Comeback kid -- Pediatrics, Christmas, Metra

Metra rider wrote:

The truth is that she had forgotten her violen and ran back to her seat to retrieve it, delaying her exit from the train. After the conductors gave the all clear sign she tried to exit, instead of just getting off at the next stop. Now Illinois tax payers have to pay for her stupidity.

NOW I get it!! Why did it take me so long? OH yeah, because of all the nasty attitudes and character assaults on Rachel, that is why! It is the MONEY!

STILL- Rachel was found to have been 4.5% responsible for the accident. Not 100%, not 50%, not even 5%.

But it hit in the pocket book, so, she is fair game. Fine, but have you ever been at least 5% responsible for an accident? BECAUSE if you haven't (and I surely haven't been...ahha okay, yes I have), then, go ahead and make your angry remarks and do it righteously. Because we know you are perfect.

And one more thing, what if it'd been your relative? Would you say, oh, so sorry, dear daughter. Too bad about your career but we won't fight Metra, because after all, you have to live with the consequences? And you'll just have to remember that during each surgery you go through, and well. Maybe we cannot really afford them...NO, you would have done what Rachel did.

It is easy in theory to expound on the virtues of responsibility, how about in real practice??

I agree with you. This is just a story about an amazing person's life....
HOWEVER, SHE IS AN AMAZINGLY RICH PERSON TOO and I ponied up part of that by virtue of me paying taxes... Make sense?

I'd also say that she made a poor decision and the responsibility ultimately shifted to Metra. That is truly unjustified and the compensation is not even rational.
For example, lets say that she could win $1,000,000 every year for the rest of her life and say that her opportunity cost is between 5% and 10%. That comes to lost compensation of approximately $13M if paid to her in a lump sum. Lets double that to account for medical expenses (assume that her medical costs are also $1M per year). This amounts to $26M ($4M less than her settlement).
Lets say the attorneys charged 25% on a contingent fee (fees range between 5 and 50%, so I'm taking an average), then Rachel made out with approximately $23M (approximately $4M more than what she should've collected based on my OVER-INFLATED $2M wages and medical cost ridiculous assumptions)

SOoooooooooooo...... I don't argue that she is great and that her potential is phenomenal, but:
1) Her attorneys are way better if they could make the arguments to get that ridiculous settlement (or Illinois state completely inept... perhaps)
2) Also, if she is working now, perhaps the settlement should've been adjusted after the fact, YOU KNOW????? She should pay some of that money back to Illinois to help fund the transportation system which is falling apart....

Sorry, but I have my realist hat today with me.

I however, I'm really happy that she is back on her feet and inspired to fulfill her dreams and delight the culturally inclined population

Robert Salm wrote:

For all of you knuckleheads and boneheads out there, Rachel Barton did not ask for this story to be written, and like most victims of horrific traumas that linger throughout life, would have rather not discussed the accident and focused instead on her work and her foundation--a foundation which, if anyone bothered, is amazingly well-intentioned and dynamic in scope. For some of you to arrogantly conjure such stories as dismissive of others' injuries is to ignore the heart of an individual who struggles with adversity. Some of you have written how she seems emotionally immature. Well, watching Oprah does NOT make you even remotely a psychologist, and those comments show just how few human interest stories you actually read. Everyone relates differently to events in their life, and your blasé attitude reflects it. The article touches on her family relationships and the pain she had with her siblings. We are not privy to an in-depth account of what happened; suffice it to say there are some serious things that happened in that family before that tragedy and afterward. Unless you're a registered family counselor and know this family in-depth: keep your asinine, judgmental comments to yourself.
This is just a story about one amazing person's life.

Call me a bonehead but wrote:

I am sick of hearing the pathetic story of Rachel Barton. Let's look at the real issues here:
1. If the violin is stuck in the doors of a train, let it go, don't let it drag you onto the tracks.
2. Taking $30M+ taxpayer dollars when it was truly a self caused accident epitimizes the epidemic of lawsuits in the United States today.
3. Accept your injuries, don't be whining about them 13 years later. There are hundreds of soldiers from Iraq who have lost limbs defending our country who amazingly recover in less than a year.
Step up to your own mistakes and please stop complaining.

