Store Owner Charged After Spanking Customer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Bill O'Rights · 07-09-2003, 10:26 AM

<b>Store Owner Charged After Spanking Customer</b>

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina store owner says a boy was bothering a parrot and teaching it to swear -- so he spanked him.

Now he faces a misdemeanor assault charge.

William Soper says he was just defending his property.

Soper keeps eight pet parrots at his Clock World store in Statesville. He says one of them, named Sparky, began using expletives for the first time when a 9-year-old boy was at the store last month.

Soper says the boy and his 12-year-old brother also were spitting on the 6-year-old female green-wing parrot. The boys deny it.

Soper says he grabbed Matthew Bustle by the shirt, spanked him and told the boys to stay away if they couldn't behave. Their mother called police.

If convicted, Soper could face up to 60 days in jail and a fine.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Phaenx · 07-09-2003, 10:38 AM

Kids these day have to learn respect for others somehow, back in the day this guy would have strung them up by their ears on a pole, and noone would have said a thing!

Charlatan · 07-09-2003, 10:44 AM

He shouldn't have spanked the kid... BUT he should have escorted them out of his store, banned them from returning and spoken to their parents.

It is a clear case of assault. He has no right to hit another person's child (regardless of how ill behaved that child was).

SiN · 07-09-2003, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Charlatan
He shouldn't have spanked the kid... BUT he should have escorted them out of his store, banned them from returning and spoken to their parents.

It is a clear case of assault. He has no right to hit another person's child (regardless of how ill behaved that child was).

agreed.

The_Dude · 07-09-2003, 11:06 AM

he didnt have the right to spank the kids. he could have called the cops or juvi cops or whatever, but shouldnt have laid a hand on the kid.

isandro · 07-09-2003, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Kids these day have to learn respect for others somehow, back in the day this guy would have strung them up by their ears on a pole, and noone would have said a thing!

I'd like to believe those days are over, that we've found different ways to deal with these things.
I've never been completely sure, but I think it'd be better to just ban them for a while.

bondagegirl · 07-09-2003, 11:51 AM

I think the guy shouldn't have spanked the kid but... I definitly don't think he should go to jail over it, they were harassing him.

rogue49 · 07-09-2003, 12:03 PM

I need another option.

No, he shouldn't have spanked the boy.
No, he shouldn't be prosecuted about it.

We have other more important things to tie up the court systems,
and he doesn't need this shit on his record.

SiN · 07-09-2003, 12:06 PM

he should be somehow reprimanded tho.

both the boy and the store guy.

isandro · 07-09-2003, 12:22 PM

I agree that 60 days seems pretty steep. On the other hand, not prosecuting is just passively accepting.
I'd prefer a clear signal that corporal punishment is no longer acceptable.
Let them both do a couple of hours of community work together

papermachesatan · 07-09-2003, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Dude
he didnt have the right to spank the kids. he could have called the cops or juvi cops or whatever, but shouldnt have laid a hand on the kid.

yep. He had no business trying to discipline the kids.

krwlz · 07-09-2003, 01:59 PM

He didnt do any real harm, and the kid shud have known better. If the parent isnt going to do anything, some one has to.

mdjl8912 · 07-09-2003, 02:27 PM

If he's prosecuted and convicted, that opens the door wide for a civil suit ... scary. Infliction of mental distress, etc. He should have known better.

mr_burns · 07-09-2003, 04:33 PM

SOme of you defend the parents of a NINE-YEAR-OLD who knows and is so open about swearing that he does it in stores? That he was brought up in such a way that it is acceptable, in his parents minds, to spit on what is not just other peoples property, but a living, innocent creature? Dear god people, someone needed to teach this kid a lesson about respect of property and the proper way to treat living creatures, becuase his parents sure as hell wern't

Hydralisk · 07-09-2003, 05:01 PM

these kind of things should be allowed. Only problem with allowing these kind of things is that people don't know how much is enough. Nobody walks away without saying anything when someone dies because of it.

BBtB · 07-09-2003, 05:01 PM

I agree with the mind set that he shouldn't have spanked him, just escorted him out. That said I highly doubt that whatever spanking this guy did REALLY did any damage to the kid. In fact it probably served some kid. Think of it like this, is it better for the kid to learn respect, albiet harshly,now; then for him to swear and spit at me in ten years and me beating him within an inch of his life? As far as the shop keeper being reprimanded, why? I mean its not like this guy is some serial spanker who randomly spanks kids and kicks them out of his store. Just tell the kid he is banned from the store and tell the guy to stay away from the kid while out of the store and everything will be fine.

Meridae'n · 07-09-2003, 05:46 PM

He had no right to touch the kids, but he shouldn't get bar-time for it...

tinfoil · 07-09-2003, 06:04 PM

If someone did that to one of my kids I would first return the favour and lay a beating on him.

Then I would go home and punish the child, though in a less severe manner I am sure.

You don't hit someone else's kid.

Case in point:

I was driving my new (at the time) GTP through a poorer part of town. Some kids pointed a pellet gun at my car and one actually fired, causing a small dent and scratch.

If I was that store owner I probably would have done something even worse. However, I did not.

I talked to the child's parents. One thing I can count on in the redneck part of town is that the parents would have A) told me to fuck off and threaten me until I got off the property, or B) beat the holy hell out of their kid.

Luckily it was b. It was kind of vindicating. That kid won't likely be pointing a gun at a car anytime soon.

