The Craftsman versus the Industrial Complex

[RockyR]

I think clueless customers are another issue.

Very often, people tend to buy the cheapest article on the market regardless of cost/quality ratio - and frequently regardless of whether it will get the job done properly. Cheapness is seen as a virtue in itself. A smart customer tries not to waste money, but understands that better goods are often a better bargain over the long run, and that goods that don't do what you bought them for are a 100% waste of money.

Yes, this is true (VERY true), however, the world fosters an attitude of "it's never the customers' fault". Trash in the ocean? The companies making the product have too much packaging. Children listening to bands with curse words? Censor the bands. Watching violent TV or Video games? Censor the TV. Fell in home depot while tripping over shoe laces? Home Depot's fault for having concrete floors which hurt when you fall on them.

Responsibility lies with MORE than 1/2 the equation. END USERS can recycle their garbage (what parts are recyclable). END USERS can check out what their kids are watching / listening to and take it away if they don't approve. Etc...

Too often we are blaming the smaller part of the equation and not facing the REAL problem... the man in the mirror. We're too quick to sue for things that were accidents or where we're partially / fully to blame b/c someone else didn't go above and WAY beyond to protect them (spoken as the son of a lawyer). When I was a kid, I never wore a bike helmet and I'm still here. I played dek hockey without all my pads and I'm still alive. I climbed trees (and fell once or twice) and I am still here. I never sued my neighbor for making that tree 'so inviting to climb'. I never sued the park service for my skinned knees.

If people would hold themselves accountable for THEIR OWN actions, I suspect this world would be a much better place. Unfortunately, people are (generally) lazy and will pick the easy way out when given an option and/or blame someone else. Businesses / politicians know that and cater to that 'need'.

[Off of Soapbox]
[END RANT]