This thread has me thinking about the subject of safety and personal responsibility. I grew up in the era of no seat belts, bicycle helmets etc. I remember going on family vacations, my two brothers and I in the back seat of the family sedan. We could wrestle, stand up and every once in a while Dad would yell, "hey light me a cigarette!" Not kidding. We felt safe because I think for the most part we were.
On the other hand, today people walk on the side of the road texting on their phones. They drive around with small dogs on their lap. They ride bicycles while listening to music. And yes they drive cars as if they have a divine right to the road. I lived in Toronto for several years and I could cross any street without stopping traffic. Today I see people standing by the side of a street waiting to cross. And I don't mean kids, these are adults. You have to stop for them. This is not at a crosswalk. Have we lost some kind of basic skill here? Maybe I'm just an old guy who's out of touch but people seem more reckless, yet less skilled at common sense issues.
Is it just me?
