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(Some Guy)   What little boys were made of before lawsuits   (opinionjournal.com) divider line
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24602 clicks; posted to Main » and Politics » on 24 Feb 2006 at 3:39 AM (17 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



209 Comments     (+0 »)


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ThatDevGuy
2006-02-24 12:42:30 AM  
Yes! Thank you!

Political correctness has reached age 6. Congratulations, liberals. You done good.
 
I_Hate_Iowa
2006-02-24 12:49:23 AM  
I would say "Thank you litigious America."

The only reason we get things like 6-year-olds charged with sexual harassment is because schools are trying to protect themselves from lawyers. I have never heard anyone defend this kind of nonsense, even raging liberals. Have you?
 
NeoMatrix
2006-02-24 12:56:16 AM  
ThatDevGuy: Congratulations, liberals. You done good.

um, no.
 
Axana
2006-02-24 3:48:16 AM  
The writing in this article made my brain hurt.

/agreed that filing a lawsuit over this is ridiculous
 
Failing_Junk
2006-02-24 3:48:42 AM  
I am socially liberal and i hate this shiat as much as anyone. Actually, it seems almost everyone hates this shiat but it appears that there is nothing we can do about it. Feeling disenfranchised yet?
 
DisneyOnIce
2006-02-24 3:49:07 AM  
ThatDevGuy: Congratulations, liberals. You done good

Quite a leap you took there, TDG.
 
Crosshair
2006-02-24 3:50:17 AM  
Remember the 20 foot swings that you would jump off of and compete for distance with your friends. Play "toilet" and try to see how many people you could fit on the slide. Or when the tire swing really was an old bus tire. What about the 20 foot Jungle Gym. Have snowball fights and get all bloody. Play "Smear the queer" (Just try and SAY that in a school today.) in the playground. Dodgeball against the brick wall. Ah, those where the days.

/Loved playing Smear the Queer in elementry school.
 
saintstryfe [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2006-02-24 3:51:18 AM  
ThatDevGuy: Congrats, Conservitives, your litigious, "protect me at the cost of my sanity" mindset was the real background.

/yes, both of these arguements sound stupid
//and so do you!
///slashies hooooooooo!
 
ceejayoz [OhFark]
2006-02-24 3:51:25 AM  
http://www.abc6.com/engine.pl?station=wlne&id=18969&template=breakout_story_lo cal_news.shtml

Looks like they had a poorly constructed policy that they're fixing.
 
Rupert Birkin
2006-02-24 3:52:31 AM  
This makes me a sad panda.
 
doglover
2006-02-24 3:53:54 AM  
Fark any lawyer who would sue a six year old!
Fark them in their eye socket!
 
tribute
2006-02-24 3:55:05 AM  
south park is the greatest

"fark you, i can do what i want."

/i like slashies too
//slash
 
SkankingMRH
2006-02-24 3:57:57 AM  
First gay cowboys eating pudding. Now this. What's next?
 
X15
2006-02-24 4:00:06 AM  
Good to know that "ITOD" parents were still naming their kids retarded ass names.

"Dixieanna Hamlin"


/Stupid Yankee
//Still retarded
///Yup
 
Freak
2006-02-24 4:00:29 AM  
Don't blame liberals or conservatives, secularists or fundamentalists. Blame overly-protective parents and our litigious society. Parents flip if the slightest thing happens to their kids on school property, and school administrations are so afraid of getting sued that they try to prevent incidents from occurring by instituting asinine policies that are enforced without any regard for common sense. Thus little kids getting suspended for pointing chicken fingers at each other, and six year olds getting slapped with sexual harrassment charges.

Despite my scathing post, I don't really get all that worked up about this particular issue. I don't have kids, and don't plan on having any, so I'm not worried about my kids missing out. I myself was born early enough so I got to experience such things as dodgeball, playground fights that resulted in no more than a visit to the principals office, Oregon trail/that fish game, sports that actually had a winner and a loser, etc, in all their glory. My childhood memories are already set, screw this generation.
 
