Comments on: The Balance of Risk http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/ A collection of legitimately fascinating information culled from the past, present, and anticipated future. Tue, 22 May 2012 01:30:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: thekenemy http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-26461 thekenemy Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:08:21 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-26461 I have to say something about ABS here. The latest systems can apparently work very subtle and sometimes barely perceptable, under relatively light braking and for very short durations. And if you're a fast driver you will probably adapt to it. That's my impression at least, because recently I had to drive for a while with my ABS effectively disabled and I was suprised how easily I locked up the wheels, even though had been perfectly used to driving cars without ABS in the past. And no, I'm not one of those idiots who keep driving 100 till 20m before the turn, then slam the brakes, then turn and then indicate, rather I'm the kind of idiot who starts coasting when he sees the turn a mile away. I have to say something about ABS here. The latest systems can apparently work very subtle and sometimes barely perceptable, under relatively light braking and for very short durations. And if you’re a fast driver you will probably adapt to it. That’s my impression at least, because recently I had to drive for a while with my ABS effectively disabled and I was suprised how easily I locked up the wheels, even though had been perfectly used to driving cars without ABS in the past.
And no, I’m not one of those idiots who keep driving 100 till 20m before the turn, then slam the brakes, then turn and then indicate, rather I’m the kind of idiot who starts coasting when he sees the turn a mile away.

]]> By: Rodger Wrighthead http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-25151 Rodger Wrighthead Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:08:24 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-25151 Can anyone say Godmode? All your pie belongs to us? Jokes aside, this is DI. (p.s. Cynthia, are you a feminist?). Can anyone say Godmode? All your pie belongs to us?
Jokes aside, this is DI.

(p.s. Cynthia, are you a feminist?).

]]> By: robinwilson2 http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-25090 robinwilson2 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:20:08 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-25090 As a High School debater, I recall arguing a case about air-bags in cars, and/or automatic seat belts. In the evidence we used AGAINST the case, we cited a guy named Sam Peltzman, and the "Peltzman Effect". He now has a wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peltzman_effect that documents his theory and research. It is essentially the same argument made in this article - that people attempt to 'normalize' their behavior to a level of risk that is comfortable. As you increase safety in one area, they modify their behaviors that will increase their risk to compensate. And even though they may be safer in the intended area, their increase in risky behavior will have deleterious effects on the outcomes of other behaviors. The specific examples Peltzman cited were related to car safety improvements, and how they had a tendency to increase accidents with pedestrians. As a High School debater, I recall arguing a case about air-bags in cars, and/or automatic seat belts. In the evidence we used AGAINST the case, we cited a guy named Sam Peltzman, and the “Peltzman Effect”. He now has a wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peltzman_effect that documents his theory and research.

It is essentially the same argument made in this article – that people attempt to ‘normalize’ their behavior to a level of risk that is comfortable. As you increase safety in one area, they modify their behaviors that will increase their risk to compensate. And even though they may be safer in the intended area, their increase in risky behavior will have deleterious effects on the outcomes of other behaviors. The specific examples Peltzman cited were related to car safety improvements, and how they had a tendency to increase accidents with pedestrians.

]]> By: Vrolock http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-23568 Vrolock Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:24:30 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-23568 [quote]Everyone said: "Darkside=Pie?! You should realize that everyone loves pie. And that's not third person. Mmmhmmm"[/quote] Join the dark side, we have PIE!!! [quote]Everyone said: “Darkside=Pie?! You should realize that everyone loves pie. And that’s not third person. Mmmhmmm”[/quote]

Join the dark side, we have PIE!!!

]]> By: sweeper http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-23427 sweeper Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:16:43 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-23427 a1c: "There's an argument against motorcycle helmet laws despite the ability of a helmet to protect in an accident". I'd be interested in finding out if riders without helmets are less likely to have accidents due to their less-risky behaviour and also the behaviour of other road users. e.g are other road users more likely to give an unprotected rider the proper room. And, in the martial arts examples, would the injuries at the dojo with less padding be due to the students getting hit harder, or due to them hitting harder themselves? a1c: “There’s an argument against motorcycle helmet laws despite the ability of a helmet to protect in an accident”. I’d be interested in finding out if riders without helmets are less likely to have accidents due to their less-risky behaviour and also the behaviour of other road users. e.g are other road users more likely to give an unprotected rider the proper room.

