Accrington Web - It,s all relative

Its all Relative appears to be a phrase that crops up time and time again when someone doesn't want to justify their stand on a particular belief, or its a cop out for even bothering to entertain that another idea or belief system could possibly hold merit.

Lets look at a couple of scenerios.

1.A teenager is speeding and causes an accident. If everything is "relative" then perhaps the teenager shouldnt be charged with dangerous driving - after all its all relative isnt it? Because of his inexperience (relative to his age) it would be understandable that this young person is far more likely to have an accident than a more exerienced driver.

2.A driver gets into a fight with another driver because he has been cut off. The driver that was cut off was perhaps feeling stressed because of other issues, so his loss of temper was relative to how he was feeling at the time - so why should he be charged?

3.A man/woman abuses their partner. He/She came from an abusive childhood, so why should this person be charged with assault - after all, his behaviour was relative to his upbringing.

4.Movie stars and those with large incomes spend large amounts of $$$ on what is to some, frivilous items. Its all relative - they have the money, so it is not an inconvience to them.

5.Some nations take up arms against another nation because its all relative to "their cause".

So perhaps before you say in defence of an arguement that "its all relative" you should look at exactly what you are saying.

Where does "taking responsibility" or "knowing right from wrong" come into the equation when using the term "its all relative"? It doesnt. Because if everything is relative to a particular situation or a particular person, then we have no need to be held responsibile for our actions or reactions......

We can use the term "Its all Relative" as a general term but not as an "absolute" term.