Wilfull damage.

[warrior queen]

So, the kidlet turned 16 a few weeks ago, and I finally caved and got him a decent mobile phone.
Three days back at school, and some little fucks got their hands on it (stole it out of his bag) and totally wrecked it.
Broke the back off the phone, used a ruler to scrape off the chrome and completely screwed up the screen.
Normally, I just shrug my shoulders and say 'tough', but this time I am really mad.
In the classroom, with a teacher present, they just decided to fuck up a brand new phone when the kidlet was sent on an errand by the teacher

Anyway, the school says the teacher is not responsible for what happens in the class, nor can they intervene with the kids and I should take it to police.
So that's exactly what I did.
I just want them to replace the phone. If they don't, I may push for wilfull damage charges.
Let's hope it doesn't go that far.

I'm totally over these damn teens thinking they can damage stuff and get away with it!
Same bunch apparently keyed one of the other students cars on Tuesday.
All last year these boys messed with other peoples stuff..... and nobody did a damn thing.
Not this time.

 

[the_kuntess]

So, the kidlet turned 16 a few weeks ago, and I finally caved and got him a decent mobile phone.
Three days back at school, and some little fucks got their hands on it (stole it out of his bag) and totally wrecked it.
Broke the back off the phone, used a ruler to scrape off the chrome and completely screwed up the screen.
Normally, I just shrug my shoulders and say 'tough', but this time I am really mad.
In the classroom, with a teacher present, they just decided to fuck up a brand new phone when the kidlet was sent on an errand by the teacher

Anyway, the school says the teacher is not responsible for what happens in the class, nor can they intervene with the kids and I should take it to police.
So that's exactly what I did.
I just want them to replace the phone. If they don't, I may push for wilfull damage charges.
Let's hope it doesn't go that far.

I'm totally over these damn teens thinking they can damage stuff and get away with it!
Same bunch apparently keyed one of the other students cars on Tuesday.
All last year these boys messed with other peoples stuff..... and nobody did a damn thing.
Not this time.

From a legal perspective - good luck with that. I think you have a few expensive legal hurdles to jump before you will get any kind of financial satisfaction.

 

[warrior queen]

From a legal perspective - good luck with that. I think you have a few expensive legal hurdles to jump before you will get any kind of financial satisfaction.

There are witnesses, who have also spoken to the cops.
Otherwise there'd be no chance.
I think quite a few people are pissed off now...... especially the other kids who've had stuff damaged. I had kids coming out to the car when I went to the school on Friday, all telling me stuff these boys have damaged over the last year. I also spoke to the mum of the boy with the keyed car - she's taking them to small claims (here in Tas, parents are legally and financially responsible for any damage their kids do up till age 18).

 

[Kitty_Schrödinger]

I would do the same, parent or not parent.
I know it is being said too often, but some kids nowadays have no respect for anything- personal property included, and since their parents have failed to teach them (for whatever readon) it is up to us to do so.

 

[warrior queen]

I would do the same, parent or not parent.
I know it is being said too often, but some kids nowadays have no respect for anything- personal property included, and since their parents have failed to teach them (for whatever readon) it is up to us to do so.

As teens, my friends and I got up to all sorts of mischief..... but we never damaged anyones property.
It was like a code - peoples personal property was completely off-limits.
These days kids don't have that same code.

 

[Lord_Nibiru]

I would do the same, parent or not parent.
I know it is being said too often, but some kids nowadays have no respect for anything- personal property included, and since their parents have failed to teach them (for whatever readon) it is up to us to do so.

When did they ever have respect for each-others personal property?

Not that I condone kids damaging property (and certainly not the teacher/school's attitude which seems entirely unreasonable). But kids are kids and we all did it when we were young; it's just that nowadays parents spend more on items.

Police for a mobile phone and what is basically child's play, really?

 

[dolf]

Police for a mobile phone and what is basically child's play, really?

