Penalize Stupidity! Nigeria is starting the movement. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alamostation · #1 08-28-2008, 06:28 AM

A Nigerian official recently stated that the victims of the infamous Nigerian scam are as guilty as the perpetrators.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 ... mmers.html

What a concept!

Tired of whiney Californians on TV complaining that they didn't know that their wages at Burger King wouldn't support a mortgage on a $450,000 house and they are getting foreclosed? Spruce up Alcatraz and they can have a place of their own!

A further extension of the idea. Frivilous lawsuits. File a lawsuit because a lawn mower didn't have a label that said "not for medical use'? Mow the grass at the county courthouse.

Created a baby out of wedlock while in your teens? No problem. Fill the waiting room at the welfare office with stationary bicycles hooked to generators. Recipients have to produce a kilowatt-hour of electricity before they get their daily, not monthly, benefit. Reduces obesity and health care costs, plus it gives a little return to those footing the bill.

Responsibility. Such a strange concept, it might actually work.

Gurkha · #2 08-28-2008, 08:44 AM

He is absolutely right........as Gump would say.....stupid is as stupid does...........

Honus · #3 08-28-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alamostation

...Frivilous lawsuits. File a lawsuit because a lawn mower didn't have a label that said "not for medical use'? Mow the grass at the county courthouse...

There are already plenty of legal and financial impediments to the filing of frivolous lawsuits. If any reform is needed in that area, it is to remove the impediments blocking meritorious claims.

LUVMBDiesels · #4 08-28-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alamostation

A Nigerian official recently stated that the victims of the infamous Nigerian scam are as guilty as the perpetrators.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 ... mmers.html

What a concept!

Tired of whiney Californians on TV complaining that they didn't know that their wages at Burger King wouldn't support a mortgage on a $450,000 house and they are getting foreclosed? Spruce up Alcatraz and they can have a place of their own!

A further extension of the idea. Frivilous lawsuits. File a lawsuit because a lawn mower didn't have a label that said "not for medical use'? Mow the grass at the county courthouse.

Created a baby out of wedlock while in your teens? No problem. Fill the waiting room at the welfare office with stationary bicycles hooked to generators. Recipients have to produce a kilowatt-hour of electricity before they get their daily, not monthly, benefit. Reduces obesity and health care costs, plus it gives a little return to those footing the bill.

Responsibility. Such a strange concept, it might actually work.

I agree, but these ideas would NEVER fly in this country. The ACLU would be all over you for #3 as a return to slavery, plus the handicapable people on welfare would not ba able to produce the amount of electricity you require.

#2 would never fly as the trial lawyers would never go for anything that can prevent them taking a big corporation to court (or at least pestering them until they get some blood money) My wife worked in the legal department of Unilever and the lawsuits that would come in -- " My eyes burned when I got shampoo in them" or "There was no label that said I should not use laundy detergent in my dishwasher" or "I am suing on behalf of the poor animals you test products on" Unilever NEVER paid danegeld and most of these suits dried up

#1 is probably going to be solved through a nice fat goverment bailout. Afterall it is not the homeowner's fault that they can't make the payments, it is W's...

Honus · #5 08-28-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

...Unilever NEVER paid danegeld and most of these suits dried up ...

Exactly.

Now please explain how the trial lawyers get anything out of that process.

Matt L · #6 08-28-2008, 11:18 AM

The biggest problem with the advance-fee frauds is that the victims really do think that they are evading the law. That is, they are plotting to commit a crime which will give them a windfall. That the money doesn't exist does not mean that there is not intent on the part of the victim. Sorry about that triple negative.

450slcguy · #7 08-28-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alamostation

Tired of whiney Californians on TV complaining that they didn't know that their wages at Burger King wouldn't support a mortgage on a $450,000 house and they are getting foreclosed? k.

Well then, how in the hell did they ever get the mortgage approved in the first place? In my day, one had to be qualified by the financial institution based on income and debt. If you didn't qualify, mortgage simply was not approved.

Put the blame where it belongs. Unscroupulous and irresponsible lending practices to people that should never ever gotten approved in the first place.

