$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '&')quot;The fight started when the couple realized that they had no maple syrup for their pancakes. They asked the table over if they could have some of theirs because their pancakes wouldn't taste the same without the maple syrup and one of the two girls response was "bitch, your pancakes look fine to me!" And from there, all hell broke loose."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxeZvUKpFbM
PeakOil is You
Denny's as a microcosm for the breakdown of American society
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Denny's as a microcosm for the breakdown of American society
by Sixstrings » Wed 23 Feb 2011, 13:04:27
First of all, this didn't even happen in a Red State -- it's a Denny's in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The video is pretty bizarre, a Jerry Springer script verbatim.
The interesting thing is how the rest of the diners react. Looks like most of them stop eating as the fight progresses, they just fold their hands and look down at their own pancakes waiting for someone in authority to get a handle on the situation. Now what I would do in this situation is promptly get the hell out of that restaurant. But if you're going to stick around, you'd think *someone* would step in to diffuse the situation, or at least shout out a "hey, take it outside" or *something*.
But nope, everyone sits quietly like deer in headlights. The fight finally calms down but then starts up again and at that point the crowd starts hooping and hollering like it's a show.
Bizarre. So the question is.. is our society devolving? Would this have happened in the 1950's? Or even the 70's or 80's.. seems to me we now live in communities where nobody knows each other, nobody wants to get involved, everybody has their face either in pancakes or a an iPhone with no attachment to what's going on around them.
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Sixstrings - Fusion
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Re: Denny's as a microcosm for the breakdown of American soc
by Ludi » Wed 23 Feb 2011, 13:12:55
I never encounter mean people when I go into town. Maybe society is breaking down in some places but it doesn't seem to be doing it in my locale. 
Denny's used to be Sambo's, for those too young to remember. There's a history of America there, for sure.
Denny's used to be Sambo's, for those too young to remember. There's a history of America there, for sure.
- Ludi
Re: Denny's as a microcosm for the breakdown of American soc
by PrestonSturges » Wed 23 Feb 2011, 14:11:35
In Waffle House, the fry cook would have shivved them with a blade that he ground down from a from a plastic soup ladle.
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Re: Denny's as a microcosm for the breakdown of American soc
by Outcast_Searcher » Wed 23 Feb 2011, 14:22:17
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')The interesting thing is how the rest of the diners react. Looks like most of them stop eating as the fight progresses, they just fold their hands and look down at their own pancakes waiting for someone in authority to get a handle on the situation. Now what I would do in this situation is promptly get the hell out of that restaurant. But if you're going to stick around, you'd think *someone* would step in to diffuse the situation, or at least shout out a "hey, take it outside" or *something*.
But nope, everyone sits quietly like deer in headlights.
')The interesting thing is how the rest of the diners react. Looks like most of them stop eating as the fight progresses, they just fold their hands and look down at their own pancakes waiting for someone in authority to get a handle on the situation. Now what I would do in this situation is promptly get the hell out of that restaurant. But if you're going to stick around, you'd think *someone* would step in to diffuse the situation, or at least shout out a "hey, take it outside" or *something*.
But nope, everyone sits quietly like deer in headlights.
Well, this is an example of the breakdown of law, the courts, and common sense in our society.
Today, if anyone tried to intervene, IMO, they would be in REAL danger of getting smacked in the face, knifed, or possibly even shot. Or, if they actually tried to physicially do something, like say pull a bigger guy away from a smaller guy who was getting hurt, they could easily get sued for their efforts as well.
When I was a Boy Scout 35ish years ago, I was taught to effectively render basic first aid and help people in a situation like a car crash, a fall, etc.
Today, sadly I just call the authorities if I see a problem, as again, lawsuits are far too risky an issue if one intervenes -- or even the risk of an overzealous D/A trying to prosecute you if you accidentally hurt someone who is, say bleeding to death or can't breathe.
The courts, common decency, societal expectations of self control, of being "decent" to fellow citizens, of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY -- have all badly broken down. Once folks realize this, whether by wanting to take advantage of it or to protect themselves -- the problem just degenerates -- probably exponentially (time will tell).
What's the answer? I'm not sure, but I know one thing -- even though I'm no fan of organized religion, and especially the organized RELIGIOUS folks who try to force their views on others -- the teaching of decency, of compassion, and of respnsibility that the church taught kids was a MAJOR plus that we're now generally VERY sadly lacking as a society.
And the idea that "the authorities/government" will take care of everything is totally laughable, so don't bother going there. The reason that the joke that if you are in trouble you should order a pizza instead of calling the police if you want someone there in 30 minutes is funny -- is that it is often true.
Given the track record of the perma-doomer blogs, I wouldn't bet a fast crash doomer's money on their predictions.
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Re: Denny's as a microcosm for the breakdown of American soc
by Outcast_Searcher » Wed 23 Feb 2011, 14:31:38
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'I') never encounter mean people when I go into town. Maybe society is breaking down in some places but it doesn't seem to be doing it in my locale.
Ludi, your general attitude that the answer to pretty much everything related to poverty has NOTHING to do with personal responsibility and EVERYTHING to do with wealth redistrubition (no apparent willingness to compromise, no willingness to define how much government is enough), and how common your attitude has grown IS A HUGE sign of society breaking down.
The fact that you are either oblivious to that or refuse to face that reality because it isn't in your self-interest only makes it worse.
That whole approach reminds me of Chevy Chase in the country club in "Fletch" when he resolves the tip issue by telling two club servers: "Give each other 20 dollars" and beats a hasty retreat while they slowly figure it out.
Given the track record of the perma-doomer blogs, I wouldn't bet a fast crash doomer's money on their predictions.
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