Foo - Sydney's killer featured on Dr. Phil

Did anyone else happen to catch it? http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=341124

I just watched it and Damn I am mad. :mad:

I didn't see the show. Did the idiots think texting while driving was ok learn anything or are they still stupid?

Sigh :(
A friend of mine was telling me the other day about a girl he knows who checks out her MySpace page while driving. I have a feeling that text messaging is only the beginning.

:(:(:(

I saw enough of it to know that the 'subject' has no business behind the wheel, and the 'mother' needs to discipline her own kid and not look to a TV pseudo-shrink for answers :mad::mad:

Parents like this **** me off!

As an aside, I realized how little responsibility is left in the parent/ child relationship when I was complimented in a grocery store for telling my kid 'no' in public! I appreciated the appreciation, but really, shouldn't that be a commonplace act!

Your job as a parent is to raise a respectable adult, not a friend or an eternal child! [/endrant]


Sorry, I kinda get worked up about this stuff.

I missed it. damn. I wonder if I can buy the episode.

I didn't catch the show either- I just hope Dr. Phil's producers did right by Sydney and his daughter.

I don't mean to derail this thread, and if this needs to go to A&S, I understand, but I thought I'd mention something that happened this past Saturday. We've all experienced this, I know. I was at a 4-way stop. I stopped at the intersection to let a cab make a turn (he was there first). There was another car behind the cab, and the driver of that car and I made eye contact, and he indicated that I was good to go. So, I cautiously proceeded to make a turn into the intersection, when around that car comes another cyclist (a late teen, FWIW) who almost took me out, sailing through the stop. When I mentioned (politely, BTW) that he had a stop sign, he not-so-nicely informed me that he'd take care of himself and I should take care of myself. With an attitude like that (and I know it's pervasive), is it any wonder that people (not just teens) have this "no big deal" thing about texting?

Sigh indeed, gbcb. :(:(:( ::mad::

I missed it. damn. I wonder if I can buy the episode.

I wish i could get it off of the DVR but I am stuck with stupid Cox cable and I don't think there is any way to get it off short of possibly to VHS, but I don't want to screw with that. The main focus of the show was this one self absorbed girl who contended that she should be able to text and drive because she is a "good texter."

Then they spoke to sydney's killer and he of course was remorseful and everyone patronized the young, possibly justifingly so, but it is to much for me to take. I was really effected by sydney's passing and the thought of being taken out from the rear like that is haunting.

There is absolutely nothing you can do about it. I guess the only real thing i took away from the show was the hopelessness of the entire car culture as it is today. There are just waaaaay to many self absorbed carpet smokers (sydney term) on the road today.

Most of these stupid kids have absolutely no knowledge of how fast their car is going while they are flying down the road playing with their phone. The only hope would be more education for them prior to driving, but unfortunately the only education most of them get is after they kill somebody.

It's been a long time since I was a teenager but I do remember that I thought I was indestructible.

It's been a long time since I was a teenager but I do remember that I thought I was indestructible.

Yeah- me too. But I don't remember thinking that everyone else was.

Might find someone torrented it...maybe

I think I would kill the ******* if I got within ten feet.

With so many people in this world, would it matter if there was one less person? I say we get rid of the kid, he's killed once before, he'll kill again.

With so many people in this world, would it matter if there was one less person? I say we get rid of the kid, he's killed once before, he'll kill again.


It's almost like the kid was the victim. There was a lot more talk about how great he was for doing public speaking against texting and driving, but part of that was his sentence. I know the kid is truly sorry, but as always in these situations, the victim is dead. He's never coming back and he doesn't get to utter a single word on the subject.

That is what the "justice" system is supposed to be for, but when it comes to vehicle/pedestrian deaths, there is sort of a "whoopsie" attitude taken by all parties involved other than the poor victim.

I don't care if the kid's truly sorry, some mistakes in life, you only get 1 chance to make.

It's like saying, "I regret drinking the cyanide", I don't care if you're sorry, it's too late. I say we get rid of him, that would convey the message a LOT louder and clearer than any public speaking this kid will ever do.

