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Are we too eager to sue one another in America today?
Are we too eager to sue one another in America today?
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Results so far:
| Yes | 90% | 188 votes | Total: 208 votes | |
| No | 10% | 20 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesThe world today, the United States in particular, is constantly searching for the easy answer or the "get-rich-quick" opportunity. While searching for these, the fact that you might hurt someone else along the way has very rarely been of any concern to anyone. To illustrate this point we just need to look at programs like the lottery, gambling in general, and in this case, the ability to sue over just about anything.
People have become disgustingly lazy. Really they have. But when we live in a world of fast food, working from home, bypass surgeries, and welfare; who can blame them. Our culture not only is setting people up to be lazy, but it encourages it! It gets worse though, not only do we encourage it, we cater to it.
On to the real point, when we as consumers, patients, blue collar workers hear of some Billy Jo Jackson striking it big with the lottery we can't help but imagine "what if...?" When we hear of someone making out with millions because they spilled hot coffee on themselves (because no written warning was given on the cup) we can't help but imagine "what if...?" These points set the groundwork of our thoughts and attitudes. When we combine them with lawyers on television constantly bombarding us with statements along the lines of "if you were hurt on the job, YOU deserve compensation," we start to get into a mindset of "yeah you're right, I'M the victim." Then suddenly, this framework is built and developed. In comes person A who flips a lid (excuse the pun) because they dumped a bunch of hot coffee on themselves, and felt that they needed a written reminder that coffee was hot. But because of loopholes and people disregarding common sense; a new generation was born. It only takes one. We now see people suing over, well, anything. A woman sued a movie theater for discrimination against the obese because she couldn't fit in to their seats. And guess what dearest reader? She won. A man sued NBC because he couldn't stomach what was being shown on "Fear Factor." You get the point.
Yes, we do sue over inane occurrences, but until society clamps down and says enough is enough, people will keep doing it. Not only do I say we are too eager to sue, but it is far past the ridiculous point. From what I read, mainstream America seems to be appalled by all these suits run rampant. So why if the opposition is there is it allowed to continue? However, to state the point, I think the issue is our country's super-structure. These suits are just a logical conclusion from what we have built. You can't show someone how to cheat and then say "OK now you know how, but you can't do it, but by the way, here are a few step-ups for you if you choose to, but don't." It sounds like a petty and juvenile way of putting it, but it is exactly what is going on in the world today.
Learn more about this author, Brian Davis.
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No
We have become a litigative society; a weak and fragile society who can't face the truth, or say the words, "I'm sorry." We lie and say we're doing great in our marriages, interpersonal relationships, and jobs, and we cultivate the air of impassivity and make believe. We buy larger homes then we can afford, we buy fancy cars, and we are so scared someone might call us out on it. I don't mean to come off "La Vie Boheme", but frugality today is really cool. Remember that the old pistols at dawn phase when duels were an attempt at settling feuds, and debt? In Valmont, the title character is shot and killed in a duel and yet nothing is resolved. This was outrageous then, and it has shape shifted into the form of a lawsuit. Even after the money is rewarded to you, you are still embarrassed, you still feel empty. If someone kicks you in the shin but they give you a dollar to make up for it, your shin still hurts.
My family, collectively, has been involved in six lawsuits. Not one of us was eager to participate in the lawsuits. I do not believe we are eager to sue in America today; we are just too scared to face the truth about a situation. Apparently, we have lost sight of how to be polite to one another. The only people eager to get to court these days are lawyers. However, they are excused, because they are just doing their job. We are too scared not to sue: If we don't sue them for doing us wrong, then we will be shamed in our community and circle of friends. With the exception of wrongful termination and wrongful death suits, the plaintiff wants instant gratification and satisfaction. A lawsuit does not provide this, but what it does provide for the plaintiff, for a brief moment, is knowing that the other party is suffering as much as they were once suffering. There is nothing exciting, thrilling, rewarding, or glamorous about a lawsuit. It is time consuming, boring, paper-pushing, tedious, and an endless tennis match of, He said - She said.
In some parts of the country there are rehabilitation centers, and counselors for litigation trauma as a lawsuit can take 1-5 years before it gets to court. We are too eager to hurt someone else, because our feelings were not spared. Why not take the time to listen to what the other side has to say? Before you get to court there is a mediation period, so why on earth, after the money spent would you not settle during the mediation? That is the purpose of the lawsuit: to find the justice, to bring forth the truth, to resolve a problem and come to a mutual resolution. But now you have dug yourself in a hole, you filed the lawsuit, you can't back out now, what will your attorney think, he just told you, you will win! My attorney recently said, Every lawyer tells you they will win.. 50% of them are wrong. What we are missing in this country is apathy. Let's take a lesson on the etiquette of a disagreement from Emily Post: Count to ten. When someone's behavior makes you angry, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself, is it really worth blowing my stack over this?"
Learn more about this author, Brandy Smith.
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