MiaCulpa
2006-02-24 4:03:00 AM  
Back when I were a kid, we aint had no help frum the grownups neether when it come to settlin' a score. Thats why they took that retarded kid and knocked his eye clean outtern his head at recess. Taught him a good 'un, he won't look at you sideways no more, hyuk.

/vomits all over the good ol' days
 
Beneathragingskies
2006-02-24 4:03:32 AM  
I saw a third grader looking at me funny yesterday. Could I sue them for that, especially if she's the daughter of a doctor, like I'm thinking? I swear. She looked me up and down and up again. It gave me the creeps.

/exeunt sarcasm
 
blahpers
2006-02-24 4:05:08 AM  
So, how long until someone blames the ACLU?
 
swahnhennessy
2006-02-24 4:08:05 AM  
I am amazed that no one in this thread has yet uttered "pussification of America". I thought it was automatic with these types of links.
 
ProdigalSigh [OhFark]
2006-02-24 4:08:34 AM  
Should I point out that the "ITOD" people raised the very parents, bureaucrats, et al that are responsible for the system today?

And while I know things like this make the news when they happen, we usually don't see the aftermath of everyone calling the person who overreacted an idiot and things going back to normal. Parents may have changed but kids are still (pretty much) the same, we just keep making sure that kids learn that the worst possible thing to happen, is for the adults to become involved. This is what education is all about.
 
Heterodyne
2006-02-24 4:09:26 AM  
NeoMatrix: um, no.

Um, yes.
 
Eidolon
2006-02-24 4:10:02 AM  
Doesn't it seem a little odd to promote a Hobbesian state of nature for children that then grow into adults that have to solve problems differently? Sometimes, kids left on their own learn to deal with issues and grow up to be wiser, more productive adults. Sometimes they end up being seriously farked over (re: Columbine)

While I don't think we should overly coddle our toddlers, saying that they should all be let loose to run wild just because you personally have romanticized memories of the playground is asinine. I might agree with the guy if he made a logical argument.

What I'd like to see is this article written about jail. "We don't need no prison reform. I remember my first night in jail, when I had to learn on my own how to fight off my cellmate... I wish I could say we became friends."
 
krovvy
2006-02-24 4:12:13 AM  
Unacceptable behavior is unacceptable behavior. We must provide a safe place in school for children. This means putting harassers and bullies on notice that they must change their behavior or be removed from the classroom. Just think of the things that went on in schools before children were adequately cared for. The author provides a great example of himself in two situations: one, sexual harassment (which he chuckles at, big surprise he's a white Republican male), and the other violence (which he also chuckles at, again being a Republican I'm not surprised in the least).
 
Mr. carrot
2006-02-24 4:16:29 AM  
Krovvy gets a 4 out of 10 in trolling. It seemed to lack heart.
 
Calcasieu
2006-02-24 4:17:56 AM  
Reality check:

Many parents today will use their kids to make a quick buck.
 
Roger Arseways
2006-02-24 4:18:00 AM  
I blame the ACLU.

//what? who said that?
 
StrongBrad
2006-02-24 4:18:15 AM  
Conservatives tend to blame liberals here because they see liberals as being against personal responsibility. This is because liberals tend to be pro-welfare, pro-abortion etc.

Liberals and conservatives (and everybody else) are both guilty of applying their opinions of the other sides thought process to other scenarios. So conservatives here are thinking:
This is only happening because of our sue-happy cultue, which is fueled in part by the fact the people don't take responsibility when the spill coffee on themselves. So since liberals don't like personal responsibility, they support this shiat.
 
Afecks
2006-02-24 4:19:47 AM  
ThatDevGuy I think you've got political correctness confused with not being sexist, racist or just a bigot in general. Liberals don't like it when white christian republicans pick on the women, blacks and gays. Conservatives are the ones that took the whole PC thing and ran with it in order to libel and slander the liberals into looking like censorship junkies.

