RickWhite
Well-Known Member
If a young boy goes swimming in a public pool and decides to pee in said pool, what harm does it do?
Clearly, the pool contains enough water to dilute the pee which after all is sterile in the first place. So, why shouldn't the boy pee in the pool? The answer to this question should be obvious.
Now people can come up with all kinds of silly arguments to rationalize the boy's individual choice to pee in the pool. It could be argued that peeing is a fundamental right and therefore nobody has the right to deny his right to pee. One could also argue that the act is not offensive because the pee is not being directly streamed on another and is therefore not an infringement on that person. One could also argue that people can choose not to swim in the public pool or let their kids swim if they are worried about the pee. Furthermore, they could argue that peeing is a natural act and it should therefore be tolerated.
In case you haven't caught on yet, the public pool is an analogy for the society in which we all live. Like the public pool, peeing in it affects everyone. And many of the arguments we typically encounter in political debate are no less ridiculous than the conversation about peeing in the pool - the pool just helps us see it.
In life, just like in the pool, we can not expect that the things we do and the way we live and conduct ourselves has no affect on others. Even things we do in our own home, that may seem not to affect others, actually do. For instance, one might argue that what one puts in their body is nobody else's business and it affects nobody. While this is sometimes true, it isn't always the case. Misuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistant pathogens that can spread like wildfire. This has in fact been a big problem as of late. Your choice to misuse antibiotics affects other people.
The same is true of a lot of other things. What is shown on TV is another great example. The old argument is "if you don't like what is on, turn it off." But any thinking person knows this isn't realistic. If one has kids, it just isn't plausible to expect the parent to be able to effectively filter what their kids see on TV. The only way this can be accomplished is if we as a society make decisions about what should and should not be allowed in the pool area.
Likewise, many states are passing anti-smoking bans, which is another good example. Same concept but involving air instead of water.
And people's conduct is another example. The law says that people have a given right to a peaceful environment - that is why one can be arrested for disturbing the peace. There is a long list of things we can not do in public - we can all list dozens.
The point of all this is that unless you live in a cabin in the woods of Montana you must conduct yourself in a manner deemed acceptable by the society in which you live.
The idea that one can do all sorts of nonsense and that none of it affects the other people with whom you share public space is like thinking one can pee in a public pool without affecting anyone else. The public arena should be thought of like a swimming pool - the use of which requires one to follow rules. The things we like to do that are not accepted by society should be thought of like pee. It is OK to let it out, but you should do it at home in your own toilet and not in the public pool.
Clearly, the pool contains enough water to dilute the pee which after all is sterile in the first place. So, why shouldn't the boy pee in the pool? The answer to this question should be obvious.
Now people can come up with all kinds of silly arguments to rationalize the boy's individual choice to pee in the pool. It could be argued that peeing is a fundamental right and therefore nobody has the right to deny his right to pee. One could also argue that the act is not offensive because the pee is not being directly streamed on another and is therefore not an infringement on that person. One could also argue that people can choose not to swim in the public pool or let their kids swim if they are worried about the pee. Furthermore, they could argue that peeing is a natural act and it should therefore be tolerated.
In case you haven't caught on yet, the public pool is an analogy for the society in which we all live. Like the public pool, peeing in it affects everyone. And many of the arguments we typically encounter in political debate are no less ridiculous than the conversation about peeing in the pool - the pool just helps us see it.
In life, just like in the pool, we can not expect that the things we do and the way we live and conduct ourselves has no affect on others. Even things we do in our own home, that may seem not to affect others, actually do. For instance, one might argue that what one puts in their body is nobody else's business and it affects nobody. While this is sometimes true, it isn't always the case. Misuse of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistant pathogens that can spread like wildfire. This has in fact been a big problem as of late. Your choice to misuse antibiotics affects other people.
The same is true of a lot of other things. What is shown on TV is another great example. The old argument is "if you don't like what is on, turn it off." But any thinking person knows this isn't realistic. If one has kids, it just isn't plausible to expect the parent to be able to effectively filter what their kids see on TV. The only way this can be accomplished is if we as a society make decisions about what should and should not be allowed in the pool area.
Likewise, many states are passing anti-smoking bans, which is another good example. Same concept but involving air instead of water.
And people's conduct is another example. The law says that people have a given right to a peaceful environment - that is why one can be arrested for disturbing the peace. There is a long list of things we can not do in public - we can all list dozens.
The point of all this is that unless you live in a cabin in the woods of Montana you must conduct yourself in a manner deemed acceptable by the society in which you live.
The idea that one can do all sorts of nonsense and that none of it affects the other people with whom you share public space is like thinking one can pee in a public pool without affecting anyone else. The public arena should be thought of like a swimming pool - the use of which requires one to follow rules. The things we like to do that are not accepted by society should be thought of like pee. It is OK to let it out, but you should do it at home in your own toilet and not in the public pool.
