Ethics 101: That Which Is Normatively Advisable Is Not A Function Of Its Being Positively Possible
Posted by Alan Childress
Like cloning and karaoke. And now the invention of the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk. Amazon has it on sale at a great price, though one that may not internalize all the societal costs of the product. No worries!… It warns you: “For safety reasons, never use this product while driving.” Most of the reviews are positive, like:
I loved my Laptop Steering Wheel Desk so much I got one for my 90yr oldmother. She is an avid crossword puzzle fan and now she can work onthem while she is driving back and forth from bingo at the seniorcenter. One cautionary note be careful of those jerks that stop atyellow lights, my poor mother rear ended one and the airbag drove thedesk back into her
stomach which ruptured her spleen, well after ashort down time I’m glad to say she is back on the road and crankingout those NY Times crosswords once again. Thanks Laptop Steering WheelDesk you have made my mothers life more complete.
A commenter did not like the review above, saying, “Your mother should be paying attention to the road instead of hercrossword puzzles. Those puzzles can wait, not her life or someoneelse’s on the road.” Maybe the commenter is right, but really tomato, tomahto. It’s all just a normative opinion.
But one reviewer gave it five stars: “This has been a total lifesaver. It allows me to prop my sheet musicagainst the wheel, allowing me to play the guitar with both hands whiledriving.” To which a different commenter replies: “I think you and your guitar are a threat to the safety of others on the road.”
My son hates it when I say that a certain intersection or product is an accident waiting to happen. (Hey I teach torts.) And so I now say that it is a mishap anticipating its own occurrence, just to annoy him.
Just in time for Christmas! Maybe I will get that for everyone instead of the GR8 TaT2 Maker. That’s a “home tattoo parlor” forthose of you who do not speak fluent license plate yet. For ages 6-12(somehow outgr
Update: Amazon allows users to post their own product use pics!
Hat Tip to discourse.net.