I can't even wrap my mind around this. (1 Viewer)

[Willie Neslon]

Stupid is far too nice here.  Stupid is daring the other kid to do something dangerous.  This is downright evil. 

Evil would mean they understood the ramifications of their actions.

 

[whiskey7]

A kid that is capable of this type of violence most likely has experienced/witnessed violence in his environment.  Just assuming, but it's likely that he isn't coming from the most loving household.  

Agreed. I'd further say those kids have been allowed to watch tv/movies/etc that are very disturbing and/or violent. Where else does a kid that young get the idea to do something that awful? That's Criminal Minds type stuff right there.

I never really gave much thought to how truly sick and violent the content of much of the programming is until I had kids and then I was

 

[IC FBGCav]

Evil would mean they understood the ramifications of their actions.

Pretty sure they knew it could kill him.   Kids understand what fire does.

 

[sbonomo]

I don't understand your point here. It seems like you agree with tomservo that these kids could be saved and we should try. But then you say that this crime is so terrible that ... we shouldn't save these kids? I didn't quite understand. 

I am saying that that crime requires a more extreme solution due to the severity of what occurred.  Those kids, at least the main perpetrator of the act, needs to be dealt with very harshly. 

 

[Mr. Nasty]

What a terribly sad and horrific story. Can't fathom how people (children or adults) could do something like this to another person. As a father of two boys (9 and 6), reading the story chokes me up. Those that suggest a lenient punishment for these 'kids' either don't have kids of their own…or shouldn't.

 

[timschochet]

Yes, I can read.

The fact is that no one - contrary to @timschochet's assertion - is incapable of being saved. They are still human beings, capable of doing evil things. Let's at least try to rehabilitate them before you internet policemen put them in front of a firing squad and have their parents' wealth confiscated.

You misunderstand me. Of course these kids can possibly be saved. And I agree with you that we should try. We should always try. But- in this case don't be surprised if we fail. And I think they need to be locked away somewhere until they are saved. And if they're never saved, then unfortunately they need to be locked away forever. 

 

[FUBAR]

Evil would mean they understood the ramifications of their actions.

My 8yo understands fire and not to burn things, especially living things, especially people.  

Besides, 


1


evil

play


adjective \ˈē-vəl, British often & US also ˈē-(ˌ)vil\

Popularity: Top 20% of words

Simple Definition of evil

• : morally bad
  
• : causing harm or injury to someone
  

 

[timschochet]

Evil would mean they understood the ramifications of their actions.

That is not a question we can answer here. You may be skeptical that any 9 year old can possibly understand, and I might agree with you, in theory. But an expert would need to interview these kids to figure out what they thought and felt. We can't know. 

 

[FUBAR]

Pretty sure they knew it could kill him.   Kids understand what fire does.

TBH, they might not have known it would kill.  But they surely knew it would hurt and only did this because the boy was "weird"

Which makes this a hate crime, as it (at least for probable cause) was perpetuated because of the boy's disability. 

 

[Spin]

You realize that these kids set another person on fire right.  Ask yourself what kind of individual is capable of doing something like this?  Yes the should be punished extremely harshly.  Not only should they be punished but the parents should be held liable (not only financially) as well.  This is extremely disturbing.   

Not only that, they literally pretended to be this kids friend, so they could lure him into an open field and THEN set him on fire.  This is straight evil.

On Sunday, Kayden reportedly was riding his bike when he met up with an acquaintance.

“One of his friends -- who he felt like was his friend -- just happened to take him to the field, and there were kids waiting at the field,” Kasper said

They thought about doing this, came up with a plan to get him alone, and then went through with it.

Monsters.

 

[Joe Summer]

Not sure anyone can understand the evil involved here. There kids cannot be saved. This was a calculated act.

I would argue that this act was not "calculated" in any way. I don't think any 9-year-old is capable of the level of thought and planning required to be classified as "calculated".

 

[Jrodicus]

If you don't think that a 9 year old understands that fire can kill, I'm guessing that you are either not a parent or were really dense as a kid.

 

[FUBAR]

I would argue that this act was not "calculated" in any way. I don't think any 9-year-old is capable of the level of thought and planning required to be classified as "calculated".

Maybe, but premeditation, deliberate conduct, and malice aforethought all seem to apply. 

 

[Spin]

I would argue that this act was not "calculated" in any way. I don't think any 9-year-old is capable of the level of thought and planning required to be classified as "calculated".

They lured the kid into a field, by pretending to be his friend and telling him to come play with them, where two other people were waiting with gasoline and a match.

Doesn't get more calculated than that.

 

[FUBAR]

If you don't think that a 9 year old understands that fire can kill, I'm guessing that you are either not a parent or were really dense as a kid.

Sure they know it can kill.  We don't know if they thought it would kill or if they thought he could put it out. Either way, they had to know he'd be burned badly.  Just based on what we read, they clearly had intent to cause grevious bodily harm - though they probably have no clue what that means. 

 

[Jrodicus]

I would argue that this act was not "calculated" in any way. I don't think any 9-year-old is capable of the level of thought and planning required to be classified as "calculated".

I disagree entirely.  They planned it in advance, which is the definition of calculated.

I personally know a situation involving boys of that age range grooming younger boys in order to sexually molest them.

 

[Joe Summer]

Maybe, but premeditation, deliberate conduct, and malice aforethought all seem to apply.

I don't think 9-year-olds are capable of "malice". They are operating on a much more basic, instinctual level, IMO.

 

[Joe Summer]

I disagree entirely. They planned it in advance, which is the definition of calculated.

"Ghostbusters" was planned in advance, too. Would you call that "calculated"?

 

[Jrodicus]

"Ghostbusters" was planned in advance, too. Would you call that "calculated"?

