January 5, 2025
We’re in the middle of a snowstorm (of apparently Biblical proportions, if you listen to the news) complete with snow, sleet and ice—a wintry mix, as they call it; and the TV stations spend quite a bit of time warning people to stay off the roads.
In the same broadcast, they show pictures of people at the local skiing spot, and of people sledding down Art Hill in St. Louis. “Doesn’t that look fun?” they ask. “Look at all these people enjoying themselves!”
If I were the highway patrol, I might send a strongly-worded message to the stations: “Quit encouraging people to be out and about!” Obviously, some people didn’t need any encouragement to act foolishly; but showing them in a positive light encourages others to get out and drive for recreational purposes.
The patrol might add this message: “To those who drive for recreation: Enjoy yourselves. If you get in a wreck, or get stuck on the highway, we’ll be by to help you out after the roads clear.”
