Neighbor: Fire-starting boy a 'good kid'

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

When my Dad was ten he was playing with matches and set fire to a small field in Wales, UK. Luckily the fire engines were able to put it out and he was never caught (lucky for him I mean, his Dad would have whipped his #######), but my Dad certainly isn't a degenerate nor has he psychological problems. He was just a naughty kid, he had no malicious intent to burn down a field. I'm sure this boy is exactly the same.

I guess those that would tar and feather the kid were perfect children....

I sure did not set any fires that had the potential to take innocent life and destroy property on a wide scale. If that's what you mean by perfect, then yes, I was

is just easy to jugde someone else...

It is. And I wonder how honest Jodo is being here. Did he/she really not do anything stupid as a kid that had the potential for being life-threatening or get dangerously out of hand? A lot of kids have an unhealthy fascination with fire, or (for another example) putting things in the road for cars to run over.

Whether or not those antics cause a disaster isn't really the point. The actions were still stupid, still negligent and could easily have ended up getting out of hand.

The difference here is that in addition to being stupid, this kid had bad luck.

UMM no I did not and you don't have to wonder. I did nothing even near that scale, TYVM. Just because some kids are up and coming arsonists, does not mean I was or that all are.

I didn't say you were - just that I think most people can find at at least one incident in their childhood and draw a parallel to this where an irresponsible act could have resulted in death or injury - to themselves or other people.

Whether it was near that scale or not isn't the point - you (and I) did what we did, and luckily for us we didn't cause a disaster.

I did not do things like that. I see now that my parents really watched what I did and who I was with and I thank them for it. I don't have any wild stories about the time I burned down the neighbor's barn. I just cannot relate and I think this kid and his parents need to have consequences. It's like some people think anything goes these days just because the criminal is a kid. I think that is leading our society down a deadend. As a former lawyer, I do believe that mercy should be tinged with justice,but he needs to be punished and the parents at least charged with negligent supervision.

I didn't burn down a neigbours barn either, nor did I throw rocks through windows.

I do however remember friends and I setting fire to refuse on scrubland, and knocking glass bottles and small stones off of a public footbridge.

Again - stupid things. However, we didn't cause a car crash or major fire. The potential was there however - and I can certainly see how things could have easily spiralled out of control. In mine (and I'd suggest in most cases) this does not happen - for this kid it did. "Trouble with the neighbours" aside - the only thing that separating this kid from a lot of others is merely dumb luck.

[Sister Fracas 5]

No one knows very much about either the kid, the parents or the events, and yet some are almost ready to lynch the kid and his parents.

Agreed with those who say that most of us have been in a situation as kids that 'but for...' could have ended in some kind of disaster. For those who think they are saints, well...what can one say about that?

not much TO say when you are up against a saint...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No one knows very much about either the kid, the parents or the events, and yet some are almost ready to lynch the kid and his parents.

Agreed with those who say that most of us have been in a situation as kids that 'but for...' could have ended in some kind of disaster. For those who think they are saints, well...what can one say about that?

not much TO say when you are up against a saint...

Well as far as Saints go - its not just about good deeds - its about having empathy and compassion for others. One or the other often tends to be absent.

[Peikko 1,575]

Or saintly parents?

I will say this, I have one brother. We were brought up in exactly the same way. My brother never got into trouble, I was never out of it (in a normal 'kid trouble' kind of way, nothing criminal). Were my parents great or #######?

[no name 1]

Growing up in SoCal, you are well aware of the annual fire season. We have red flag warnings daily on the newscasts.

He's 10, not a clueless 5 year old. He should def. be punished.

Edited November 2, 2007 by devilette

[Peikko 1,575]

Punished by law?

You know for sure this kid was brought up in SoCal?

[Mags 112]

When my Dad was ten he was playing with matches and set fire to a small field in Wales, UK. Luckily the fire engines were able to put it out and he was never caught (lucky for him I mean, his Dad would have whipped his #######), but my Dad certainly isn't a degenerate nor has he psychological problems. He was just a naughty kid, he had no malicious intent to burn down a field. I'm sure this boy is exactly the same.

your dad's last name wasn't llosgi was it?

No!

