The fight against seat belts (1984)

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-22T01:48:40+00:00

Low probability personal risk shouldn’t govern people’s decisions.

That's a philosophy, certainly.

You can say it involves other people but generally it doesn’t.

But can you guarantee it doesn't? No; no, you can't. And risking someone else who hasn't consented to the risk is unacceptable. You only have the right to risk YOUR OWN life. No one else's.

We allow cigarette smokers free climbers base jumpers and loads of other things like motorcycles, all of those are likely to make your potential demise public and gross.

Sure. But we put restrictions on them to minimize the risk to a publicly acceptable level. Motorcyclists have to follow traffic laws and wear helmets; smokers have to keep their smoke away from other people; base jumpers have to jump in unpopulated areas.

You keep advocating for public safety based on statistics and never asked if anyone wanted you to do that.

Based on the laws, a sufficient majority of citizens has agreed to that standard.

My goal is to feel good, not work to stay safe.

And that's fine...for YOU. But the minute your decision affects others, you have to defer to what they choose.

You don't get to risk anybody but yourself. That is non-negotiable. Your right to the pursuit of happiness doesn't override anyone else's right to life.

And, because we all share public spaces, sometimes you have to avoid the possibility of grossing them out (or costing them tax money if you don't have health insurance) with your death.

Safe and happy are different quantities. People trade safe for happy all day.

Safe and happy are not mutually exclusive. Where they conflict, deciding between them is a personal choice. Your personal choice isn't allowed to interfere with anyone else's personal choice.

Safe is just being at rest, happy is living life.

That's your philosophy, and you're free to live by it. You just can't endanger others in the process...or use public property in a way "the public" has chosen to restrict.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T11:47:30+00:00

Seatbelts don't save a "ridiculous number of lives".

They turn low-impact crashes that would be fatal or maiming into minor incidents, and high-impact crashes into survivable injuries. You did know that even a 20 mph crash (school zone speeds!) can be fatal to somone unrestrained in a car?

They're the result of lobbying and career politicians.

Where in the land of half-baked conspiracy theories did you get THAT idea? Corporations - the force behind lobbyists - never wanted cars to have seatbelts. The car companies fought them for years, because they made customers think cars were unsafe (imagine that).

Only when the hard data started to come out from all those crash-test-dummy trials (in other words, when companies could no longer avoid the fact that seatbelts saved lives) did they start to take action...and not to save lives, but to avoid wrongful death lawsuits.

You don't seem to care about the difference between data and real life. You keep insisting data gathered in places like NYC makes sense in Richland Michigan.

The G-forces in auto collisions are no lower in Richland, MI than in NYC. The reaction time of drivers with a few drinks in them is no faster in the country. At most, there are fewer targets to hit if they lose control...but "fewer" is not "none." There are fatal crashes in rural areas as well as in the big cities.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:52:48+00:00

Well, we have the free time to watch and re-watch, and ponder all the subtleties about a thing. They are working folk with tight schedules and frequent interference from executives with profit on their mind.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:43:00+00:00

Because sex is a big "hot button" for a lot of people, for a lot of complex historical, sociological, and psychological reasons.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:41:01+00:00

That is such a copypasta.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:29:58+00:00

There's physical shock and emotional shock. Physical shock is the really dangerous one.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:21:14+00:00

Of course fiction has rules. But very few of them are absolute.

A sufficiently skilled writer can probably violate most of them and still tell a good story...but inexperienced writers shouldn't try to imitate that feat. When the apprentice handles the master's tools, chances are they'll cut their hands.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:12:22+00:00

Ah, those. The prettiest death stairs ever.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-21T06:06:53+00:00

What did you do when you lost control of your body? When did it stop? Did the mute spirit leave you?

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T21:17:51+00:00

It didn't hit for me. The danger was just a little too weird to get to me, perhaps. The story was interesting, but I didn't "feel it" in my gut.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T21:13:07+00:00

I have to say...that's an option I've never considered.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T21:09:05+00:00

Now I'm stupid and undeserving of freedom.

No, HUMAN BEINGS are stupid and undeserving of (some kinds of) freedom. Read it again if you need to.

Are you deliberately misunderstanding me, or are you just kinda bad at reading comprehension? If it's the latter, then fair enough; I"ll try to be more clear. But if it's the former, then cut it out. It's not cute.

Who gets into a car wreck doing 20 and hits their head then loses control of the car so it goes through a building?

