"Hot Coffee" documentary and continued assumptions

[Shane Wahl]

I recently watched the documentary "Hot Coffee" on Netflix and was taken quite aback.

 

The documentary is primarily about "frivolous" lawsuits in general, but in particular it is about the titled-inspired famous McDonald's coffee case.

 

1. I do recommend it for good viewing, but more importantly,

2. It was a lesson for me as someone who just up until last year used that case (without actually knowing anything about it beyond what I always heard from mainstream media and popular culture) as an example of people trying to seize an opportunity to blame someone else for their own ignorance and/or stupidity. I *actually* used this as an example of Nietzsche's concept of "ressentiment" (resentment) and the need to blame others for one's own problems . . . .

 

Well how terribly wrong I was in using it. That McDonald's case was so misconstrued for the general public that it is disgusting. Imagine this: old lady gets coffee from McDonalds, places it between her knees to adjust the lid and the thing tips over . . . not out onto the floor of the car, but in her "region."

 

And yet McDonald's coffee is still too damn hot to drink for about 20 minutes to this day.

[PseudoSABR]

I think Blame and Responsibility in of themselves are philosophical problems. If we table the notion about whom to blame, we still have two parties who completed a transaction, and one of the party's ends up injured as a result of that transaction. The question then becomes who should bear the cost of remedying the injury. If we can rule out negligence by either party (probably not the case in Hot Coffee), the questions becomes more difficult. But there is some justice in asking the party who either most benefits from the transaction or can best bear the cost pay whatever reparations are necessary.

 

That said, even if we can set aside both blame and negligence, the idea that some one suing can get reparations for psychological harm or some such is totally asinine.

[Shane Wahl]

Well the burns on her vagjayjay (how on earth do you spell this?) weren't not psychological.

 

The documentary is pretty clear about "frivolous" lawsuits in general and how corporations work hard to discredit, limit, silence, etc. all potential lawsuits through various means. It's worth watching.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The amount of disinformation surrounding the McDonald's lawsuit has been staggering.

 

McDondald's deserved to take a thumping over this lawsuit... The fact that it was twisted into this "frivolous lawsuit" nonsense instead of a public shaming of a company that bloody well deserved to be shamed is the real travesty here.

[TheLeviathan]

That said, even if we can set aside both blame and negligence, the idea that some one suing can get reparations for psychological harm or some such is totally asinine.

 

This. I have no problem with demonizing McDonalds in this or talking about personal responsibility. What bothers me, and most people I think, is how often this concept is manipulated.

 

i get the anti-corporatism to a degree, but not to the point of making hurt feelings into dollar signs.

[Squirrel]

Well the burns on her vagjayjay (how on earth do you spell this?) weren't not psychological.

 

 

You were very close. Lose the 'g.' Vajayjay.

[Shane Wahl]

You were very close. Lose the 'g.' Vajayjay.

 

All sorts of lewd jokes about being "close" can ensue here.

 

Seems weird to not have the g somehow in that word . . .

[Squirrel]

All sorts of lewd jokes about being "close" can ensue here.

 

Seems weird to not have the g somehow in that word . . .

Well you could just say the actual word. I think the manner in which you were using it it's not like you were being lewd. So to practice ... say it with me now ... vagina.

[freshinthehouse]

Hot Coffee is one of the docs that should be required viewing for all Americans, along with Why We Fight, Who Killed the Electric Car, Control Room, The Corporation, Fog of War, etc.

[Shane Wahl]

Hot Coffee is one of the docs that should be required viewing for all Americans, along with Why We Fight, Who Killed the Electric Car, Control Room, The Corporation, Fog of War, etc.

 

Haha! I agree completely, of course. If you like Why We Fight, then you should see The House I Live In (also directed by Eugene Jarecki).