I do think more should be done than "just let him live with his bad choices" though. If the parents can't keep him in line, maybe they need some help. From the sounds of it he has a lot of problems with his neighbors. He does deserve a second chance, he's not evil or anything, but something needs to be done by adults to make sure he gets some sort of direction and help.

Definitely and I'd think maybe a bit of community work in the fire ravaged area to see the consequences. Nip further anti-social behavior in the bud....

Absolutely, that would be the best way to make him see (and hopefully understand) the consequences of his actions.

I just want to add that we know virtually nothing about his home life, nor his personality, but some people here are judging him when they really don't know have all the facts. Just saying.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Or saintly parents?

I will say this, I have one brother. We were brought up in exactly the same way. My brother never got into trouble, I was never out of it (in a normal 'kid trouble' kind of way, nothing criminal). Were my parents great or #######?

ooo so you was a bad girl

[no name 1]

You know for sure this kid was brought up in SoCal?

Why no I don't. BUT HE LIVES HERE NOW, doesn't he? That is considered 'growing up' aka 'home'....

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

When my Dad was ten he was playing with matches and set fire to a small field in Wales, UK. Luckily the fire engines were able to put it out and he was never caught (lucky for him I mean, his Dad would have whipped his #######), but my Dad certainly isn't a degenerate nor has he psychological problems. He was just a naughty kid, he had no malicious intent to burn down a field. I'm sure this boy is exactly the same.

your dad's last name wasn't llosgi was it?

No!

so that online translator i found did work right

[Peikko 1,575]

I was a normal kid...I think it was my brother who was abnormal

[Mags 112]

When my Dad was ten he was playing with matches and set fire to a small field in Wales, UK. Luckily the fire engines were able to put it out and he was never caught (lucky for him I mean, his Dad would have whipped his #######), but my Dad certainly isn't a degenerate nor has he psychological problems. He was just a naughty kid, he had no malicious intent to burn down a field. I'm sure this boy is exactly the same.

your dad's last name wasn't llosgi was it?

No!

so that online translator i found did work right

Well, I presume so, I might have a Welsh name but I'm about as Welsh as haggis. So, not Welsh. At all.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

When my Dad was ten he was playing with matches and set fire to a small field in Wales, UK. Luckily the fire engines were able to put it out and he was never caught (lucky for him I mean, his Dad would have whipped his #######), but my Dad certainly isn't a degenerate nor has he psychological problems. He was just a naughty kid, he had no malicious intent to burn down a field. I'm sure this boy is exactly the same.

your dad's last name wasn't llosgi was it?

No!

so that online translator i found did work right

Well, I presume so, I might have a Welsh name but I'm about as Welsh as haggis. So, not Welsh. At all.

ah i'll have to wait for the cookie to translate that for ya

[Sister Fracas 5]

I do think more should be done than "just let him live with his bad choices" though. If the parents can't keep him in line, maybe they need some help. From the sounds of it he has a lot of problems with his neighbors. He does deserve a second chance, he's not evil or anything, but something needs to be done by adults to make sure he gets some sort of direction and help.

Definitely and I'd think maybe a bit of community work in the fire ravaged area to see the consequences. Nip further anti-social behavior in the bud....

Absolutely, that would be the best way to make him see (and hopefully understand) the consequences of his actions.

I just want to add that we know virtually nothing about his home life, nor his personality, but some people here are judging him when they really don't know have all the facts. Just saying.

indeed

I was a normal kid...I think it was my brother who was abnormal

hahaha if he was perfect...yeah, he was abnormal.. LOL

[Mags 112]

When my Dad was ten he was playing with matches and set fire to a small field in Wales, UK. Luckily the fire engines were able to put it out and he was never caught (lucky for him I mean, his Dad would have whipped his #######), but my Dad certainly isn't a degenerate nor has he psychological problems. He was just a naughty kid, he had no malicious intent to burn down a field. I'm sure this boy is exactly the same.

your dad's last name wasn't llosgi was it?

No!

so that online translator i found did work right

Well, I presume so, I might have a Welsh name but I'm about as Welsh as haggis. So, not Welsh. At all.

ah i'll have to wait for the cookie to translate that for ya

Oh I looked it up myself, it means "to burn" or something similar!