothers.... PFFT. Walking is GOOD for you when you are pregnant.... it's just more convenient.

But I figure it's not much different than those stupid rolly shoes or a skate board. You just gotta give yourself a push every now and then.... OOOOH strenuous.

As for driving one drunk..... I can't see how that could possibly be allowed. That's ridiculous.... People can't even WALK reliably when drinking..... and we are going to let them operate any kind of vehicle? YIKES

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Originally Posted by Maltese_Love

Apparently VERY lazy, don't forget about the car that parks ITself. :rolleyes:

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I need one of THOSE :D the whole reason I don't drive is because I am afraid to park LOL..... I had a bad parking experience once and it soured me completely on driving. People would be better off if I didn't have to park myself hehe.

and don't forget the pre decorated Christmas tree.

Although I did just recently hear a story about a customers daughter who got a real tree and came home to find that she apparently had a praying mantis nest in her tree and her house was filled with the babies.... :eek: I will NEVER get a real tree again.

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Originally Posted by sparks19

Or chat on an internet forum ;)

As for the shower cleaner.... I want one of those LOL

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Don't bother. On one of our local TV stations, the consumer reporter did a piece on the shower cleaner. Despite what is shown on the commercial - it didn't work.

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Originally Posted by Grace

Don't bother. On one of our local TV stations, the consumer reporter did a piece on the shower cleaner. Despite what is shown on the commercial - it didn't work.

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AWWWWWWW man. I guess I will just have to stick with the husband :D He does a good job. But I figured that gadget was too good to be true.... those things usually are. and I know it wouldn't fix my problem.... LOL My main phobia is the hair that sometimes sticks around the walls and the tub haha even if it's not there I think it is. Yes you can say it... I'm a wierdo

I worked for a little while in a hospital and am aware of the many health probs that people have.

I have a problem with people who just are frigging lazy about life.

In the report card of life, you'd get an "E" for effort.

That's been replaced by an "F" for "effing lazy"

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I wonder what would have happened to the early American settlers that would have outrun an electrical socket? :eek: :D

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Originally Posted by sabies

I was at Disney last year and a couple, maybe in their 50's, had both rented scooters to get around. I saw them twice - once sitting next to me in a nice restaurant with scooters presumably outside. They got out of their seats for the bathroom easily without assistance - no sign of any handicap at all.

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I have a new perspective on this; and this new view is just 5 months old. I am not yet 50 and now have arthritis in both knees. I am SO glad I've been to Disney (twice) and to many other places. Going at all n ow would be a major production. And I would be one of those with the rented scooter, and in the restaurant I would be walking OK -- BECAUSE I had been using the scooter all day. And I feel incredibly self conscious all the time, too.

And yeah, I see people abusing the handicap spots all the time too.

Lazy: neighbors of mine who use a riding mower. Lot is less than .18 acres. Duh!!!

Dont forget about the automatic flushing toilet, the automatic water in sinks, and the automatic hand dryers, and the automatic soap despencer.

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Originally Posted by Reggie

Dont forget about the automatic flushing toilet, the automatic water in sinks, and the automatic hand dryers, and the automatic soap despencer.

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Actually from a germ standpoint I think those are all great.

Oh yeah and i heard about this fully automated house that runs in the $700,000 range to buy.

Don't get me wrong, I realize not all handicaps are visible or obvious to someone, but I just sensed that these people were not handicapped. I think it is great that Disney is very accommodating, but I think if you just have trouble walking around all day you should not cut to the front of every line or get special treatment like that. These people struggled for at least half an hour (then a second bus came and I left) trying to get on the bus when I knew they could just get up off the chair and walk on the bus. I don't know why maneuvering the chair lift was taking so long, that can't be the norm.

On the other hand, I do believe most people will not abuse handicap spaces, etc and I would rather let some jerks think they are getting away with something then inconvenience a truly handicapped person. If someone wants to be lazy all the time they will end up gaining weight, which comes with it's own health issues, and soon they will be legally handicapped.

