I´m with you on this one, John. The last thing the world needs is more regulation. As you say, the more we cosset and protect people (especially compulsorily), the less they think for themselves. Meanwhile, we take away the options for risk, adventure, self reliance, and self-responsibility that many of us value.
Having said all that, I am not sure the poor guy in Oz deserves all the fun being poked at him - getting BADLY bogged can happen to anyone if they are unlucky enough. Of course, it may be that he WAS a complete novice who didn´t know that deflating tyres etc. helps get traction in sand. But maybe something just went a bit wrong, and got steadily worse from there. It has happened to the best, not so? And let´s face it, the press often gets the story hopelesly wrong anyway!
(If he WAS a total prat, I´m all for the Darwinian way of taking care of it, though!)
Take care all,
Michael...
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