Calculated:  planned or contrived to accomplish a purpose

The planned in advance to lure him to an area where they could set him on fire (and they accomplished that purpose).  It was not a crime of opportunity.

Do you really need to be snarky in a thread about a special needs kid that was set on fire?

 

[Joe Summer]

Calculated: planned or contrived to accomplish a purpose

The planned in advance to lure him to an area where they could set him on fire (and they accomplished that purpose). It was not a crime of opportunity.

Do you really need to be snarky in a thread about a special needs kid that was set on fire?

My snark is no more or less appropriate than iTough Guys patting themselves on the back for coming up with the word "calculated".

 

[Willie Neslon]

Pretty sure they knew it could kill him.   Kids understand what fire does.

If these kids are defiant in the face of everyone's anger and happy that the kid is seriously injured, then yes, they are evil. Seems like that only happens in the movies. More like they're just idiots with developmental issues who had little to no comprehension that setting someone on fire wasn't a great idea.

 

[jerry jones]

Where on Earth would they get the idea to attack someone with a disability?...oh..right.

I guess everyone is right, Trump is "dangerous" my bad...

 

[TwinTurbo]

Yes, I can read.

The fact is that no one - contrary to @timschochet's assertion - is incapable of being saved. They are still human beings, capable of doing evil things. Let's at least try to rehabilitate them before you internet policemen put them in front of a firing squad and have their parents' wealth confiscated.

The pain, suffering, and lasting impact from this type of attack cannot be understated. Setting another kid on fire is not just evil, it's savagely cruel and exceedingly brutal. It's not that they may be incapable of being saved, but that they crossed a line that can't be uncrossed. I remember growing up there was a kid at a rival school that murdered his entire family. I don't recall his exact sentence but he was not tried as an adult and got out at 18. Maybe he was rehabilitated, I have no idea. It's just hard to wrap your head around how any kids could be capable of such heinous acts and then somehow find redemption and become a productive member of society. Maybe it's possible. But the kid that got burned is never going to be the same. 

 

[RokNRole]

Lots of 10 yo have cell phones these days.

Give Tim their numbers and have him text them his thoughts every day.

 

[timschochet]

Lots of 10 yo have cell phones these days.

Give Tim their numbers and have him text them his thoughts every day.

Wtf??

 

[DocHolliday]

My snark is no more or less appropriate than iTough Guys patting themselves on the back for coming up with the word "calculated".

I don't remember patting myself on the back for the "calculated" comment. All I know is that these evil kids made a plan to burn a special needs kid.  Alive. That is calculated and evil. What kind of person does that?  

Can they be saved?  I doubt it but that is just a guess. Some expert has to figure that out.

Do they deserve to be saved? Do they deserve a second chance?  They do. Having to live with what they did has to be crushing. 

 

[RokNRole]

I don't remember patting myself on the back for the "calculated" comment. All I know is that these evil kids made a plan to burn a special needs kid.  Alive. That is calculated and evil. What kind of person does that?  

Can they be saved?  I doubt it but that is just a guess. Some expert has to figure that out.

Do they deserve to be saved? Do they deserve a second chance?  They do. Having to live with what they did has to be crushing. 

I'm about 100% sure they can't be saved

sociopaths are born and never change

institutionalizing them won't help. They may never offend again one day but will never be productive members of society

they have reptile brains and that can't be changed 

 

[FUBAR]

I'm about 100% sure they can't be saved

sociopaths are born and never change

institutionalizing them won't help. They may never offend again one day but will never be productive members of society

they have reptile brains and that can't be changed 

Capitol punishment for kids! 

 

[RokNRole]

Capitol punishment for kids! 

Not advocating that.

they need to be locked away for a while and an attempt to rehabilitate needs to be made

but the sad truth is its hopeless

 

[IC FBGCav]

I don't know how they should be punished.  I really don't.  But I don't think any of this would go to a jury no matter what side my kid was on.

 

[Steeler]

It seems like it was calculated, yes. 

How do you know the kids can't be saved?

Given your first sentence, and the heinous nature of the crime, they shouldnt get a chance to be saved.

If you arent around special needs kids maybe you cant understand how vulerable they are.  They are mostly trusting, happy people who dont even know this kind of evil exists in the world.  This kid was lured to a field by a "friend" where other kids were ####### waiting with gasoline and matches!!!  I don't think the perpetrators deserve any compassion.

I can't image what i would do if this happened to my kid.

 

[Tom Servo]

You misunderstand me. Of course these kids can possibly be saved. And I agree with you that we should try. We should always try. But- in this case don't be surprised if we fail. And I think they need to be locked away somewhere until they are saved. And if they're never saved, then unfortunately they need to be locked away forever. 

You are correct; I did misunderstand you. 

 

[Steeler]

I would argue that this act was not "calculated" in any way. I don't think any 9-year-old is capable of the level of thought and planning required to be classified as "calculated".

Did you not read the article?  Did you not see they lured him to an isolated location where others were waiting to set him on fire?  This is the definition of a calculated act.

 

[Steeler]

If these kids are defiant in the face of everyone's anger and happy that the kid is seriously injured, then yes, they are evil. Seems like that only happens in the movies. More like they're just idiots with developmental issues who had little to no comprehension that setting someone on fire wasn't a great idea.

Wht do you jump to that conclusion?  When is see that someone sets another human being on fire my initial reaction is: HOLY ####!  These people must be evil!   But your reaction is: meh, they probsbly didnt understand what they were doing.

 

[Willie Neslon]

Wht do you jump to that conclusion?  When is see that someone sets another human being on fire my initial reaction is: HOLY ####!  These people must be evil!   But your reaction is: meh, they probsbly didnt understand what they were doing.

I'm not saying meh I'm just being realistic. It's awful.