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Post by tjaman on Dec 13, 2005 1:15:04 GMT -5
So ... Enzo's case.
Seems to be a topic to start us off.
I really wanna slay a dragon or two.
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Post by TheMasterGeek on Dec 13, 2005 1:18:32 GMT -5
Well...I'm tired, and I may be coming down with a cold. I'm off bed.
Goodnight.
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Post by tjaman on Dec 13, 2005 1:20:27 GMT -5
Night Kev.
Actually, I've gotta head off myself soon. I may stop back.
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Post by Charisma69 on Dec 13, 2005 1:24:58 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm getting too tired to post myself. I'm going to head off to bed. We can discuss Enzo's case tomorrow after we talk to the Assistant Superintendent.
I wonder how she's going to react to the "no apology statement" thing? I don't know who I'm more afraid of upsetting, the school or my Dad.
I'm not happy about them requiring him to write a statement basically saying he's guilty but I do believe he can word in in such a way that they can't really use it against him.
Anyway, I'm too tired to think about that right now. Goodnight everyone and thanks for the support.
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Post by quantumcat on Dec 13, 2005 1:26:47 GMT -5
Dream well and feel better,people.
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Post by tjaman on Dec 13, 2005 1:29:34 GMT -5
Night, everyone. Better tomorrows.
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Post by GreatMuppetyNick on Dec 13, 2005 1:31:51 GMT -5
G'night guys.
I was busy coming up with a banner of what I'd like to do with the people involved in Enzo's case
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Post by Darkchylde on Dec 13, 2005 1:40:19 GMT -5
Well I'm off to a party. See ya guys later.
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Post by GreatMuppetyNick on Dec 13, 2005 1:53:06 GMT -5
G'Night, the-Poster-formerly-known-as-Paige.
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Post by quantumcat on Dec 13, 2005 3:12:27 GMT -5
Forgive the heretical statements I'm about to utter but on a scale of 1-10, I think they only hit about a 3 on the stupidity scale.
I was kinda expecting about a 5.
The 'reckless disregard' bit I thought would be brought up way back.
Remember when I was naive enough to think the PTB would investigate, counsel,put the fear of God into ALL the kids then put the ringleaders on probation after sentencing them to issuing an apology and performing community service?
This is sorta the same thing only you had to endure all these weeks of confinement in Juvenile Hall,the school's branding him a terrorist,the house arrest,etc.
Not to mention,the school and court never did do any follow up on the incident as far as we know.
So.....
Now they have pretty well admitted he's no terrorist.
The other kid should be labeled an accessory to non terrorism.
They have decided that the law is satisfied by saying Enzo is a regular kid who did a dang DUMB thing and they're ready to make an example of him.
It could have gone a LOT worse.
After the stupidity of the earlier treatment,I was afraid to hope he'd get a sane decision.
Yes,they could have legitimately been a lot less harsh but this is o.k.
An adult friend recently got off probation.
He didn't do anything truly criminal but he did a plea bargain that had him admit culpability rather than risk a full trial that could have gone worse.
In his case, while he was not evil,he expanded the definition of self-destructive stupidity beyond levels even the Darwin award folk are used to.
(He'd be the first to tell you this. He not only made a mistake,he made one all his friends saw coming and warned him about beforehand. )
They started him on pretty much the same set-up Enzo got.
I think they save it for folks who aren't demonic but need to suffer a while lest the truly bad folk or fools think they got away with something.
After about a tenth of the probation period is successfully fulfilled,they start cutting back on some of the requirements and loosening up.
Especially after they see how he's complying.
The counselling is a GREAT thing!
It'll help Enzo and confirm that he's not a tragedy waiting to happen.
The counselor will be in a position to say:"Why am I seeing this kid and if you thought you had a situation on your hands,why weren't my people brought in earlier?"
It'll be interesting to see how *that's* addressed.
Enzo may go to once a month visits fairly early because they don't have enough time for all their work and while he's off probation in 6 months,they might still like to reserve that time for the really demanding cases rather than pro forma visits with an already 'reformed' sane kid like Enzo.
I'd wager they'll get flexible about visiting his grandparents and court costs fairly soon.
Once he's established as a 'no-threat' kid who's not trying to weasel out of his punishment, they'll be ready to ease up.
My friend was able to get permission to leave the county and the state fairly quickly and he was a LOT more apt to be seen as a 'flight risk/repeat offender' than a 14 year old boy who wrote an ambiguous note.
If they don't initiate relaxation of the rules or refuse you when you ask,that's a good sign.
It means it's far more likely that they expect to turn him loose this summer rather than seeing him two years from now.
You should be able to schedule his required visits after a while.