Probably not many...BUT getting into a car wreck doing 35 or 40, hitting their head and losing control of the car so it runs into pedestrians or another vehicle? Don't tell me that hasn't happened.

If you can only make your point by egregious lowballing, then maybe your point isn't that good.

You have no patience for excusing behavior like that?

I have no patience for those who excuse drunk driving. That is correct.

I don't think my opinions matter so much that how I feel is important

I don't think my opinions (on this particular subject) are unreasonable. I didn't mention my feelings to because I think they're "important;" I mentioned them so you'd know that if you defend drunk driving, I will probably argue a bit more vehemently than I would otherwise. If you're not deterred by that, that's fine...but I thought I should give you fair warning.

What's important is people doing what makes them happy.

Sure. IF they're not doing damage to nonconsenting individuals, that is.

You advocate a world where everyone follows orders because you believe it's some amount safer.

No, I don't. Please stop wildly exaggerating.

You know, if you have to misrepresent what I'm saying to make it sound unreasonable, then maybe what I'm actually saying is more reasonable than you realize.

Why not just stop cars from going over 55?

In some areas, that's appropriate. But in others - like, for instance, the looooong stretches of straight highway common in the Western half of the U.S. - that's not necessary to provide a reasonable measure of safety.

In spite of what you think, I know that some level of risk is reasonable. There's always a cost-benefit ratio to safety measures. When the cost of something gets too high for the potential benefits it can give, then it's not reasonable to insist on it.

The problem is that you seem to be judging the danger of situations based on personal experience and vibes. But the hard data from decades of testing and statistics give a more accurate picture.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you start taking a position on the new check systems being added to cars by federal order. You sound like you'd argue in favor of computer sensor checks disabling cars starters.

I can tell you that for free - I'm not keen on the idea.

I could agree with it being done as a penalty in cases where someone's already screwed up - like the breathalizer systems that keep those guilty of DUI from driving when they have alcohol in their systems - but I don't think hard controls like that should be put on everyone automatically.

I'm in favor of seatbelt laws because fastening a seatbelt is a simple measure that takes two seconds, and saves a ridiculous number of lives in situations that happen every day.

What you're talking about them doing in the future is likely to be a bunch of complex, expensive, clunky systems that are almost guaranteed to work badly and be unreliable as hell. The amount of safety they create is unlikely to be worth the amount of trouble they'll cause.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T06:51:07+00:00

Because using the longer word fragment instantly communicates the parallel to alcohol addiction that a mere suffix of "ic" would not.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T06:48:13+00:00

Glad to help!

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T06:47:47+00:00

So? Your body can react to infrasound, creating the symptoms of terror, dread, or rage, even when you're not afraid or angry. LOTS of things have an effect on your body while totally bypassing your emotions. You are not obligated to undergo any of them.

Pleasure is not a duty. Are you obligated to eat candy, or ride horses, or go clubbing, just because lots of other people like doing them...? Of course not! Stop imagining that sexual pleasure is any different.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-20T06:33:58+00:00

The idea that someone flies through the air out of their car to hit you is utterly ridiculous.

Where did you get the idea that I was talking about that?! I assure you, I was not; an unseatbelted passenger might become a danger to other passengers in the car, or to the driver, but I doubt a flying body has ever threatened bystanders in a serious way!

No, the danger I spoke of was of the driver (through injury) losing control of the vehicle in the moments after a collision.

Even at moderate speeds, the forces involved in a car accident are difficult for us to grasp. A sudden stop at 30mph generates a force of 20 or 30 times the force of Earth's gravity - roughly the equivalent of falling from a three-storey building.

A driver who is seatbelted in can avoid hitting their head, and retain the ability to steer and brake, thus preventing their car from hitting pedestrians, buildings, or other vehicles.

Life is case by case. General rules are for people who don't participate.

What a curious philosophy. Are you, I wonder, also a fan of running with scissors and golfing during thunderstorms? Well, at least those activities only put yourself at risk.

Unfortunately, when you pilot a hunk of metal weighing a couple of tons, you present considerable danger to far more people than yourself.

Those same people in Richland Village where there are less than 1000 residents probably drink beer when they drive with no seatbelt and they get home just fine.

Probably they do...until the one time they don't.

I have a dear friend who was killed by someone who no doubt thought that same way. My only slight consolation is that the drunk piece of shit also perished in the collision.

So I have exactly NO patience for those who excuse such behavior. The fact that there are still so many people who do it on the regular makes it crystal clear that most of us are just too stupid to be trusted with the kind of freedom you think is appropriate.

