Dan Rather On Wal-Mart And Exploding Gas Cans

who holds a gas can (filled with gas) near a fire???

The same kind of idiot who buys CDs and then throws them on his grille. (screwed)

This is great reporting, even if for no other reason to be a reminder of what can happen when a person is not careful enough using flammable liquids like gasoline to start fires.

While I haven’t shopped at Wal-Mart for several years (because of their labor policies, lack of quality, interference in the political system etc.), I must agree with the last statement that Rather made—that as long as there are dangerous and flammable liquids, we should know to use caution.  There is a natural and legitimate place for “caveat emptor” in our society—not every damn thing can be regulated to be perfectly safe.

I should say though, that gas cans—every one I’ve ever owned (and being 50 years old, I’ve owned many in my lifetime)-- ALL leaked gas when pouring—and this is inexcusable in a society where we can go to the moon, and build all sorts of sophisticated devices.

To all who feel that they sometimes must use such stuff to start a fire, here is some advice (regardless of the liquid involved): 1st, obtain a much smaller container that doesn’t leak, like say an empty steel can that was used to hold peas or beans, then 2) pour a small amount of the gas (or whatever) into the steel can, and do this at least ten feet away (or more!) from where you want to start the fire, and 3), use THAT container (which only has a small fraction of the overall amount of dangerous liquid) to pour with, NOT THE BIG FIVE GALLON or 1 GALLON container etc.  That way, risk is somewhat minimized (though hardly eliminated).

So yes, the “conservatives” do sometimes have very valid points, at least about everyday commonsense things—despite their incredible idiocy/corruption/callousness when it comes to countless others, like waging a successful regime change, or capturing/killing or taming international terroists like Bin Ladin, or keeping the national debt/annual deficit under control, or keeping the financial system from meltdown, or encouring the building of fuel-efficient/less polluting cars, or waging honest, straightforward political campaigns, or being “Christian” and “doing unto others as they would have others do to them” in any real sense of the word.

QUESTION:..who holds a gas can (filled with gas) near a fire???

ANSWER: ...several boys...

QUESTION: Who dies from a poorly constructed bassinet???

ANSWER:babies!

Did it ever occur to you, Big Tex, to actually read the story before asking ignornat questions?

Wal-mart is the most sued company in the world. ~ Orrin Woodward

oh big goddam deal only fools like ken v actually believe wm actually does all this crap and bs they are accused of on this site

Ken V.  My question was not ignorant, the “several boys” who held gas near a fire are ignorant.  You cant dummy proof everything.

I Gotta Side With Big Tex on This One!

The ONLY thing more annoying than dumb people doing dumb things, is members of the WMW “Media Team continually posting these dumb stories.

Congratulations Eric Bull.  You’re a contender!

Anyone care to vote for the all-time “favorite,” or nominate a story of their own?

1.  The “Deady and toxic” Flip Flop Story.
2.  The Alleged “tainted” jalapeno pepper story
3.  The “exploding” gas can story

I couldn’t agree more. The children and babies of this country are dumb and should die for it, or at least be disfiguredred by fire. That’ll teach ‘em!

Of course, by doing so we’re killing the future workforce of Wal-Mart.

There is no question about it. Wall Street got drunk. The question is, how long will it (take to) sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments?” ~ George W. Bush

Ken V, Your satan himself. Go to a childrens burn unit and tell that to them. These children suffer horribly. And a flame arrestor would have prevented the majority of these tradegys. Walmart obviously knows it is a problem or they would not have made such a joke about them at their little meetings.
You need help man, People with your insensitive view are what is wrong with this country.

Big Tex, May you burn in hell....

Is the Shank story over?

“The children and babies of this country are dumb and should die for it, or at least be disfiguredred by fire. That’ll teach ‘em!”

That’s what they invented PARENTS for!!  And, I would have NEVER let my babies light a fire next to a gas can!!

Even in law, when a product is used in a manner for which it was not intended, the user is the one at fault!!  Anyone who uses a gas can near an open flame, isn’t very bright!!  Like Big Tex said, you can’t ‘dummy proof’ everything!!  If I used a baseball bat, to hit you in the head, does that mean that the bat company is at fault and should redesign the bat so no one can hit people in the head with it?

Unfortunately, sometimes children have to suffer from the ‘ignorance’ of their parents and that is indeed sad!!

