If you want to see chaotic evil in real life...

[Piratecat]

when I wrote a similar sheet for a pet owner's newspaper a few years back I called the local animal control for advice on that sort of thing and their general take was "If it does happen its very rare, and why give anyone any ideas?"

Actually, KB, this is a very common practice with non-pets -- roosters and the occasional goat -- around Jamaica Pond in Roxbury and JP. My buddy was a mounted park ranger there, and he used to run across voodoo animal sacrifices almost every weekend.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

However, the most likely scenario is the one most of the posters to this thread have surmised - that the children have not been properly parented.
While the parents should consider therapy and education in correcting their children's behavior, IMHO they need to first implement an old-fashioned parental solution, no matter how much it may have fallen out of favor.

In short, these brats need to get there a***s whipped, but good!

In respect to our hardworking moderaters, I will try to avoid sarcasm or other personal responses. However, it occurs to me that an authority figure showing that the right of a social/familial/legal superior is to inflict physical pain on their 'inferiors' might be unlikely to teach someone that they should not hurt homeless animals. I also doubt that comparing these kid's upbringing to those who have empathy and consideration will show the presence of corperal punishment as the defining factor of "proper parenting."

There are often good reasons for old fashioned techniques to "fall out of favor".

Kahuna Burger

 

[Old Fart]

In respect to our hardworking moderaters, I will try to avoid sarcasm or other personal responses. Kahuna Burger

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I greatly appreciate that.

However, it occurs to me that an authority figure showing that the right of a social/familial/legal superior is to inflict physical pain on their 'inferiors' might be unlikely to teach someone that they should not hurt homeless animals. Kahuna Burger

I find it interesting that after you started this thread, calling the behavior of the perpetrators the definition of Chaotic Evil, out of all suggested punishments (public caning, execution, eye-for-an-eye, etc.) this is the one you felt the need to respond to.
What I really meant was that I agree with those who feel the persons who committed this act should be punished. However, I think it is the responsibility of the parent, rather than society or some governmental branch therof, to carry out said punishment.

I also doubt that comparing these kid's upbringing to those who have empathy and consideration will show the presence of corperal punishment as the defining factor of "proper parenting." Kahuna Burger

I agree with you that corporal punishment is not a defining factor of proper parenting. Please notice I also recommended therapy and education.

That being said, the children I was using as anecdotal examples of compassion and empathy had parents who believe in corporal punishment. However, the parents in questions were also attentive and responsible - I think this is the real reason the children behave in the way they do. My point is while I certainly would never think corporal punishiment is neccessary for proper parenting, I also do not think they are mutually exclusive.

There are often good reasons for old fashioned techniques to "fall out of favor". Kahuna Burger

I understand your sentiment. On the other hand, I'm nostalgic for the days when a child had better odds of getting a spanking in school than getting shot.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I find it interesting that after you started this thread, calling the behavior of the perpetrators the definition of Chaotic Evil, out of all suggested punishments (public caning, execution, eye-for-an-eye, etc.) this is the one you felt the need to respond to.

I wondered if that would be an issue and considered adressing the potential perception of that in my post, but I wanted to say my peice and move on. To clarify, I'm up for a good revenge fantasy as much as the next righteously indignant pet lover. What I would like on many levels to see done goes far beyond a whupping and into disturbing ideas involving fireworks, a small knife and these punk's scrotums. However, in adressing th real world problems, I've stated in another post that I know very well that those are just fantasies and not how I would want the society I live in to work. I have, properly or not, taken most of the more angry suggestions made on this thread in the same light - as seperate from the smaller, more serious discussion of the implications of this sort of action.

The reason that I responded to your comment was that it was integrated into a more serious discussion of the real world aspect - parenting, prevention, possibilities for therapy, etc. So you could say that I responded to you because I was taking you seriously, as someone talking about the issue in real world terms. If I had percieved it as just a bit of venting thrown in at the end, I would have been less likely to respond as I did.

That said, while I'm not completely inclined to universally condem physical dicipline, I am very wary of the fact that its sometimes (often? depends on the parents) as much an exercise in the parent's frustration as an honest attempt to teach the child anything. Not all spanking contributes to dicipline and a lack of spanking does not automaticly indicate a lack of dicipline. Thus I am sensitive to the two being conflated.

Kahuna Burger

 

[Piratecat]

I think we're probably about done. My moderator powers are tingling -- wait, sorry, I just hit my funnybone -- and I'd rather finish off the thread while we're still roughly on topic. Parenting and punishment are emotional topics best suited for other venues.

Thanks for keeping the disagreement and discussion polite.