You think a classroom full of high school kids is gonna think "gee I better be more careful, I don't want to end up like this kid giving me the speech right now"? No freaking way.

Take him out and I bet a lot more high school kids are gonna go "holy ****! They just executed the son of a *****! Holy ****! I better be more careful out there."

I saw enough of it to know that the 'subject' has no business behind the wheel, and the 'mother' needs to discipline her own kid and not look to a TV pseudo-shrink for answers :mad::mad:

Parents like this **** me off!

As an aside, I realized how little responsibility is left in the parent/ child relationship when I was complimented in a grocery store for telling my kid 'no' in public! I appreciated the appreciation, but really, shouldn't that be a commonplace act!

Your job as a parent is to raise a respectable adult, not a friend or an eternal child! [/endrant]


Sorry, I kinda get worked up about this stuff.
Me too. It's somewhat comforting to know I'm not the only one who sees the connection between the child that is never told no and the teenager who only thinks of his/herself.

Thats the sad thing about people, they want to be safe so they buy huge cars, and end up killing other people because they're irresponsible, but SAFE, so they don't have to give a flying ****.

I drive a car that weighs barely a ton, I depend on my paying attention and it's maneuverability to keep me from being in accidents, and if it comes down to it, I depend on my wits and reflexes to keep me from dying in such an accident, because no matter how big a car I buy, I can never depend that it's big enough.

I think I would kill the ******* if I got within ten feet.

that's a very well reasoned and mature response.

I saw it. it was a good show.

The girl that was on there needs a severe smack down and mom needs biotch slapped. They are both a hazard to others on the road.

The young man that was there appeared to be truly contrite. He stated that in the courtroom he went over to Jim's (Sidney)family and apologized. The family not only forgave him, but petitioned the court for leniency in sentencing.

Now, if the family is capable of such gracious forgiveness, why can't we as a community let go of it?

We are brought in to this world owing a death, each and everyone of us owes a death. Some come sooner, some come later. Some come at the hands of a virulent disease, some come at the hands of a selfish human being acting greed or selfishness. We don't get to choose how or when, unless we choose to die at our own hand.

Just as Sidney's family must live with the repercussions of what has happened, so must this young man. They will heal. Speaking as one who has lost a loved one at the selfish hand of another... They WILL heal. Forgiveness brings about faster healing. They won't forget, but they will heal.

Don't we as a community deserve the chance to heal as well?

Let's start by forgiving.

I saw it. it was a good show.

The girl that was on there needs a severe smack down and mom needs biotch slapped. They are both a hazard to others on the road.

The young man that was there appeared to be truly contrite. He stated that in the courtroom he went over to Jim's (Sidney)family and apologized. The family not only forgave him, but petitioned the court for leniency in sentencing.

Now, if the family is capable of such gracious forgiveness, why can't we as a community let go of it?

We are brought in to this world owing a death, each and everyone of us owes a death. Some come sooner, some come later. Some come at the hands of a virulent disease, some come at the hands of a selfish human being acting greed or selfishness. We don't get to choose how or when, unless we choose to die at our own hand.

Just as Sidney's family must live with the repercussions of what has happened, so must this young man. They will heal. Speaking as one who has lost a loved one at the selfish hand of another... They WILL heal. Forgiveness brings about faster healing. They won't forget, but they will heal.

Don't we as a community deserve the chance to heal as well?

Let's start by forgiving.

I don't get it. You start off by railing on two people who are hazards to others on the road, and don't seem to "get it", and then you petition for absolution for someone who has made the same egregious mistake that these two might possibly (likely?) commit. I just don't get it.

I don't get it. You start off by railing on two people who are hazards to others on the road, and don't seem to "get it", and then you petition for absolution for someone who has made the same egregious mistake that these two might possibly (likely?) commit. I just don't get it.

I actually understand Stacey's point here.