If you lend money to people whom you surely know can't afford to pay you back, who's to blame when they default?

LUVMBDiesels · #8 08-28-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

Exactly.

Now please explain how the trial lawyers get anything out of that process.

Most companies will pay out $50k+ just to have it go away.

In one of the cases My wife worked on a woman was making the rounds from company to company. She hit up Unilever after taking $$ from Colgate Palmolive... Her lawyer was collecting 1/3 of each settlement. That is how they get inolved. The law should be that lawyers cannot take cases 'on spec'
That would dry a lot of this up...

Honus · #9 08-28-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

Most companies will pay out $50k+ just to have it go away...

Since I am in that line of work, I would love to know what "it" is that will make them pay $50,000 just to have it go away. I have never seen a defendant or an insurance company who will do that. They know that the general public, i.e. the potential jury pool, thinks that frivolous lawsuits are a significant problem. Therefore, they tell people with weak cases to jump in the closest lake and give low-ball offers to people with good cases. Every now and then, a jury will punish a defendant with a big verdict. Most times, the jury sees things the defendant's way when it comes to damages.

Matt L · #10 08-28-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

The law should be that lawyers cannot take cases 'on spec'
That would dry a lot of this up...

It sure would. It would mean that a company can produce defective products until a rich person is injured. Who cares about you if you don't have an extra $20K or so sitting idle to pay for your attorney.

cmac2012 · #11 08-28-2008, 03:14 PM

Speaking of Nigerians, I'm trying to sell a portable AC unit on Craigslist, not too many takers and a few days ago I get this message:

hi there is this item still available? i would love to make an instant purchase of the this item listed above for my sister whose birthday comes up soon besides, she is moving into her new home.
thanks

I'm thinking "instant purchase?!" Oh yeah, it'll be instant just as soon as you hand me some Franklins.

But you never know so I write back:

Yes, I have it at my warehouse which is located next to 101 (the frontage road) between the Woodside and Marsh Rd. exits. Call me at ***-****.

Then, who woulda thought, I get this back:

Oh i see,well that is ok.Thanks for the prompt response and i will love to make an instant purchase,so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigs list,i dont mind adding an extra $50 for you to take the advert down from Criags list,i want to be rest assured that nobody else gets a hold of the item.I will also like you to know that i will be paying via company certified cashier check,and it will be over night payment due to the distance.i will take care of that.So i will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the cheque

1.Your full name
2.Your mailing address
3.Your phone number.

I am located in Ohio but currently on a business trip to the UK. I just want to purchase the item for her as a surprise birthday present as this day is around the corner. I would also like to pay a.s.a.p I will be sending my mover to come pick up the item. but i hope that it is still in a very good condition. Bye

Oh yeah, it's going to be in great condition, *********, . . . . for the eventual buyer. All right sleeze ball, waste some funds on this thing, send me a certified mailing:

Yes. Wonderful. I am pleased to make your acquaintance for this instant purchase.

I am not with telephone at this time. My address is:

**************
**************

The address is a UPS store mailbox so I have no fear in sending it out. The character is never going to be within 2,000 miles of here anyway, if that. No way am I giving out my phone #, however. **EDIT**Whoops, I already gave out my # on the previous e-mail. Oh well, once he realizes no funds are forthcoming, he'll move on. I just hope numbers can't be easily sold to telemarketers.

I'm going to write him/her in the most twisted English and see when they catch on.

LUVMBDiesels · #12 08-28-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

Since I am in that line of work, I would love to know what "it" is that will make them pay $50,000 just to have it go away. I have never seen a defendant or an insurance company who will do that. They know that the general public, i.e. the potential jury pool, thinks that frivolous lawsuits are a significant problem. Therefore, they tell people with weak cases to jump in the closest lake and give low-ball offers to people with good cases. Every now and then, a jury will punish a defendant with a big verdict. Most times, the jury sees things the defendant's way when it comes to damages.

My wife has seen it in the consumer products area. She has friends who work atoother CP companies who have figured it is cheaper to pay than it is to defend yourself in court. Going to court means having a bunch of executives tied up for at least a day, potential bad publicity, etc

As I said her company would never do that...