Coroner: Ryan Dunn Died Violent Death

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I may be totally wrong here and I could stepping out of bounds, but I seem to recall Schneed once saying he lost an uncle or someone close to him to a drunk driver.

So keep that in mind as you read his posts here.

That said, I'm not sure there's necessarily a need to get into a is this or this not tragic debate here.

Yes that's true. I really don't think it's coloring my opinion here though. I have no emotional connection to Ryan Dunn or Albert Haynesworth's brother.

I just see people like that as the dregs of society who we're all better off without. His friends and family, sure they feel the loss. But without that emotional connection, there's not really an argument that can be made refuting the fact that the roads are now safer and thus society better off.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yes that's true. I really don't think it's coloring my opinion here though. I have no emotional connection to Ryan Dunn or Albert Haynesworth's brother.

I just see people like that as the dregs of society who we're all better off without. His friends and family, sure they feel the loss. But without that emotional connection, there's not really an argument that can be made refuting the fact that the roads are now safer and thus society better off.

But I think-and I'm not trying to get all Frasier Crane here-you have an emotional connection to losing someone to a drunk driver. So whereas most of us don't really feel anything for Ryan Dunn other than general sorrow that a live was lost, you're actually saying you're glad (though I know you did back down from that) that he's dead.

And I think it's partly because you're probably thinking he's not the drunk driver I really wish was dead, but he'll do.

I don't know. Maybe I'm all over the place with this, but like you said friends and family have an emotional connection. I'm not sure what reason any of us who don't know him would.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But I think-and I'm not trying to get all Frasier Crane here-you have an emotional connection to losing someone to a drunk driver. So whereas most of us don't really feel anything for Ryan Dunn other than general sorrow that a live was lost, you're actually saying you're glad (though I know you did back down from that) that he's dead.

And I think it's partly because you're probably thinking he's not the drunk driver I really wish was dead, but he'll do.

I don't know. Maybe I'm all over the place with this, but like you said friends and family have an emotional connection. I'm not sure what reason any of us who don't know him would.

You may be right, an intelligent perspective from you as always. I can tell you that my opinion towards Dunn is in no way consciously connected to the loss of my uncle. But they do call it a subconscious for a reason, perhaps that's affecting me in some way I'm not aware of. Who knows.

But one thing about me above all else, I'm as close to Spock as a person can be (recognizing that also dictates I'm a pretty big nerd, granted). But the logic is irrefutable:

- Drunk drivers are a threat to others on the road
- A drunk driver who dies can no longer drive drunk
- Hence there is one less threat to others on the road

So yes, glad is the wrong word. I actually feel no emotional reaction whatsoever. I do however see the positive in the situation, we PA area folk are all just a little safer today. That's just the raw fact of the matter, just how it is. And that's something I've never shied away from telling, uncle or no.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yes that's true. I really don't think it's coloring my opinion here though. I have no emotional connection to Ryan Dunn or Albert Haynesworth's brother.

I just see people like that as the dregs of society who we're all better off without. His friends and family, sure they feel the loss. But without that emotional connection, there's not really an argument that can be made refuting the fact that the roads are now safer and thus society better off.

Shit if you use that reasoning there are another 25% of the US that we could just knock off.

[firstdown]

On my way to work I have to pass two places where kids have died in accdents. One was a 13 yr old who was hit by a car crossing the road about a month back. The other happend This pas Tuesday night and it was an 18 yr old who just graduated and was hit head on by an older man driving the wrong way.

Softball player one of two dead after crash in Chesapeake | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Shit if you use that reasoning there are another 25% of the US that we could just knock off.

Sounds about right. That number just so happens to be close to Bush's approval rating at the end of his presidency.

I wonder if there's some overlap there...