I am BCGuy and I approve this message

[bcguy]

Some kids are just out of control. Hopefully this makes a example of this kid so she learns some responsibility.

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

[Smudge]

Maybe it will but - it is also likely to make her the brunt of much bullying! And as someone who spent many years on the receiving end of bullies and dealing with the long term of effects of bullying I think it is wrong to do something that will lead to a child being bullied - I am sure there are/were other ways help her take responsibility for her actions!

[slamjet]

Nope, not going to work. Send her to a "scared straight" program. That would do it.

[Backroads]

I gotta say: I like it.

[Backroads]

Probably. As much as her parents want to avoid it, the best solution might just be letting her get arrested at some point.

[Sister_N]

I can see why they think the idea would work, however it is not something I would do to a child.

There is a fine line at which tough love becomes detrimental to a youths upbringing.

When we live in country's that have free speech and allow parents to parent in whatever way they choose fit (as long as it does not harm the child, which the Police decided this did not) then we have to expect extremes on parenting methods.

[Backroads]

I don't see where it would necessarily improve this girls' behavior, but I still have to applaud these parents. I'm still thinking "awesome".

[norah63]

It's a 'sign' of the times. Sorry to say.

Morals are not a topic that is well recieved in most places.

Would not give the free advertisement if I were the parents.

[Vort]

I think it will be counterproductive. I sympathize with the parents, but intentional public humiliation of your teenage child probably will not be effective, at least not in the way you want it to be.

[dahlia]

Get rid of the boys and get her mind right in a girl's school. A scared straight program sounds good too. Dr Laura had a good idea for wayward teens - strip their room so they only have a bed and a desk, take all their clothes except for the minimum necessary to go to school and church, take the video games and computer. In some cases, you may have to take the door off of the hinge.

I don't think you need to do this for the first one or two mistakes, but continued willfulness and behavior that could get her pregnant, killed, or involved in a crime (anyone watch I.D. tv these days?), deserves a lot of attention and strict discipline. Nip it, nip it in the bud.

On a shallow note - I love the color of the mother's hair.

[HoosierGuy]

The dad looks like a thug with that skull cap he's wearing. Only in Florida...

[pam]

I laugh because that statement is so idiotic.

[pam]

The dad looks like a thug with that skull cap he's wearing. Only in Florida...

We have a lot of thugs in Utah then, because that style of hat is popular. I even have one very similar. Am I a thug then?

[selek]

Reading over this thread, I find myself with only one thing to ask of the wagging fingers (and tongues) clucking ruefully at the parents: how eagerly would you be stampeding to excoriate the parents had this poor, innocent, abused little lamb had gotten knocked up at age fifteen?

Don't bother answering- we both know the truth.

None of you self-proclaimed sages know the full story.

None of you self-anointed oracles know the steps these parents have taken beforehand, nor the anguish they have suffered as their daughter flirts with her own destruction.

None of you know this child well enough to offer genuine insights into how to help her.

None of you has bothered to step up and actually do the heavy lifting of taking care of this child...

...but you're more than happy to condemn these people based on a 30 second clip straight from the sphincter of Babylon.

Do any of you oh-so-pious-advisors really think this is actually an unbiased piece offering a fair assessment of the situation and the parents desperation?

Did any one you bottomless fountains of inexhaustible wisdom and overflowing compassion notice the CNN anchorette bodily blocking the sign and running interference for the daughter?

If that's not a silent editorial on her thoughts on the matter, what would be?

I was once asked what my greatest flaw was: I replied "that I did not deal with fools easily."

Apparently I have an even bigger problem with sanctimonious gossips and fallow hyprocrites.

Edited November 24, 2012 by selek

[pam]

Selek...why don't you tell us how you really feel. :)

[selek]

Selek...why don't you tell us how you really feel. :)

Uh.....because this is a G-rated board?

It just really torques me that so many people are beside themselves at the thought of "damaging" this poor innocent's self esteem...

...but no one seems to give a tinker's @#$% about the damage she may be doing herself.

I can't recall the statistic off the top of my head, but I recall reading that something like 1 in 4 young women in this country have had at least one STD by the time they're twenty.

Every single one of those statistics is someone's little girl.

Every single one of those statistics is a daughter of God.

And that doesn't begin to address the psychological and physical scars, nor the consequences of abortion, out-of-wedlock births, poverty, and domestic violence that so often attend underage (and out-of-wedlock) sex .

Far, far too many of us are willing to chalk up those little girls' tragedies as "these things happen".

No.

They don't.

We as a society permit them to happen when we turn our backs on the hard work of parenting and soften the hard lines of acceptability out of convenience, venal self-interest, or embarrassment.

Right, wrong, or indifferent- these parents are at least stepping up and trying to make a difference in their daughter's life.

Can any of their critics say the same?

Edited November 24, 2012 by selek

[pam]

Personally I feel for the parents. Having had my own struggles with my own son over the years only to have him end up spending almost 10 months in jail this year. You get to a point where you don't know what else to do.

[Vort]

I was once asked what my greatest flaw was: I replied "that I did not deal with fools easily."

