-
Snatching a phone or bike and riding off because you're poor is "fine" - no one is really hurt aside from financially, and if I had to have a proper crime committed against me, an involuntary donation of a few hundred pounds (i.e. my phone) to a non-violent poor person is about the best one I could pick.
However, disfiguring someone with acid shows a level of callousness and sadism that means you aren't safe to be around other people, and no one should be attempting to excuse behaviour like that. A lack of opportunities doesn't give you the right to ruin someone else's life forever.
frankenbike-
Completely disagree with the first bit, but agree with the second bit- either these people somehow don't understand the consequences (despite everything in the news), or are displaying literally psychopathic behaviour.
-
Did you just say it's OK for someone to steal my bike or phone because they don't have one?
-
They're not stealing a loaf of bread to survive. They're stealing things that not everybody can afford to replace, to benefit themselves and line their pockets. They can fuck off, its not fine whatsoever.
-
Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning either scenario - I think it's wrong to snatch phones or bikes or anything and then ride off, and I particularly think it's wrong to throw acid at someone else or injure them in anyway.
What I am saying is that prevention is better cure. That is, I think in the bigger picture, it would be better to focus energies on trying to improve the lot of everyone so that some people are not tempted into doing these acts in the first place. And the way to do that, I think, is not by increasing punishment ("afterwards") but by trying to find opportunities ("beforehand").
abr
finger_jockey
PhilDAS
d0cA
Oliver Schick:
Surely this whole thread is focussed on the wrong premise: that increased legislation stops crime?
I'd like to suggest that perhaps, if there was some kind of hope for these kids - that one day they might have jobs, homes, a decent salary, some life security - then they might not want to take the huge risks that are involved in (moped-facilitated) crime.
Of course, I may just be living in a fantasy world, but from what I see increased inequalities between those who have the opportunities (most of the people posting on this forum, I'd imagine - but, particularly, the ruling classes within our society) and those who don't (viz, the ones who participate in "criminal" behaviours) are the real reasons behind increased violence in society. And, until we start talking about and acknowledging such inequalities, things are unlikely to get much better....
Anyway, just my 2 cents.