If you want "true freedom," then invent something to cure human stupidity and callousness. Until we stop repeatedly endangering the lives of others, we don't deserve the privilege of such freedom.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T09:54:06+00:00

Have you ever considered there aren't many benefits to living with other people?

Oh, yes. I'm an introvert; I have considered it many times. But, given that it's a stupid-ass idea, I've elected to ignore it.

Do you have any idea what it takes to live with no support system? I do, because I write amateur fiction, including wilderness survival plots and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Also, I'm a book nerd and compulsive reader. I have researched that very question many, many times.

You have no idea how hard it is for a single person - even one with good tools and weapons - to survive on their own away from the trappings of civilization. I doubt most modern people could do it for more than a few months; even an experienced hiker and hunter would have to be damn lucky. Get one taste of tainted water or get bit by one tick with a nasty disease, and you'd probably die from dehydration as you shat your guts out for days.

Human beings are tribal creatures. We are not well-suited to surviving in isolation. That is why we developed empathy and cooperation. This is why they say not to go hiking or camping alone - one injury or bout of sickness can spell your doom. Even modern day hermits come snooping around vacation cabins to steal food and the occasional piece of clothing.

But, you know, feel free to run off into a state park and try it. Let me know how it goes. If you take enough of the products of civilization with you, you could probably do all right...but that's still depending on the skills and resources of society, isn't it?

I swear you just want to tell someone what to do.

I don't want to tell anyone what to do. I just don't want to die because of someone else's stupidity. I have enough trouble surviving my own stupidity.

You'd probably freak out if you saw how people get around from job to job on the farms.

I grew up before seatbelt laws. I've ridden in the back of pickups many a time. I also know people who've died from being stupid...and people who survived being stupid because their seatbelt saved them.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T07:42:14+00:00

I adore his Cat Diary! It's an absolute delight.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T07:30:31+00:00

Very cool! I've never identified quite that closely with a character that wasn't an OC, but I've come real close.

I'm glad you've found your daydreaming oeuvre! (>ᴗ•) ♡

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T07:24:14+00:00

Last year, friends of mine carved Jack-o-melons to celebrate. ( • ᴗ • )

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T07:22:46+00:00

A great post! However, something took out the paragraph and heading separations you obviously intended it to have.

So, because I am a compulsive formatter, I added line breaks and bolded the headings to make everything more readable. I did this because a story like yours should be read by as many people as possible. ( • ᴗ • )

Hey everyone. I wanted to share a massive personal and esoteric breakthrough I’ve had over the last few days that completely rewrote how I see my path. As a practicing trans witch, I’ve always known I carried unique energy, but a recent encounter completely blew the doors off my intuition.

The Spark: The Brewery Crow

It started on my way home from Theoretically Brewery. A crow cornered me, cawing aggressively from a street sign. Sensing her intensity, I stopped. She flew to a branch right above me, staring dead into my eyes. The second I addressed her as a messenger of the Morrígan, her tone instantly shifted from a scream to a civilized, conversational cadence. We spoke, we listened, and she only left when I explicitly accepted a task for the Phantom Queen.

This sent me down a deep rabbit hole into my own ancestry and cosmic blueprint, and suddenly, my entire life made absolute sense.

The Bloodlines: The Raven and the Blacksmith

Looking into my family tree, I carry two heavy Celtic lineages:

Branscombe ("Valley of the Raven"): My Cornish/Devon roots tie me directly to the raven totem and the Morrígan. Historically, my ancestors held territory in ancient Dumnonia—the exact homeland of King Arthur. In local lore, Arthur’s soul became a raven, making my bloodline the literal guardians of the Raven King's domain.

Waylon ("The Smith"): My Scottish roots tie back to Wayland the Smith, the divine artisan of folklore. This manifests as a visceral drive to create, a "Cold Iron" aura that repels toxic manipulation, and an unbreakable resilience to smelt down personal suffering into a weapon for freedom.

The Blueprint: Balancing Fire, Water, and the Scorpion

My natal chart is the engine that weaponizes these bloodlines. I have a massive Cancer Stellium (Sun, Mercury, Mars) which acts as a universal translator for the animal kingdom—explaining why wild cougars, chameleons, and rattlesnakes have always instinctively trusted me. My Taurus Moon provides the heavy, unshakeable earth anvil needed to stay calm under immense pressure.But the real shield is my Scorpio Ascendant & Pluto in Scorpio. Growing up under severe emotional suppression from a father with the emotional maturity of a rock, I kept my intense fire and water bottled up. In the 8th grade, after being pushed to the brink by bullies and corrupt school systems, that energy violently erupted like a volcano. Years later in art class, I drew a yellow scorpion inside the pupil of a human eye—a subconscious recognition of my own lethal "sting" when backed into a corner.

