USA: Being funny could send you to prison now

Man, this is a tough one. After knowing several people who were severely abused, it's kind of hard for me to not take it seriously.

On the other hand, I don't think the man should be in prison for so long for stupidity and extremely tactlessness.

If it really was more than just some sick joke, then it's likely just one thing in a long string of such abuses, and a child abused that severely will probably show some pretty clear signs.

Was anybody harmed? No. It wasn't a particularly funny joke, but he didn't do anything illegal. I'm not sure where this seven years in jail and 100,000 bond came from.

reply to post by insaan


I thought when I read the headline that you were going to post a story that Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart or BIll Maher or anyone who uses humor to show the stupidity of the system was going to be rounded up and arrested.

THAT would be sad.

Taping a child with duct tape is stupid, wrong, and NOT FUNNY in the slightest. You think it's funny? You tape up your kid and gag them, and laugh. You have then planted the idea in that kid's head that 'this is what adults think is funny', and they go do it to a runt on the playground; funny, right! Hahaha..NOT.
Then they grow up and have children, and they gag them and tie them up with duct tape....
FUNNY!! Hahahaha!

NOT.

reply to post by insaan


One question seems unanswered, was the kid in on it? If the kid volunteered or was in on the "joke" than I don't see any way they could keep him, set bail or press any charges. However if he taped up his kid against their will that's different and he should be arrested for it (though aggravated battery is a bit harsh). Also the comment under the photo suggested abuse.

This should not even be a matter of debate. If it was meant to be a joke and his daughter was in on it, nothing even remotely illegal took place. It doesn't matter if people find it 'distasteful', what matters if he was abusing his child or not. It's as simple as that.

Originally posted by ManjushriPrajna
Was anybody harmed? No. It wasn't a particularly funny joke, but he didn't do anything illegal. I'm not sure where this seven years in jail and 100,000 bond came from.

I'm with you on this, in spirit at least. Stupid and tasteless, yes - but that accounts for probably at least a good 30% of all comedy and general human ideas as well.

Unless some case can be made that he roughed his daughter up while doing this, left her like this for any period of time, or otherwise abuses/mistreats her, then I'm more than a little disappointed with the nanny-state cheerleading I see here.

I *regularly* see parents doing innocent things much more likely to cause severe and lasting harm to their children, as well as not so innocently berating or physically reprimanding them. If this girl were only bound in tape for the few minutes it took to get her that way and snap a picture, than this is simply a travesty of justice - and which do you all think will have a more lasting and negative impact on her? Being bound by way of stupid joke for a few minutes, or losing a parent and possible solid & loving home?

Without a good bit more information to properly determine his liability and guilt in the matter, I can only say shame on those who are calling this justice, and I have to agree with the attorney saying this has been blown out of all proportion.

reply to post by ping9

Originally posted by ping9

Figure it out. Don't be so broad with your judging brush.

You've got that backwards. I have passed no judgements. I have made no assumptions.

1. no history of child abuse
2. no history of any criminality
3. nobody was hurt (unless you count how all this media attention will affect this little girl)
4. posted picture on public forum
5. made joke (admittingly bad) to accompany said picture

1 & 2 = Irrelevant. Everything begins with a 1st time.
3 = Where is the video and/or quotes of the little girl defending her daddy's actions?
4 & 5 = Ignorance is not a valid excuse.

reply to post by insaan


People are way too sensitive and politically correct anymore.

Lighten up!

I would never give up enough of my freedom to not be able to express myself in any way that I see fit. IF this was seriously just a joke then there should be absolutely no problem. Do you actually want to live in an America where the government can take your child away for an "over the top" joke? What about morbid obesity??

i think he just needed a better punch line.
maybe,
it was either the tape or prozac!

I imagine if he did this as a joke, and his daughter was in on it, then the charges will be dropped. They will have no choice.

That being said.

It was not funny.
The man obviously has a sick sense of humor, and the real humor here is that it got him in a lot of trouble. I doubt he will do it again.

The problem lies in the image he created with his daughter.
Lots of people would look at it and immediately think a crime occurred. Which is what happened. I do not see how any charges can be pressed unless he DID abuse his daughter. That is the question here.
If she was playing and went along with it, then he is guilty of nothing more than very bad taste and a very bad sense of humor.

The fact that he is in jail with a 100,000 bond suggests to me that there was more to it though.

I didnt know taping up you child is considered a "family activity"

This was a punishment, as stated in the post to FB bu the father.
Maybe he was just headed down the wrong path with his choices. That is what happened to Nubia. The actions from her parents as to forms of punishment were headed down the wrong path. I wonder if they thought it was funny before they went too far. It is rare that abuseres see that their actions are abusive.

www.thedailybeast.com...

Originally posted by LongbottomLeaf
I didnt know taping up you child is considered a "family activity"

Speaking from the standpoint of history, would you consider taking nude (bathtime) photos, spanking, and throwing your child several feet up in the air to be family activities?

Given context and additional information or results, these become actual child pornography, physical abuse, and permanent (possibly debilitating or deadly) injury due to negligence. To crucify this father without additional information or evidence of a history of actual abuse or endangerment is simply ignorant and wrong, and yet another example of governmental overreach without valid justification.

Should it be investigated further? Absolutely, for reasons I've already mentioned. But to call this aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint if the picture is ALL that has been taken into consideration...? Give me a friggin' break.

reply to post by insaan


What the father did was not funny...it was cruel...and then taking a picture and posting it on Facebook...what a fool! I am just wondering if there is more to this story...than is not being told. I'm just saying.

I do think that these cases need to be investigated just to be sure, but if the father is right (and I dont see any evidence of abuse), then nothing illegal was done. And yes, it is funny..

Originally posted by LongbottomLeaf
I didnt know taping up you child is considered a "family activity"

What if you're playing cop and robber with you kid? What if your kid is the robber and you tie him up with a rope? What if you're playing Mummy? What if you wrap toilet paper all around your kid? That's why I asked, where's the boundary? Where do you draw the red line? If they can arrest you for this, no doubt, they can arrest you for other innocent activities which you play with your kids. I'm only touching the tip of the iceberg here..

Originally posted by LongbottomLeaf
I didnt know taping up you child is considered a "family activity"

Me neither.

And if you think about it, tape is painful when removed as well.

I would like to know where the mother is in all of this and where she is at on this matter.

If it was a joke then the punishment does not fit the crime.

But it was a crime.

A child cannot be 'in' on an adult's joke. Because they are a child. It is a responsibility of adults to treat children as children. This does not include taping them up, gagging them, or posting bondage pics on social media. Joke punishments include tickling, tossing up in the air and various other things that a child finds fun. It does not include duct tape. The guy is stupid, irresponsible, and a bad parent.