Good for Wendy's

[1972 Grad]

Well, throwing them in jail won't solve a thing. The problem is that's all we do. If they had a safer legal alternative like weed maybe they wouldn't get hooked on the pain pills. Maybe if we would rehab rather than jail they may be able to return to their functioning self.

I am not discussing what to do about the problem, merely that we have a problem.

Here are the crime statistics for 2012 for my town:

Assaults per 100,000 people:
My town: 601.5
U.S. avg: 242.3

Burglaries for 100,000 people:
My town: 1,248.8
U.S. avg: 670.

Theft per 100,000 people:
My town: 5,106.2
U.S. avg: 1,959.3

Overall crime index (higher number worse):
My town: 3,072
U.S. avg: 1,557

Can you folks understand when I say that my perception is due to fact? Anecdotal or whatever, but what happens here affects me much more than what happens in Chicago.

I said in a previous post that some areas had improvements, and some went the other way. I wish that I had stats from the 1950's and 60's, but I don't. It is way worse here, and it is due to drug and pill addiction.

 

[1972 Grad]

I already said some places got worse. That much is obvious. Saying on average that crime is going down doesn't mean every single town has less crime.

Interesting that you blame inanimate objects. Liberals like to blame inanimate objects too.

It isn't the inanimate objects, it is the people addicted to the inanimate objects. I thought that you might have enough sense to figure that out. I guess I need to spell it out for some with lesser reasoning skills.

 

[AM64]

Well, throwing them in jail won't solve a thing. The problem is that's all we do. If they had a safer legal alternative like weed maybe they wouldn't get hooked on the pain pills. Maybe if we would rehab rather than jail they may be able to return to their functioning self.

So just a dumb, little question. If things are so much better, why all the drug use, why the need to crawl in a hole and ignore life?

And why long waits to get through security to get on a plane when we didn't even bother with screeners and scanners and x-rays in the past? Or why do we seem to live in perpetual fear of something when we didn't live that way in the past?

 

[MercyPercy]

You focus on the bad, but fail to see the good. All the things that are better today, they have their origins in the past. As I said previously, change didn't happen overnight. And it was that sense of community that pushed people to fight for change. They wanted a better society. But is this really a better society? The fight for equality originally brought whites and blacks together, but in today's society, it seems the black community is pulling away from that group of unity. It's like every thing a white person does is motivated by race, which we all know is not true.

But I digress... There may be a million factors to consider, but which ones deserve more weight? That's for you to decide for yourself.

I think mainly we are addressing this notion that some seem to have here that things would just be better if we went back to how it was when they grew up. I've never said that today is completely better in every way, but I do know for a fact that there's some serious homerism going on because every single generation has those people. They can't all be right.

You all have your own individual, personal experiences that may not mesh with the stats. Not everyone will, it's expected.

 

[MercyPercy]

It isn't the inanimate objects, it is the people addicted to the inanimate objects. I thought that you might have enough sense to figure that out. I guess I need to spell it out for some with lesser reasoning skills.

I'm glad we agree that drugs aren't the problem, people are.

 

[ruger1234]

I am not discussing what to do about the problem, merely that we have a problem.

Here are the crime statistics for 2012 for my town:

Assaults per 100,000 people:
My town: 601.5
U.S. avg: 242.3

Burglaries for 100,000 people:
My town: 1,248.8
U.S. avg: 670.

Theft per 100,000 people:
My town: 5,106.2
U.S. avg: 1,959.3

Overall crime index (higher number worse):
My town: 3,072
U.S. avg: 1,557

Can you folks understand when I say that my perception is due to fact? Anecdotal or whatever, but what happens here affects me much more than what happens in Chicago.

I said in a previous post that some areas had improvements, and some went the other way. I wish that I had stats from the 1950's and 60's, but I don't. It is way worse here, and it is due to drug and pill addiction.

It's not due to the pill addiction it's due to prohibition. If the users could buy their fix for what it really cost there would be no reason to steal. Hydros cost pennies to manufacture but they are very expensive on the black market. I'm hearing 10 to 20 dollars/pill. If the addicts could buy them at a retail markup they could probably just use their SS or aluminum can money untill they either got help or died. Again it's not the drug it's the need to buy on the black market.

 

[1972 Grad]

I think mainly we are addressing this notion that some seem to have here that things would just be better if we went back to how it was when they grew up. I've never said that today is completely better in every way, but I do know for a fact that there's some serious homerism going on because every single generation has those people. They can't all be right.

You all have your own individual, personal experiences that may not mesh with the stats. Not everyone will, it's expected.

I never said that everything was better back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's, but a lot was in my opinion. I merely stated that I knew more about life then than people like Huff, who read about that era in a book. I look back on every decade fondly.

