Kite Tube Banned by Corps of Engineers District
 

For all that have posted in opposition to the initial thread... Do you think there is any reason why the Army Corps of Engineers has banned these tubes on their lakes in Missouri and Arkansas? Kind of goes back to Daves initial thread eh?

Probably because they AREN'T safe. None of us said they WERE, as far as I know.

Is this just the Kansas City District banning these? I would think that the Corps would make it nationwide, rather than just one district.

I think we've all agreed that the things are dangerous, if not stupid. However, we have some disagreement over whether or not people should be allowed to either do stupid things or sue someone because they've done something stupid.

I'm just surprised the Kite Tube threads generated so much response. Who woulda thunk?

Me. Two types of people, those who believe they are better than others and should be allowed to force their opinions on them and those who believe in freedom.
Issues that touch on the difference between those groups always generate lively discussions.
Same as/for anti-anything, prayer in school and over regulation of any kind.

People have always been able to pray in schools. It's when the teachers or principal recites the prayer aloud where they begin to "force their opinion." I don't know if you would agree or disagree.

I'm a libertarian on some issues, like the freedom to do to yourself what you want (smoke weed, stick a screwdriver in your ear, go to church), but I also think we need to consider the impact of our actions on others and the environment. To be honest, I dislike the motorboats more than the guy breaking his neck with the tube.

"Prayer in school" was a title, I was not trying to be specific.
I am a Libertarian as well... protecting the environment does not contradict that. I grew-up skiing, but also like to canoe, just not on lakes.

Liberty
 

I think libertarianism can run into conflicts with environmentalism when it comes to "property rights" arguments. Like any ism, if it's taken too far it can be damaging.

There are a lot of neo-Randian libertarians around these days; they scare me.

I always had a problem with Ski Resorts; then I went skiing for the first time and had a blast! Mt. Okemo, in Vermont. Man that was fun. I suppose there's no good snow skiing in FL.

Water skiing is what I did... lol.
Thing is, as a libertarian, as long as what you are doing on your property ONLY affects you property, ever, I'm ok with not regulating it... outside of that, we need guidelines.

Welcome to the Cellar, champs.:D
The Corps banned them because stupid people will hurt themselves, and maybe others, causing the corps all kinds of headaches they don't want.

Hand grenades are banned too.....for the same reason. Yet thousands of people handle hand grenades every week without hurting themselves. And if they do hurt themselves it's not the manufacturer's fault, but Dave would probably sue anyway.

I think there's a little difference between the Wego and a hand grenade. It's much easier to hurt someone *else* with a grenade; with the Wego you're only hurting yourself.

Personally, I'd been debating getting one (I've already had the Manta for a while) and just recently ordered it while I still can :-)

Welcome to the Cellar velocityboy, :D

So, you're getting one to get in on the class action cash. Just kidding.

Yeah there are lots of differences between these things and hand grenades, but the fact remains they are not inherently dangerous. If you use some brains you probably won't get hurt, but there's no guarantees.

Thanks!

There are no guarantees in life. Personally, I like extreme sports (I ride fast motorcycles, too); all you can do is minimize the risk by being as safe as you can. I'm a firm believer that the government's job isn't to protect me from myself - the Declaration of Independence doesn't say "pursuit of happiness, as long as it's not too risky."

I view it as regret minimization. Yeah, I *might* get hurt and regret it. But I *know* I'll be cranky and regret it a lot if I let myself get too old without doing the things that really appeal to me.

And, BTW, I would never sue the manufacturer. With freedom comes personal responsibility.

Fark is all over this, this morning, and somebody had a vid of an accident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H0k9Uvt2os

You can watch any amount of it to see what it's like to fly in this thing, and then the last ten seconds to see what it's like to wipe out.

By the audio of "floor it" and "gun it" one may presume that the manufacturer's instructions were not followed.