Canadian Judge takes away boy's Wii ...

[IDrinkaRum]

will give it back once certain conditions, to show good behavior, are met

Non-violent offender. Kid doesn't get sent to juvie or to teen boot camp. Is this a win-win situation.

And should creative sentences like this be used more and more in Canada and the U.S.?

[Fryk]

Do the parents still get to play? If so, then I'm all for it!

[tropicsgoddess]

will give it back once certain conditions, to show good behavior, are met

Non-violent offender. Kid doesn't get sent to juvie or to teen boot camp. Is this a win-win situation.

And should creative sentences like this be used more and more in Canada and the U.S.?

Sounds good to me.

[Greenday]

Eh, I somehow don't think it'll be that effective a punishment.

[BroomJockey]

If it IS effective, then I'm all for it. If it doesn't work, at least it was an interesting attempt.

[Flyndaran]

I'm against it. A judge is supposed to mete out justice, not be a parent. If I were the parent, I would be ticked off at having one of my possessions be confiscated.

[BroomJockey]

A judge is supposed to mete out justice,

No, they're not. It is their job to proscribe punishment within the bounds of the law that best fits the heinousness of the crime, and that best represents the opportunity for eventual rehabilitation.

[Flyndaran]

No, they're not. It is their job to proscribe punishment within the bounds of the law that best fits the heinousness of the crime, and that best represents the opportunity for eventual rehabilitation.

I call that justice as so far as the law itself is just. What is your definition of justice?

[BroomJockey]

I call that justice as so far as the law itself is just. What is your definition of justice?

My definition of justice is "everyone gets what is rightfully coming to them."

And guess what? Due to the law being made by mortals, rather than a perfect being, it cannot guarantee that. Further, because it is interpreted by mortals, and lain down with strict measures as to application, that further limits the possibility of appropriate punishments and rewards being carried out. That's why most call it what it is. A legal system, rather than a justice system. After all, incarceration cannot be a completely appropriate punishment all the time, can it?

[Flyndaran]

My definition of justice is "everyone gets what is rightfully coming to them."

And guess what? Due to the law being made by mortals, rather than a perfect being, it cannot guarantee that. Further, because it is interpreted by mortals, and lain down with strict measures as to application, that further limits the possibility of appropriate punishments and rewards being carried out. That's why most call it what it is. A legal system, rather than a justice system. After all, incarceration cannot be a completely appropriate punishment all the time, can it?

That makes the word useless in my eyes. I'm an atheist that believes good is another word for useful to society and its citizens. There are no moral absolutes.

[AdminAssistant]

As clever as I think it is, the parents should be the one taking the video games away. By the time a kid has made it before a judge, I think he should be more than grounded.

[Cats]

As clever as I think it is, the parents should be the one taking the video games away. By the time a kid has made it before a judge, I think he should be more than grounded.

I agree. And I know I'm massively overgeneralizing to make a point (and that we don't know further details about the kid and his parents), but someone has to slap some parental punishment and wisdom into kids. I don't like the idea of a judge having to be the one to do it, but if the punishment is effective, well, that's one less of a problem.

Frankly, parents need to stop spoiling their kids in the first place. If your kid is misbehaving to the point where eventually he's going to face a judge, why the hell would you get him a Wii? If I was 10-15 years younger and asked for one for xmas, I'd have better been a saint for the past 2 years and even if I got it my parents would make sure it was shared and cut off usage of it if necessary. My parents weren't even that strict either, they just had the attitude that anything you owned that you didn't need was a luxury of sorts, and that it was to be appreciated and earned.

[Nyoibo]

That makes the word useless in my eyes. I'm an atheist that believes good is another word for useful to society and its citizens. There are no moral absolutes.

So if I were to eliminate (read kill) all people who are a drain on society and it's citizens, that in your definition would make me "good" as I am doing something useful to society?


When a judge is having to met out punishments that a parent should be giving I think it's time for the judge to mand out a mandatory parenting class to the parents at the same time.

[jackfaire]

That makes the word useless in my eyes. I'm an atheist that believes good is another word for useful to society and its citizens. There are no moral absolutes.

Ah now who decides what is useful? Anyone could point at anything in society and say it is or is not useful based on their own ideas.

[Flyndaran]

So if I were to eliminate (read kill) all people who are a drain on society and it's citizens, that in your definition would make me "good" as I am doing something useful to society?


When a judge is having to met out punishments that a parent should be giving I think it's time for the judge to mand out a mandatory parenting class to the parents at the same time.

To the first, their are many reasons why your logic is flawed. As a single example, society rules must apply to all, so you may consider your actions good, but the law must still punish you.

To the second, I almost agree. I think the court is not the place to parent either the kids or the parents. If they can't do their job, then remove the child. I don't want outsiders sticking their noses into the home without good reason, and when that is necessary do it right and whole-heartedly. No half-assed measures.

Ah now who decides what is useful? Anyone could point at anything in society and say it is or is not useful based on their own ideas.

That's why I consider the notion of good and evil religious rather than real.
That doesn't make bodies of ethics useless. We need some to keep "them" from screwing over "us".