Also, Huff is satisfied with medical progress, due to positive results from his father and wife. On the other hand, I have lost a mother, a brother, and about 10 friends to cancer in the last 8 years. I think that the medical profession still could use some improvement.

 

[MercyPercy]

So just a dumb, little question. If things are so much better, why all the drug use, why the need to crawl in a hole and ignore life?

Do you have any numbers about drug use through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, etc? I think I've done just about enough research for everyone tonight, but I'd love to see if anyone else can find something. I'm asking because I'm pretty sure that for most illicit substances, abuse has gone down rather than up. With the exceptions probably being prescription opiates and marijuana.

And why long waits to get through security to get on a plane when we didn't even bother with screeners and scanners and x-rays in the past? Or why do we seem to live in perpetual fear of something when we didn't live that way in the past?

Perception. The media. The gallup study I posted a while back went into more detail about the factors that cause people's perceptions to be different than what the statistics bare out.

 

[1972 Grad]

It's not due to the pill addiction it's due to prohibition. If the users could buy their fix for what it really cost there would be no reason to steal. Hydros cost pennies to manufacture but they are very expensive on the black market. I'm hearing 10 to 20 dollars/pill. If the addicts could buy them at a retail markup they could probably just use their SS or aluminum can money untill they either got help or died. Again it's not the drug it's the need to buy on the black market.

Would they show up to work, if they could buy their fix cheap enough? I think that a lot of drugs take away people's drive and initiative. I don't get it.

 

[MercyPercy]

I never said that everything was better back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's, but a lot was in my opinion. I merely stated that I knew more about life then than people like Huff, who read about that era in a book. I look back on every decade fondly.

Also, Huff is satisfied with medical progress, due to positive results from his father and wife. On the other hand, I have lost a mother, a brother, and about 10 friends to cancer in the last 8 years. I think that the medical profession still could use some improvement.

It sucks that you've lost so many to cancer, but treatment is pretty obviously much better today than it was back then. That's not really even up for debate.

 

[ruger1234]

So just a dumb, little question. If things are so much better, why all the drug use, why the need to crawl in a hole and ignore life?

And why long waits to get through security to get on a plane when we didn't even bother with screeners and scanners and x-rays in the past? Or why do we seem to live in perpetual fear of something when we didn't live that way in the past?

Who lives in perpetual fear? I certainly don't, I'll walk my neighborhood streets at any time without worry. I never lock my truck doors and I never lock my house doors at night.

I'm 51, live in good ol Blount county TN, I can remember back when there were more than a few local boat ramps that were off limits. You could put your boat in no problem but when you got back you may not have a truck, wheels, boat trailer or stereo deck. That was a good day, sometimes you might have to fight the drunk idiot siting in the middle of the ramp fishing beside his campfire. Now I go put my boat in almost any where I choose without worry.

 

[Weezer]

We all laugh at the conspiracy theory nuts, but do you ever wonder if there's a grain of truth in what they say? Over the years, public fear has grown, and with it, the govt has always been there to "protect" us by taking more and more control. The media continues to tell us just how bad a place the world is. I'm not a conspiracy whack job, but sometimes it feels like we're drifting closer and closer to Orwell's 1984 version of reality.

 

[AM64]

Do you have any numbers about drug use through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, etc? I think I've done just about enough research for everyone tonight, but I'd love to see if anyone else can find something. I'm asking because I'm pretty sure that for most illicit substances, abuse has gone down rather than up. With the exceptions probably being prescription opiates and marijuana.



Perception. The media. The gallup study I posted a while back went into more detail about the factors that cause people's perceptions to be different than what the statistics bare out.

I don't disagree that the media have a lot to do with attitude - both general public perception and the "official" need to act - for public officials to do something to demonstrate they are "out in front of it" when they probably aren't and never will be.

I haven't seen numbers on drug use, but I'd think you would have to include alcohol to make comparisons more fair. I could see how perceptions about drug use could easily be flavored by a number of things. Probably the biggest is that if you are not inclined to use drugs either by nature or by employment (drug screening), then you really have no idea how prevalent drugs are, their effect, or how to get them. I always had the impression that drugs like heroin and marijuana were something that happened in large cities before the 60s, and only marijuana spread into college campuses late in the 60's. I never heard of marijuana at UT before I left in '67, but I know it was around when I returned in '72.

 

[1972 Grad]

It sucks that you've lost so many to cancer, but treatment is pretty obviously much better today than it was back then. That's not really even up for debate.

What's weird is that my mother-in-law had stage 3 ovarian cancer over 30 years ago, then colon cancer, and is still here. My brother and his best friend, and another friend all had colon cancer, supposedly caught early enough, went to Vanderbilt (best in state for cancer) , and all 3 lasted about 2 years.