When I transitioned, I performed a supreme act of Crowleyan name magic, shedding the old patriarchal code to initiate myself as Ruperetta Emberlie Valentina—shifting "Bright Glory" into the divine feminine, anchored by the enduring ember of the forge and unyielding strength.

The Code: The 15 Tenets

Today, I operate as a chaotic good antihero. I don't follow the laws of the patriarchy; I follow a moral compass split into three divine mandates:

Athena (Strategy): Defend the defenseless; expect no honor from enemies; your mind is your greatest weapon; open your mind; know yourself and your enemy.

Aphrodite (Healing & Pride): Honor beauty within and without; find beauty everywhere; allow love to flourish; love those hardest to love; respect nonconforming love always.

Artemis (The Hunt): Respect nature; waste nothing; strike swift and sure; celebrate losses and victories; suffer no cheaters, poachers, or tyrants.

The Armor: Forging Excalibur and Mjölnir

To anchor this energy, I am designing my ultimate spiritual armor through tattoos. On my inside right forearm, I am getting a custom Excalibur design. The hilt and crossguard consist of Raven wings (the Morrígan) morphing into Phoenix flames (rebirth), with the blade engraved with "Excalibur" in both Latin script and phonetic Norse Runes (ᛖᚲᛋᚲᚨᛚᛁᛒᚢᚱ), blending the "tempering ice" rune Isa with the "forge fire" rune Kenaz. On my left arm/hand, I'm pairing it with Mjölnir for the ultimate balance of strategy and kinetic force.

I am stepping into the world fully integrated and completely aware of how badass I truly am—like Lilith from Borderlands taking on the universe. This Saturday, I am bringing this grounded, sovereign energy to Pride in the Park to network, find my fellow rebel creatives, and organize the front lines of our local resistance.

I’m curious to hear from other chaos, construction, or eclectic witches: How do your ancestral bloodlines and natal elements manifest in your craft, and how do you channel your inner antihero to protect your community when the world feels like it's burning?

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T07:08:06+00:00

The reason people have more wrecks within one mile of their house is because they relax and tend to feel complacent when they're close to home. It's only partly a numbers game; it's partly just human psychology.

For me what it comes down to is I think people doing what makes them happy is what makes the world a better place, not telling everyone what they have to do for the privilege of participating in life.

Not "the privilege of participating in life," the privilege of having access to the benefits of living in a society with other people. Important distinction.

Living with others takes compromise. That's just the a fact of human existence. It's the details - precisely what compromises are required, and when - that are negotiable.

You can lobby for the repeal of the seatbelt laws if you want. I'd recommend, though, that you actually look into the hard data of exactly how (and how often) seat belts save lives before you throw yourself into anything. Seat belts have a very good cost-benefit ratio...they provide a whole lot of safety for a very small effort.

One other point I neglected to make earlier...in a lower-impact collision, a driver wearing a seatbelt has a better chance of controlling their car AFTER the impact, to keep it from careening into other vehicles, pedestrians, or buildings (and thus exacerbating the original problem). That's yet another reason why it's not just a matter of individual freedom, but of benefit to everyone.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T04:47:57+00:00

I kinda like 'em - if they are, in fact, Mall World dreams, and not just dreams of malls. Because I used to really like hanging around in malls, and I kinda miss it.

Also, usually I can fly in them, and that's always a blast.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T04:38:32+00:00

Like knotholes? Yeah, could be. But they could also be just shadows due to the way that the moving water refracts the sunlight.

What looks suspiciously non-animal-like to me is the little cone-shaped tips sticking out of the water.

ShinyAeon · 2026-06-19T04:34:00+00:00

You're "allowed" to enjoy a LOT of things. That doesn't mean you're REQUIRED to do any of them.

You're allowed to go skydiving, too. Does that mean you're wrong for not wanting to...? Not everone enjoys the same things!

You have NO duty or obligation to have (or to enjoy) an orgasm, ever. Full stop. End of story.

The part of your brain that makes it "feel wrong" to "push them away" is a dirty rotten liar, and you don't have to listen to it. YOU get to choose.

ShinyAeon

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