by Merv Johnson

Created on: January 30, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

Some people are blaiming the DJ for the death of a woman trying to win a Nintendo Wii for her son in a Water-Drinking contest, where the woman actually drank too much water and died of "water intoxication". I don't think anybody should really be blamed.

Now, granted, the DJ seems to have been a rude, crude, sarcastic, jackass. But, that's what he's paid to do. That's why we listen to DJs. They're funny, charasmatic, and they keep the show going. They take requests, make a joke or two, host games, run stupid audio clips, and play music. The "Morning Rave" DJ was not a lawyer, a paramedic, or anything like that. I know you're saying that he didn't warn her. Well maybe not him, but she WAS warned by someone. She signed a release. She could not have signed a release if she had not recieved any sort of warning, that's what a release is for. Granted, the DJs of the "Morning Rave" might have been a bit careless, but again, that's their job. They're not news reporters either, most of the time.

To blame the DJ for her death is to lable her death as a homocide. Or at least manslaughter.

So now everyone's wondering who is to blame, if not the DJ? The radio show? The woman? The host of the contest? The water company? I don't think it's anyone.

Not everyone can consume the same amount of water. The very fact that there is a water-drinking contest at all proves that point. And if not, then why didn't anyone else die? As I understand it, the woman who died only recieved second place. Why didn't the first place guy die? Now, yes, other people have died of Water Intoxication before, this one just appearntly became more popular and famous then the others (maybe the mother had blonde hair and blue eyes).

So, yes, maybe from now on people shouldn't be involved in water drinking contests. But ya can't blame anyone specifically for her death, unless you can classify this as a murder. Should the DJ and the radio station be more vocal about warning people of water intoxication? Probably. But that wouldn't stop people from trying to win anyway. We warn people all the time not to stand on top of cars while their moving at 60-80 mph, but people still die from it.

No one specifically can be blamed for anything more then just not warning everyone loud enough. Remember, she signed a release.

And, to the son of the lady who died trying to win that Nintendo Wii, you have my deepest and most senserely heartfelt sympathy At first I had hoped that you got a Wii, which your mom worked so hard for, after all. But now I'm not sure if it means anything in comparison to your loss. Again, you have my sympathies.

Learn more about this author, Merv Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.