Either that or just refuse to work and live off his parents/public assistance for the next 10 years and it won't cost him one damn penny. BNM
This thread makes me weep for the future, where reading comprehension and accountability are nothing more than curious relics of an ancient civilization . I won't be around for the worst of it, but my kids will. BNM
You keep implying I’m defending him when I’m not. You sitting here calling a 15 year old all sorts of names says more about you than me. I’m not saying he’s innocent. I never said he didn’t deserve some form of punishment. Everybody knows who he is so he is automatically hated and he isn’t gonna make shit by the time he’s supposed to be going forward and going to school and living on his own. That 55 dollars a week won’t pay rent or for gas, all that. I would of sent him on his way to a juvenile center for a year.
Not according to the article: The judge's order notes that the boy can set up a payment plan, though payments can be halted after 10 years as long as he complies, completes probation and doesn't commit other crimes. He makes his minimum monthly payments, which are 25% of his earnings, doesn't violate his probation or commit any additional crimes and the remaining ~$36,980,000 is forgiven. BNM
Sorry this isn’t the America where it’s easy to make a living. Dudes over 50 on this forum want the worst for this kid. That’s fine but you never had to try and balance school and a job in this day and age. I would be more worried for the youth for other reasons, not this. The pull yourself up by your boot straps times are dead just like the traditional nba center. You say somebody like me is defending the kid when I’m not. I’m just saying remember he’s 15. Everybody does ridiculously stupid shit when they are 15. Is it accidentally burning thousands and thousands of acres of a forest down? No but for fucks sake give me a break.
Many members of this forum served in the military. I offered it as practical solution to the hole this kid's actions has put him in. He would serve his country, could learn a trade or a profession, and earn money to go to college. That is not wanting the worst for him. You're the one who has shit on that and our military. If you really believe that it's so hard for you here in this country, that you can't pull yourself up by your bootstraps, then leave.
But you are defending him and making excuses for him (he's young and stupid - well so is every other 15-year old, but most don't destroy $37 million in property and the lives of hundreds of innocent, hard working people). I don't know who he is, and I honestly don't care. His name wasn't released to protect him from backlash. . You don't know this. His parents are completely off the hook financially for his actions. He can live with them as long as he/they want. Any money they have saved up for his college education cannot be touched. He could end up going to college getting an education and a great paying job. He will keep 75% of his earnings from that great paying job until he turns 25, three years after graduating from college, after he gets to keep 100% of all future earnings. Fir every doom and gloom sob story you invent I can concoct one where this kid comes out smelling like a rose - with minimal long term impact to his future. What I can't come up with, for the life of me, is one single scenario where the people he put out of work are fairly compensated for his loss. Ok, well there is one. If he wins $148 million playing Powerball and gives 25% of his winnings to the people he fucked they will get back what he took from them. Other than that unlikely event, they are the real losers here. I don't see your point here. That $55 (or whatever it ends up being) will be divided among the hundreds of people he fucked over. How much rent, gas, etc. you think their individual share of that $55/week is going to buy each of them? Yeah, I'm being hard on him, but I don't think you fully comprehend the damage his carelessnesss did to others. Those are the people I feel sorry for, not him. He CHOSE to do this. The people whose property the fire destroyed and those who lost their jobs because of this didn't have any choice in the matter. He made that choice for them. And, just in case the kid that did this ever stumbles upon this thread... Hey kid, you fucked up, you already know that. Don't kill yourself, that isn't going to help anyone. Learn from your mistake, be a better person and do your best to pay back as much as you can. We know you can never pay it all back, not even close, and don't expect you to. Not even the judge expects that. That's why he is willing to forgive your debt after 10 years. Don't fret the $37 million amount. Ot's completely unrealistic and we all (well, most of us) realize that. Just do your best to pay back as much as you can, do your community service and help educate others so they may also learn from your mistake. Ok? The Gorge has always been my favorite place to hike. I've hiked the Eagle Creek trail over 100 times, in all seasons. It was always the first trail I'd take my visiting friends and relatives on to introduce them to the beauty of my adopted home state. That is gone now. You don't need my forgiveness, but do your best and you will receive it. Sorry of I sounded like an asshole. I'm not (well not a TOTAL asshole). I just feel strongly about this, but what is done is done and can't be undone. Just do your best and it will all be ok in the end. BNM
No we don't (at least I don't). Stop being such an ageist. No one here suggested jail time for the kid. I just want what's best for the victims of his negligence. That's not the same as wanting what's worst for him. In fact, if he goes to college and gets a good paying job, both him and his victims will come out ahead. I see that as a win:win for everyone. In your opinion, does that make me some angry old asshole that hates everyone under the age of 30? BNM
What are you even talking about? How did I shit on our military? Such prehistoric backwards ass thinking yet you claim you are a progressive. Kind of hypocritical.
I get where you’re coming from I just think there is another way to punish him. I think this kid realizes by the time he turns 18 exactly how bad he fucked up, especially when he’s in his early 20’s. If not then yeah, something is up with him. That money is never gonna get close to paid off anyway which is another reason why I think it’s silly. And how do we even know for sure if the money accumulated over 10 years even goes to the forest damages and expenses
Now I wrongly am giving you labels. Hmmm sounds like something you have clearly allowed in this forum for quite a while when it comes to me and you even join in. Don’t start with me sly. Don’t sit here and tell me I’m disrespecting our military when I’m not. At all. I come from a family with a military background. Get over yourself. All you do is try and piss me off and your starting to succeed. Great job. You’re so bias on this forum against me since I came back it’s ridiculous and quite clear. That’s fine though. Have your little opinion about me.
Yeah sorry I don’t believe in wars. Doesn’t mean I don’t respect people who serve or have served. Yes, kids that enlist these days look for easy money. Not all. Quite a lot though. You would be surprised.
I guess I find it ironic the ones on the forum that are all for this are over 50. The ones who aren’t for it are under. Surely a sign of the times we have grown up in.
Expecting him to pay 25% of his income during the lowest earning years of his life isn't exactly onerous. He will still have the opportunity to go to college and make a good living in the future. The distribution of the money he pays toward his debt will be determined by the court. Why would you think otherwise? It won't come close to compensating any one agency or any of the impacted individuals/businesses for their loss, but they will each get their meager share. Hopefully, most property owners had insurance, but that won't do anything for the workers who lost their jobs. Those jobs simply have ceased to exist. Hopefully, they can find employment elsewhere, but that may cause them additional hardship if they have to relocate. The impact of his actions will be felt by many for many years. Expecting him to feel a similar impact for the next 10 years is not unreasonable. Afterall, he's the one that did this, not them. BNM
Why do you find it ironic? You're closer in age to the perpetrator. I'm closer in age to many of the victims, So, you more closely identify with him and I more closely identify with them. That doesn't mean I'm unreasonable. It just means I am more concerned with the victims than the perpetrator. We (well me, anyway) want justice for them, even if it means a temporary hardship for him. So, if 25% of his income for the next 10 years is too much, what would you propose as a reasonable punishment? How would you compensate those who lost property and jobs due to his actions? BNM
