Hypothetical question

[harb990]

I told myself I would not comment on my choice above, but alas, I have been drawn in.  

I do not think gun-makers kill people, people kill people, and I am in no way a lawyers wet dream, so here goes my thoughts:

I think the biggest question above is "MORALLY" - Legally, Bob is at fault, he bought the bike, ripped the throttle, and splat.
  
However, I feel that the Dealer had a moral responsibility towards Bob and the rest of society - to maybe check Bob's qualifications of previous bike ownership, riding ability, etc.  If he found Bob lacking in those, maybe push him towards something a little smaller - more rider friendly, and not push (hard sell) the busa to Bob.  

Herein lies two problems

A - A smaller bike sale would cost the dealership money - This could prevent the dealer from even mentioning a smaller/cheaper bike if Bob showed interest right away for the busa.  If this was the case, then this is where I feel the dealership could be morally at fault.
 
B - What if Bob continues to "push" the dealer to sell him the busa, then in my opinion, Bob becomes at fault, b/c the dealer filled his moral responsibility to try to "prevent" a possible problem.  

Remember - the question was "Morally" and I am not the only one who felt at least a little this way - since there are 3 votes to date.

Flame away, just my worthless $0.02 -  :P :P

[spyderchick]

In theory, you have a point of debate, morally. But legally is a different matter.

You don't have to be licensed to buy a motor vehicle in this country, just possess the necessary means of purchase.

Secondly, Bob, is morally obligated to control himself. By acting in a rash manor, he endangers not only himself, but others as well.

The other thing Bob isn't doing is thinking about others who might depend on him. Does he hold a job? Does he have family who needs him? Pregnant girlfriend? Where do his responsibilities lie?

We can only control one person in our lives, and that is ourself. If someone lies to you, i.e., if the salesman told Bob the bike was checked out and the brakes failed, that's another story, legally and morally.

We live in a litigious society. It costs us as consumers and as citizens in many ways each day. It could be higher taxes, more expensive products, or lost "rights" because someone didn't want to own up to their own responsibility.

Hypothetically, Bob paid the ultimate price for his actions.

[spyderchick]

BTW...I forgive Bob. Can I buy the bike?

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I did the right thing.  Started with a 50cc, then 70, 125, 250, 400.  Moved to the street.  550, 650, 750, 900, 1100.  20 years of bike ownership, and I wasn't ready for 150HP.  My ZX11 nearly killed me on our third night together.  I couldn't believe that familier old country road had shortened up that much, and I went right off the end into a field.  My previous bike had been a 900 Ninja.  Imagine the difference if the fastest thing you've ever driven was a Ford Tempo?
A guy could turn 21, buy a bottle of Everclear, and die of alchohol poisioning that night.  I thought I was ready for a ZX11, but it took a year before I could sport ride the thing with confidence, and I was no beginner when I bought it.  Does anyone in the world NOT KNOW that guns, alchohol, and motorcycles are dangerous?  You choose to use any of these things, and you are suddenly at the mercy of your own decision making abilitys.  Fools die.  I got lucky...

[tzracer]

Selling high performance bikes to low performance riders can lead to another problem. The government may step in to 'fix' things. Of course anytime the government becomes involved, things usually get screwed up. How many recall the attempted sportbike ban of the late 80s?

[OmniGLH]

Hmm.

Well, perhaps I had a wrong choice of words?

Morally vs. Legally.

My thoughts were, that LEGALLY, if you hired a big enough lawyer, you could find everyone BUT Bob responsible for his actions.  (i.e. lawsuit over McD's hot coffee, etc.)  Whereas truthfully, we (or I at least) know that it's really Bob's fault.

[chris_chops]

One thing is for sure.  Bob had some big balls. :o
Would any one object to system like Englands, making it illegal for newbies to buy da big bikes?

Matt

[ecumike]

Yea Harb, got somewhat of a point, but that's almost like saying that anytime someone wants to buy a car that goes faster than 90 MPH, the dealer should check their drivers' license record and see if they had any speeding tickets. If the dealer thinks they're a reckless driver than not to sell them the car?

I'm sure the salesman morally felt bad b/c he was the one who made the sale... just as a bartender may feel morally wrong that he served a guy who got a DWI that same night, and just as I felt bad when my friend left my late nite kegger at my apartment at 6:30am and got a DWI b/c he was 'legally' drunk... the cop would have never noticed except that he had highlighter ink on his bald head from where we drew on it when he passed out for an hour earlier. Was it our fault b/c we drew on his head? or b/c he drove. We didn't do anything against the law, he did.

Who is at fault, (morally, not legally)? ...the person who had control of their own actions. They didn't have to walk into that dealership, and they didn't have to drive home drunk.

[pmoravek]

Okay you guys...you've got my attention with this one.

The answer is that just because you have the right to do something, doesn't neccesarily make it the right thing to do.
The real problem lies not in the fact that the dealership has the right to make money, but in the fact that lawyers also have the right to make money.
The kid did something foolish, he paid the ultimate price, and the rest of us "irresponsible people who ride motorcycles" now have to listen to those same lawyers (along with minivan driving Moms, politicians, and other cause driven individuals) drone on and on about how motorcycles are sooooo dangerous and we should ban them in this country because after all, "you don't know whats good for you, you should let me tell you what's good for you."
I'm not certain because I wasn't there but I'm pretty sure that's what our fore fathers got into ships and sailed the hell away from!
With rights come responsibilty and there are a certain amount of people that aren't responsible enough to exersize those rights in a responsble manner. But who has the right to tell those people they can't be trusted to make those decisions?
This is the paradox of a free society.

...also there is no such thing as a $12,000 bill   ;D

  

[sdiver68]

...also there is no such thing as a $12,000 bill   ;D
  

Obviously you have never thrown a big party! :D

[oh344ccs]

My only thought is that Bob's parents were willing to give there son 12K for a birthday, now they are out one son.  Does anyone know how I can contact them to offer my services as a replacement "Bob"?  That 12K could go a long way toward a race season, not to mention, think what I'll get for Xmas :o

[OmniGLH]

My only thought is that Bob's parents were willing to give there son 12K for a birthday, now they are out one son.  Does anyone know how I can contact them to offer my services as a replacement "Bob"?  That 12K could go a long way toward a race season, not to mention, think what I'll get for Xmas :o

Ok you guys are starting to crack me up... LOL...

Get in line buddy.  I'm callin "dibs", it's my story.  You'll have to run me over with a 'busa first...