 

[1972 Grad]

I don't disagree that the media have a lot to do with attitude - both general public perception and the "official" need to act - for public officials to do something to demonstrate they are "out in front of it" when they probably aren't and never will be.

I haven't seen numbers on drug use, but I'd think you would have to include alcohol to make comparisons more fair. I could see how perceptions about drug use could easily be flavored by a number of things. Probably the biggest is that if you are not inclined to use drugs either by nature or by employment (drug screening), then you really have no idea how prevalent drugs are, their effect, or how to get them. I always had the impression that drugs like heroin and marijuana were something that happened in large cities before the 60s, and only marijuana spread into college campuses late in the 60's. I never heard of marijuana at UT before I left in '67, but I know it was around when I returned in '72.

I started at U.T. in 1967. You are right about marijuana.

 

[AM64]

Who lives in perpetual fear? I certainly don't, I'll walk my neighborhood streets at any time without worry. I never lock my truck doors and I never lock my house doors at night.

I'm 51, live in good ol Blount county TN, I can remember back when there were more than a few local boat ramps that were off limits. You could put your boat in no problem but when you got back you may not have a truck, wheels, boat trailer or stereo deck. That was a good day, sometimes you might have to fight the drunk idiot siting in the middle of the ramp fishing beside his campfire. Now I go put my boat in almost any where I choose without worry.

I was speaking more of the country as a whole - metal detectors, barriers, and other heightened security. Sure I'm not worried about walking at night in my neighborhood, but there are plenty of places in town I'd never consider. I'm not concerned with my neighbors, but there are enough stories about people going through neighborhoods (including mine) at night and taking things from unlocked cars that my home and cars are locked. I've got exterior lights with motion detectors, but the only intruder I've seen was a possum walking across the yard.

I lived in Maryville well before you were born and thought it was one of the best places I've lived. My dad flew F-86Ds from McGhee-Tyson when it was an Air Force Base.

 

[Weezer]

We all look at history through colored glasses. It can't be helped. But there are things that books and statistics just cannot teach us. A major part of any time period is the attitude of its people. For times long gone, we can only begin to guess. But for more recent times, there are people who have lived through them. I think it a disservice to discount firsthand experience. That doesn't mean it's the end all, be all, but you should respect it for what it is and give it weight in forming your opinions. You don't have to agree with everything. It's better actually to have some disagreements, imo. But you should respect a source of knowledge for what it is. Anything you can use to educate yourself is valuable when used correctly.

 

[tumscalcium]

It's not due to the pill addiction it's due to prohibition. If the users could buy their fix for what it really cost there would be no reason to steal. Hydros cost pennies to manufacture but they are very expensive on the black market. I'm hearing 10 to 20 dollars/pill. If the addicts could buy them at a retail markup they could probably just use their SS or aluminum can money untill they either got help or died. Again it's not the drug it's the need to buy on the black market.

So addicts are the problem.....

 

[n_huffhines]

Damn, i've never wanted a time machine more than now. I'd love to send you guys back to 1955. Hope you don't need a root canal.

 

[apevol]

Damn, i've never wanted a time machine more than now. I'd love to send you guys back to 1955. Hope you don't need a root canal.

Let me review the sports pages from 55 and I'll go

 

[n_huffhines]

Would they show up to work, if they could buy their fix cheap enough? I think that a lot of drugs take away people's drive and initiative. I don't get it.

This is not a safe assumption. I think drugs are attractive to lazy people as opposed to making them lazy. Caribbean slave drivers would keep their guys high because they thought they worked harder that way.

There is research that shows as long as you start smoking weed after adulthood, it has no impact on your productivity.

 

[n_huffhines]

Let me review the sports pages from 55 and I'll go

Can you imagine going from sophisticated football today to watching pre-wishbone football? It'd feel like you're watching HS.

 

[apevol]

Can you imagine going from sophisticated football today to watching pre-wishbone football? It'd feel like you're watching HS.

I'd feel like I'll put down 10,000 bucks on whoever I already know wins the rose bowl and be just fine.

 

[Weezer]

Damn, i've never wanted a time machine more than now. I'd love to send you guys back to 1955. Hope you don't need a root canal.

Huff, as I said previously, there is no denying some things are better today, but there is nothing wrong with missing that sense of comfort and security that existed in past generations. There was more emphasis on community back then, and I miss that. Today's world is full of people who only worry about themselves. Yes, there are still some good people out there, but so many people have turned to a more materialistic world view.

 

[Grand Vol]

I'd feel like I'll put down 10,000 bucks on whoever I already know wins the rose bowl and be just fine.

You'd have to be careful about that. They would alert the cops because they'd think you were counterfeiting money with that black lady on the 20.