It's just plain not healthy to carry anger. The young man has made what effort he was able to to at least try to make amends and may well have a positive impact down the road to help prevent this from happening again. It's impossible for him to ever truly make amends, but likely, he realizes this more than anyone else and has to live with it for the rest of his days. At least he is willing to take responsibility and own his actions consequences.

The Mother/Daughter combo is continuing dangerous behavior, so in their case, yes, it's healthy to feel anger because we may be sharing the road with them.

Thank you Tom, that's right.


I don't get it. You start off by railing on two people who are hazards to others on the road, and don't seem to "get it", and then you petition for absolution for someone who has made the same egregious mistake that these two might possibly (likely?) commit. I just don't get it.

That's the problem with linear thinking. You're seeing these people on a common thread of actions, when in reality they travel on individual threads.

I petition for nothing except closure.

I saw it. it was a good show.
We are brought in to this world owing a death, each and everyone of us owes a death. Some come sooner, some come later. Some come at the hands of a virulent disease, some come at the hands of a selfish human being acting greed or selfishness. We don't get to choose how or when, unless we choose to die at our own hand.


But you can certainly statistically reduce the how or when.

I didn't see the show. Did the idiots think texting while driving was ok learn anything or are they still stupid?

Here's the lengthy interview text from his website - with pics.

http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/928

I saw it. it was a good show.

The girl that was on there needs a severe smack down and mom needs biotch slapped. They are both a hazard to others on the road.

The young man that was there appeared to be truly contrite. He stated that in the courtroom he went over to Jim's (Sidney)family and apologized. The family not only forgave him, but petitioned the court for leniency in sentencing.

Now, if the family is capable of such gracious forgiveness, why can't we as a community let go of it?

We are brought in to this world owing a death, each and everyone of us owes a death. Some come sooner, some come later. Some come at the hands of a virulent disease, some come at the hands of a selfish human being acting greed or selfishness. We don't get to choose how or when, unless we choose to die at our own hand.

Just as Sidney's family must live with the repercussions of what has happened, so must this young man. They will heal. Speaking as one who has lost a loved one at the selfish hand of another... They WILL heal. Forgiveness brings about faster healing. They won't forget, but they will heal.

Don't we as a community deserve the chance to heal as well?

Let's start by forgiving.




Best post of the year. Way to go Stacey. I agree 1,000,000%.

But you can certainly statistically reduce the how or when.

Yes, I agree, you can take steps in that direction.

This is why the young woman and her mother should both have some sense knocked it to them.

This is why DRIVING DISTRACTED... regardless of the distraction should carry stiff penalties. You are behind the wheel for one thing and one thing only to move a vehicle from point A to point B, that's it. Anything else is a distraction.

You can't go back and undo the fact that that young man killed Sidney. I was merely tangentially illustrating that Sidney owed a death regardless of how it was orchestrated

Best post of the year. Way to go Stacey. I agree 1,000,000%.

Thanks :)

Can I stop being serious now and go back to being a jerk, please. :D

I didn't see the show, but I read the transcript on the web-site and was appalled that the idiot girl still has her license, and still texts whilst driving. Interesting that there was no mention of her dad; I wonder what he thinks about it?

- Wil

10 to 1 says absentee father. ;)

Now, if the family is capable of such gracious forgiveness, why can't we as a community let go of it?

We are brought in to this world owing a death, each and everyone of us owes a death. Some come sooner, some come later. Some come at the hands of a virulent disease, some come at the hands of a selfish human being acting greed or selfishness. We don't get to choose how or when, unless we choose to die at our own hand.

Just as Sidney's family must live with the repercussions of what has happened, so must this young man. They will heal. Speaking as one who has lost a loved one at the selfish hand of another... They WILL heal. Forgiveness brings about faster healing. They won't forget, but they will heal.

Don't we as a community deserve the chance to heal as well?

Let's start by forgiving.

NO. Wrong. Sorry, but this is total BS.

"we are all going to die anyway", is that it? why don't I just run over some pedestrians tonight and tell them that Jebus would forgive me and we'll all heal?

