[FoRK] Welcome to the American Totality. You've been warned.

[Ian Andrew Bell]

On 6-Feb-08, at 9:40 AM, Lawnun wrote:

> AS to the second (the "Fight Club" scenario) I don't see a problem. I
> actually think if two guys want to go pummel the shit out of one  
> another for
> fun and profit, even if it leads to the death of one or both, its a  
> free
> country.  Assuming no coercion, and adequate knowledge and consent,  
> I'm all
> over that.

In these scenarios we as a society generally find ourselves having to  
impose the brute force rote of absolute prohibitionist law simply  
because of the actions of lawyers further down the food chain who, on  
behalf of their clients, will ask:  "was consent informed?" or "what  
is the definition of coercion?" etc. (ad nauseam).  In essence we hire  
lawyers to create laws in order to inhibit the hiring of lawyers to  
challenge them.  It's a self-perpetuating system, really.

To wit, the much-ballyhooed Bertuzzi-Moore incident:

	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9RE9RGrVY

... which has led to lawsuits, criminal investigations, etc. lasting  
more than 3 years.

	http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/bertuzzi/

Presumably, there is a loophole in players' contracts which is  
allowing this kind of BS to persist.

Conclusion:  should have gone to law school, after all.  Damn you,  
Interweb!

-Ian.

PS - yes I think Bertuzzi is despicable.  But should he go to jail?   
no way.