RDS:"Unfortunately, sometimes children have to suffer from the ‘ignorance’ of their parents and that is indeed sad!! “RDS

You ARE speaking from experience,aren’t you RDS?

only idiots like you all on here buy all this bullshit on here.come on wm intentionally does all this crap.tell me folks why you are all so dam silent and dont throw the same hisy fit when all the stores you favor do similar things?

MATT: Got any VIDEO of OTHER corporate execs making fun of exploding gas cans?

If the manufacturers are “forced” by government to install these flame arrestors, what - if any - is the difference between that event, and the alternate one where “the market” forces them into doing the same thing?

In both cases the majority of the public would be the same force behind the change, it would seem to me.  Public indignation is the driving factor in each.  I don’t see any fundamental or ultimate difference, although I think everyone (including myself!) would prefer the market to do the trick, because it would indicate a greater sensitivity and intelligence on the part of both the manufacturers and the buyers/users.  When government has to force manufacturers to do something, it usually means that people had to be getting really stupid (both the users and the manufacturers!) - to a crisis point - before anything was done. 

In a purely libertarian view, the government is a separate “entity” from the public, and “interferes” in the “natural” evolutions in the “private sector.”

But really the government and its actions, whether intelligent or stupid, (or thirdly, inactive), is a reflection of the intelligence of the people.  In other words, government is a mirror of our own minds, ethics, actions - our whole psyches.

The Dan Rather story is good, but one thing that it could have included would be a section, “How to make one’s own flame arrestor, and install it on one’s own gas can, thus freeing one from dependence on gas can manufacturers and their sellers, for safety.”

Or some entrepreneur could come out with such a device.

Personally, when I have had problems with wet wood burning, and did not have enough paper or dry kindling to compensate, I’ve always used either “fat lighter” (a type of pine wood heavy with flammable sap), or turpentime.  Turpentime is much more expensive than gas, but it is more like an oil, and not anywhere as explosive.

Of course, if gasoline had not become our all-dominating fuel of choice for transportation, then we probably would never had had to deal with its dangerous qualities!

ddrb,

“You ARE speaking from experience,aren’t you RDS?”

And, how was that?  As far as I know, I didn’t cause that driver to drink and then drive drunk!!  I think most intelligent people would say that it was HIS ‘ignorance’, not ours!!  Next, you will be saying that if someone’s house gets robbed, it is because of the ‘ignorance’ of the home owner, for having things that robbers want to steal!!

RDS: Aren’t you the one ALWAYS preaching PERSONAL responsibility?Where was yours?

P.S.: “ Next, you will be saying that if someone’s house gets robbed, it is because of the ‘ignorance’ of the home owner, for having things that robbers want to steal!! “~~~~~RDS~~Note: But that is EXACTLY what is happening to the economy of our nation, right now!Whether its subprime loans gone bad,or bailouts for “Free Market” institutions.As Bush said correctly,for once,"Wall Street got drunk."Yes,we are now ALL victims of home invasion by drunken Wall Street thieves and thugs. And to some degree it IS ignorance of those who trusted this administration to do a job FOR us-BUT instead has done a job ON us! And will continue to do so,unfettered,should McCain be installled as the next POTUS. POOR U.S.-literally!

Anyone care to vote for the all-time “favorite,” or nominate a story of their own?

I have to say the flip-flop story—seems to me it never got any farther than The Consumerist, plus what idiot would continue to wear such shoes at the first signs of a rash?

The jalapeno story was an extension of current events (a pile-on with an alleged WM connection).

As for the latest, it seems to me like Dan Rather is just trying to stay relevant in the 21st century…

And just what is YOUR claim to relevance, in this or any other century,bb?Do you have a body of lifetime work as Rather does?

ok the whole indecent with the kid getting injured is tragic and corporate execs should NOT mock the story. I hate wal-mart and i never have defended ANY of their actions but this time i will. You NEVER use gas to ignite a fire because of the chance of explosion this is a case of negligence.

1. 12 year old kids should not be playing with gasoline.
2. NO ONE should ever use gas to start a fire.
3. The warnings are WRITTEN ON THE CAN!!

Who lets a twelve year old have a gas can near a fire???Where were his parents???Walmart can’t be held responsible for this...I believe the presautions are printed on the can...Parents need to teach there child not WALMART