How about some real laws preventing the many, many distractions car drivers now have and some real driver training? How about we learn from this and prevent it in the future?

How about training police to enforce better driving, rather than just handing out speeding tickets?

That kid is alive, every day. Sydney is dead, and he's not coming back.

NO. Wrong. Sorry, but this is total BS.

"we are all going to die anyway", is that it? why don't I just run over some pedestrians tonight and tell them that Jebus would forgive me and we'll all heal?

How about some real laws preventing the many, many distractions car drivers now have and some real driver training? How about we learn from this and prevent it in the future?

How about training police to enforce better driving, rather than just handing out speeding tickets?

That kid is alive, every day. Sydney is dead, and he's not coming back.

Actually when the trial was first starting - there were several of us who wrote to the lawyers in support of a harsher sentence. Lotta good that did :(

NO. Wrong. Sorry, but this is total BS.

"we are all going to die anyway", is that it? why don't I just run over some pedestrians tonight and tell them that Jebus would forgive me and we'll all heal?



Exactly, it's about the victim. Who gives a crap about the killer? Life is precious taking someone's by accident or otherwise is a very BAD thing.

I actually understand Stacey's point here.

It's just plain not healthy to carry anger. The young man has made what effort he was able to to at least try to make amends and may well have a positive impact down the road to help prevent this from happening again. It's impossible for him to ever truly make amends, but likely, he realizes this more than anyone else and has to live with it for the rest of his days. At least he is willing to take responsibility and own his actions consequences.

The Mother/Daughter combo is continuing dangerous behavior, so in their case, yes, it's healthy to feel anger because we may be sharing the road with them.

Well put, Tom and Stacey. I agree with your takes on this.

I read the interview statements.

Since Chelsea has been licensed, she has had three accidents due to texting. "I did get pulled over for going 80 in a 55 mile-per-hour zone," she says. "I didn't realize there was a speed change."

"Short of taking [the cell phone] away from her, I don't know how to stop her from actually doing it," says Candace. "I expect to get a phone call and find that she's been in a pretty serious accident because of her text messaging."

Are you kidding me? Take the damn cell phone away from her!

NO. Wrong. Sorry, but this is total BS.

"we are all going to die anyway", is that it? why don't I just run over some pedestrians tonight and tell them that Jebus would forgive me and we'll all heal?

How about some real laws preventing the many, many distractions car drivers now have and some real driver training? How about we learn from this and prevent it in the future?

How about training police to enforce better driving, rather than just handing out speeding tickets?

That kid is alive, every day. Sydney is dead, and he's not coming back.

C'mon your analogy suxs goat balls and you know it. You're being asinine!

Separate the two Doc.

I agree. Here, I'll say it slow so maybe you can understand: I . a-g-r-e-e . ! We need not only tougher laws, but we need to enforce them too. That's one issue. Capice?

Sidney is dead, the kid is still alive. That's a truth, a whole 'nother issue. Nothing short of the kid dying will change that. Even if the kid does die will that bring Sidney back to life? Of course not!

Will the death of the drunk driver, who was driving on the revoked list, in an uninsured vehicle with fictitious plates and then left the scene of an accident bring my brother in law and his finance back to life? Of course not!

Use the brains and compassion you were given to move forward and stop being stuck in hate.

I really feel sorry for you.

Well put, Tom and Stacey. I agree with your takes on this.

I read the interview statements.

Since Chelsea has been licensed, she has had three accidents due to texting. "I did get pulled over for going 80 in a 55 mile-per-hour zone," she says. "I didn't realize there was a speed change."

"Short of taking [the cell phone] away from her, I don't know how to stop her from actually doing it," says Candace. "I expect to get a phone call and find that she's been in a pretty serious accident because of her text messaging."

Are you kidding me? Take the damn cell phone away from her!

I agree with Stacey as well- excellent post, and more important, an excellent, compassionate practical philosophy.

