Bring back the stocks...

19

... well, the pillory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillory) as a form of minor punishment.

Basically I think it'd be a fine cure for basic anti-social behaviour (fighting, theft, mugging, vandalism and the like), particularly amongst the young. In effect, offer a sentence of four hours or so of the afternoon spent in the town square in such a device - with a notice of your crimes up. Public humiliation is, to my mind, a fairly decent and humane way of dealiing with petty criminals - and seems to be a good preventative measure.

Just to be on the safe side, one can buy oneself out of it for a reasonably hefty fine instead.

I imagine someone will contend that this is somehow a violation of someone's rights. Personally, I don't think so. It's not hugely unpleasant physically, just socially; and what's more important - it's cheap. Line 'em up, employ someone at minimum wage to keep an eye on them and that's that.

Any thoughts? Or anybody who cares to disagree with me...?

Reply 1

Thud

17

Lib North

Just to be on the safe side, one can buy oneself out of it for a reasonably hefty fine instead.

oh so it's only the poor then who'll have to do it? :rolleyes:

Reply 2

Adam83

12

public humiliation is the best way. I would bring it back.
In fact i would do alot worse.

Reply 3

ForumFreak

9

I like that idea. There should also be a big sign above the persons head telling everyone what they have done. I also think there should be security guards to stop people throwing things at them.

Reply 4

Q.E.D

12

Definitely agree, especially instead of stuff like ASBOs- there is no way that wasting 4-5 hours in the middle of the street will be seen as a badge of honour...

Reply 5

L i b

OP

19

Thud

oh so it's only the poor then who'll have to do it? :rolleyes:

The same could be said for any fine, I suppose. I'd imagine they'd set it at a level that would take into account its effect on the person in question.

Reply 6

Thud

17

Lib North

The same could be said for any fine, I suppose. I'd imagine they'd set it at a level that would take into account its effect on the person in question.

i thought you meant like a flat level fine. But anyway, rich kids would just get daddy to pay.

Q.E.D

Definitely agree, especially instead of stuff like ASBOs- there is no way that wasting 4-5 hours in the middle of the street will be seen as a badge of honour...

wanna bet?

At my school people used to get told to stand up if they was talking in assembly; this did nothing to stop people talking, they just laughed about it after with their mates.

Reply 7

Agent Smith

11

Lib North

... well, the pillory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillory) as a form of minor punishment.

Basically I think it'd be a fine cure for basic anti-social behaviour (fighting, theft, mugging, vandalism and the like), particularly amongst the young. In effect, offer a sentence of four hours or so of the afternoon spent in the town square in such a device - with a notice of your crimes up. Public humiliation is, to my mind, a fairly decent and humane way of dealiing with petty criminals - and seems to be a good preventative measure.

Just to be on the safe side, one can buy oneself out of it for a reasonably hefty fine instead.

I imagine someone will contend that this is somehow a violation of someone's rights. Personally, I don't think so. It's not hugely unpleasant physically, just socially; and what's more important - it's cheap. Line 'em up, employ someone at minimum wage to keep an eye on them and that's that.

Any thoughts? Or anybody who cares to disagree with me...?

What do you do if you put someone in the stocks and a disgruntled victim of their antisocial behaviour comes along and kicks them repeatedly in the head?

Reply 8

Mikesev

10

Thud

i thought you meant like a flat level fine. But anyway, rich kids would just get daddy to pay.

wanna bet?

At my school people used to get told to stand up if they was talking in assembly; this did nothing to stop people talking, they just laughed about it after with their mates.

Fair point.

Make them do it naked.

Reply 9

Thud

17

Agent Smith

What do you do if you put someone in the stocks and a disgruntled victim of their antisocial behaviour comes along and kicks them repeatedly in the head?

you fine them and put them in the stocks! it's flawless!

Reply 10

Thud

17

Mikesev

Fair point.

Make them do it naked.

........you don't see a problem with having naked teenagers standing in the streets? :s-smilie:

Reply 11

ForeverIsMyName

15

Oddly enough I agree with Lib on this one. Goes against all my liberal sesitivities but what the hell.

Reply 12

Mikesev

10

Thud

........you don't see a problem with having naked teenagers standing in the streets? :s-smilie:

ok ok... some humiliating form of clothing. A pink tou tou.

Reply 13

mancsmithsfan

9

never mind the stocks what about the guillotine? Hang all the chavs publically in the town square!

Reply 14

Thud

17

i'm not entirely sure where I stand (hence the not having -10, -10 on that political compass thing :wink:

) here. Whilst I agree the effect of the wider community on a person can be quite significant (look at say Stakhanovites in the SU) but then I can't see how this could ever work practically in a modern society. I don't think that crime is due necessarily to lack of punishment, there are other factors to take into account: boredom, poverty, lack of positive role models, this society's values in general etc. And punishing people in this way will just be another attempt by the establishment to ignore the real underlying causes of crime and instead just scare people (which often doesn't work) into doing their will.

Reply 15

Alasdair

14

I'd far prefer them to do something that was both humiliating and good for the community. Pick up dog**** wearing a bright pink pair of overalls, for example...

Reply 16

cottonmouth

11

Yeah, lets go back in time....what a stupid idea.

And ou said it "seems to be a good preventative measure". Were you alive when they used to do this? How the hell do you know? I think it would make people desperate for revenge, being humiliated like that in public. It would cause no end of public disorder. And yes, i'll be the one who says it breaches human rights laws.

Reply 17

TheThirdMan

1

Are you all serious!? I can't believe it! It's not the kind of thing a civilised society should do.

Reply 18

decola

8

alasdair_R

I'd far prefer them to do something that was both humiliating and good for the community. Pick up dog**** wearing a bright pink pair of overalls, for example...