View Poll Results: Should the store owner be charged for spanking the boy?
No. The boy was misbehaving.	7	43.75%
Yes. He didn't have the right to spank the boy.	9	56.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

07-09-2003, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Store Owner Charged After Spanking Customer <b>Store Owner Charged After Spanking Customer</b> STATESVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina store owner says a boy was bothering a parrot and teaching it to swear -- so he spanked him. Now he faces a misdemeanor assault charge. William Soper says he was just defending his property. Soper keeps eight pet parrots at his Clock World store in Statesville. He says one of them, named Sparky, began using expletives for the first time when a 9-year-old boy was at the store last month. Soper says the boy and his 12-year-old brother also were spitting on the 6-year-old female green-wing parrot. The boys deny it. Soper says he grabbed Matthew Bustle by the shirt, spanked him and told the boys to stay away if they couldn't behave. Their mother called police. If convicted, Soper could face up to 60 days in jail and a fine. Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. Last edited by Bill O'Rights; 07-09-2003 at 10:29 AM..

07-09-2003, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Kids these day have to learn respect for others somehow, back in the day this guy would have strung them up by their ears on a pole, and noone would have said a thing! __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

07-09-2003, 10:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	He shouldn't have spanked the kid... BUT he should have escorted them out of his store, banned them from returning and spoken to their parents. It is a clear case of assault. He has no right to hit another person's child (regardless of how ill behaved that child was). __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-09-2003, 11:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	he didnt have the right to spank the kids. he could have called the cops or juvi cops or whatever, but shouldnt have laid a hand on the kid. __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-09-2003, 11:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
bondagegirl Muy loca en la cabeza!! Location: San Diego. Ca.	I think the guy shouldn't have spanked the kid but... I definitly don't think he should go to jail over it, they were harassing him. __________________ "Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today."

07-09-2003, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
rogue49 Loser	I need another option. No, he shouldn't have spanked the boy. No, he shouldn't be prosecuted about it. We have other more important things to tie up the court systems, and he doesn't need this shit on his record.

07-09-2003, 12:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
SiN strangelove Location: ...more here than there...	he should be somehow reprimanded tho. both the boy and the store guy. __________________ - + - ° GiRLie GeeK ° - + - ° 01110010011011110110111101110100001000000110110101100101 Therell be days/When Ill stray/I may appear to be/Constantly out of reach/I give in to sin/Because I like to practise what I preach

07-09-2003, 12:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
isandro Crazy Location: Groningen, Netherlands	I agree that 60 days seems pretty steep. On the other hand, not prosecuting is just passively accepting. I'd prefer a clear signal that corporal punishment is no longer acceptable. Let them both do a couple of hours of community work together __________________ -Life, liberty and the pursuit of hamburgers.

07-09-2003, 01:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
krwlz Fledgling Dead Head Location: Clarkson U.	He didnt do any real harm, and the kid shud have known better. If the parent isnt going to do anything, some one has to.

07-09-2003, 02:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
mdjl8912 Upright	If he's prosecuted and convicted, that opens the door wide for a civil suit ... scary. Infliction of mental distress, etc. He should have known better.

07-09-2003, 04:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
mr_burns Upright	SOme of you defend the parents of a NINE-YEAR-OLD who knows and is so open about swearing that he does it in stores? That he was brought up in such a way that it is acceptable, in his parents minds, to spit on what is not just other peoples property, but a living, innocent creature? Dear god people, someone needed to teach this kid a lesson about respect of property and the proper way to treat living creatures, becuase his parents sure as hell wern't

07-09-2003, 05:01 PM	#15 (permalink)
Hydralisk Upright	these kind of things should be allowed. Only problem with allowing these kind of things is that people don't know how much is enough. Nobody walks away without saying anything when someone dies because of it.

07-09-2003, 05:01 PM	#16 (permalink)
BBtB ClerkMan! Location: Tulsa, Ok.	I agree with the mind set that he shouldn't have spanked him, just escorted him out. That said I highly doubt that whatever spanking this guy did REALLY did any damage to the kid. In fact it probably served some kid. Think of it like this, is it better for the kid to learn respect, albiet harshly,now; then for him to swear and spit at me in ten years and me beating him within an inch of his life? As far as the shop keeper being reprimanded, why? I mean its not like this guy is some serial spanker who randomly spanks kids and kicks them out of his store. Just tell the kid he is banned from the store and tell the guy to stay away from the kid while out of the store and everything will be fine. __________________ Meridae'n once played "death" at a game of chess that lasted for over two years. He finally beat death in a best 34 out of 67 match. At that time he could ask for any one thing and he could wish for the hope of all mankind... he looked death right in the eye and said ... "I would like about three fiddy"

07-09-2003, 05:46 PM	#17 (permalink)
Meridae'n Loose Cunt Location: North Bondi RSL	He had no right to touch the kids, but he shouldn't get bar-time for it... __________________ What's easier to believe: that a guy was born without sex in the manner of several Greek demigods and grew up to be able to transmute liquids and alter his body density yet couldn't escape government execution, or that three freemasons in a vehicle made with aluminum foil in an era before digital technology escaped our atmosphere, landing on the moon, broadcasted from there, and then flew back without burning up?

07-09-2003, 06:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	If someone did that to one of my kids I would first return the favour and lay a beating on him. Then I would go home and punish the child, though in a less severe manner I am sure. You don't hit someone else's kid. Case in point: I was driving my new (at the time) GTP through a poorer part of town. Some kids pointed a pellet gun at my car and one actually fired, causing a small dent and scratch. If I was that store owner I probably would have done something even worse. However, I did not. I talked to the child's parents. One thing I can count on in the redneck part of town is that the parents would have A) told me to fuck off and threaten me until I got off the property, or B) beat the holy hell out of their kid. Luckily it was b. It was kind of vindicating. That kid won't likely be pointing a gun at a car anytime soon. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.