Sign your real name before putting down others, coward.

southsiderosie wrote:

I wonder how many in this forum would have reacted if instead of a violinist, Rachel Barton was a local SPORTS phenom that we had all seen and appreciated. If this had happened to, say, Donovan McNabb, and his shot at the NFL was cut short, would people post such nasty comments? If, god forbid, he was hurt in a horrible accident while in college, and today was playing in the Arena League while trying to make it to the NFL, I think the comments here would be much more sympathetic.

I'm wondering how many comments there would be if people had to reveal themselves instead of hiding behind screen names?

Read the story wrote:

<quoted text>
Gah! I am going to start suggesting reading comprehension for those of you who keep posting this! She wasn't protecting the violin.
READ THE STORY. K?

Well if you are going to start suggesting that maybe you can teach us. I want to br first, can I sit on your lap while you teach me?
I am wondering do you have mental issues like Barton.

southsiderosie wrote:

I wonder how many in this forum would have reacted if instead of a violinist, Rachel Barton was a local SPORTS phenom that we had all seen and appreciated. If this had happened to, say, Donovan McNabb, and his shot at the NFL was cut short, would people post such nasty comments? If, god forbid, he was hurt in a horrible accident while in college, and today was playing in the Arena League while trying to make it to the NFL, I think the comments here would be much more sympathetic.

Actually, it DID happen Rosie, so get your head out of your arse. Five years ago Jay Williams, the first round pick of the Chicago Bulls, selfishly decided to jump on top of a crotch rocket without thinking of the consequences to his family, his friends or the rest of his team. When he accelerated into a light pole he nearly lost his life, his leg was mangled and his basketball career was over. And you know what...he deserved EVERYTHING he got because he acted so foolishly. I don't play favorites here...if you are dumb enough to risk your own life taking chances like that, be prepared to pay the consequences yourself...don't try to call out others for blame.

Victor wrote:

<quoted text>
Well if you are going to start suggesting that maybe you can teach us. I want to br first, can I sit on your lap while you teach me?
I am wondering do you have mental issues like Barton.

I don't think it's your reading comprehension that needs the most attention...
(Read into that what ever you'd like)

Mitch wrote:

<quoted text>
It's time for Rachel to leave her pity party and get on with her life.

I trust Howard Reich, and he has not thrown Rachel Barton Pine a pity party, nor has she thrown one for herself. She has gotten on with her life, but her injuries keep getting in the way.

Several other Chicago newspaper reporters/columnists recently wrote articles about losing loved ones through the processes of aging, illness, and death. Almost everybody experiences such losses, but these articles were written as if the experiences of the authors are unique. The articles might as well have been entries in a contest to determine who has the saddest story.

People like Pine, who have chosen to become a performing artist, do so because their motivation is as strong as any of that of a basic need such as hunger. I cannot imagine the pain that Pine has already experienced. She continues to suffer physically and mentally and she has to live day by day as far as her health is concerned. Her life, not just her leg, is still at risk due to the possibility of further infection. However, she still manages to travel all over in order to perform.

I cannot think of any musician who does not dream of playing among the best, and I do not think that her comments about the Santa Fe orchestra should be judged. Anybody who suffers a catastrophic injury such as she has, will wonder about how things would have turned out for them otherwise.

Rachel Barton Pine’s story is unique and is of the kind that will make me think twice when I am feeling down.

As far as the comments made by other readers concerning Iraqi vets, nobody is trivializing the sacrifices that they make.

I'd just like to say that I've been riding Metra for many years and those guys are extremely careful with passengers. Some people do foolish things around trains. They try to exit at the last minute....they run in front of trains approaching platforms...and they drive their cars around lowered gates. Every time I see someone dart in front of the train, just so they don't miss it, my heart almost stops.....but I'll say it again...the Metra guys that I know are very careful.

After reading this article I think some liberties were taken such as her husband has to carry her fiddle because it is heavy and due to her PTSD. Now I can understand the weight thing but PTSD? Also why would responsibility for paying the mortgage and utilities fall on a 17 year old? No wonder she cut out to Europe. It sounds like her family was riding on her coattails.Its pretty apparent she was one of the lucky ones to get a settlement that guantees her care for the rest of her life. Millions of people are suffering across the US with disabilities and have no financial windfall to make their life easier.

Tough Love wrote:

<quoted text>
Dude, anyone who racks up those kind of international prizes is FAR from average. But maybe a two bit booking agent of wedding gigs isn't capable of seeing anything that is above average...