Ever notice how it's always the conservatives that attack the liberals first? I wonder why that is? Feeling a little threatened? Rather stick with argumentum ad hominem instead of actually dealing with the issues? Yea I guess I would too if I was on the wrong side of a losing battle.
 
Pogee
2006-02-24 4:22:06 AM  
krovvy

Yer trollin with a barbless hook.

More outrage next time, mixed with bigger dollop of self riteous indignation. You need to make the baby jebus want to cry.

Use of the phrase "How DARE they!" generally garners more points, but not many and so has fallen out of favor. Blaming George Bush is also growing a bit stale, as is the "But Clinton... thing. (The man's name is "BILL" Clinton, not "But".

/going to bed now.
//have a nice day.
///Isn't that NICE?
////Obscure Carlin reference. Nevermind
 
ProdigalSigh [OhFark]
2006-02-24 4:22:31 AM  
krovvy: This means putting harassers and bullies on notice that they must change their behavior or be removed from the classroom.

This does not happen.

Just think of the things that went on in schools before children were adequately cared for.

Differing philosophies aside, it's pretty safe to say few people think schools, as a whole, are doing this now or will be in the near future.
 
Birnone
2006-02-24 4:23:27 AM  
For this PC/lawsuit era, blame the idiots who can't or won't police themselves.

Back in 7th grade I was friends with this guy who liked to grab girls' asses. Especially this ONE girl. He'd do it practically every day. She told him to stop, she complained to the teachers...nothing. Finally she complained to the Powers That Be I guess, because the Vice Principal(the Enforcer at the school) comes in to our class, takes my friend outside 'for a moment', and gives him a talking to. I could hear him outside, murmuring "...stop grabbing her ass. I know she's cute and you like her, but she's complaining and I'm going to have to come down on you if you keep doing it. Just leave her alone from now on." Then he sent my friend back inside and left.

I always remembered that. This poor girl endured WEEKS of this shiat, and that's the defense she got. The VP was mad because he was being put in a position where he might have to do something about it if my friend didn't stop.

Knowing that kind of stuff goes on(not just in schools), I completely understand why people feel they need to get involved with legal threats if necessary. The idea that if society just backed off then things would be solved efficiently makes me laugh.
 
crypt0z0ic
2006-02-24 4:24:37 AM  
Heh, heh.. I remember when I was in first grade, on a bus, on some field trip. Michelle showed me hers and I showed her mine. Possibly the best day of my life.
 
Copythat
2006-02-24 4:24:58 AM  
However Krovvy, What are the lessons we are teaching?
Self reliance? Which Is a good thing.
Or Whine and Sue, Which, IMHO, Is a Very, Very bad thing...
Ask yourself, WWFSM do?
Heck, What would YOU do... I think we all know the answer
Putting bullies and Harassers on notice can be done without the Completely overworked (for reasons like this) and arguably farked justice system. White? Doesn't matter, Conservative? Doesn't matter. We are raising a generation of thin skinned, sue happy , entitlement junkies...
Makes me sad :(
 
Calcasieu
2006-02-24 4:25:27 AM  
strongbad

This is only happening because of our sue-happy cultue, which is fueled in part by the fact the people don't take responsibility when the spill coffee on themselves.

[image from img63.imageshack.us too old to be available]

I apologize. My mind wanders occasionally.
 
SouthernFriedYankee
2006-02-24 4:25:36 AM  
This is not the fault of LIBERALS.

This is the fault of LEFTISTS.

Washington, Jefferson, Franklin: Liberals.

Oprah, Dr. Phil, Hillary: Leftists.

/carry on
 
Copythat
2006-02-24 4:29:30 AM  
Birnone ,
He stopped didnt he?
The only thing wrong with the scenario you described is that it took to long to scare the kid into stopping...
 
blahpers
2006-02-24 4:30:02 AM  
swahnhennessy: I am amazed that no one in this thread has yet uttered "pussification of America". I thought it was automatic with these types of links.

