# Should unsafe traditions be upheld? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531 "2013-06-09T06:35:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/1 "2013-06-09T06:35:14Z")
> **[Grandmother won't make Double Gloucester for cheese-rolling event after...](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10076336/Grandmother-wont-make-Double-Gloucester-for-cheese-rolling-event-after-heavy-handed-threats-from-police.html)** > > Police have been criticised after banning an elderly grandmother from making a giant Double Gloucester wheel for an annual cheese rolling event. In Gloucester in the UK, they apparently have this thing where they roll cheese down a hill and chase it. But in 2009, the British government withdrew its official sanction of the event, because people get hurt chasing cheese down steep hills. Fair enough. But now they’ve gone after the maker of the cheese, threatening to hold her responsible for any injuries caused by people chasing her roll of cheese. Now government heavy-handedness aside, should there be special allowances made for old traditions? Different cultures have a variety of fun and stupid ways to get people in traction, one of the most famous being the bull run in Spain. I’m pretty sure everyone knows that there’s a significant risk of injury. Is it really necessary to try to stamp out these old traditions in the name of risk aversion? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/2 "2013-06-09T06:41:25Z")
It’s going overboard, as long as no one not participating is at risk. It’s their choice. And if you outlaw everything risky you pretty much outlaw life; the real problem is how flimsy human beings are, and there’s nothing the law can do to legislate that away. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/3 "2013-06-09T07:50:33Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10076336/Grandmother-wont-make-Double-Gloucester-for-cheese-rolling-event-after-heavy-handed-threats-from-police.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10076336/Grandmother-wont-make-Double-Gloucester-for-cheese-rolling-event-after-heavy-handed-threats-from-police.html) > > In Gloucester in the UK, they apparently have this thing where they roll cheese down a hill and chase it. But in 2009, the British government withdrew its official sanction of the event, because people get hurt chasing cheese down steep hills. Fair enough. > > But now they’ve gone after the maker of the cheese, threatening to hold her responsible for any injuries caused by people chasing her roll of cheese. > > Now government heavy-handedness aside, should there be special allowances made for old traditions? Different cultures have a variety of fun and stupid ways to get people in traction, one of the most famous being the bull run in Spain. I’m pretty sure everyone knows that there’s a significant risk of injury. Is it really necessary to try to stamp out these old traditions in the name of risk aversion? Seems to me the solution would be to sell the cheese to someone with the balls to donate it. They should rename the festival “two fingers” with the appropriate signage. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/4 "2013-06-09T10:04:52Z")
Chasing cheese? Pah. You ain’t seen nuthin yet. Try ferret legging. > **[The King Of The Ferret Leggers: The Classic Tale Of Sportsmen Who Put...](https://deadspin.com/the-king-of-the-ferret-leggers-the-classic-tale-of-spo-5546844)** > > In his new book, Rick Reilly writes at length about ferret legging, a bloody endurance competition wherein the athlete stuffs a ferret down his pants. In 1987, Outside's Donald Katz wrote the first, and still the best, ferret-legging account. Here it... ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/5 "2013-06-09T10:14:23Z")
This isn’t a question that any one person can answer. I would veer on the side of yes, as long as the participants are willing, fully aware of the risks, and are not harming others. For example, BASE jumping is illegal in most countries, yet I do not think it should be given the reasons stated above. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/6 "2013-06-09T14:28:15Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Seems to me the solution would be to sell the cheese to someone with the balls to donate it. That’s what I was going to say. If she’s been warned against donating it, sell them to ‘someone with a craving for lots of cheese’ for £1 per wheel. And stamp them: ‘THIS CHEESE IS FOR EATING. DO NOT CHASE.’ ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/7 "2013-06-09T14:36:40Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > For example, BASE jumping is illegal in most countries, yet I do not think it should be given the reasons stated above. I looked it up and that’s actually not true. BASE jumping itself isn’t illegal. What is illegal is trespassing on the buildings and antennas and whatnot if the owners don’t give you permission to be there. And since those jumpers may not be taking appropriate safety precautions since they’re not supposed to be there, they may be putting other people at risk. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/8 "2013-06-09T15:10:25Z")
Similar to idiotic stranded hikers who need expensive teams of people to rescue them, I fully support people organizing/participating in these “traditions” being held responsible for all the medical costs resulting from the inevitable injuries. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/9 "2013-06-09T15:14:49Z")
And that’s part of the problem. If the state pays all medical expenses, then the state has an interest in making sure you don’t take risks. ---
