The Randomness of a Night Out

I don’t know why, and I didn’t know in what category to place this entry, but this story stood out in the news, this week:

Prosecutors said a Massachusetts man angry after an argument with another bar customer broke a mug that sent shards of glass into the neck of bystander, causing him to bleed to death.

It appears that the alleged perpetrator exchanged words with one of the victim’s friends after an inadvertent collision on the way to the bathroom. A flare of temper and an impulse for drama left a peripheral person dead, others injured, and another facing the life-altering consequences of a lack of self control.
It’s the sort of thing about which we tend to cite the randomness of fate, although it’s really not quite random, is it? Individuals made decisions within the context of a culture that imparts certain import to particular behaviors. Non-randomness doesn’t require that we come to specific conclusions about how to prevent these rare occurrences, but it is food for thought.

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joe bernstein
joe bernstein
14 years ago

It’s life,no other way to explain it.
On a bookcase at home I have a chunk of shrapnel.It came off a 122 mm rocket that impacted a few feet from where I’d been napping minutes earlier.I got called on the intercom to change a tire on a C130.I was pissed at Maintenance Control for interfering in a good dream.
No sooner was I changing that tire than we were hit with a major barrage.I’d have been a Big Mac if they hadn’t sent me on that job.So,what the hell-you gotta understand that this is a completely crazy and unpredicatble place we’re in.Enjoy it while you can.

Sammy
Sammy
14 years ago

Here in Arizona, our loony wing-nut Governor, has signed a bill, allowing loaded handguns, in bar-rooms and night clubs.
Now that’s a perfect mix, Booze…Drunks…and Guns

Tommy Cranston
Tommy Cranston
14 years ago

Here in Arizona, our loony wing-nut Governor, has signed a bill, allowing loaded handguns, in bar-rooms and night clubs.
Now that’s a perfect mix, Booze…Drunks…and Guns
Posted by Sammy at August 21, 2010 11:19 PM
Damn Sammy-she’s probably got zero shot at re-election November 2.
Right Sammy…?
Sammy?

EMT
EMT
14 years ago

Job security…..

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
14 years ago

Well,Sammy,just stay the hell out of bars in Arizona.
Go to ones in Washington,or better yet,Chicago cause it would NEVER happen that you could get shot in a bar in those towns.
I wondered how long till your hatred of gun owners surfaced.

Sammy
Sammy
14 years ago

Mr Bernstein
I don’t hate anyone,
Life is way to short, to waste my time hating folks
Do you think…Booze…Drunks…and Guns are a good mix ??
How about Booze and driving ??

Justin Katz
Justin Katz
14 years ago

Sammy:
You missed one aspect:
Booze
Drunks
Knowing that other people, drunk and sober, clean and grimy, might have guns.

Sammy
Sammy
14 years ago

Tommmy Cranston
The most recent poll
Arizona Governor Brewer (R) 56% Goddard (D) 37%
Signing a law, allowing middle-school kids to carry loaded handguns to school, would probably increase her lead,

oldtimelefty
14 years ago

Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will. ~Jawaharlal Nehru
Submitted by OldTimeLefty

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
14 years ago

Sammy-personally,having seen too many results of barroom mayhem,I only drink at home except for rare occasions when my wife,who doesn’t drink,can drive.And although I have a concealed carry permit because I am retired LE,I never would consider drinking while armed.
I don’t think drinking and guns or driving mix well at all.
I just tend to trust people who are legally entitled to carry guns to exercise good judgement.
I can’t answer for asswipes who carry guns illegally,because most of them don’t need booze or drugs to kill someone,but it’s not like they avoid it.
Maybe you don’t hate gun owners,but I tend to think you have a low opinion of them-kinda goes with your whole attitude.
It is your right,however.

Patrick
Patrick
14 years ago

“How about Booze and driving ??”
So should all bars be outlawed unless each person drinking there has a designated sober driver? Is that what you’re getting at?

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
14 years ago

OTl-not half bad.

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