Dinsdale is reminding me of the time Pittsburgh got hit by Hurricane Ivan*. It was really weird, because my neck of the woods was completely flooded (fortunately I’m up on a hill, so we just got a little in our basement – some others weren’t so lucky), which is rare. And so many people lost their homes, and their businesses – everything they had. And the worst part? Because none of this was in a flood plain, none of them had flood insurance. (I don’t think it would even have been available to them if they had wanted it!). And I remember Rick Santorum visiting the area, (cuz that’s when he was still in office), and he was on the news, telling a woman he didn’t feel sorry for any of them, because they didn’t have flood insurance. He only empathized with those who did have it. (The really funny thing? None of those who DID have it…had been flooded! Ivan hadn’t really hit anyone living in a flood plain, IIRC!)
So yes, Dinsdale, you remind me of Santorum, at least in this instance.
Well, I definitely agree people who don’t wear seatbelts are dumbasses – especially if they’re doing so because of some stupid protest against the “guvmint!”. That being said, I think your only mistake was not waiting until it was just you and your friend, rather than saying so in public. If anything, then he probably got even MORE sympathy, sadly, because people would see him as being bullied. Not to mention, I will at least feel bad for their family and friends – THEY didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not their fault. In fact, they might even feel the same way, but don’t want to say so in public. (Not necessarily your friend, just in general)
I will feel that way about people who don’t wear their seatbelts in some wacky protest, or drive drunk, or whatever – they’re putting themselves at risk, and/or others, for no reason other than being a dick.
But in cases like hurricanes, fires, floods, etc – I think that’s a whole different ball game. It’s one of those “there but for the grace of god,” type of situations. This isn’t stupidity, it’s because humans aren’t rational, and as much as we all like to think we’d all be calm, and focused if we were there, most of the time, that’s not true. People generally panic and resort to their lizard brains. There’s a reason they call those big bars on emergency doors “panic bars”.
*Although there were plenty of stupid people then, too. Dumbasses moving the road barriers so they could continue driving…and then getting stuck in their cars. I so did NOT feel sorry for them.