(no subject)
Maybe I'm missing something but isn't 'ignorance of the law does not make you exempt from it' supposed to be taken literally? How exactly is it that people can get reduced or omitted sentences for having mental handicaps? How is an unawareness or inability to process right from wrong supposed to be any better than a flagrant disregard for authority or human feelings? I would no sooner want one walking the streets over the other.
If you can't rightfully punish the crazies, then at least pass the sentence off to the blokes in charge of holding their leashes in the first place. Parents, caretakers, whatever. Conditions like Asperger's aren't exactly easy to hide, and if your child has it and spends his or her days tapping right along online then it is your responsibility to at least monitor and keep track of what the hell they doing.
I'd actually go so far as to say it is the parent's responsibility to know what their children are doing online no matter how apparently stable. This is usually where people scoff or guffaw about the futility of such an endeavor, especially in the times where the average 10 year old is more tech savvy than the NASA astronauts. But it is no less their responsibility and duty to society to make sure their kids are going to be part of the solution and not adding to the problem.
If this seems random or unfocused, this is the link that set me off:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20074348-83/ryan-cleary-alleged-hacker-has-aspergers-lawyer-says/
Malicious hacking activities should be treated as cyber terrorism, and the punishments should rain down like hails of arrows. Credit card numbers and identity theft aside, taking down a web site for no purpose other than amusement or a self-righteous sense that that company has wronged you in some way is an obvious sign that the person should be locked away from the rest of humanity. Taking the enjoyment away from others while gaining nothing of concrete worth is pure insanity.
Theft, murder, etc. are all obviously wrong. But say someone broke into your house and moved all your shit around. Didn't take anything, just caused a major annoyance. Most wouldn't out that in the same league as the first list of crimes, but personally I see them as worse in some ways. Major crimes usually have clear motives and can be committed by the sane. Mischief and mayhem (chaos) has no clear purpose and only serves to ruin things. It is a danger that cannot be avoided or prepared for. Chaos keeps people afraid of the unknown and that in itself leads to disaster.
If you can't rightfully punish the crazies, then at least pass the sentence off to the blokes in charge of holding their leashes in the first place. Parents, caretakers, whatever. Conditions like Asperger's aren't exactly easy to hide, and if your child has it and spends his or her days tapping right along online then it is your responsibility to at least monitor and keep track of what the hell they doing.
I'd actually go so far as to say it is the parent's responsibility to know what their children are doing online no matter how apparently stable. This is usually where people scoff or guffaw about the futility of such an endeavor, especially in the times where the average 10 year old is more tech savvy than the NASA astronauts. But it is no less their responsibility and duty to society to make sure their kids are going to be part of the solution and not adding to the problem.
If this seems random or unfocused, this is the link that set me off:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20074348-83/ryan-cleary-alleged-hacker-has-aspergers-lawyer-says/
Malicious hacking activities should be treated as cyber terrorism, and the punishments should rain down like hails of arrows. Credit card numbers and identity theft aside, taking down a web site for no purpose other than amusement or a self-righteous sense that that company has wronged you in some way is an obvious sign that the person should be locked away from the rest of humanity. Taking the enjoyment away from others while gaining nothing of concrete worth is pure insanity.
Theft, murder, etc. are all obviously wrong. But say someone broke into your house and moved all your shit around. Didn't take anything, just caused a major annoyance. Most wouldn't out that in the same league as the first list of crimes, but personally I see them as worse in some ways. Major crimes usually have clear motives and can be committed by the sane. Mischief and mayhem (chaos) has no clear purpose and only serves to ruin things. It is a danger that cannot be avoided or prepared for. Chaos keeps people afraid of the unknown and that in itself leads to disaster.