16 is a young adult.
if they sat next to you on the bus, picked up your phone, smashed it to bits and laughed in your face, would you tut at the child's play or would you want charges pressed?

 

[warrior queen]

When did they ever have respect for each-others personal property?

Not that I condone kids damaging property (and certainly not the teacher/school's attitude which seems entirely unreasonable). But kids are kids and we all did it when we were young; it's just that nowadays parents spend more on items.

Police for a mobile phone and what is basically child's play, really?

So, what's your financial point of no return?
If this had been a $200 phone, I would have said stuff it. But it cost a bit more than that.
So, what's the point at which YOU would go after them?

 

[warrior queen]

There's this other stupid thing they do..... if any kid turns up to class with a new school shirt, they grab at the pocket on the way past and rip it off.
All of us parents that have kids this has happened to are refusing to either replace or repair the shirts. We're sending our kids to school from now on in torn shirts. The teachers and principal are NOT happy.
Last year, I had to buy a shirt a week for nearly an entire term.
Not this year.

 

[Lord_Nibiru]

16 is a young adult.
if they sat next to you on the bus, picked up your phone, smashed it to bits and laughed in your face, would you tut at the child's play or would you want charges pressed?

I know someone who was mugged for a mobile phone and if memory serves the police laughed as they jotted it down on their slip of paper before, presumably, burning it.

I do accept your point (and WQ's) and it's entirely up to individuals what they buy their kids so I'm not saying it's an acceptable way for kids to behave. But why should it matter that they damage a mobile rather than a calculator or pen or anything? I bet there are not many out there who haven't done or been complicit in someone else doing something of this nature when they were young.

It's nothing to do with bad parenting, evil kids or anything like that - it's what youngster do.

 

[CHNOPS]

You do know your son dropped his phone, right?

Please tell me you know this.

 

[warrior queen]

You do know your son dropped his phone, right?

Please tell me you know this.

He's awfully clever then!
Because he dropped it in just the right way for most, but not quite all, of the chrome moulding on the inside of the protective cover, which came off in one piece with no scratches, to be completely scraped off! And managed to snap off all the little plasic thingies that hold the back cover on (presumably he forgot the back cover has to slide off).
Not only that, but he also managed to drop it so that only the bottom half of the screen would have stiations across it!
By heck, that boy's a fucking genius!


And I better get on to the other parents and let them know that all our kids are ripping their own shirts.

 

[dolf]

It's nothing to do with bad parenting, evil kids or anything like that - it's what youngster do.

i hope you don't have kids!

 

[warrior queen]

It's nothing to do with bad parenting, evil kids or anything like that - it's what youngster do.

Of course it's bad parenting!
Teach your kids the value of things (not just monetary, but emotional) and drill into them the importance of respect.
It's not so hard, really.

 

[CHNOPS]

He's awfully clever then!
Because he dropped it in just the right way for most, but not quite all, of the chrome moulding on the inside of the protective cover, which came off in one piece with no scratches, to be completely scraped off! And managed to snap off all the little plasic thingies that hold the back cover on (presumably he forgot the back cover has to slide off).
Not only that, but he also managed to drop it so that only the bottom half of the screen would have stiations across it!
By heck, that boy's a fucking genius!


And I better get on to the other parents and let them know that all our kids are ripping their own shirts.

Good. Just so long as you know.

 

[CHNOPS]

Of course it's bad parenting!
Teach your kids the value of things (not just monetary, but emotional) and drill into them the importance of respect.
It's not so hard, really.

Did you drill into your son the value of the expensive phone you bought him, before he went off on an errand and left it in his bag?

Which, being a 16-year-old, he did not do.

 

[warrior queen]

Did you drill into your son the value of the expensive phone you bought him, before he went off on an errand and left it in his bag?

Which, being a 16-year-old, he did not do.

My son was well aware of the value. He's the kind of kid that actually takes care of his stuff.
The phone was in his bag in class because the rule at school is that is where it must be when in class!

