Where in this thread did anyone say he should be let off? All the posts, excluding yours, are trying to contextualise why he was driven to such an act, as Keith stated above. Your knee-jerk reaction, that punishment and retribution should be metered out purely on action, says volumes about your black and white thinking. Instead of paying a visit to your local dominatrix for your weekly spanking, I have 3 words of advice for you:

Cognitive. Behavioural. Therapy.

Dang, this is getting pretty harsh! I just took a different view. It's a free country. Deal with it.

Dang, this is getting pretty harsh! I just took a different view. It's a free country. Deal with it.

You didn't take a view, you made a judgement. And yes its a free country - you state something in a public forum, you're free to do that. Just as I am free to to question the (faulty) logic / thought process that made you reach that statement.

Some would argue that with freedom comes responsibility, and that what you say should be thought out instead of just being shot off without due care to its content, validity, implications and ramifications. As a so-called journalist, you should have a heightened sense of responsibility coupled with freedom, from your training in journalism and position in society.

You didn't take a view, you made a judgement. And yes its a free country - you state something in a public forum, you're free to do that. Just as I am free to to question the (faulty) logic / thought process that made you reach that statement.

Some would argue that with freedom comes responsibility, and that what you say should be thought out instead of just being shot off without due care to its content, validity, implications and ramifications. As a so-called journalist, you should have a heightened sense of responsibility coupled with freedom, from your training in journalism and position in society.

Whatever you say.

P.S. It's an opinion. Validity, implications and ramifications don't come with opinions.

I appreciate your candor but I don't see why my opinion, which really is taking another view from others' perspective--Japanese schools--should become an issue. It's an opinion. I'm neither the judge nor jury. My opinion, then, means nothing, and so there are no "implications and ramifications."

It's an opinion. Validity, implications and ramifications don't come with opinions.

I think you actually believe that.

My opinion, then, means nothing

The first thing you have said I actually agree with, although I doubt you understand why and I'm sure it wasn't your intention. Intention - another word you could do well to ponder over.

Opinions everywhere have validity, implications and ramifications. As a journalist, this should be obvious. While maybe none of it bothers you for whatever reason, your opinion (or anyone's for that matter) can have influence. It surprises me, as someone who's often found appalled at the simple statments and opinions of others, that you'd take such a stance, JSF.

Opinions everywhere have validity, implications and ramifications. As a journalist, this should be obvious. While maybe none of it bothers you for whatever reason, your opinion (or anyone's for that matter) can have influence. It surprises me, as someone who's often found appalled at the simple statments and opinions of others, that you'd take such a stance, JSF.

Gee wiz, Keith, I'm trying ever so hard for this thread not to turn into a flame war, that's the only reason I said my opinion didn't matter. Anyway, maybe you can help me understand what's so appalling about my current stance on THIS issue. Because I just took another view; that's all. Everyone else decided to go on the tangent about Japanese education, whereas I simply commented that this boy's actions should have consequences. I didn't say he was the devil, I acknowledged the intense pressures some parents place on their children for good grades, and I arrived at my own opinion on the matter--one that I formed based on three tiny paragraphs from the Reuters newswire. I don't claim to know the whole story, nor do I claim to know the child's psychology. I'm not the judge, I'm not the jury, I'm just a person. I'm not even a journalist when I step away from the office. I can be biased. I can have opinions. Really, what on earth is the big deal? And how is such a simple statement called "judgmental" and demonized when this nation celebrates free speech--and the "Star Jones" and other threads 'judge' the talk show personality without knowing HER situation? Honestly, let's just let each other have our own opinions, express civil disagreements (that's not directed at you, Keith), if we must, and move on.

I agree with you JSF.

There is no reason to turn this into more than what it is. JSF was merely stating his opinion. Let's keep it friendly people....

Your opinion is justified and there's nothing appalling about it. However your first statement seemed to be judgemental of other posters in it's wording. It came across as 'this boy is responsible;, like you were outraged when others hadn't expressed the opinion already. Guess that rubbed me the wrong way a bit, and this has already goen on way too far a tangent.

Your opinion is justified and there's nothing appalling about it. However your first statement seemed to be judgemental of other posters in it's wording. It came across as 'this boy is responsible;, like you were outraged when others hadn't expressed the opinion already. Guess that rubbed me the wrong way a bit, and this has already goen on way too far a tangent.

Sorry about that. Totally didn't mean to sound judgmental of other posters. I just have a personal peeve of people commiting serious crimes and then others feeling sorry for them and suggesting they get off scot-free just because of extenuating circumstances. Not that anyone was suggesting that in this thread, it's just a reflex, I guess. Again, sorry for any misunderstanding related to that.

In view of the mod's request, I'll back off.

Thats all I'll say for now...

It's sad how children have to go to such extreme measures from being so afraid of their parents.

It's sad how children have to go to such extreme measures from being so afraid of their parents.

Some parents really need to back off and think about their children. There are some parents who just keep picking and picking and picking and picking--and they blame the child for perceived faults that really aren't there.

Some parents really need to back off and think about their children. There are some parents who just keep picking and picking and picking and picking--and they blame the child for perceived faults that really aren't there.

I totally agree! Some parents can't comprehend that being so strict can backfire and lead to negativities, as well.

wow this little boy needs to lighten up (no pun intended)

wow this little boy needs to lighten up (no pun intended)