FullApologies.com [Site Highlight]
I found out about FullApologies.com from Vayner Media‘s “19 of this Week’s Best Links”.
I wasn’t ready for it. I don’t think you’ll be either.
The site features the basic synopsis of those that have killed people due to being drunk while driving, and their video apology to (apparently) the family of those they are responsible for killing.
I was going to do a Shiny Friday post about the site, but honestly can’t find anything “shiny” about it. Don’t get me wrong- I think the site is a step in the right direction. Here are some features:
Need To Talk?
The “Need To Talk?” page includes The National Suicide Prevention Lifelines (yeah- I noticed the name change from “hotline” as well) and links to AA, NA and SADD (there’s been a name change for SADD as well- at least to me; I’d always thought it meant Students Against Drunk Driving, it is in fact Students Against Destructive Decisions- but I digress). “Need To Talk?” is useful because the content will be depressing on varying levels to each of us, and especially to anyone that has found themselves in that position. The videos are in your face (literally- they are set to be the full screen of your browser) and contain people attempting to come to grips with the fact that they have killed someone, often times people close to them.
B Safe Txtrs
The “B Safe Txtrs” page allows anyone to:
“Send your friend, or yourself, a txt message reminder to be safe. Then, time it so you get it when you need it most – when you’re thinking about how to get home.”
I like this feature, but think it falls short of the bigger issue; not to mention how easy it is to simply ignore the text or miss-time your intended time of exit. I believe it’s a step in the right direction though, especially today when mobile devices are becoming THE way to communicate.
Responsibility Randomizer
The “Responsibility Randomizer” is where I start to see the site veer off course. Stating that:
Someone has to be the responsible person that gets everyone home safely. But nobody wants to volunteer.
Not a problem.
Put in the names and numbers of yourself and up to four friends. Once you have submitted, the RR will spontaneously pick one of you and send a text message* to everyone in the group. You’ll all know who the Responsible Person is for the night. And who to thank the next day.
*There is no cost for the service. Your provider’s text messaging fees may apply.
I know- what’s wrong with that?
The issue I take here is that it puts “responsibility” on people that don’t want it. The “Randomizer” instructions even admit to this: “Someone has to be the responsible person… But nobody wants to…”. And it’s this modus operandi that has to change for there to be a change.
This “I don’t want to be held responsible” attitude is rampant. (Google Search: “McDonald’s HOT coffee lawsuit“, or “would be robber sues” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.) I could throw out all kinds of clichés here, but I won’t. The irony of the site is this: Promoting the taking of responsibility by those that have ended lives through their decision to drive drunk, while excusing the initiative to be responsible when faced with the probability of impairment.
What about you? What do you think about the site? Responsibility assigner or excuser?
~NickShoe
