05-30-2006, 10:18 PM
Quote:I guess most of you have completely forgotten that most early cars were powered by steam piston engines... It was gas powered cars that were considered unsafe and dangerous for the longest time.:P...That's because gasoline-driven cars were traveling so fast (45 mph!) that crashes were inflicting more damage and fatalities. Lack of seat belts and safety glass added to the carnage, of course.
Humans have this funky perception of the dangers of speed. When the first trains were made, people were afraid the human body could not stand the stress of traveling 40-50 miles per hour for lengthy times (they'd get crushed by the motive force, would they not?).
Generals thought airplanes would make for horrible observation craft because at the speeds they flew (90+ knots), the ground must zoom by in a blur!
Political Correctness is the idea that you can foster tolerance in a diverse world through the intolerance of anything that strays from a clinical standard.