|
August 25, 2006
At least he didn't use the "P" word!
Another never-ending source of amazement for me is the nature of some of the lawsuits that manage to get filed in court. Via an email, I see that a litigious Pennsylvania woman has recently sued a boy for making the meow sound at her: JEANNETTE, Pa. (Aug. 23) - Meow. A district judge has been asked to decide whether that word is a harmless taunt or grounds for misdemeanor harassment. Jeannette police charged a 14-year-old boy for "meowing" whenever he sees his neighbor, 78-year-old Alexandria Carasia.Well, ain't that the cat's meow? The boy's defense attorney says the suit never should have been filed, and while he's right, since when does being right matter? The problem is, anything can now be considered offensive, on any number of grounds. I wouldn't want to try oinking at people with certain religious, um, sensibilities. And hog-calling on an airplane might really create trouble. Personally, I think if all humor were made illegal, we'd have a funnier world. posted by Eric on 08.25.06 at 11:20 AM
Comments
I'm siding with Carasia. I was the target of verbal assault as a kid, and I've known verbal assault as an adult. As the old saying goes, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can drive you to suicide." There's a lot missing from the story. Why did the family get rid of the cat? Was it a demand Carasia made, or something they did on their own? What else did the kid do? how far back does the animosity go? Sounds to me like three parties - old woman, family, and newspaper - mishandled things. The cat was the only innocent in the affair. But, what all Carasia did does not, in any way, excuse or justify the boy's behavior. I recommend that the boy's father be taken away and beaten to a bloody pulp. Then shown to his son and the boy told, "The next time you fuck up kid, your dad will die." Alan Kellogg · August 25, 2006 10:17 PM Alan-Seriously? For "meow"ing at an old lady? Seriously? Jon Thompson · August 26, 2006 12:05 AM Alan-I'm impressed. Usually, I'm the one people think of as being too harsh. Jon Thompson · August 26, 2006 12:05 AM Interpersonal insults happen all the time. Whether it's people give each other the finger for being cut off in traffic or some impertinent brat mouthing off to an adult (like the kid here, although I don't know the details.) For all we know, the woman had an unreasonable hatred of cats. So what? My point is that none of this stuff belongs in court. People are suing for entirely frivolous reasons, and it's getting worse. The fact that they're trying to make a criminal charge of this is even crazier. I don't see what the age of the kid has to do with it. If meowing can be construed as criminally offensive, then what isn't? What factor determines what is harassment, anyway? The feelings of the harassed? Anything could be seen as harassment. (Including repeated and annoying displays of aborted fetuses, or pig pictures.) Eric Scheie · August 26, 2006 08:07 AM to the old lady:
cry a little bit why don't ya Robin · August 26, 2006 04:01 PM |
|
December 2006
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
December 2006
November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
Holiday Blogging
The right to be irrational? I'm cool with the passion fashion Climate change meltdown at the polls? If you're wrong, then so is God? Have a nice day, asshole! Scarlet "R"? Consuming power while empowering consumption Shrinking is growth! My dirty thoughts
Links
Site Credits
|
|
Hey, meow.