Comments on: Cardboard Cutouts of Kids Slow Traffic Down http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/ The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:28:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Remaboq http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-212310 Remaboq Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:15:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-212310 q Very Interesting... Thanks q
Very Interesting...

Thanks

]]> By: Meg http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-178736 Meg Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:22:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-178736 I think it's a great, inventive idea. I don't think it would be useful to standardize them for the great reasons listed above by other commenters (misuse, getting used to it) but frankly, the blame for an accident still wouldn't be on the cutout guys' shoulders. We don't know what this guy's street looks like, maybe you can see the cutout for a while coming if you're paying attention. If the driver swerved out of the way for a still cutout that's on the property (it's not in the street, as you can see in the picture), it's still the driver's fault for speeding or not paying attention. I don't see why you'd want to take it out on the homeowner for putting a still object on his property in order to quell an established problem, instead of the reckless driver who actually hit your car. I think it would be effective even if it were a little further from the street. Cops already do this (cutouts of cop cars make people hit the brakes really fast, and the cops can do something a little more intense than sit in a speed trap and wait to catch people). I think it's a great, inventive idea. I don't think it would be useful to standardize them for the great reasons listed above by other commenters (misuse, getting used to it) but frankly, the blame for an accident still wouldn't be on the cutout guys' shoulders. We don't know what this guy's street looks like, maybe you can see the cutout for a while coming if you're paying attention. If the driver swerved out of the way for a still cutout that's on the property (it's not in the street, as you can see in the picture), it's still the driver's fault for speeding or not paying attention. I don't see why you'd want to take it out on the homeowner for putting a still object on his property in order to quell an established problem, instead of the reckless driver who actually hit your car. I think it would be effective even if it were a little further from the street. Cops already do this (cutouts of cop cars make people hit the brakes really fast, and the cops can do something a little more intense than sit in a speed trap and wait to catch people).

]]> By: Chad http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-178720 Chad Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:02:28 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-178720 I would LOVE to get about 10 of those and get up real early and place them all around my sleeping wife just to freak her out when she wakes up! I would LOVE to get about 10 of those and get up real early and place them all around my sleeping wife just to freak her out when she wakes up!

]]> By: L http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-178389 L Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:22:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-178389 I startle easily. If I saw one of those at the last minute, I might have an accident. I'm not a "dopey driver". I just have ultra-sensitive reflexes. As others have said, it's also a form of "crying wolf". For example, my neighbours' kids might be being abducted because they're screaming their heads off in the yard. But they do that all the time, so nobody pays any attention anymore. The same thing could easily happen with these signs. I startle easily. If I saw one of those at the last minute, I might have an accident. I'm not a "dopey driver". I just have ultra-sensitive reflexes.

As others have said, it's also a form of "crying wolf". For example, my neighbours' kids might be being abducted because they're screaming their heads off in the yard. But they do that all the time, so nobody pays any attention anymore. The same thing could easily happen with these signs.

]]> By: Sid Morrison http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-178304 Sid Morrison Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:36:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-178304 Yes, I empathise with him concerning speeding drivers. Nonetheless, if his kiddie lawn ornaments spook a dopey driver into crashing into my car and hurting my family members, I would make him very very sorry. Yes, I empathise with him concerning speeding drivers. Nonetheless, if his kiddie lawn ornaments spook a dopey driver into crashing into my car and hurting my family members, I would make him very very sorry.

]]> By: aesop http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-178033 aesop Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:11:26 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-178033 "The Dad Who Cried Boy" is a poetic modern twist on "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Of course it is a perfect solution because everybody knows that lying to people always works out in the end! "The Dad Who Cried Boy" is a poetic modern twist on "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Of course it is a perfect solution because everybody knows that lying to people always works out in the end!

]]> By: Shawn http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-178011 Shawn Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:19:01 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-178011 One word for speeding drivers.... Caltrops! One word for speeding drivers....

Caltrops!

]]> By: Fred http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-177978 Fred Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:38:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-177978 I don't see the problem here. If you live on a street where people constantly speed, and the city won't do anything about it, then you should by all means be able to do something like this. It almost feels like those of you that are criticizing are actually defending complacent/bad drivers. I tell you what I would do, is animate these little guys via a remote, and if I see some butthead barreling down my street make the thing jump. That'd ruin some upholstery. I don't see the problem here. If you live on a street where people constantly speed, and the city won't do anything about it, then you should by all means be able to do something like this. It almost feels like those of you that are criticizing are actually defending complacent/bad drivers. I tell you what I would do, is animate these little guys via a remote, and if I see some butthead barreling down my street make the thing jump. That'd ruin some upholstery.

]]> By: Debra Hamel http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-177854 Debra Hamel Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:23:36 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-177854 Trevor, that's exactly what I was thinking. Trevor, that's exactly what I was thinking.

]]> By: Sid Morrison http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-177803 Sid Morrison Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:28:53 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-177803 Trevor is spot on. Also, what about the inattentive/wasted driver who spots the kid at the last minute and then overreacts, causing an accident that kills a carload of reaal kids. Bloody moron... At least his intentions are in ehe right place I guess. We have a lot of retards around here who think their yards look great with realistic deer sculptures near the road. Seriously, if I lived near that idiot with the cardboard kids, I would lean on the horn every time I passed his house. Day or night (I even might make a special trip when I'm fighting insomnia) he'd hear a very loud application of my very loud horn. The neighbors would kill him if his wife didn't first. Trevor is spot on. Also, what about the inattentive/wasted driver who spots the kid at the last minute and then overreacts, causing an accident that kills a carload of reaal kids. Bloody moron... At least his intentions are in ehe right place I guess. We have a lot of retards around here who think their yards look great with realistic deer sculptures near the road.

Seriously, if I lived near that idiot with the cardboard kids, I would lean on the horn every time I passed his house. Day or night (I even might make a special trip when I'm fighting insomnia) he'd hear a very loud application of my very loud horn. The neighbors would kill him if his wife didn't first.

]]> By: Trevor http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/comment-page-1/#comment-177759 Trevor Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:25:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/08/08/cardboard-cutouts-of-kids-slow-traffic-down/#comment-177759 That's really good until two things happen: 1) drivers get used to the cutouts and go back to speeding; then 2) when a kid really does play near the street, drivers won't be as careful. That's really good until two things happen: 1) drivers get used to the cutouts and go back to speeding; then 2) when a kid really does play near the street, drivers won't be as careful.

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