Off-topic chat. May contain offensive language or images.
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By S4B
#293084
Someone sent me this and I felt the urge to pass it on. Speaks volumes to me. What do you think?

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.


He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;
And Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Tylenol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I-Know-My-Rights, Someone-Else-Is-To-Blame, and I'm-A-Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
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By foot-loose
#293090
My fav idea for a gravestone thing is a billy connolly gag.

In really really small writing so you need to go up close to read it...







you're standing on my balls!!
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By DemonHorse
#293133
S4B wrote:Mine will say "I told you I was ill"

Are you Spike Milligan then?
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By Walter Sobchak
#293175
Spike Milligan was a legend (imho).
It has always made me wonder how someone who was so against authority could be loved by Prince Philip and Prince Charles.
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By Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog
#293177
How was he so against authority? He was in the army so he must have had to respect it for a long period of time.
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By S4B
#293178
He was in the army cos he was enlisted not cos he wanted to be there! You young things really should do some modern history. :D
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By Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog
#293179
yes but you still have to respect authority and if you hear him speak about that time its not with great resentment.

i am aware of history.
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By Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog
#293181
I haven't read his books but can you point me to a passage in one where he is genuinely questioning authority? He was a campaigner on many things but they didnt tend to be anti-authority.
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By Walter Sobchak
#293272
He often took an anti-authority stance, or maybe I should say he wasn't a believer in red tape or bullshit.
When he was given the CBE he said "I can't see the sense in it. It makes me a Commander of the British Empire. They might as well make me a Commander of Milton Keynes — at least that exists." although he did accept it, as well as a KBE (which assents Gaspodes point).

He also refused to take the oath of allegiance, and was refused a british passport renewal, instead taking Irish citizenship, for which he never forgave the British Government.

And now for a purely Pedantic trivia moment......
His headstone reads "Duirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite" which is the Irish translation of "I told you I was ill" which the local authority wouldn't allow on a gravestone.
It also says Love, Light, Peace.