Roadside Memorials

[Andy9o8 2]

I’d be concerned they’d cause more accidents due to object fixation. Like the guy under canopy who sees the one tree in the middle of a flat, open DZ and manages to land in it. You know, you’re zipping around a curve doing just a bit (!) too fast; all of a sudden you notice a pretty floral wreath....oooh, see the flowers....and a little sign....must read the sign....and before you know it....

[lawrocket 3]

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it does make you "think" when you are speeding around a curve, when you glance at one by the big oak tree at the base of the curve.

Yep. When you skid around a curve, and the next thing you see is a big tree and a bnch of crosses, you know that you are screwed. It makes you think, "Why the hell didn't they put these things before the curve?"

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[JohnRich 4]

I grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, where they have a big neon star on a mountaintop overlooking the city. It normally burned all white each night. But when someone was killed in a traffic accident it would burn red for three nights straight, as a reminder to everyone down below to drive safe. Over time, as the city grew, there were so many people being killed in auto accidents, that they had to reduce the "red" time to just one night for each fatality.

For those that don't like roadside crosses, would you demand the removal of this 50' tall star from the mountaintop?

I think they are a good reminder to drive safe. If they're distracting you, then quit looking at them. It's like changing the channel on the TV when you don't want to watch a show.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

"For those that don't like roadside crosses, would you demand the removal of this 50' tall star from the mountaintop?"

No, this is entirely different...it isn't "make shift", it is a reminder, not a memorial. And from the sound of it, it isn't along the road, it is on a mountain top.

Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[sunshine 2]

They annoy me and i see no point in them. My sister was killed in a car accident 7 months ago (to the day). I get an uneasy feeling when i have to drive through the intersection she was killed at. I would never put up a silly memorial of flowers, stuffed animals etc. I do believe someone put a simple blue ribbon on a telephone pole close to where her car finally came to a rest (it traveled approx 70 feet after impact). Blue ribbons are what is used in rememberance of police officers and she was on duty when she was killed.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[JohnRich 4]

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I’d be concerned they’d cause more accidents due to object fixation. You know, you’re zipping around a curve doing just a bit (!) too fast; all of a sudden you notice a pretty floral wreath....oooh, see the flowers....and a little sign....must read the sign....and before you know it....

Do you have that problem with other roadside objects, like road signs, yard sale signs, decorated mailboxes and dogs in front yards? A cross is no different than any other routine daily roadside object. If you can't ignore a simple cross and continue driving safely, then you shouldn't be driving at all.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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It's misguided sentimentalism turned into litter.

I have to agree with this. (The rest of the post, not so much though.)

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[JustaBill 0]

I really don't like them. I'm an engineer on the railroad and there are several at crossings along my route. The problem I have with them is the guys on the train crew that hit this person now have to be reminded of it every day when they go past that spot and see the memorial. It can be a pretty tough thing to get over anyway for some people and having a visual reminder of it everyday makes it that much harder.

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I've done so much, with so little, for so long
I'm now expected to do everything with nothing forever

[shropshire 0]

Personally, I dont have a problem with them... some are a little tacky but if they help the family and friends find closure then who am I to stop them.


Billboards (especially in the country side and displayed on shitty old lorry trailers) on the otherhand are an eyesoar and really piss me off

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[JohnRich 4]

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The problem I have with them is the guys on the train crew that hit this person now have to be reminded of it every day when they go past that spot and see the memorial.

Maybe those crosses serve as reminders to drivers not to try and run the tracks in front of a train, thereby preventing yet more fatalities. Wouldn't that be the better of the two options?

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

Ok, so after all your rah-rah posts about roadside memorials...let me take a wild guess and say that you are in favor of them. Gotcha!


Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[JohnRich 4]

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Ok, so after all your rah-rah posts about roadside memorials...let me take a wild guess and say that you are in favor of them. Gotcha!

I don't know how you figure that is some kind of "gotcha".

I really don't care about the memorials one way or the other. I can take 'em or leave 'em. Sometimes I ignore them, and sometimes I wonder about the circumstances of the accident and what type of people they were.

I see them like freedom of speech. You can choose to ignore them if you wish, or you can reflect upon them and get emotional if you want. It's all up to you. And I am a big believer in individual freedom of choice.

I'd rather have the freedom to create them, then have government tell us we can't. I'd rather have memorials with some people ignoring them, than to not have memorials with some people wishing that they did.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

"Gotcha"


As in I get what you are saying. Duh!





Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.