I also agree with Mariner Fan's comment, except I'd add: take the damn car away from her, along with the cell phone. we already have way too much leeniency with DUIs- most of these get right back on the road again after their (usually) meaningless community service or short-term license suspension.

The answer here isn't killing people over this. Take away their instruments of crime (cell phones and cars) at the first conviction. Period. Need a car for work? Tough- move closer to your job. Need a cell phone? Tough- we've lived with land lines all these years and rumor has it that most of the world does as well. Get a land line with voicemail.

I agree with Stacey as well- excellent post, and more important, an excellent, compassionate practical philosophy.

I also agree with Mariner Fan's comment, except I'd add: take the damn car away from her, along with the cell phone. we already have way too much leeniency with DUIs- most of these get right back on the road again after their (usually) meaningless community service or short-term license suspension.

The answer here isn't killing people over this. Take away their instruments of crime (cell phones and cars) at the first conviction. Period. Need a car for work? Tough- move closer to your job. Need a cell phone? Tough- we've lived with land lines all these years and rumor has it that most of the world does as well. Get a land line with voicemail.

No no no, the answer isn't killing people over this, it's letting people kill themselves via their own stupidity, with the hope that they don't take anyone with them.

Maybe just exile them all to the isle of the stupid, with cellphones, beer, and fast unsafe cars.

I saw it. it was a good show.

The girl that was on there needs a severe smack down and mom needs biotch slapped. They are both a hazard to others on the road.

The young man that was there appeared to be truly contrite. He stated that in the courtroom he went over to Jim's (Sidney)family and apologized. The family not only forgave him, but petitioned the court for leniency in sentencing.

Now, if the family is capable of such gracious forgiveness, why can't we as a community let go of it?

We are brought in to this world owing a death, each and everyone of us owes a death. Some come sooner, some come later. Some come at the hands of a virulent disease, some come at the hands of a selfish human being acting greed or selfishness. We don't get to choose how or when, unless we choose to die at our own hand.

Just as Sidney's family must live with the repercussions of what has happened, so must this young man. They will heal. Speaking as one who has lost a loved one at the selfish hand of another... They WILL heal. Forgiveness brings about faster healing. They won't forget, but they will heal.

Don't we as a community deserve the chance to heal as well?

Let's start by forgiving.

Wonderful post, Stacey. Forgiveness is the only avenue, lest we become something truly horrible. Anyone who has dealt with our justice system knows that it gives only a facsimile of justice. An eye for an eye isn't the law, nor should it be. We compensate the victim (or those left behind) as best we can, but nothing can replace a lost family member or friend. The goal is to provide compensation and rebuke without destroying another life in the process.

The kid that killed sydney was given a second chance. Let's hope he continues to try and make up for what he did.

The girl and her mother should both just be shot now before they do the same thing the kid did.

No no no, the answer isn't killing people over this, it's letting people kill themselves via their own stupidity, with the hope that they don't take anyone with them.

Maybe just exile them all to the isle of the stupid, with cellphones, beer, and fast unsafe cars.

Hope in one hand and spit in the other, see which fills up first. ;)

Add me to the list of those who thought Stacey hit it just about spot on. The kid who killed Sydney absolutely deserves forgiveness. Why? Because he is not treating his incredibly serious mistake as just another "whoopsie." Because, from all reports I've seen, from the very moment after the collision with Sydney, he stood up and did what he could to make the situation better: he called 911, he stayed at the scene, he never denied responsibility, he faced Sydney's family, looked them in the eye, and took his medicine. This does not mean we should forget, or that the kid should be treated as if his moment of deadly stupidity never happened. It means that we should give him a chance to do other things with is life, too. It also does not mean that the kid has made everything okay. But as Stacey points out, nothing will do that.

Besides, if you wreak maximum vengeance on all transgressions with no account taken for the transgressor's actions after the fact, all you do is provide additional incentive for all transgressors to dodge, weave, lie, dissemble, run away, and (in this instance) leave someone on the side of the road to die without so much as an attempt to get help. Not a good outcome.

