Some people are miserable bastards and deserve to be shot.

[udsuna]

Disturbing... and the sick thing is, you probably couldn't stick a higher charge on them. But, at the same time, a jury is twelve "peers"... in this case, I think it should be twelve PARENTS... and they'd probably convict on emotion, not the case. I know what my feelings would be: "Can I be the one to inject the needle?"

Then again, I'm American. I don't actually know how the German system works.

[fire_of_avalon]

This is an issue with so many areas to look at. I think deep down, what worries me the most is the fact that the parents could claim that they were unaware of what they were doing, perhaps blaming it on alcohol, and COULD actually pull it off because we've become a society that is scared of putting responsibility for people's actions on people. We'd rather blame some sort of external problem such as alcoholism than the parents because it's somehow easier on our conscience.

Just to be clear, one of the first things that's taught in substance abuse classes is that while you MAY have a problem outside yourself that other people don't understand, and while this problem MAY be very difficult to control, it is controllable. In other words, just because you're an alcoholic doesn't mean you don't have a choice, and doesn't mean you're unaware of that choice. In other words, throwing you hands in the air and saying "I can't help it! I'm an alcoholic." doesn't get you very far, legally speaking. Because there's always help, if you choose to take it.

So I think the only way their apparent alcoholism would factor into a case such as this would be to even further prove their irresponsibility. While that DOES serve as a blow to recovering alcoholics the world over, and to the view of alcoholism as a legitimate physical condition, it's nothing but the truth.

[DMKA]

That's just smurfing horrible.

[Sasquatch]

Just to be clear, one of the first things that's taught in substance abuse classes is that while you MAY have a problem outside yourself that other people don't understand, and while this problem MAY be very difficult to control, it is controllable. In other words, just because you're an alcoholic doesn't mean you don't have a choice, and doesn't mean you're unaware of that choice. In other words, throwing you hands in the air and saying "I can't help it! I'm an alcoholic." doesn't get you very far, legally speaking. Because there's always help, if you choose to take it.

So I think the only way their apparent alcoholism would factor into a case such as this would be to even further prove their irresponsibility. While that DOES serve as a blow to recovering alcoholics the world over, and to the view of alcoholism as a legitimate physical condition, it's nothing but the truth.

I agree. All too often things like alcoholism are considered a disability, or a handicap. Even by law. It's the "we-can't-offend-people" attitude that's so popular in this country. Again, however, this happened in Germany, so I don't know how it'll be dealt with, and I don't know much about their court systems.

[DMKA]

It's the "we-can't-offend-people" attitude that's so popular in this country.

And when did this start? O_o

[Casey]

That's just depressing.

[nik0tine]

I can't imagine being in so much pain that I would have to eat my own hair, or my carpet. This is the first time in a long time where I actually feel that these parents should be punished for the sole purpose of being punished. The fact that this happens is not okay.

This has pretty much ruined my mood...

[Rye]

I can't imagine being in so much pain that I would have to eat my own hair, or my carpet. This is the first time in a long time where I actually feel that these parents should be punished for the sole purpose of being punished. The fact that this happens is not okay.

This has pretty much ruined my mood...

[Jojee]

That is awful.

[mike without a hat]

i didnt know it was possible for a person to survive 5 years without food
that terrible

[DarkLadyNyara]

I know what my feelings would be: "Can I be the one to inject the needle?"

Forget the needle. Lethal injection is too good for them. Stoning, anyone?

[Martyr]

I like not knowing about these things. Isn't it much nicer to just be the bad guy. That way you don't really have anything to cpmplain about.

[Old Manus]

People like that shouldn't be allowed to live.

[udsuna]

Forget the needle. Lethal injection is too good for them. Stoning, anyone?

I'm still up for the needle. How about we compromise and fill the needle with pulp-free orange juice? It'd kill, eventually....

[Laguna]

That's sick. I mean it, not as in kind of disgusting but actually morally wrong. How can people treat anyone like that, let alone their own child? Im not sure if I should cry or be angry.