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Originally Posted by sabies

Don't get me wrong, I realize not all handicaps are visible or obvious to someone, but I just sensed that these people were not handicapped. I think it is great that Disney is very accommodating, but I think if you just have trouble walking around all day you should not cut to the front of every line or get special treatment like that. These people struggled for at least half an hour (then a second bus came and I left) trying to get on the bus when I knew they could just get up off the chair and walk on the bus. I don't know why maneuvering the chair lift was taking so long, that can't be the norm.

On the other hand, I do believe most people will not abuse handicap spaces, etc and I would rather let some jerks think they are getting away with something then inconvenience a truly handicapped person. If someone wants to be lazy all the time they will end up gaining weight, which comes with it's own health issues, and soon they will be legally handicapped.

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I'm sure you are probably right and they really had no REAL need for the scooters. but would it have been different if you were allowed to get on the bus first and then sit there and wait for them to load their chairs? Either way the chair would have to come on the bus sometime. and I imagine that if Disney were to request that someone leave their chair behind because they did not appear to be handicapped they would end up with a hefty law suit..... and well.... you can't count on people to be courteous these days lol after all even people without handicapped stickers still park in the handicapped spaces.... which is beyond me.

I remember when I worked at a tim hortons years ago we had this guy that would NOT get out of his chair to even reach for his coffee.... most often we had to walk around the counter to give it to him because he would make NO effort at all..... yet I saw him get out of his chair and push it across the street after it got stuck in the snow :eek:

Richard i don't think America is alone in it's laziness, we down under are almost as guilty,if we are not it is because we just have not got all the fancy gadgets you have available to you, but honestly we probably have most of them these days too,the old saying comes to mind "only in america", it is a sad fact of life today, we are all getting lazier by the minute thanks to technology.

Yes do remember not all disabilitys are visible,and i have seen time and time again people taking disabled parking, but as i suffer from something myself that is invisible to people i remember that and think maybe these people are the same, however here in NZ we have to have special stickers to put on our car windows, if you have not one of them , then you are not entitled to disabled parking, i myself am eligible but have not taken up on it, i can just imagine the looks and abuse i might get as i look perfectly fine.

I think they can still be charged with DUI. I know one time not too long ago we had a man riding a lawn mower that got arrested. But that could be because he was on a regular street.

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Originally Posted by dukedogsmom

I think they can still be charged with DUI. I know one time not too long ago we had a man riding a lawn mower that got arrested. But that could be because he was on a regular street.

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LMAO....

I bet that makes for an interesting story.....

"Hey guys remember that time I got busted for driving a lawnmower while intoxicated" haha Why was he driving a riding lawnmower lol

How about this one: "Hey, dudes. Remember the time when i got busted for riding a tricycle on the road intoxicated?" LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

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Originally Posted by sparks19

LMAO....

I bet that makes for an interesting story.....

"Hey guys remember that time I got busted for driving a lawnmower while intoxicated" haha Why was he driving a riding lawnmower lol

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He's not "all there" if I remember correctly.

I want a Roomba vacumming thingy. Not because I'm too lazy to vacuum ... because I'm too busy doing 48,000 other things and I don't have time to vacuum as often as I should, which is, with this many dogs, at LEAST once a day.

I'd just let the silly thing run 24/7! My floors would look SO nice. :D

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Originally Posted by carole

Richard i don't think America is alone in it's laziness, we down under are almost as guilty,if we are not it is because we just have not got all the fancy gadgets you have available to you, but honestly we probably have most of them these days too,the old saying comes to mind "only in america", it is a sad fact of life today, we are all getting lazier by the minute thanks to technology.

Yes do remember not all disabilitys are visible,and i have seen time and time again people taking disabled parking, but as i suffer from something myself that is invisible to people i remember that and think maybe these people are the same, however here in NZ we have to have special stickers to put on our car windows, if you have not one of them , then you are not entitled to disabled parking, i myself am eligible but have not taken up on it, i can just imagine the looks and abuse i might get as i look perfectly fine.

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I agree with you 100%. While some third world countries probably don't get the gadgets we get, I think most countries do, but we have more. SO alot of countries are taking the guilt trip with us.

I am also eligible for a handi-cap parking pass thing, but I don't really need it.

