Epic Texting Fail

[Durahansolo]

Girl Falls Into Manhole While Texting, Parents Sue | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

People sue for anything now-a-days.

[Erinrose]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

People seem to find it hard to take responsibility for their own actions nowadays. It's so much easier to blame everyone else.

[Durahansolo]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

I've always been leery of manholes and I will not walk over them unless I absolutely have to LOL. Before I read this article, I was thinking earlier about how bad Michigan roads/streets are. I thought to myself, "If somebody just happens to drive into a open manhole, and wrecked their car, would the city pay for it?"

This IMO is purely negligence on her part and the city should laugh and pay nothing.

[Feba]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

The thing they forget to point out here is that the manhole was open without any signage, markings, cones, or warning of any sort.

This could've happened to someone who wasn't totally aware of their surroundings, whether talking to someone next to them, looking at something, eating something, or just someone who is visually impaired/blind. And in that case, chances are nobody would care.

Stupid, yes, but the city's workers and the teen are both equally negligent and irresponsible.

[Kailea]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

well the story is not complete, it does not say if the man hole was marked or not, so to be honest we really cant tell who was the stupid one here, but yes, she is stupid anyway for being that into her cellphone.

[Nuriko]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

If she was concentrating enough not to notice the manhole open in front of her, it's not a stretch to think she missed anything warning of it too.

[Sekighara]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

You know originally I didn't believe texting caused so many problems. Like there are standing laws about texting while driving and I was thinking ok it must not be that common. Because you know since cell phones have a talk function where two individuals could talk with out being near each other i assumed digitalized morse coding would look like a bad idea while in a potential death trap. Well I was wrong the trend is steadily rising in the DC metropolitan area. So because she was texting which is a convience that not only requires some mental focus but dedicated use of vision and then her decision to take this event mobile will always make her look like an idiot. It might turn out that the man hole was uncovered with out a sign due to negligence, or the man hole cover might have been stolen or even fell into the sewer due to a miss placement in the grooves or the placement ledge eroded away. These are all legitamate and will result in her winning the case but will not dispove that in that incident and span of time she was a stupid, moronic, idiotic, ditsy and/or a dunce.

[Feba]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

I'm not talking about conjecture. I saw a story on this the other day. It said very clearly that the manhole was NOT MARKED; that city workers had opened it without putting up ANY signage, tape, barrier, or other warning that there was a giant hole in the middle of the sidewalk. This was before they decided to sue.

The only reason this one doesn't mention it is because it doesn't make her seem as stupid if the city workers didn't put up ANY warning, there was a city worker there to help pull her out.

See: Teen Girl Falls In Open Manhole While Texting - wcbstv.com

Another quote, which isn't taken out of context to make her seem like a braindead ditsy teenage girl:

"Regardless of whether I'm texting or not if there was a cone there I'm going to see a big orange cone," she said.

Annnnnnnnnnnnd this is why you don't judge someone on an incomplete story; especially after someone points out that the story is in fact incomplete.

[Durahansolo]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

Well in that case, that is messed up.

[Lmnop]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

Yeah, the article in the OP is more like part of a Jay Leno monologue. The only details included are those that help provide a target for the reader to laugh at. In this case, the family who also gets to be called moron by their full first-and-last names.

Goofy with texting? sure. But then, I read my book while i walk my dog for 15 minutes straight twice/day. >_>

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

While its unfortunate that this happened, I just can't understand why people can't stop or pull over when they want to talk on their phone or text. IS IT REALLY THAT IMPORTANT THAT YOU RISK YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS?? There just is not any justification for it.

My daughter got a cell phone recently and I know the type of person she is. That thing is GLUED to her head except when she's sleeping or at work. (Though I know she goes into the bathroom and uses it because she's sent me texts while working.) So my fear was to see her using it will driving with my grandkids in the car and she didn't disappoint me. I pulled along side and honked till she looked and then pointed to the side of the road. After she pulled over, I told her that if I EVER saw her using that phone while driving that I'll report her to the police and social services....and I will. I'm glad there are laws against this crap because I see little difference between texting/talking on the phone while driving and drinking and driving.

There is a show called Mythbusters where they tested using a phone while driving and drinking and driving. They found that the results were very much the same for both. It was extremely dangerous to do either and drive.

[Kailea]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

While its unfortunate that this happened, I just can't understand why people can't stop or pull over when they want to talk on their phone or text. IS IT REALLY THAT IMPORTANT THAT YOU RISK YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS?? There just is not any justification for it.

My daughter got a cell phone recently and I know the type of person she is. That thing is GLUED to her head except when she's sleeping or at work. (Though I know she goes into the bathroom and uses it because she's sent me texts while working.) So my fear was to see her using it will driving with my grandkids in the car and she didn't disappoint me. I pulled along side and honked till she looked and then pointed to the side of the road. After she pulled over, I told her that if I EVER saw her using that phone while driving that I'll report her to the police and social services....and I will. I'm glad there are laws against this crap because I see little difference between texting/talking on the phone while driving and drinking and driving.

There is a show called Mythbusters where they tested using a phone while driving and drinking and driving. They found that the results were very much the same for both. It was extremely dangerous to do either and drive.

yeah only safe way to talk on the phone while driving is with a head set, my phone rings, and all I have to do is tap my ear once, then its back to having both hands on the wheel. and if I have to call someone, I use the voice dial

[Sylvane]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

that was actually one of my favorite mythbusters episodes. and if I remember correctly, tests concluded that headsets were almost as distracting as just holding the phone. granted two hands is better for response time, and age and maturity obviously factor in as well.

[DakAttack]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

I've known a lot of idiots who HAVEN'T fallen into an open manhole. She's a little worse than an idiot.

So you're typing a text message. Lol bff c u 2mrw. Did that phone come with a license to parade through the city completely unaware of immediate dangers? It's New York City. What a great way to get mugged.

[Kailea]

Re: Epic Texting Fail

that was actually one of my favorite mythbusters episodes. and if I remember correctly, tests concluded that headsets were almost as distracting as just holding the phone. granted two hands is better for response time, and age and maturity obviously factor in as well.

if you cant talk on a headset and walk/drive... you dont need to be walking/driving ;p period