TOPIC: Darwin Award Winner?

Ok now, I know this is a tragedy and all that and I really do feel badly for her family but has anyone hear about this?<br /><br /> www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/15/miss.deaf.texas/index.html <br /><br />A deaf girl was walking on the train tracks and text messaging her friends.  I'll give you three guess with what happend.  I mean seriously, if you are deaf, walking on the TRAIN TRACKS and NOT WATCHING FOR TRAINS might not be the best thing to do...  ;/<br /><br />Nomination for the Darwin Award?

Close enough. Like I said when I ran across the story a few days ago, it would be like a blind person trying to cross highway traffic. At least the latter reports said she was walking alongside the tracks, not on them. Getting nailed with a cowcatcher that apparently extends off a food and a half on either side is a little less stupid than getting mowed down because you were standing right in the middle of the tracks.

Since I live in Austin, I have seen a lot of news coverage of the accident. I admit that what she was doing was stupid, but my heart goes out to her family and friends. Some witnesses were on the news, and said they were screaming at her but couldn't do anything. They didn't know she was deaf until after her identity was discovered. <br /><br />I'm a little surprised she didn't "feel" the train coming. Many deaf people enjoy "listening" to music, by feeling the beat. Of course, depending on how close the tracks were to the road, and if there was a lot of truck traffic, she might have thought anything she felt was from passing vehicles. It's sad that she would probably have been more likely to notice the train if she had been walking on the track, as she might have felt the vibration of the approaching train.

I can't imagine witnessing such an event.  Every time you closed your eyes, you would replay the scene in your head. 

All I can add to this tragic event is - in this day and age of loud music and iPods everywhere...<br /><br />Well, it could have been any one of our kids - or one of our loved ones....<br /><br />Let's show our compassion.  <br /><br />p.s. Darwin awards are just rude.

i work in a union factory. it has good and bad points. when i hired in, i was warned by the workers and management alike, about a worker who was extremely dangerous/careless. everyone was aware. i almost lost my job once because i refused to work with the guy. people thought i was the devil because of it. they said i was trying to get him fired and all the blah blah blah.<br /><br /> damn the luck. he got chewed up by a big piece of equipment. he died. i have compassion and sympathy for his family. however, the coworkers... lets just say, they share some of the blame for his death.<br /><br /> i'm not trying to upset people. i met his family. his son is just like him. i wonder if his son will have the same fate. or god forbid, someone else get caught up in the mess. <br /><br /> sometimes things happen for a reason that we will never know.

<br />p.s. Darwin awards are just rude.<br />

<br /><br />Heck, if you can't ooze schadenfreude at the misfortune of others, it would just make life boring.

If I had a son or daughter who was deaf, I would hope that I would have raised them with enough common sense not to walk on (or next to) train tracks.  And if they really wanted to do something so foolish, taking precautions like actually watching for the train that can kill you, seems like a smart thing to do.<br /><br />Of course, we all feel badly for the friends and family as well but really people need to stop and think about what they are doing.  <br /><br />

Just voiced my opinon on the Darwins - sorry the post was out for all to comment on - if anyone took it personal I do apologize.<br /><br />If we all followed common sense all day long people would actually drive the speed limit and look both ways before crossing the street. etc.<br /><br />And anyone with KIDS knows - no matter how much you teach - it only takes once for a painful reality to hit. (Even with the smart fully-functional ones.)<br /><br />

<br />And anyone with KIDS knows - no matter how much you teach - it only takes once for a painful reality to hit. (Even with the smart fully-functional ones.)<br />

<br /><br />As someone with kids, I teach my children to think about what they are doing and that consequences can result from their actions.  I also teach them not to walk on (or close to) train tracks and to know their surroundings at all times.<br /><br />Sure, accidents and mistakes will happen but this was more along the lines of sheer stupidity on several levels by someone who should have known better.

Darwin Awards are for people who's death would better humanity since it was very very dumb. I don't believe anyone can think her death would better our genetic pool.

<br />Darwin Awards are for people who's death would better humanity since it was very very dumb.

<br /><br />Errr, yeah. Which is why it qualifies. Being deaf and walking on train tracks is like being blind and crossing a highway.