(You do two back to back then skip a week,etc. Or if he misses a week because of illness,weather,etc. he's not asked to make it up.)
The more and faster they start asking him to make allowances for THEM ("Can you come Thursday at 9 rather than Tuesday at 3?") the better he's doing.
I know this feels awful now-especially with how it interferes with your job.
But your bosses ought to cut you some slack since it's not apt to be for long.
They can be hard nosed and lose a great manager or be generous and supportive and earn your undying loyalty.
Which would be the smart way for them to go?
A truthful,rational statement by Enzo shouldn't be a problem.
I expected that weeks ago instead of the crap he was given to deal with.
He knows what he did.
He knows how he messed up.
He's not about to admit to doing anything he's innocent of .
He won't minimize what he actually did.
His candor about all the incident will go a long way toward showing who and what Enzo really is and what really occurred.
It just might prove interesting to see what happens with the school/justice system when they have an on-the-record account of the real events and proof that Enzo is taking responsibility for HIS part.
He might even do some good setting an example for some of the _others_ in the case.
He might volunteer to participate in lectures about 'reckless disregard' and 'irresponsible speech'.
He could volunteer for community service that could count in his favor.
(I bet he could be out past 9,etc. more if he were 'breaking curfew' at a food bank, a Habitat house, being an 'elf' alongside a firefighter handing out gifts,etc.)
It's not about brown-nosing the system but everything that helps reveal his good side counteracts a bit of the negative impression all this hoo-rah has created.
I think this is the first step toward releasing Enzo from the trap being labeled a 'terrorist' and 'juvenile delinquent' has put him in.
He's paying his debt to society and,ironically enough,society might be paying him back a smidgen of what y'all were forced to endure.
By giving him counselling ,a way of making amends and closure,he's getting to clear any unearned stain from his name and move beyond this interruption of his life before more damage was done.
This is a lot more constructive and more finite than letting it all fester indefinitely under a veneer of denial.
I'd hate to think of his school or whoever NOT letting this go through channels but treating him like a pariah for the next five years.
This way,he's facing the consequences for what he did-not for what he was said to have done.
Plus,he'll have confirmation that he's not a danger to himself or society.
It's like the old joke:
"Sir,is it not true that you have just been released from a mental institution?"
"Yeah. I've got documentation that *I'm* sane. Where's yours?"
Enzo will be on record as being a level-headed,responsible citizen by the time he gets off probation.
That's more than the students who let him take the fall alone will have.
Good luck and keep your chin up.
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Post by Darkchylde on Dec 13, 2005 8:34:16 GMT -5
G'Night, the-Poster-formerly-known-as-Paige. I'm back and I'm slightly tipsy.
What do you mean good night? Its........... HAPPY HOUR!
But the party was fun. I danced and they sung, it was pretty but it was a tiny bit too loud.
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Post by Darkchylde on Dec 13, 2005 9:14:02 GMT -5
Well, ta ta darlings. I'm off to bed.
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Post by Rebelman on Dec 13, 2005 9:59:55 GMT -5
Thank goodness these finals are almost over.
I got 2 more left today after one at 8am today. And 1 maybe 2 tomorrow then I am done until January 9th.
I am so exhausted. All I want to do is sleep all the time now.
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Post by tjaman on Dec 13, 2005 10:16:07 GMT -5
Well, sleep sometimes and that'll probably make up for it.
How are classes going?
Incidentally, q, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say those were some Brilliant Insights™, although things could suck quite a bit less for Cordy than they sound like they're going to.
And at least they're not burning him at the stake. It kind of sounded initially like they were just itching to.
That isn't to say ...
OK, look, I live in North Dakota. When it's 30 below and the wind is whipping around we say "Well, at least it isn't snowing."
It doesn't make being bitterly cold that much more wonderful.
But being from a part of the world where we try hard to look for anything like a bright side, I understand what you're doing.
I just wish we didn't always have to settle for "It could've been worse."
* goes to look up the words "cold comfort" -- sees a bottle of peppermint schnapps in the freezer *
Z'Rolf, put some of that in some cocoa, please, with little marshmallows and lots of whipped cream, and make one for Cordy too and keep it warm.
There ... really must be a better way of keeping it warm than by doing that. Why don't you put it on the warmer on the armrest of her Geek Throne™? That's probably a much better idea than .. well ... what it looked like you were going to do.
Because incidentally, aren't you essentially room temperature?
* sip * Thank you, Z'Rolf, and here's hoping everyone's days are good ones.
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Post by tjaman on Dec 13, 2005 10:49:16 GMT -5
G'night guys.
I was busy coming up with a banner of what I'd like to do with the people involved in Enzo's case
That is just the funniest damn' ...
Thank you, Nick
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