Saturday, December 06, 2008

"Urgent Research and Regulation By The Authorities"

Don't want people loitering where they shouldn't--subways, parking garages, in front of your store? Install the Mosquito, a device that emits a high-pitched whine that can annoy people enough to cause them to "move on".

Some people don't like it, though, and think the device should be regulated by "the authorities". Watch this video, and pay close attention to the woman who starts talking about 1:47 into it. Does this device seem like something that government needs to get involved with?

Government has a role--a very limited role. I truly don't understand those who want government's tentacles to reach into every nook and cranny of our lives.

15 comments:

Eric W. said...

Did they have to play it through the whole friggin segment?

Anonymous said...

I can definitely see a role for the government in this. After all, if the noise escapes out into public areas, and acts as a nuisance, then who else is going to mediate or regulate that? Just like if I play my stereo very loudly, I can be prosecuted.

Darren said...

Donalbain, I'm not surprised that you see a government role in this.

Aren't there already "disturbing the peace" ordinances? If so, then your example above is already covered.

Anonymous said...

Yes, in which case the government is doing the role I expect it to. Everyone is happy!

Dr Pezz said...

The difference here is that this device can actually cause pain. I can't that as defensible. A couple students in my class have sensitivity issues with the mosquito ringtone, so we aren't allowed to have them ring in the school. This could become a liability issue.

Darren said...

Since the government is already doing what you suggest, Donalbain, where exactly is the need for "urgent research and regulation"?

Serial regulators. Always want to be in control of someone else's life.

Anonymous said...

Personally, I am against big government and over-regulating. The purpose of this contraption seems like a good idea. My concern though is the person who is having a bad day and this nagging noise sets him over the edge; someone bumps him too hard in the crowd, a person making a rude comment, whatever. When the case goes to court, the defendant blames it on the mosquito and the aggravation to the migraine headache they already had.
Study to show this can not happen might be smart on the part of the company. Gunman goes ballistic in London subway, blames mosquito and is acquitted. Family of victims sue mosquito.
It could happen.

Darren said...

You could just as easily blame those things on eating too many Twinkies.

Unknown said...

Where do I get one?

Anonymous said...

Darren

Can you have some of your computer nerd students create one for blogs? :)

Mike

Anonymous said...

Darren, please, eating too many twinkies? That is a very glib statement that belittles my point in a very childish manner. Sure, we hear of the twinkie defense and other cockamamie courtroom ploys. But here is a device which is designed to cause discomfort in a crowded area (subway) where folks frequently are already in a bad mood due to the crowd, noisy neighbors, bad work day, etc.
Government (or business owner) adding more discomfort in an uncomfortable situation is not the same as an individual eating a twinkie of their own choosing. If I wanted to be glib back, it is more like yelling fire in a crowded room than eating a twinkie. However, I don't think it is on that scale either, somewhere in between.

Anonymous said...

Darren, upon reading my comment again, I should have left out the words "in a very childish manner." My point was already made and gratuitously throwing in that verbiage was uncivil.
I apologize for this and will conduct myself in a more appropriate manner in the future.

Unknown said...

What you're missing here is, I think, that there is a serious problem in the UK with drunken, violent teens in public places, like subway stations. A problem, I might add, like we haven't seen here in a long time.

Anonymous said...

rightwingprof, actually I agree with you. I have read about the problem. That is part of my reasoning that in this case a study should be performed. If you have a drunk & potentially violent teen and aggravate him with the noise of this device, you could send him over the edge to act out.

Anonymous said...

Another problem is that these things are for driving people away from PUBLIC spaces. That is a problem.