Safety?

As my wife, 7 year old, and I entered the hotel, one of the employees immediately stepped out from behind the front desk with a gift. It was fireworks (hanabi, in Japanese), for our child to play with. In other parts of the world, a multitude of class action and personal injury lawyers would arrive on the scene to put an end to the fun prior to the guests being taken to the room. Not here.

A few minutes later, as we waited for the check in process to end, another family arrived. The same employee handing over fireworks to what appeared to be another 7 year old girl and her younger brother, who looked about 4 years old to me. The free hanabi at the hotel routine is quite common in fact.

The kids love hanabi and it gives them something to do after dinner. Not to mention the fact that parents can use the prospect of fun with hanabi as a bribe for good behavior at the dinner table. And other than a minor burn or two, what damage is likely to be done by some sparklers or small non exploding fireworks while being used under parental supervision? That's not the point. The point is that if something did happen, it is not likely that a law suit with an enormous payout would result.

On the same vacation we rented an ATV that I rode on a course with our child, no helmets offered or available, and no legal waiver to sign either. The family rented time at an archery center where the weapons (with sharp points no less!) were handed over for use under no supervision. At the water slide park, the lines at the top of the slides went unsupervised. Any rambunctious teen or near blind grandpa could negligently start sliding out of turn. Near the edge of the river, pool, or cliff there are no rails, or warning signs reminding passers by to not run or to not smoke or to hold on.

Maybe, just maybe, one could argue that it is a little less safe here, but it actually feels more free to me. People are expected to act in a responsible manner. Adults are not treated like children. Parents are assumed to be responsible and capable of supervising the kids. And you know what, people, at least here, do respond positively it appears to me. Things are not reckless or out of control.

Would Americans respond similarly if given the chance? Seems to me that America used to be more like Japan is now, in terms of these minor safety matters. I don't recall any problems, not for the vast majority of people anyway.