A Stodghill Says So blog:
Some people say there are no bad kids. That's a crock. Jackie saw one today at the doctor's waiting room. The boy of 7 or 8 had misbehaved when he saw the doctor so his grandfather explained why it wasn't the thing to do. The kid said, "And the point?"
Sounds like he'll be another Ronnie. When my 12-and-under baseball team used to practice at the field behind the high school Ronnie, who was about 10, would show up and sound off. He was better than anyone else and knew more than anyone else so he always had smart remarks for the players and sometimes for me. I'd chase him away but he'd keep running his mouth all the way home, which was just across the street.
He never changed and was still that way when he played on the high school's junior varsity basketball team during his sophomore year. The filth that came out of his mouth exceeded his talent.
Nothing changed when summer came. He had a bad word for everyone he'd see. One day a neighbor heard his mother say, "Ronnie, your dad wants you to take the trash can out to the curb."
Ronnie was right in form. "Tell the old bastard to do it himself."
That seemed to be the final straw and the old bastard couldn't take it any more. When he arrived home after work he was carrying a shotgun. No one knew if Ronnie had a few choice words before he was blown to pieces. Dad used the other barrel on himself so when the mother returned home she had some clean-up work ahead of her after the police left.
No such thing as a bad kid? Those who say that never met Ronnie. The bleeding hearts will contend it was the fault of the parents or he needed counseling. They're wrong. Ronnie got exactly what he needed. It just took a while for him to get it.

Ronnie was in a class by himself, Merri. He caused more grief to more people in 15 years than you could ever imagine. In all the years since that happened I have never heard a single person who knew him say he didn't get what he deserved.

I have a long list of people who should "get what they deserve," according to me and quite a few others. It's not my job to play God and take someone's life just because I think they "deserve it." That's all I'll say on the subject. I'm not trying to change your mind, by the way, just expressing my opinion.

You are right Dick, There are many bad people like Ronnie. Nothing will change them...nothing. There is a truth I know. Many people who appear good, will prove to be bad when times get bad.

Merri, I didn't kill him, Honest, it wasn't me. Not that I wasn't tempted at times.

You're right, Marie. Ronnie was evil personified.

That's what you say now, Dick. Didn't I just read in another thread that a well-placed lie here or there can work in your favor.

You're right, Merri. But this time I was telling the truth. Honest. Would I lie?

Does a bear go in the woods?

I call 'em as I see 'em. Of course, not all men are like that, just like all women don't act in a specific way. I am not a man-hater, just for your information. Most men I know would rather settle an argument with their fists rather than their words.

The gentleman Dick referred to was obviously fed up and at the end of his rope. But the question remains, he took his son's life and his own life, but his wife was left to pick up the pieces after they were both gone. That scenario plays out often. Does that mean that he didn't care about his wife or child? Did he think he was doing the world some kind of service? Why didn't he stick around afterward to face the consequences of his actions?

Which leads me to think about how many men walk away from the responsibility of fatherhood. Mothers do, too, from motherhood. It's not only the men, lest you call me a man-hater again!!! You're the first person to ever conclude that I hate men. Fascinating.

Merri,
I apologize for the man hater remark, SINCERELY. I was POd by your generalization of men.

Marie,

Well said!

I don't think suicide is an act of cowardice; however, I do think it takes a lot of moxy to try and make a situation better.

I don't know what I would do in this particular case, especially since I don't know all the details.

I do know a lot of very good parents who have young ones who grew up to be, gosh, what's the best word to use... horrid people is the close I can come to an accurate description. They have no thought for others, are involved in criminal activity, and much more. Some folks would say they were rotten from the get go. Others might say they have mental illness. Both may be true. My thought would be, so how do we help these young people a) not harm others, b) not harm themselves, and c) become useful members of society? Those are tough issues that are not easily solved. The parents are beside themselves, wondering what they did to "make" their kids rotten. Just FYI, one couple has four children. Two are model citizens. Two are barely even citizens according to societal rules. Another couple has one child. And yet another couple has two children. One who they have all but disowned and the other who is bent on following the other's footsteps it seems.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but I daresay it's not shooting them.