As for the girl and her mother, it just reinforces that Darien O'Toole (a radio DJ) had a point when she observed that it takes two forms of ID to rent a movie from Blockbuster, but any idiot with fallopian tubes can have a kid. The girl is doing what comes naturally to a kid who has never had boundaries set, has never been held to account for her actions, and who has never been taught what it means to respect the fact that others also happent to occupy the planet she's on. Her Mom, as the alleged adult, is the real culprit there. She has brought up a selfish, spoiled brat who is going to run into a cold, cruel world in the near future and wonder why everything doesn't just go her way. It's too late now to take away the phone and the car (although Mom absolutely has to do that) and expect the girl to learn anything from it; if you haven't started inculcating respect and consideration for others by the time kid is three (and probably younger), you've waited too long. It absolutely cannot start at 16.

Can I stop being serious now and go back to being a jerk, please. :D

They don't have to be mutually exclusive, you know. :D

Wonderful post, Stacey. Forgiveness is the only avenue, lest we become something truly horrible. Anyone who has dealt with our justice system knows that it gives only a facsimile of justice. An eye for an eye isn't the law, nor should it be. We compensate the victim (or those left behind) as best we can, but nothing can replace a lost family member or friend. The goal is to provide compensation and rebuke without destroying another life in the process.

are you sure you're from texas? ;)

They don't have to be mutually exclusive, you know. :D

But then I'd be Pete. :o

Well put, Tom and Stacey. I agree with your takes on this.

I read the interview statements.

Since Chelsea has been licensed, she has had three accidents due to texting. "I did get pulled over for going 80 in a 55 mile-per-hour zone," she says. "I didn't realize there was a speed change."

"Short of taking [the cell phone] away from her, I don't know how to stop her from actually doing it," says Candace. "I expect to get a phone call and find that she's been in a pretty serious accident because of her text messaging."

Are you kidding me? Take the damn cell phone away from her!


No....take the effin car keys and license away. This girl should NOT BE DRIVING!

No....take the effin car keys and license away. This girl should NOT BE DRIVING!


I wished I had seen the show. Two friends (husband and wife) of mine were killed by a texting teen driver several months ago. She (the texter) was on the interstate and dropped her cell while texting. When she attempted to pick it up, she swerved into the right lane and drove my friends off the interstate and down a hill where their auto rolled. They died instantly. The texter also went over the hill, but did not flip. She walked away without a scratch.

BTW, I have to agree with some who blame THE MOM for the child's texting while driving. If her daughter kills someone, mom should bear some of the responsibility. God it's sad. :(

... Brad

I saw enough of it to know that the 'subject' has no business behind the wheel, and the 'mother' needs to discipline her own kid and not look to a TV pseudo-shrink for answers :mad::mad:

Parents like this **** me off!

As an aside, I realized how little responsibility is left in the parent/ child relationship when I was complimented in a grocery store for telling my kid 'no' in public! I appreciated the appreciation, but really, shouldn't that be a commonplace act!

Your job as a parent is to raise a respectable adult, not a friend or an eternal child! [/endrant]


Sorry, I kinda get worked up about this stuff.

While im not a parent i do help watch my nieces friends kids. I know from my experience with them that you do not always need to punish a child to get them to do the right thing. Often (depends on the kid in question) you can simply explain to them why you want them to do this or that etc.
Example she and her finance got them a puppy. Any how they were suppose to take turns with her cuddling with her etc. well the middle one had her first then her youngest then her oldest. Well the youngest got her turn and shes only 3 so she decided to go do other things and handed it to the middle child to pass to the oldest. And kids being kids are greedy by nature she did not want to pass the pup over to her brother and flat out refused. So i talked to tyand told him you know what bud dont worry about it lets just sit her and watch tv while your mom cat naps for a bit (she was laying on the couch as well did not get much sleep do to a bad back night before). Any how i convinced him to just let it go and not get loud about it or fight about it and just watch tv. Told him heres what will happen your sisters will get in trouble as they tend to do in the mornings and get sent to their room to clean up the huge mess they made already. So guess whos going to get the puppy the entire time that your mom is doing her morning stuff and your sisters are stuck cleaning the room they messed up? He looks at me and says "me?"
Turned out his mom was not even remotely asleep and heard what i said and just waited for the chance to give him some positive re enforcement and them a nice lesson on why they should share.

