Tennessee Firemen Ignore Burning House Over Unpaid Subscription Fee - Page 4

christiangirl · #1 10-09-2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I think you're not even close to how this would (or should) really work.

Well then, I guess it's lucky that this is just a message board, all of these are hypothetical situations, and I really couldn't care less what you think.

I was suggesting that could be part of the overall contract (the same one that dictates $75 gets you services). The couple in question begged the firefighters to save their house and they would pay whatever fee it took. That's what made me think of it. No, that's not the best case scenario, there are lots of reasons it wouldn't work, and I'm sure there are loads of better options, possibly including what happened in reality. But, given the fact that a homeless couple who has lost all their possessions is not the best case scenario either, that's the idea I would contribute.

As for the whole "if a fireman died" situation, I don't think the family would be liable for that. For one, just the way people keep saying "you know what could happen if you don't pay your fee," I'm sure people would say "you risk your life with every call, that's part of the job." I think that's pretty callous, but people would go there. Moreover, if it was the department who overrode the "don't save the house" order, then I would think the liability would swing toward them. But I don't know a lot about legal matters and liability, so I'm really not sure.

Drolefille · #2 10-09-2010, 01:39 AM

The world I want to live in does not respond to someone experiencing such tragedy with "he got what he deserved.'

knight_shadow · #3 10-09-2010, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

The world I want to live in does not respond to someone experiencing such tragedy with "he got what he deserved.'

Would you feel different if someone's car was totaled, but s/he refused to get insurance?

Drolefille · #4 10-09-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Would you feel different if someone's car was totaled, but s/he refused to get insurance?

No, I wouldn't feel different. Might I feel slightly differently if they were driving drunk and totaled their car? Maybe, but not entirely.

No one 'deserves' tragedy. People are responsible for their actions, but I do not believe that people 'get what's coming to them' or that it's something to hope for.

PiKA2001 · #5 10-09-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

No, I wouldn't feel different. Might I feel slightly differently if they were driving drunk and totaled their car? Maybe, but not entirely.

No one 'deserves' tragedy. People are responsible for their actions, but I do not believe that people 'get what's coming to them' or that it's something to hope for.

I think you are reading into peoples comments wrong. No one is reveling in the fact that he lost his house and property. Like others have said, he made a gamble and lost.

Drolefille · #6 10-09-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I think you are reading into peoples comments wrong. No one is reveling in the fact that he lost his house and property. Like others have said, he made a gamble and lost.

No where did I say 'revel.'

knight_shadow · #7 10-09-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

No, I wouldn't feel different. Might I feel slightly differently if they were driving drunk and totaled their car? Maybe, but not entirely.

No one 'deserves' tragedy. People are responsible for their actions, but I do not believe that people 'get what's coming to them' or that it's something to hope for.

@ the bold: So, if someone makes a bad decision (drunk driving:refusing to get coverage), it makes sense that they'll have to deal with the consequences?

As everyone else has said, I'm not laughing and stroking my cat while sitting in my evil lair. It sucks that these people lost everything. I haven't lost anything in a fire, but I did have a lot of flood damage in a previous dwelling a few years back. I could have called my (car) insurance company and said that I'd pay a renter's insurance premium after the fact, but that's not how it works. I made a decision not to pay a fee and had to suffer the consequences.

The insurance company had the means to pay me for my damages, but that would have been at the expense of those that DO pay. How is that fair to them?

Drolefille · #8 10-09-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

@ the bold: So, if someone makes a bad decision (drunk driving:refusing to get coverage), it makes sense that they'll have to deal with the consequences?

As everyone else has said, I'm not laughing and stroking my cat while sitting in my evil lair. It sucks that these people lost everything. I haven't lost anything in a fire, but I did have a lot of flood damage in a previous dwelling a few years back. I could have called my (car) insurance company and said that I'd pay a renter's insurance premium after the fact, but that's not how it works. I made a decision not to pay a fee and had to suffer the consequences.

The insurance company had the means to pay me for my damages, but that would have been at the expense of those that DO pay. How is that fair to them?

No shit he has to deal with the consequences. It's the idea of 'deserving' it and the acceptance of the situation that bothers me. This wasn't insurance, this was the fire department. It's considered a 'service' for a reason. I don't object to them paying for it, I object to the presentation of coverage as optional.

The situation never should have happened.

KSig RC · #9 10-09-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

The world I want to live in does not respond to someone experiencing such tragedy with "he got what he deserved.'

I generally feel that compassion is an important part of life - it isn't an important part of running a business, though. For better or worse, the fire department is run as such by contractual obligation.

It's not that he got what he "deserved" - he did, though, get what he bargained for (literally). If he was misinformed or not at all informed as to what would happen, then that's really unfortunate and the county should take a hard look at the way it handles its business. However, it really seems he disregarded all of the information he had - just as we can say "A person's home and possessions shouldn't be compromised over a mere $75" that can be flipped on the homeowner, too, who thought that $75 apparently wasn't important to pay.

Ghostwriter · #10 10-20-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

The world I want to live in does not respond to someone experiencing such tragedy with "he got what he deserved.'

Here you go. How about he got what he paid for?

Drolefille · #11 10-20-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Here you go. How about he got what he paid for?

Bored tonight or something?

Ghostwriter · #12 10-21-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Bored tonight or something?

Yes. I read your posts.

KSig RC · #13 10-21-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Yes. I read your posts.

This was your best effort?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A

PiKA2001 · #14 10-20-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Here you go. How about he got what he paid for?

LOL

RaggedyAnn · #15 10-09-2010, 06:03 AM

I was talking to someone about this the other day. He felt bad, but put it this way...
In the suburbs and city where it is of public interest and safety to have fire services included, it is part of taxes. In a rural area, you pay for this seperately, just like a tax. If you don't pay your taxes, you can lose your house (without a fire). How is this any different? I thought it was a good point.