It is honest and insightful of you to be able to acknowledge such deep personal moral hypocrisy. Not sure I would be willing publicly to admit to it.

As for your outrage over the judgmental attitude of others: It's a discussion list. People throw up* opinions readily. I think you may be overreading the reactions. People here seem to be agreeing or disagreeing with the parents' actions, not questioning the parents' fitness.

*Vomit double entendre intended.

[Vort]

Right, wrong, or indifferent- these parents are at least stepping up and trying to make a difference in their daughter's life.

Can any of their critics say the same?

As one of those critics, I can assure you that yes, we are indeed "stepping up and trying to make a difference in [our] daughter's life."

Criticism of specific parenting actions or techniques is not condemnation of the parents. Indeed, most of those on this thread who disagree with the parents' actions expressed sympathy for the parents. Again, I think you are overreading the reactions, by which I mean I think you're reading into them what you dislike.

[prisonchaplain]

Reading over this thread, I find myself with only one thing to ask of the wagging fingers (and tongues) clucking ruefully at the parents: how eagerly would you be stampeding to excoriate the parents had this poor, innocent, abused little lamb had gotten knocked up at age fifteen?

I read through the same thread, and 80-90% agree with you. Yet you unload your fury on those that wonder aloud if it will work, or question whether this public humiliation might lead schoolmates to bully her? You're right that we don't know the story, and the parents may have gone through all sorts of anguish trying to do the right thing. However, only one post really seemed to disparage the parents (condemning as...gasp...Floridians).

This kind of string calls for off-hand comments on how this kind of punishment might work. It is generic by nature. I confess that I find myself skeptical of "Get the kids compliant quick" schemes. Sometimes shaking things up may bring order. Usually it must further exasperates the mess.

Edited November 25, 2012 by prisonchaplain

[bcguy]

the word shame and lack of respect have been lacking in teens for a long time. This other video is also a classic. Love it and the daughter is still defiant :)

daughters response

THE ORIGINAL Daughter Responds To Father Shooting her laptop - YouTube

In japan, teens never go this far to disrespect there parents or shame them. Its inbred in there culture. This is partly why Japanese cars are built so well because the engineers are shamed if they fail during test.

[Bini]

Well it's no secret that some cultures and countries hold discipline and family honour higher up the totem pole than we do here in the United States, overall.

[selek]

As one of those critics, I can assure you that yes, we are indeed "stepping up and trying to make a difference in [our] daughter's life."

In other words, NO- you don't know this family, nor have you tried to help them.

Criticism of specific parenting actions or techniques is not condemnation of the parents.

No- they are not, but that's not the behavior I am addressing.

Accusing the parents of lining their children up for bullying (without any specifics on how they are doing so) is not a "criticism of specfic parenting action or techniques", it is a specious charge made for emotional impact.

It is demogoguery, not reason.

Charges that the parents look/act like thugs is not a "criticism of specfic parenting action or techniques", it is a personal attack based on superficial appearances.

Running interference (and blocking the sign) for the daughter, accusing the parents of emotional abuse, and trying to delegitimize their role and responsibility as parents is not a "criticism of specfic parenting action or techniques", it is an attempt to undermine that authority.

None of the alleged wrongs of which the parents are being accused is being compared to the harm they are trying to prevent.

The shallow and tendentious criticims being vomited up against the parents do nothing to address the very real dangers this child is already facing- and will continue to face if corrective action is not taken.

That isn't reasoned discourse. It's short-sighted and one-sided demagoguery.

You accused me of reading my own biases into the thread- but have said nothing about others doing the same thing.

Setting aside the conspicuously absent reasoning behind the accusation that the parents are setting the child up for "bullying", that particular critic offered no alternatives- only condemnation.

That poster made no attempt to address what happens if the parents don't correct her actions.

Hmmm- which is worse: being teased because she has parents who are actively engaged and attentive?

Or years of unwanted advances and sexual harassment because of a reputation as the town bicycle?

Which, ultimately, will do this child more harm: the (temporary) public humiliation being meted out by her parents or the (false) idea that she can act with impunity and avoid unpleasant consequences if she just bats her eyes and plays the victim card?

Which, ultimately, will be more corrosive to her soul?

Indeed, most of those on this thread who disagree with the parents' actions expressed sympathy for the parents.

Nor was I talking about those folks. I have no problem with rationale disagreement or reasoned questions the wisdom/efficacy of the tactic itself.

But specious charges, superficial allegations, and condescending clucks from a high rameumptom do not qualify.

Active interference in the parents action (the reporter and the station in particular) are right out.

In both natural law and in the Christ-specified family order, it is the parents' responsibility (before anyone else's) to see that their daughter is brought up righteously.

Back fence gossips, leftist social crusaders, and holier-than-thou rameumptom sitters are not interested in actually making a difference in this child's life- but only in exploiting her to advance their own agenda.

Again, I think you are overreading the reactions, by which I mean I think you're reading into them what you dislike.

That is distinctly possible- but I can at least articulate my criticisms and explain my reasoning.

Thus far- the people I've called out have yet to demonstrate the same ability.