Not exactly gaming-related, but I was stunned when I read this article:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,369044,00.html
A Canadian court has overturned a father's punishment for his daughter after she refused to stay off the Internet, his attorney said Wednesday.
The girl, 12, took her father to Quebec Superior Court after he refused to allow her to go on a school trip for chatting on Web sites and then posting "inappropriate" pictures of herself online using a friend's computer, AFP reported.
The punishment was for the girl's "own protection," according to the father's attorney, Kim Beaudoin, who is appealing the ruling.
"She's a child," Beaudoin told AFP. "At her age, children test their limits and it's up to their parent to set boundaries. I started an appeal of the decision today to reestablish parental
authority, and to ensure that this case doesn't set a precedent."
Otherwise, she continued, "Parents are going to be walking on egg shells from now on."
According to court documents, the girl's Internet usage was the latest in a rash of disciplinary problems. But Justice Suzanne Tessier, who was presiding over the case, found the punishment too severe.
"Small service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun." -------William Wordsworth
This actually made me feel sick to my stomach. Thank goodness it was in Canada. It makes me wonder what this world is coming to. She's only 12 years old and she can't be given a restriction type punishment? I think the judges should be tried and convicted of using poor judgment.
As somebody who lives in Canada, I was not only surprised and disgusted at the decision, but also a bit embarrassed that somebody who is at the level of a superior court judge could exercise such apparently poor judgment. As a minor, the school would normally need to get the parental consent for her to go on the field trip. As far as I know, the parents don't have to give their consent or even give any reason for their decision, much less have a judge telling them what to do in that regard. That is one reason why I found that decision to be so surprising. Although I am not a parent myself and I live in British Columbia, I do have a very good friend and a younger brother who both live in Montreal, Quebec and who have 2 children each. As such, I have some concerns about how this might affect them and will probably let them know about it once the final decision is in. Note that the Quebec legal system has some relatively unique aspects to it resulting from their emulating the court systems in France. I am not sure to what extent, if any, that affected the decision but it may have been a factor. However, fortunately, they are appealing the decision and I have found that the higher level judges seem to make better judgments on the whole.
- John O.
[em]Carpe Diem![/em] (Seize the Day!)
I'm in Ontario. I just shrug my shoulders and say, "hmm, Quebec..."
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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This has got to be one of the stupidest things I have EVER heard. I bet the judge does not have kids !
" ... don't question it just go" "... where the body goes the mind will follow"
.
Borrowed from "Desire to Stop"
better title for it: "Snooty kid takes parent to court and gets away with it"
If you play video games, turn them off once in a while and rejoin life. Some of us here like you, don't ask me why.
Dumb, de, dumb, dumb...
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
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