If more kids were bright, funny and correct in society, the world would be a better place. Of course the Sun annihilates him. But that's the kind of energy we need to harness and employ, not drive out of people. "You left your kitchen window open"! Burglar One; Moron Zero..

I'm not so sure about this...it's not a very well written letter, but of course The Scum should be reporting and emphasising why it is we are producing uneducated callous thieves such as the author of the letter. The failure of successive government to deal with the growing problem of youth unemployment and neglect.

The real villains of course are sat on their fat behinds in Westminster, probably working out ways to get that conservatory extension courtesy of the taxpayer... and extra security fittings to keep out the burglars they've created.

'Bright'??? Good grief!

I find it difficult to find anything amusing about burglary and I don't believe anyone "deserves" to be burgled, although it seems like common sense to close your window at night or when you are out of the house...

I don't think the author of the letter was trying to be amusing - it seemed like more of an attempt to be facetious ("Dear Victim...").

Clearly the kid was forced to write this letter and you have to ask yourself what the point was in this if the burglar has no remorse? At least they were honest I suppose. I wonder if the letter was actually sent and received: the article doesn't say.

I suppose the next boneheaded toe-rag to be celebrated on here as a bright young thing will be the one who mugged an elderly woman and then mocked her for failing to learn basic self-defence skills. This knowingly forced contrariness is really getting tiresome.

Forced contrariness? No. Taking the opposite view to the obvious? Yes. Clearly this is a dreadful young man who ought to be castigated for robbing people and then for not obeying the instructions (remorse, fake sincerity, apology).

You are quite right Pru. Like The Sun, we should be praising the accepted behaviour - pretend to be sorry, write standard sad letter, get benefits, early release, praise from tabloids - then go out and rob more cleverly next time.

Your lack of contrariness simply indicates lack of original thought I'm afraid. But not forced at all; natural and very much the way everyone should react. Obey the rules. Follow the herd.

I think his cheek and individuality deserves encouragement. Just the kind of rebel who, if trained and shown the right road, can become a real contributor to society.

JK2006 wrote:

I think his cheek and individuality...

H'mmm. Not just simple, unvarnished, arrogance then?

What you are suggesting - nay, stating - is that this "rebel" is really a clever young man who needs guidance, and that his anti social attitudes are an expression of individualism. All well and good. Except that the term "anti-social" carries with it the explicit message that the young man accepts and recognises the concept of "society" in the first place. I'd suggest politely that he doesn't.

And that is what requires teaching LO.

JK2006 wrote:
Forced contrariness? No. Taking the opposite view to the obvious? Yes. Clearly this is a dreadful young man who ought to be castigated for robbing people and then for not obeying the instructions (remorse, fake sincerity, apology).

You are quite right Pru. Like The Sun, we should be praising the accepted behaviour - pretend to be sorry, write standard sad letter, get benefits, early release, praise from tabloids - then go out and rob more cleverly next time.

Your lack of contrariness simply indicates lack of original thought I'm afraid. But not forced at all; natural and very much the way everyone should react. Obey the rules. Follow the herd.

I think his cheek and individuality deserves encouragement. Just the kind of rebel who, if trained and shown the right road, can become a real contributor to society.

I'm quite capable of thinking very carefully, with a damned sight more care and rigour than you, if you want to be insulting. I just don't make palpably incoherent and inconsistent arguments just to show how incredibly daring and superior I am to the inferior masses. You want to be Queenie Leavis? Get on with it, but it's a shameless pose. Within this short thread you've already changed your position about this 'clever' and 'bright' young angelic 'rebel'. Pathetic. Utterly pathetic.

JK2006 wrote:
Taking the opposite view to the obvious? Yes. .

That's the issue. There's nothing admirable about routinely taking the opposite point of view. It's just as bad as always taking the conventional view. It's instinctive and unthinking. I try to make a considered judgement. That's siding with neither position. Okay? So if you want to continue with the 'me, me, me' self-congratulation, fine, but don't misrepresent others and then insult them.

You're probably right Pru in that my default position is that usually the media get it wrong so I automatically support the other side. And of course you're right that burglary is wrong. And yes, this lad should change.

But I admire his cheek (he's basically saying "fuck you" to conventional methods of treating criminals). And I much prefer his attitude to the majority who fake remorse yet continue to offend.

And I loathe the morality that conforms to the "show remorse and you're forgiven" tabloid philosophy. They, on the other hand, worship hypocrisy.

And most important of all. He made me laugh. I'll forgive almost anyone virtually anything if they do that.

as someone who has been burgled (uninsured and nearly wiped out ) and had 3 cars stolen I should be wanting the teen burglar crucified but I believe his letter sounds far more honest and shows up the authorities more than anything else.

It sounds like he was forced to write it and people seem to demand he show false contrition which he says he is not about to. And why should he ?

His letter shows up failed authority( including education) and people's anger should be directed at those who have allowed one million youths to remain unemployed and a society where those youths are told they should have everything yet never will.

It's just another tiny indication that we are on the road to ruin...the real problem is ignored and will continue to be when it's a poor hapless woman who can least afford it who gets ripped off by an aimless yoof while we spend a zillion dollars 'rehabilitating' the yoof and get him to write idiotic letters.

But where would the tabloids be without all this subsidising of their newspapers ?