She didn't know that she did it!!!?? Looks like someone's looking for the insanity clause to get out of jail.
First point: This has always gone on. Seriously. Only the REPORTING of it has gotten better. We hear more and more disturbing reports of death, violence and destruction every day. More criminals are actually caught and missing person cases (usually murder etc.) are actually solved now because of better forensic evidence etc. I can't imagine living in the victorian era for example. Where you'd probably get stabbed or mugged walking in the wrong area of London. Or shot for no reason in the wild west. I can imagine people wandering around then muttering about how there was none of this murdering business in their day. All nostalgic crap. I can imagine old dinosaurs moaning 'there was non of this egg-stealing back in the jurassic era!'
Second point: As Kiya or someone pointed out some have a tendancy toward violence. This has been around for as long as the human race. Our degree of self-controll and attitute determines whether we are violent in a certain situation. The point I do not agree with is that games, movies and the media in general determine how people act. Allthough the NEWS seems to desensitise me to violence more than anything else.
Third point: Parental control. Upbringing has a fair amount of influence in a person's behaviour IMO. I learned morals and the principles of crime and punishment from my parents and school. They are both important. What's wrong today (oh god I sound like an old man) is that you can't give a child ten bangs on the butt with a slipper if they misbehave. You can 'ground' them sure but what kid would see that as much of a punishment? I don't think I would. Locked in my room with my toys? YAY! Sounds allright to me.
Think back as a child. I was terrified of getting a slap from my mother. It stopped me from misbehaving. A lot. Eventually the sheer threat of it would make me stop and think. (First principle of crime and punishment really)
More importantly though. I was educated about what was right and wrong. Told why I couldn't just do what I want. Why it effects other people when you steal something or hurt somebody. An educated child is usually less likely to cause pain to someone else. The TV is not education. It is an easy substitute used far too readily today.
As to the original story. Sounds like typical Florida behaviour to me..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Maybe its the heat or something down there.