The new phrase is "vaginification of America". Why do you hate female genitalia?
 
Calcasieu
2006-02-24 4:30:48 AM  
I was sitting here tonight thinking about all the political "posturing" that goes on in online forums between Consublicans and Liberats, when suddenly a few lines from an old song sprang to mind:

You see it your way
And I see it mine
But we both see it slippin' away

I think that pretty much says it all. Maybe it's something we can all agree on.

And yes, I'm on mind-altering drugs. Legal, but mind-altering nonetheless.
 
blahpers
2006-02-24 4:34:32 AM  
And krovvy demonstrates once again how to successfully fish without bait . . . or hook, or line . . . hell, he's catching red snapper with his bare hands.
 
farkerintx
2006-02-24 4:36:48 AM  
Quasi-related question I posed to a co-worker today...

"If I see a furrie in public, and I kick it in the head; is that a "hate crime?"
 
swahnhennessy
2006-02-24 4:38:06 AM  
SouthernFriedYankee: Oprah, Dr. Phil, Hillary: Leftists.

I wasted an hour once watching Doctor Phil berate two women for speaking out against the administration when the Iraq War started. Everything they said that he took offense at has been proven true. But since Hillary also supports Iraq, I guess what you consider a leftist is pretty lame.
 
You're a Mean Drunk R2D2
2006-02-24 4:43:14 AM  
We must provide a safe place in school for children. This means putting harassers and bullies on notice that they must change their behavior or be removed from the classroom.

No we musn't. The world isn't a safe place. In addition to learning math, kids need to learn to deal with reality. Sometimes there are jerks in the world.
 
Juansmith
2006-02-24 4:44:39 AM  
I remember when playgrounds used to be taller than 5 feet too.

I mean, you could actually get hurt falling off them, once upon a time.

These poor kids today...
 
RedSawyer90
2006-02-24 4:47:18 AM  
blahpers

hell, he's catching red snapper with his bare hands

Red Snapper....very tasty!

/Wheel...of...Fish!
//sorry, lack of sleep due to flu
 
ChickenFriedMonkey
2006-02-24 4:47:59 AM  
The new phrase is "vaginification of America". Why do you hate female genitalia?

My God that's offensive. Don't you know that that's been replaced by the phrase "Patriotic Genital Acquiescence"?
 
d43pan
2006-02-24 4:57:13 AM  
Who's got a link to this kid on the sex offender's list? I want to go stand outside his house and tell him about Jesus.

Jesus died for this kid's right to tease girls.

Who's with me? Or are you a Communist?
 
Todesritter
2006-02-24 5:10:02 AM  
Where is the homosexual bear reference ... anyone?

At least non sequitur posts about gay bears don't even attempt to be cloaked in the guise of serious thought on the subject of the thread.

Can we up the stupid factor a bit further with some more liberal vs. conservative rhetoric? ;-)
 
jgrynspan
2006-02-24 5:10:22 AM  
ChickenFriedMonkey

What's wrong with you, talking about socio-economic gonadal re-formulation with such language?

/I think I sprained something
//time for sleepy
///SLASH ATTACK
 
blahpers
2006-02-24 5:14:16 AM  
ChickenFriedMonkey: My God that's offensive. Don't you know that that's been replaced by the phrase "Patriotic Genital Acquiescence"?

I find that phrase offensive to eunuchs everywhere.
 
ToiletHorse
2006-02-24 5:19:08 AM  
You're a Mean Drunk R2D2

The world isn't a safe place. In addition to learning math, kids need to learn to deal with reality. Sometimes there are jerks in the world.

We've got arsonists, rapists, necrophiliacs, and murderers, too. You want, after fourth grade, we should gather all the kiddies up, kill 'em, and fark their little bodies before putting them to the flame? Come on. "Other people do bad things so we might as well" isn't a defense or a logical argument. It's not like there's a vaccine for violence, repeated low-dose exposure doesn't make you immune.
 
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