One of the things that you notice early on every trip into America is the proliferation of signs that advocate caution or explain rules related to just about every activity. And even if there is  no sign, the staff manning every type of service are quick to preface their speech with admonitions about various types of restrictions. But the funny thing about all these signs and warnings is that they relate to things that used to be (and still are in most parts of the world) common sense.

“Do not stick your arms into the alligator pit”

“Urination into the public fountain punishable by $500 fine”

“Wiping your ass with leaves from the poisonous plants exhibit may cause a rash”

You get my drift. Now, I’ve never met an American who would stick his arm into the alligator pit. Over 50+ years of relating regularly with Americans, I have found them to be a generally warm, open, friendly, and intelligent people. So I can only assume that this proliferation of warnings is driven by two things:

1. Insurance company requirements that try mitigate responsibility in the event that some nut does stick his arm into the alligator pit;

2. A small minority of actual imbeciles who feel compelled to test the limits of sanity (as in the various Jackass shows).

Just how big the segment of the population is that falls into this category is of course the question. It must be substantial, as evidenced by the proliferation of shows like Jackass, Fear Factor, and much of the rest of reality programming. But how the self-proclaimed “Greatest nation on earth” manages to produce such a population cohort, is for me an incredible mystery.

You never see this level of warning in any other modern country, not even the ultimate Nanny State, Sweden. I’ve spent extensive periods in most European countries and can attest that the attitude there is generally: “If you’re that stupid, you deserve what you get”. And that, I think, is the central issue. In America (and somewhat in Canada as well), there is a strange shifting of blame from the individual to various social institutions. I’m not sure why this is though. Is it the proliferation of the legal profession, or is that just a chicken-and-egg question? For societies so enamored of “Freedom”, it seems almost counter-intuitive that personal responsibility would be so mitigated. Isn’t that the ultimate recipe for disaster?