I'm not surprised in the least. Didn't "The King of Queens" do a series of shows about this same thing? (I don't know since I don't watch the show, just saw the previews)

Anyhow, think about it. We've been slowly getting lazier and lazier. These are things I did as a kid that I don't do now (not just me, everyone I know too)
* Flush the toilet by myself in public - a seeing eye does that for me. Sometimes they turn water on and dispense paper towels too.
* Roll my car windows down. I push a button now.
* Get up and change the tv channel. I push buttons nows
* brush my teeth using up and down and circular motions. Now I have an electric toothbrush.... a fews ago the little spinning head wasn't spinning and I stood at the sink thnking "oh no, now what am I gonna do?!" and then reality kicked in: brush like I used to! :rolleyes:
* How about the new washers that wash AND dry. Really, how hard is it to remove clothes from the washer to toss into the dryer? 1 whole minute? And what about clothes you don't want to shrink in the dryer?

There's more but I'm not particuarly inspired today. :)

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Originally Posted by carole

Richard i don't think America is alone in it's laziness, we down under are almost as guilty,if we are not it is because we just have not got all the fancy gadgets you have available to you,

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If you look at a globe, you Aussies do have to fight gravity...... ;)

In Cah lee fuh nee ah, we have placeards that hang from the rear view mirror and do have plates that have the wheel chair logo on them.

The people that were renting the scooters were doing it so that way they would not have to walk the length of the casinos.....two football fields or about 200 meters. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by RICHARD

In Cah lee fuh nee ah, we have placeards that hang from the rear view mirror and do have plates that have the wheel chair logo on them.

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Gosh, Kansas has caught up to date with Cah lee fuh nee ah!!! That's what we have. I personally have the placard and the plates for the car!

We recently got a Walmart Super center. It has lots of the scooters. While it would be a great help for me to use them, so far I refused. I don't want to get to the point I have to rely on them. For me, that's just one step nearer to a wheel chair and possibly a nursing home. :eek:

What cracks me up is seeing people with children park in the handicapped spots. Ok, some children may be a handicap but they were your choice. Don't make me pay for it! :D

I worked with a guy, and he took the elevator to the second floor most of the time. WHY, I would ask him, "You are so health conscious"?

He would reply,"I get my exercise at the gym, not at work".

I had to laugh. He was in super, duper fantastic shape. It was just not what he chose to do.

I am all for scooters, mobility devices, etc. For alot of people, they do help improve the quality of their life. It isn't up to me to decide how active they should be.

There but for the Grace of God, go I.

Sparks19, you have alot of phobias. Showers? Parking? Hope you aren't afraid of the baby! As for not taking advantage of the close in parking spaces? I salute you. At 39 weeks, in August, I was all over them like white on rice. Course, I needed them for the first 6 months, too, AFTER the birth.

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Originally Posted by Cataholic

I worked with a guy, and he took the elevator to the second floor most of the time. WHY, I would ask him, "You are so health conscious"?

He would reply,"I get my exercise at the gym, not at work".

I had to laugh. He was in super, duper fantastic shape. It was just not what he chose to do.

I am all for scooters, mobility devices, etc. For alot of people, they do help improve the quality of their life. It isn't up to me to decide how active they should be.

There but for the Grace of God, go I.

Sparks19, you have alot of phobias. Showers? Parking? Hope you aren't afraid of the baby! As for not taking advantage of the close in parking spaces? I salute you. At 39 weeks, in August, I was all over them like white on rice. Course, I needed them for the first 6 months, too, AFTER the birth.

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LOL well the parking one is a well deserved phobia LOL.... I ... um... SORTA really banged up my moms car when I was a teen and it cost me a lot of money LOL and REALLY scarred me against driving.

As for the shower phobia..... I have had that since I was a small child. No idea why. I also have a thing against buttons hahaha.

As for being afraid of the baby.... thanks for your concern but I am not afraid of babies. Although I am sure I will be afraid that I am doing it wrong for the first little while.

I used to be afraid of babies! But then I talked to a surgeon who managed to explain it to my health plan. I got my wiring redone, and now I can enjoy their company... maybe not as much as anyone else, but I can!

I am, however, afraid of... homelessness. And polar bears, and being burned. I guess everyone has something.

Love, Columbine