Three Black kids walk into a convenience store and...

Gotta nail them for something. There are statistics to maintain!

 

Most people do not have an opportunity to get away with stealing thousands of dollars on a day to day basis. One thing I have learned as a lawyer is that the reason most people do not fall prey to temptation is the fear of severe punishment or the other consequences of their actions.

 

I was coming here expecting to be impressed. Except I see that there was a camera. What if there was no camera, or it had been "hidden"? I would give them more respect for that.

 

So doing the right thing doesn't count for much on your scorecard?

 

in this case a camera that they were aware of would be little deterrent to committing a crime with nobody around to stop them from dismantling, the camera, covering the lens or their faces. It doesn't really change their opportunity to get away with stealing food, money, and whatever else was on hand.

And to those saying that they shouldn't be commended for doing the right thing, let me also add that nobody is suggesting they be given a medal of honor. The only thing suggested is that the stereotypes many on these boards have presented as their own beliefs aren't necessarily accurate.

Again it's odd that recognizing that is what gets some peoples goats, and not the people presenting such grotesquely false stereotypes.

 

oh yeaH? well, which booster gave those black kids the money? ever think about that?

kidding!

 

Of course it would be easy for people who are predisposed to criminal behavior to do what you suggest, and for such people indeed the camera would not serve as a real deterrent. But I'm sure you'd agree there's no reason to think these particular kids are of such a character. They are just typical, decent citizens. Nothing particularly commendable in their actions. They did what I imagine the vast majority of the population would have done if they were in a similar situation.

 

I understand both arguments here. It IS a good story, and same time it shouldN'T have to be a story. Overall, I'm still glad this was aired. I'm also glad to read the comments of posters who only have nothing positive to say. Thanks for showing me who you are.


btw- This probably aired toward the end of the broadcast... when the news airs feel-good stories. i.e. Ish about kittens, crafts, and good Samaritan type things.

 

That's kind of the whole point. Nobody is suggesting they get a medal. It seems like it was posted merely to go against the stereotype that some on these boards have been portraying. And this story does indeed go against that stereotype.

What is troubling is that some people get more angry about this story being posted than about the horrible stereotypes.

 

Erm. Nobody is getting angry. Maybe YOU get angry about some things said here, but Im sure most of us just roll our eyes.

I don't feel compelled to get all emotional over trolling. If you can't discern when someone is blatantly trolling, then you are probably better off not visiting the D&D.

 

Racist sack of excrement.

 

Yes angry may not have been the best word to choose. More people are posting their protests about this than about the racist stereotypes being presented.

 

I don't think their race matters as much as their age. I'm shocked 3 college kids would walk into an empty store and leave money for their goods.

A bad group is going to steal more than they came in for. The normal group probably just takes what they needed.

Should not stealing be a big deal? No, but they didn't just not steal. They paid for what they wanted basically on the honor system.

 

Seriously? Even with a camera pointing towards them? I would think most would either leave without taking the items, or they'd put the money on the counter and make sure the camera sees they are paying for it to dissuade the store owner from pressing charges.

 

As a recent graduate the only friends of mine I could think of that wouldn't pay for the items, are my friends who didn't go to college.

Now if we were talking about 16ish year olds it'd be a different story. I knew many kids that did petty theft then, but grew out of it by the time they graduated hs.

 

I believe most people would walk out if they found the store unmanned.

 

The right thing? Walking out without checking out messes with the store inventory system, counting the till, and accounting for sales tax! The manager probably spent an hour fixing everything.

 

Apparently that bothered the owner so much that he rewarded them.

 

Agreed. It is a good story, but it almost seems racist in a way to view it as noteworthy, especially given the race of the people in the news story.

 

I had a similar impression. Would three white college kids be given $50 rewards for this? Maybe I'm misjudging how most people would react in this situation, but I know I would never expect a reward for not committing a crime. That suggests that the expectation is for them to steal the items. Its insulting.