There seems to be a lot of talk about epidemics, pandemics and the end of the world swirling around these days, but what I want to know is how to cure the lack of common sense? I heard on the news that there is talk of banning ear buds (those things the kids stick in their ears to listen to music) because people are getting hit by trains. You think the ear bud is the problem? Really? I think the problem is walking where a train might hit you. Or maybe walking where a train might hit you while not being able to hear a train because your music is too loud. The problem does not seem at all to be the music, or the method that you listen to it. Perhaps if a bit of common sense was used this problem would be averted. Common sense is called for in a double dose here. Part one to the walker – GET OFF THE TRACKS, Part two to the people that want to ban ear buds – GET PEOPLE OFF THE TRACKS. What is so hard to understand?
Like the infamous case of the lady suing a fast food chain because the coffee burnt her when it spilled. Now all coffee cups have a “Caution, Contents Hot” warning label on them. Really? Hot coffee? Who’d a thunk it? I mean really! If you order a coffee – not the iced variety – wouldn’t you expect, in fact, demand that it be hot? Instead of using your common sense and securing a hot beverage and using in a responsible manner, in the first place, you sue them. How does something like this even go to court?  
If we as a society expected people to use their common sense, to teach their children common sense, then maybe this kind of situation would be avoided. In my opinion coffee cups do not need warning labels, plastic bags should not have to tell you not to place on a child’s head, food coming out of a microwave should not have to be labeled hot. As a society we have learned to use computers, iPods, Smartphones, GPS devices, T.V.’s, microwaves, washing machines, surely to goodness we can drink a cup of coffee without a manual and someone to help us!
Please demand from your children that they learn how to think on their own, it is not necessary to google directions on how to eat or drink. Certainly we can manage getting from point A to point B in one piece without being given second by second directions on how to do it from a GPS. Use your head, use your resources, by gum, you are smart, you can make it on your own mind power.
Perhaps the next wonder drug will be iSense – given to the generation after the Ritalin generation to help restore common sense. Please people, I beg of you, use your minds before it is too late.
ahepburn@wellingtonnorth.com