Why don't North Americans adopt some seemingly simple ideas
 

I was just thinking, but there are some things here in Costa Rica (supposedly a 3rd world country) that should be done in North American business but are not (to my knowledge):

Few examples:

1 - Ladie's Night in bars/clubs.

North America:

Guys overload the place. Staff has to try and watch out for girls letting guys have their free drinks.

Costa Rica:

Bar opens at 8pm, but guys can only come in after open bar ends (10pm or 11pm). Solves above problem, as well as when guys come in, all they see is a place FULL of girls who are tipsy or drunk. Everyone's happy =)


2 - Video stores

North America:

Lots of abuse of lateness charges, tapes never returned, etc....

Costa Rica:

They will not let you return tapes late without immediately paying the late fee. Seems to work well, since at worst you dont return the rentals but can never rent there again.


3 - Driving.

North America:

Many cities have HUGE traffic problems.

Costa Rica:

Not many stop signs or traffic lights, instead opting for rotundas (the same as England's roundabouts I think). Traffic happens, but much less than what I've seen in North America.


Just few random thoughts to think about :glugglug

They actually have the same kind off rules in Canada for the first 2.
What about smoking?.Here, you can't smoke in bars,restaurants unless there is a specific area

where is costa rica anyways?

They do? Must be Western Canada, Montreal never had those rules while I was there....

Here in bars/clubs you can smoke anywhere and smoking weed is pretty acceptable....some bars will ask you to step outside for it, but not most.

In restaurants they have different areas though.

Somewhere, over the rainbow........................hehe

It's south of Nicaragua and North-west of Panama I think

Save your breath.

Most Americans don't believe there is anything to learn from the rest of the world.

That's not true...you seem to be jaded...You can't judge everybody based on a few remarks on a BBS

1. It's a good idea, but since Ladies Nights are being cut out all over, it really doesn't matter anymore. Qualifies as discrimination.

2. Another good idea in theory but the reason it won't work is because of competition. People won't like paying the fees on the spot so they'll just go elsewhere.

3. I think you'll find those in Boston. Why aren't they in more places? No idea.

We have a lot more people here in the United States and Canada, seemingly simple ideas get complicated real quick. :)

I said 'most'.

Really? That's terrible for the bar industry. I'll be surprised if this stick though, considering the money and people behind the nightlife scene in America.

What will then stop them from (using a net example), not letting dating websites give perks to females like free tokens or such? Or paying affiliates more if they refer a female profile than a male one??

People do still have them, but I also know of some places that have been sued because of sexual discrimination. I think they were all settled out of court, but it's a huge pain in the ass any way you look at it.

Honestly, one of the biggest problems in this country is all of the sue happy people. People will sue, wrong or right, just because they can get "free" money. It's principals like this that have led to ridiculous insurance and medical prices (malpractice insurance is INSANE!)

Out here, although there are a TON of lawyers, I don't think people sue as much or at all....

Probably for the simple fact that if you sue anyone with money here, they would probably just have you killed for a few hundred bucks (or maybe some women/drugs). No joke.

You've got to be kidding me. I'm a big fan of Costa Rica, but come on. The roads in Costa are littered potholes an entire car can fit in. Single lane rickidy bridges and gravel "highways" in some areas. Most roads have no lines and thus people drive anywhere they can fit. The stop signs in Costa Rica don't really mean stop, they mean honk your horn while you drive through them. The traffic might not be as bad, but the quantity of taxi's built in the 1970's and never maintained since driving as fast as they possible can through the smog laden streets of San Jose is no better. :2 cents:

No Tort laws.

I wasn't talking about the quality of the roads....just that using rotundas increases traffic flow, thus causing way less traffic than lights do....

They had a huge protest/strike recently because the government wanted inspections on the road which fine you if something is wrong with your car, yet they don't fix the potholes which cause all the cars damage heh....so it was basically just to put cash in someone's pockets =)

The leading causes of Death in Costa Rica, in order:

1) Stomach cancer from washing dishes with chlorine due to a lack of hot water in kitchens. Many dish detergents are chlorine based not soap based.

2) Traffic Accidents.

Traffic in Costa Rica is frightening experience. I'm not sure how you could possibly think it's better.