And, in the martial arts examples, would the injuries at the dojo with less padding be due to the students getting hit harder, or due to them hitting harder themselves?

]]> By: a1c http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-22455 a1c Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:32:00 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-22455 Make it idiot proof, invent a better idiot. There's an argument against motorcycle helmet laws despite the ability of a helmet to protect in an accident. Motorcycle airbags, body armor as well. Make it idiot proof, invent a better idiot.

There’s an argument against motorcycle helmet laws despite the ability of a helmet to protect in an accident. Motorcycle airbags, body armor as well.

]]> By: Rachelita http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-21747 Rachelita Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:23:31 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-21747 [quote]cutterjohn said: "That really amazing.. I've never thought about anything like that. It is very true though, and i have a prime example.. Because of parachutes, a safety device, people are much more prone to hurl themselves, voluntarily mind you, out of perfectly good aircraft. ;)"[/quote] I'm doing this in 2 weeks actually! I guess I'm looking for something to hit my target risk... xD [quote]cutterjohn said: “That really amazing.. I’ve never thought about anything like that.

It is very true though, and i have a prime example.. Because of parachutes, a safety device, people are much more prone to hurl themselves, voluntarily mind you, out of perfectly good aircraft. ;)”[/quote]

I’m doing this in 2 weeks actually! I guess I’m looking for something to hit my target risk… xD

]]> By: lizdini http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-20760 lizdini Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:45:07 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-20760 [quote]Berkana said: "I foresee an instance where this may lead to disaster: just imagine the explosion of STD infections that will accompany the AIDS vacine. Heck, the widespread availability of condoms has already lead to more widespread promiscuity and sexually risky behavior in the populations they were meant to protect."[/quote] eh? [quote]Berkana said: “I foresee an instance where this may lead to disaster: just imagine the explosion of STD infections that will accompany the AIDS vacine. Heck, the widespread availability of condoms has already lead to more widespread promiscuity and sexually risky behavior in the populations they were meant to protect.”[/quote]

eh?

]]> By: mentarman http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-17448 mentarman Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:35:46 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-17448 There's a lot of talk about this among hockey fans (where there is generally a lot of talk about violence/injury in general). The theory: as pads have gotten better and stronger, people hit others harder with harder pads that protect them becoming something hard to hit with. As face shields have been phased in, players aren't as careful with their sticks and high-sticking has (allegedly) increased. Another counterintuitive thing in hockey is that some people believe as refs have cracked down on fights and retaliation, injuries have gone up. The theory here is that under the old system, when a goon hurt a star, he would have to pay via a fight or receiving a hit later. Players tended to see way more than the refs, knew who was playing dirty, and policed themselves. But now that those things are penalized, the original goon is more likely to get away with things that the ref doesn't see, and not pay for it because those who might try to make him pay for it fear the penalty box. Until the built-up frustration with the goon comes out all at once. There’s a lot of talk about this among hockey fans (where there is generally a lot of talk about violence/injury in general).
The theory: as pads have gotten better and stronger, people hit others harder with harder pads that protect them becoming something hard to hit with. As face shields have been phased in, players aren’t as careful with their sticks and high-sticking has (allegedly) increased.
Another counterintuitive thing in hockey is that some people believe as refs have cracked down on fights and retaliation, injuries have gone up. The theory here is that under the old system, when a goon hurt a star, he would have to pay via a fight or receiving a hit later. Players tended to see way more than the refs, knew who was playing dirty, and policed themselves. But now that those things are penalized, the original goon is more likely to get away with things that the ref doesn’t see, and not pay for it because those who might try to make him pay for it fear the penalty box. Until the built-up frustration with the goon comes out all at once.

]]> By: smokefoot http://www.damninteresting.com/the-balance-of-risk/#comment-7501 smokefoot Wed, 26 Jul 2006 04:09:44 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=494#comment-7501 <p>Of course, the pedestrian walking across the intersection backwards is another example of risk compensation on the pedestrian's part instead of the driver's part!!</p> Of course, the pedestrian walking across the intersection backwards is another example of risk compensation on the pedestrian’s part instead of the driver’s part!!

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