Thursday 18 March 2010

One Folly Leads To Another

Recent news reports tell of several people foolishly eating plant food and subsequently needing medical attention. Two young men died.

That has provoked calls for a ban on sales of the plant food in question.

It saddens me that many people are stupid enough to suppose that unfortunate events can be prevented by legislation. How long will it be before someone tries to pass a law specifying that all things must be bright and beautiful ?

It is risky to eat, drink, or inhale anything not normally used for the purpose, and the wise check carefully before doing so. Now and again foolhardy people take a risk, and sometimes some of them will suffer unpleasant consequences. When they do, their fate will be a useful lesson to the rest of us.

Legislation cannot prevent stupidity though it may guide it into different channels.

The particular stupidity that has provoked this comment would be less likely if we had less legislation. The foolish youths who died had been seeking what is called a ‘legal high’, and may well have done so because more popular ‘highs’ are not legal. Just legalise marihuana, and few would resort to plant food.

No comments :