fireworks :D

[Stuart W]

The whole "ban it because people have been hurt by it" is quite pathetic realy.

Follow it through for a bit... we would be banning LOADS of stuff! I won't use stuff like cars kill, for someone to tell me that cars are needed etc. (tempted to argue how we survived before cars, but I'll leave it) I'll go with like for like.

We have no real need for fireworks besides entertainment.
Going by this rationale....

Music should be banned. It's loud and for the enjoyment of others.
Night clubs should definatley be banned. Too loud and can damage hearing.
Alcohol - Makes you happy, but is deadly poison and kills thousands.
Swings - VERY dangerous. Anyone not know someone who has fallen from a swing?
Skipping rope - You could trip whilst skipping and cause an injury.
Slide - kids can't help but to try to run up the slide, inevitably slipping and falling.
Roudabouts - Children cannot control the forces of a fast spinning roundabout and can be thrown from it.
Any glass container - can be carried, one trip and it's a potential A&E nightmare.
Sharp objects - If you turn quickly whilst holding a knife, you could stab someone.

Now, I could sit here for half hour or so and ome up with THOUSANDS of items for us to ban. Some more dangerous than fireworks, others less so.

What would be more usefull however, would be to point out that it is not the items themselves which are a danger, it is the way they are used. So, don't try and change the item, try and change the way people use it.

[ntluser]

Originally Posted by Stuart W

The whole "ban it because people have been hurt by it" is quite pathetic realy.

Follow it through for a bit... we would be banning LOADS of stuff! I won't use stuff like cars kill, for someone to tell me that cars are needed etc. (tempted to argue how we survived before cars, but I'll leave it) I'll go with like for like.

We have no real need for fireworks besides entertainment.
Going by this rationale....

Music should be banned. It's loud and for the enjoyment of others.
Night clubs should definatley be banned. Too loud and can damage hearing.
Alcohol - Makes you happy, but is deadly poison and kills thousands.
Swings - VERY dangerous. Anyone not know someone who has fallen from a swing?
Skipping rope - You could trip whilst skipping and cause an injury.
Slide - kids can't help but to try to run up the slide, inevitably slipping and falling.
Roudabouts - Children cannot control the forces of a fast spinning roundabout and can be thrown from it.
Any glass container - can be carried, one trip and it's a potential A&E nightmare.
Sharp objects - If you turn quickly whilst holding a knife, you could stab someone.

Now, I could sit here for half hour or so and ome up with THOUSANDS of items for us to ban. Some more dangerous than fireworks, others less so.

What would be more usefull however, would be to point out that it is not the items themselves which are a danger, it is the way they are used. So, don't try and change the item, try and change the way people use it.

That's the problem. Changing the way people use fireworks depends on their willingness to see the other person's point of view and actually caring about what they think. Many of the offenders know the discomfort and inconvenience they are causing, they just don't care. Selfishly, they are only out to enjoy themselves at the expense of others.

The most offensive of fireworks are the 'bangers'. Given that you will never get everybody to act responsibly, the simple answer is to eliminate them, the bangers that is. Nobody complains about Catherine Wheels, Roman candles, fountains etc because they do not disturb anybody. Indeed they are something that everybody can appreciate.

Life is full of risks and each one of us can make the choice as to which risks we take or not. The problems arise when one person takes a risk that affects other people who chose not to take it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3651907.stm

At least it's a start!!

[TheBlueRaja]

Whoohoo - Hoodlums rule - in your FACE whingers...

[Chris W]

(from bbc article) People who sell fireworks all year round could be subject to a new licensing process.

i don't really see how this is going to help the situation, there are not many people who sell fireworks all year round anyway.

Because i have a thai girlfriend, we celebrate the Thai new year in april, and it is hard enough to get hold of fireworks then. If they introduce new licensing laws this will make it even harder to get hold of fireworks for this

[MovedGoalPosts]

Excellent, get rid of the late night stuff - there's no need for 24 hour fireworks that we get during the main season. On the other hand in our multicultural society what is a special occasion warranting a relaxation of the 11:00pm limit?

But "capping" the size of the bang - that's downright boring!

[Ramrod]

Apparently, in Australia, fireworks sales are banned to the general public.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Apparently, in Australia, fireworks sales are banned to the general public.

and they should be over here as well

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

and they should be over here as well

I disagree.

I have no problem with the restrictions mentioned in that article. There is no need to have them after 11pm except for the exception dates mentioned (actually, I wouldn't include Nov 5th in that list of exceptions).

I have a fireworks party every year in Nov for all my family and we also have a few to bring in the new year (allthough we missed out this year as it was raining rather hard here ).

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Pem

I disagree.

I have no problem with the restrictions mentioned in that article. There is no need to have them after 11pm except for the exception dates mentioned (actually, I wouldn't include Nov 5th in that list of exceptions).

I have a fireworks party every year in Nov for all my family and we also have a few to bring in the new year (allthough we missed out this year as it was raining rather hard here ).

now you are obviously a sensible person , it is just a shame that the irresponsible brain dead f!cking halfwit idiots have to spoil it for decent ppl like you , if a ban would stop just one more innocent person being hurt then i am afraid it should happen

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

now you are obviously a sensible person , it is just a shame that the irresponsible brain dead f!cking halfwit idiots have to spoil it for decent ppl like you , if a ban would stop just one more innocent person being hurt then i am afraid it should happen

I can't subscribe to the concept of penalise the majority so as to minimise the risk to the few. Taken to extremes in so many walks of life, we'd all have to walk around in bubble wrap!

I suspect the biggest problem with "abuse" of fireworks is the inappropriate times and freuency that they are used, and that is a result of lack of clear guidance. The legislation would address that, although as no doubt it wold be a nuisance and noise type restriction it would be enforced by environmental health who tend not to work late at night, not police, it could be toothless legislation.

[Steve H]

Gawd, I cant believe many of you advocating all these bans.

Without going on about them anyway, I love listening to fireworks going off when im getting off to bed... We usually stay up til >1am on fireworks night with the family.. few drinks, food etc, make a party of it. Pathetic imo

Originally Posted by Russ D

Ahh yes, the good old "I want so I'll have" brigade is still alive and kicking I see.....

*Tips hat to I dont like so I want banned Brigade* as they pass

I love fireworks, I set them off every year too. I think organised displays are ****e, too many people around. I could watch the stockton display from my back garden, but I buy my own, its better and more fun.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Apparently, in Australia, fireworks sales are banned to the general public.

Yeah but then Australians arent known to be the brainiest lol

Ok poor old Aussies I know.

I just think thats odd when there are so many other things a lot more dangerous that they havent banned, like all their fecking wildlife.
Protect the morons form holding a tube of gunpowder but its ok to let them go play with deadly outback critters.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

I can't subscribe to the concept of penalise the majority so as to minimise the risk to the few. Taken to extremes in so many walks of life, we'd all have to walk around in bubble wrap!

I suspect the biggest problem with "abuse" of fireworks is the inappropriate times and freuency that they are used, and that is a result of lack of clear guidance. The legislation would address that, although as no doubt it wold be a nuisance and noise type restriction it would be enforced by environmental health who tend not to work late at night, not police, it could be toothless legislation.

but it is not the risk to the few is it , i aint got the figures to back me up , but if it saves one more person getting scarred for life then surely it must be worth it