Originally Posted by
spunkyj
First of all, did you read njkayaker's article? It was about social contracts, and it was to this I was responding. The article reasoned that breaking traffic laws on a bike is wrong because it breaks a social contract and duty. Stealthammer, I hope you never ever jaywalk because that would be ironic.
I reject the entire concept that you are entering a "social contract" at all by obeying
or disregarding established traffic laws and ordinances. That is asinine and childish. Do you enter a "social contract" when you sit down to a game of chess or when you observe the 100yd x 50yd field when playing football? There is no effing "social contract" when established and defined boundaries for social behavior are defined by laws and ordinances. The established traffic laws and ordinances are no different that the rules of a game. If you disregard those laws and ordinances you are transgressing the laws and ordinances and you are subject to being penalized. If the refs don't call you on it, count yourself as lucky. But please, don't try to intellectualize your rationalizations to justify your disregard for the rules. You are choosing to disregard the laws and ordinances and you can either fess up or you are just another a**hole trying to avoid taking responsibility for your erroneous behavior.
Originally Posted by
lostarchitect
In New York City. if you don't jaywalk you are in the way and holding people up. It's considered pretty rude to just stand there on the curb waiting if there is no traffic. It's still technically illegal but I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for it. You can do it right in front of a cop with impunity.
BS. I lived in New York and the people you are holding up by jay walking are the people driving cars, and I don't really give a sh*t if you can do it right in front of a cop with impunity, you are still impeding on the drivers right of way.