So his sisters got loud about something making messes knocked over a lamp. She jumps up like shes all really ticked off and made them go clean up their mess and passed the puppy to ty. He looked at me and goes heh you was right.

Another day another great chance for a little lesson. Again the room was a wreck (kids will be kids) They are going to her finances house for the week end need to clean room first. Ty was working at it his sisters were just playing and remaking the mess the entire time. Me and her hatched a little plan to get them to do what they were suppose to do.
Went back in and acted like i was just telling ty but made sure it was just laud enough for them to hear me as well. "ty go ahead and keep cleaning im going to go tell your mom they are not doing their part and i want you cleaning up the room when she comes in. and went and sat in the living room with their mom. Couple minutes later she goes to check on the room and all 3 are doing their part.

So far the little lessons have for the most part held.

If your son or daughter are old enough to understand a reason don't just say no but say why you said no or told them to do this or that. Don't think your child lacks the ability to understand the why you say what you say. Chances are really good they will understand.

My Chelsie managed over 8,000 text messages her first month on the unlimited plan. She's over a year away from driving, but we've put the fear in her.

My Chelsie managed over 8,000 text messages her first month on the unlimited plan. She's over a year away from driving, but we've put the fear in her.

Holy crap, that's 266 a day, that's like, 17 per hour in a 16 hour day... nonstop.

I've been thinking long and hard about trying to put into words the way i feel about this subect. It seems like there is really no adequate way to describe it. I appreciate the fact that the victim is dead and that perhaps the best that can come out of the situation is that, the young man be forgiven, allowed to live a normal life and to somewhat advocate against texting and driving.

I get that. I also get the fact that anger is not an emotion that results in a lot of positive things but sometimes it is necessary. Imagine that you are on a riding on an average road like many of us do every day, just enjoying a peaceful ride. Then within a split second, you are subject to the most agonizing horrible event, you could ever imagine.

Someone plows into you from the rear while texting on their cell phone. The impact throws you into the windshield of the car and your body makes a major dent in the portion above the windshield. Can you imagine the force and the pain that must be present here? I can't. I don't want to.

Suddenly within minutes, a lifetime is over. All of your thoughts, hopes, dreams, future experiences are squashed, by a selfish driver who has no concept that an automobile is the most lethal, unacknowledged weapon in the history of mankind.

The problem with everyone being so dismissive is that nothing ever changes. We've all been subjected to the public speakers who worn us against drunken driving, but how many of us still did it as teens? It makes everybody feel good at the moment but little changes.

The only way things change is by punishment. The poster that suggested removing a finger for everyone caught probably has the best idea of anyone i've heard. Of course that wouldn't be acceptable in this pussified society, but it would be the most effective.

I'm just sick of the lack of justice in this country. I know a couple that had their home broken into several years ago. Two men broke in and beat, shot and stabbed them to death while they were sleeping. The stupid jury wouldn't sentence them to death, because they were to pussified. On top of that one of the killers had his sentence reduced later on because of a technicality.

My point? Far to many of these judgments and moments of forgiveness are made by people who are sitting in an air conditioned courtroom with a full stomach making decisions for people who have had there body crushed by a 3000 lb car or in the above case, hacked into pieces with a knife. Who really knows how that feels? Who represents what they really went through?

I didn't see the show, but I read the transcript on the web-site and was appalled that the idiot girl still has her license, and still texts whilst driving. Interesting that there was no mention of her dad; I wonder what he thinks about it?

- Wil




Someone please link the show to her myspace/facebook accounts so she will have a harder time procreating.


Thnks.

My Chelsie managed over 8,000 text messages her first month on the unlimited plan. She's over a year away from driving, but we've put the fear in her.
Did she see this TV show?