**Author:** ![stoplight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@stoplight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stoplight)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/10 "2013-06-09T15:14:50Z")
hell yeah, lemme chase cheese if they want to, next they will designing soft top helmets for the bulls in Pamplona ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/11 "2013-06-09T15:41:58Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Chasing cheese? Pah. You ain’t seen nuthin yet. Try ferret legging. > > [http://deadspin.com/5546844/the-king-of-the-ferret-leggers-the-classic-tale-of-the-sportsmen-who-put-carnivores-down-their-pants](http://deadspin.com/5546844/the-king-of-the-ferret-leggers-the-classic-tale-of-the-sportsmen-who-put-carnivores-down-their-pants) This is the most beautiful thing I’ve read in years. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/12 "2013-06-09T17:10:18Z")
The solution seems obvious. Make the event hosts carry a standard insurance policy, and charge participants whatever it costs to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/13 "2013-06-09T19:37:51Z")
**jackdavinci** : gasp! A free market solution? (Heck, we have to have an insurance policy just to hold a book faire at a hotel! Someone getting a paper cut while turning a page is about the worst that could happen…) In a way, though, that would just be passing along the regulatory authority to the insurance companies. They could refuse to issue a policy until various safety rules were implemented. By the time they were satisfied, the event would be as innocuous as if a governmental agency had regulated it. Also, what about individual events? Rock climbing, hang-gliding, skin-diving, etc. The dangerous things that people do, without being part of an organization. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/14 "2013-06-09T19:54:37Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > In a way, though, that would just be passing along the regulatory authority to the insurance companies. They could refuse to issue a policy until various safety rules were implemented. By the time they were satisfied, the event would be as innocuous as if a governmental agency had regulated it. Plenty of other things exist that are more dangerous like extreme climbing parks and water parks and skydiving, and they seem to be able to keep on going. > [@Trinopus](#): > > Also, what about individual events? Rock climbing, hang-gliding, skin-diving, etc. The dangerous things that people do, without being part of an organization. Well then there’s no one to sue. I’m fine with any injuries being covered by health insurance or national health care. I’m also fine with requiring a license. People are going to do these things anyway, might as well regulate it to make it safer and more cost effective. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/15 "2013-06-10T17:55:27Z")
I don’t think the government had a say in it at all. As you can see, the event is still happening and no-one is being arrested or prosecuted. What did happen (in an increasingly litigious society) was insurance being very hard to get andso no-one is the “official” organiser. The person supplying the cheese was not forbidden to supply it she was merely told (wrongly in my opinion) that someone could try to hold her liable for damages. So nothing to do with the government or the law, everything to do with financial liabilities. But still the cheese rolls, and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/16 "2013-06-10T18:07:31Z")
So they’re going after the maker of something that was used in an old tradition by people who participated voluntarily and had seen what happened to others who had participated. I guess they’re going after the brewers and distillers next. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/17 "2013-06-10T23:19:53Z")
Consider the following: -wreck diving (you go inside a ship at great depth, dangerous) -“Free” diving-you see how deep you can go on one lungfull of air…some people drown doing this -climbing Mt. Everest without oxygen (it is “purer” that way) -cave diving These are activities that pose some degree of risk-yet people indulge in them-should they be banned? ---
**Author:** ![RadioActiveRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@RadioActiveRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioActiveRich)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/18 "2013-06-10T23:50:19Z")
If you choose to chase cheese down a hill or to be chased by a herd of bulls it’s on you. Enough of blaming somebody else for one’s own choices. You have a right to be chased by bulls if you like and I have a right to root for the bulls (and the cheese). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/19 "2013-06-11T01:46:19Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Chasing cheese? Pah. You ain’t seen nuthin yet. Try ferret legging. > > [http://deadspin.com/5546844/the-king-of-the-ferret-leggers-the-classic-tale-of-the-sportsmen-who-put-carnivores-down-their-pants](http://deadspin.com/5546844/the-king-of-the-ferret-leggers-the-classic-tale-of-the-sportsmen-who-put-carnivores-down-their-pants) Love it! I wanna hear it read by Garrison Keillor . . . or his UK counterpart. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531/20 "2013-06-11T02:54:50Z")
The problem with these kinds of events is that Horace the cheese always rolls back uphill and sometimes knocks the other more friendly cheeses on their sides. I’ve heard all sorts of justifications for motorcycle helmets, heavy taxation of tobacco and even some suggestions for anti-obesity laws/regulations (see New York’s failed effort to ban sugary drinks over a certain size) on the grounds that bad habits are costly to society. Well, on those same grounds why shouldn’t the government work to curtail or outright ban certain costly behaviors? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-unsafe-traditions-be-upheld/660531.md?page=2)