o tempora, o mores!

I just realized that sounds kinda like pwnage. Totally unrelated, though.

We had to write and present persuasive speeches in my English class. I originally intended to do mine on stem cell research but was shot down when some other twit came along and claimed the topic before I had the chance.

So I did the legalities and safety issues of cell phones + driving. xD…

That was fun!
I start out with, “Alright, guys…how many of you have cell phones? Raise your hands. Okay…and of that number, how many of you have your license? And how many of you regularly play with your phone while you’re driving?” A few sheepish grins at this point, but hands stay raised.
“…well, then um, just thought I’d let you know, you guys suck.”

It was basically this tirade about how hazardous it can be. Some fired back with, “Oh, well, I have Bluetooth, and…” Fail! It isn’t really any safer. Not only that, a law here in Virginia that was passed in February of 2007 dictates that underage drivers were not to make use of any cellular device. However, this law, like Virginia seatbelt laws, is secondary…which means that you cannot be pulled over and cited for it; that you have to be pulled over for some other infraction.
As a result of this condition, and the fact that the penalty is pretty much a tap on the wrist, teens haven’t been discouraged from driving like that. Not a bit. But I don’t agree with biased laws…that damn law should apply to everyone. For example, the typical businessman in his forties or fifties who just got a brand new BlackBerry or HTC Touch would probably try to figure out how to write and send emails while stuck in traffic. That’s significantly more distracting than a teenager who can text under conditions of having their eyes clothes and hands tied behind their back [No, I cannot do that...nor would I wish to]. I’m not defending either side, though…everyone needs to be subject to the same thing regarding driving/phoning laws.

There was one study that said that drivers of SUVs [who are using their phones] are more likely to crash than any other cell-using driver of any other type of vehicle. That study particularly amused me…with reference to my accident back in September. I brought this up and even offered to allow some to [gently] prod my fucked up ribs where they had broken. Five of my classmates and my teacher took me up on it and were like, “OMG!!11?!” when they felt the bone.

It saddens me, though, to know that those students [AND my teacher], the majority of whom drive SUVs [bought by mommy and daddy, no less], won’t drive any better, even after seeing the aftermath of such crashes as presented in my presentation and poking my ribs. :[

Irresponsibility pisses me off.