I can't say I agree with tormenting the kid with the box. I'd probably just leave the sack of coal. He would not be getting a 360 in the first place, anyway, if he were mine. Hell, I don't even get half of what the 360 costs in my Christmas gifts. I appreciate what I get, and I don't demand early presents. The child must be taught that gifts aren't something you've earned or deserve, but an act of kindness for good behaviour throughout the year. If my post didn't make any sense, sorry. I'm a little... high right now .
Wow... thats some pretty harsh punishment there. I don't know if I would have sold the the thing outright. I'll tell ya, when I was a kid, my parents had the punishment thing down pretty well. Only ever got a swat on the ass when I really deserved it (such as when I stole candy from the grocery store or hit my sister... both of which only happened once before I learned my lesson). The thing my parents always made a point to do was make me sit and think about what I did wrong and why it was wrong, then explain to them why I shouldn't do what I did. Really gave me a good perspective of right and wrong and taught me to think first about my actions, something that a lot of kids lack these days. When I would act up or whatever though, my parents would take my video games and lock them in this glass curio cabinet we had so I could see my stuff but not play with it. Then they would make me pay off my "debt" by being generally well behaved and doing extra chores over the next couple days. Seemed to work really well, after doing this for awhile, I straigtened out and became a pretty good little kid.
Yeah, I'm with Taemos and Kingofthelobster on this one. That's exactly what I think. In summary: Punishment can be used for discipline, but going "creative" is only being spiteful. Kids need to learn logic and reason, not just to be gotten back at. Revenge is too childish to be used by an adult and creating a differential of power through agression only de-legitimises power more, paving the road for more conflict of an escalating intensity. It's better to establish rules and reasons than to strike back with hate.
Well, putting aside all moral dillemas, and child psychology, I think most can admit that this is damn funny
I think its a great punishment. But if they really wanted to punish him they would put a jaguar or a 3DO in the box instead of coal. (^_^)
Actually the joke may be on you. I was raised in an upper middle class town and went to what would be considered a "rich high" school. My family was right in the middle financially, not poor and not rich. Guess what, the rich kids ALL went to first tier colleges and thier parents got them a good first job. Do they make more money then me, not nessassarily, but they make tons more than the kids who worked thier way through collge. The numbers are easy to figure out: rich kid graduates with no debt in 4 years and squeezes in a productive intership (while having fun and partying) After he graduates he gets a descent to good job and has no bills. Is also not burned out and eventually works his way up. Poor kid graduates in 4-8 years working part time at someplace not relavant to a long term career (flipping burgers or better and having an awful time) does not have time for a productive intership and has $20,000+ in student loans. The person is also older and burnt out, not someone nessassarily wanted for a corporate management training program. He can catch up career wise with a rich kid, but the overall cost is very high. In all my time seeing old friends over the years I have yet to see someone who was poorer than me or the rich kids who is at the same level careerwise (yes I am including college graduates) It just plain hard to keep up with the money
I never said he was rich. His mom works her ass off to get him whatever he wants. I live in the south - there are very few "rich" kids around here. As for college and whatnot, I know I'm fucked. That's no surprise at all to me.
Start out at a junior collge then shoot for a state school and take out the federal loans. I live in California so tuition is very very high when compared to the south. If you need to you can spread the load repayments out for 30 years (like a mortgage)
Depending on his age, he will remember it for the rest of his life. When parents do something cruel like this the person on the receiving end never forgets it. It just a matter of time before hs parents will see the outcome. He may react later in life, just laugh about it or do something back to his parents later, it all depends on his personality. He deserves a punishment, but not a cruel creative joke.
i think everyone is looking at this the wrong way, if i were to reciev a box like such, filled with coal, i would rejoice, in the versitility of such a gift. Not only does coal provide a excellent source of heat, and to some extent light, its usses are limitless. Perfect for scrawling out crude messages on pavement, coal also provides a excellent propellent in breaking items made of glass, the possibilities are endless Its not what you get, but how you use it! Ryan