I guess booking Chicago and Paul Rodgers for over $100k is a wedding band date...dah...She is still at best just OK. Again, the accident helped her dieing career.

Emmy in Evanston wrote:

Hey, booksdates,
Great attitude. Will you be my agent?

Not unless your name is a bit more famous than your handle.

To all those here, I don't suppose if you suffered the same injuries this woman did, at the age she did, that you would have a cheery outlook on things?

It's real easy to stand in judgment of her, and say, "get over it", all the while having two legs to walk away from the computer with.

I can just imagine the self-righteous here would not suffer from any psychological problems in adjusting to what will have to pass as a normal life.

Perhaps she should have let go of her belongings--I remember the story, when it first happened, and felt as much, then---but that's over with. The least we can do is just wish the woman well.

dwb wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe be she was exceptional when she was younger, but she may have also reached her peak at that time, which very well could have made her average at best as she got older. No one really knows for sure how good she would have been. All I know is that I would have never heard of her if it wasn't for the accident.

Amen and well said. That's the point. From just a "wedding band" agent that handles current American Idol stars, but what do I know!!

Mitch wrote:

<quoted text>
Actually, it DID happen Rosie, so get your head out of your arse. Five years ago Jay Williams, the first round pick of the Chicago Bulls, selfishly decided to jump on top of a crotch rocket without thinking of the consequences to his family, his friends or the rest of his team. When he accelerated into a light pole he nearly lost his life, his leg was mangled and his basketball career was over. And you know what...he deserved EVERYTHING he got because he acted so foolishly. I don't play favorites here...if you are dumb enough to risk your own life taking chances like that, be prepared to pay the consequences yourself...don't try to call out others for blame.

God help you, if you've ever done anything foolish, so as to cost you.

But, of course, we all know Mitch hasn't. He's perfect.

Man, the spitefulness on this forum is indeed incredible.

Hello America wrote:

<quoted text>
NOW I get it!! Why did it take me so long? OH yeah, because of all the nasty attitudes and character assaults on Rachel, that is why! It is the MONEY!
STILL- Rachel was found to have been 4.5% responsible for the accident. Not 100%, not 50%, not even 5%.
But it hit in the pocket book, so, she is fair game. Fine, but have you ever been at least 5% responsible for an accident? BECAUSE if you haven't (and I surely haven't been...ahha okay, yes I have), then, go ahead and make your angry remarks and do it righteously. Because we know you are perfect.
And one more thing, what if it'd been your relative? Would you say, oh, so sorry, dear daughter. Too bad about your career but we won't fight Metra, because after all, you have to live with the consequences? And you'll just have to remember that during each surgery you go through, and well. Maybe we cannot really afford them...NO, you would have done what Rachel did.
It is easy in theory to expound on the virtues of responsibility, how about in real practice??

You're so right; it's the money which has caused some on this forum to paint a bullseye onto Mrs. Pine's back.

Lots of green eyes here--and it isn't from a St. Patrick's Day hangover, either.

I couldn't understand the mean-spirited opinions that I heard about this accident when it first occurred and I can't understand them now. Sounds like a lot of jealousy (artistic in some cases) in the catty world of classical music. And booksdates sounds like one of those envious people who could not cut it as a performer, so he became a jockstrap-sniffer agent type who gets to hang around musicians like some kind of glorified groupie.

booksdates wrote:

<quoted text> Not unless your name is a bit more famous than your handle.

You sound like a legend in your own mind.

Booksdates, even if we assume she is average at best, I don't think it's remotely fair to claim that the accident helped her career. Do people in Santa Fe or Ithaca book her because of all the publicity she got in Chicago back in the 1990s? Do they even know about it? My guess is that they don't (except that they can see she walks with assistance, etc.). Plus, it seems that she cannot make as many appearances, even with minor orchestras or corporate events because of her travel limitations. Would it surprise me if she's a prima donna? No, but then again, that's probably a common trait. Plus, if it were such a boon to her career, you'd think she'd perform more around here (Elgin, Rockford, Milwaukee, etc). Other than the occasional performance on WFMT (and how much can public radio pay?) she doesn't make many appearances around here, so it's a stretch to say she's user her notoriety to gain appearances.

Booksdates, have you landed under sniper fire, as well? Unless you are going to identify yourself, how can we tell if you really are an agent or just someone who's "name dropping" on an anonymous board? Of course, I'm posting on an anonymous board, too, but I'm not claiming to be in the business, either.