What Ever Happened To ...... Part I

What ever happened to COMMON SENSE?

I understand that it was slowly and painfully eroded by stupidity and laziness and the need to blame others for our own mistakes.  How, you wonder.  Well there was a time when 'if something wasn't broke, you didn't mess with it'.  There was a time when you learned from your mistakes and didn't make the same ones over and over again expecting things to change.  There was a time when you received a hot cup of coffee or tea or cocoa you checked the lid first before putting it to your lips to make sure it didn't spill.  Or if it did spill you didn't sue McDonald's because they didn't tell you how hot it was.  Come on, it's coffee; its been brewing in an urn all morning;  IT'S GONNA BE HOT!!!!!!

Now because some idiot sued McDonald's over spilled coffee there are warning signs on just about everything.  I haven't looked but I am sure that somewhere on my store there is a warning sticker that says that if you turn the stove on the burners will get hot and to keep your hands and extremities away.  We have stickers or language on microwave food warning us that the food will be hot when removed from the microwave.  Well isn't that what you want?  Cause if you want it to be cold or just barely warm, remove it from the freezer and let it sit out on the counter for a couple of hours and ...what for it.... lukewarm food.

There was a time when you took responsibility for your own mistakes.  That was part of growing up, taking responsibility.  You didn't blame the school system, the fact that you came from a broken home, the color of your skin, religion, etc, etc.  You overcame obstacles, you didn't blame them for your poor choices.  Parents believed in making their children take responsibility for doing homework, doing their chores, behaving in class, etc.  They attack the teacher or the school system for "picking" on their child because he/she was black, Asian, white or from a broken home.  I grew up poor.  We didn't know we were poor but we were.  We didn't have a lot of things that other kids had.  But we went to school, were bullied (at least I was) and learned to deal with it.  We lived outside of town on a small farm so I didn't participate in a lot of after school activities.  Mom didn't drive and dad worked long hours and I didn't get my first car until I could pay for it myself after I graduated from high school.  Did I miss out on things?  Yes I did, do I blame them or my parents for the poor choices I made after that?  No.  These were my choices.

Choices and understanding the consequences of making those choices helps sustain common sense.  Unfortunately, we have become lazy and prefer to blame others for the consequences of our poor choices, thus the demise of Common Sense.  RIP Common Sense, you are greatly missed.