 

[Lord_Nibiru]

i hope you don't have kids!

With respect, I've avoided criticising parenting of others but since you guys are on one..... may I remind you that mobile phones are neither necessary for young people nor hugely safe. I mean, they probably won't do any major damage but they're certainly not good for people which is why some manuals advise limited use and why some studies have found increased radiation following long calls.


I agree, teach kids the value of things. Can you be sure your lad hasn't ever stolen or vandalised property of others? Kids grow up and usually look back upon some of their actions with regret; that's when you're job of teaching them the value of things is proven complete.


The irony of someone spending a lot of money on an unecessary device and criticising others for not recognising the value of things isn't lost on all of us.

 

[CHNOPS]

My son was well aware of the value. He's the kind of kid that actually takes care of his stuff.
The phone was in his bag in class because the rule at school is that is where it must be when in class!

Your son dropped his phone.

 

[dolf]

what a muppet

 

[warrior queen]

With respect, I've avoided criticising parenting of others but since you guys are on one..... may I remind you that mobile phones are neither necessary for young people nor hugely safe. I mean, they probably won't do any major damage but they're certainly not good for people which is why some manuals advise limited use and why some studies have found increased radiation following long calls.


I agree, teach kids the value of things. Can you be sure your lad hasn't ever stolen or vandalised property of others? Kids grow up and usually look back upon some of their actions with regret; that's when you're job of teaching them the value of things is proven complete.


The irony of someone spending a lot of money on an unecessary device and criticising others for not recognising the value of things isn't lost on all of us.

Actually, because of where we live, a mobile phone is an absolute necessity.
My son needs to be able to get in touch if he has an issue on the quadbike in one of the further paddocks, or if he has a mishap while out checking fences, or if he finds a cow down..... any number of reasons.

And no, this kid does not, and has never, deliberately damaged anyone's property.
He simply isn't like that. You don't have to believe that, but we're talking about a kid who still has every last piece of every lego kit he ever got

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

My mama was a woman who taught me how to skip the legal system and take care of business myself. And when people fuck with me I hurt them appropriately. My mama was clever about her paybacks, so am I.

 

[Lord_Nibiru]

Actually, because of where we live, a mobile phone is an absolute necessity.
My son needs to be able to get in touch if he has an issue on the quadbike in one of the further paddocks, or if he has a mishap while out checking fences, or if he finds a cow down..... any number of reasons.

And no, this kid does not, and has never, deliberately damaged anyone's property.
He simply isn't like that. You don't have to believe that, but we're talking about a kid who still has every last piece of every lego kit he ever got

Did people not live in your area before mobiles?

I don't disbelieve you (and I don't mean to seem heartless, I'm sure he's a lovely kid) but all I'm saying is that it's not so unusual and hardly makes these other kids (or their parents) bad people. Most of them will probably grow up to be decent people too.

I think it's a shame the school don't do more to help, but perhaps they feel powerless themselves?

 

[warrior queen]

Did people not live in your area before mobiles?

I don't disbelieve you (and I don't mean to seem heartless, I'm sure he's a lovely kid) but all I'm saying is that it's not so unusual and hardly makes these other kids (or their parents) bad people. Most of them will probably grow up to be decent people too.

I think it's a shame the school don't do more to help, but perhaps they feel powerless themselves?

Most likely these kids will grow up to be perfectly fine.
But right now, they aren't.

Yes, people used to live here without mobile phones.
The previous owner of the place sold up when he lost his leg after lying in a paddock for nearly 8 hours with a tree limb across it.

 

[Byron In Exile]

But why should it matter that they damage a mobile rather than a calculator or pen or anything?

Are you even serious?

Comparing a pen to a mobile phone?

It's nothing to do with bad parenting, evil kids or anything like that - it's what youngster do.

It's what juvenile delinquents do.

You know... nascent criminals?