Arrested for Doodling on a Desk? "Zero Tolerance" at Schools Is Going Way Too Far

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You mean only important things make the news in Australia? Like this?:

Trialthlon champion Craig Alexander's bikes stolen before world title tilt

TRIATHLON superstar Craig Alexander's preparations for this year's Ironman World Championship have been thrown into disarray after his bikes were stolen.

The crooks took two unique bikes plus parts worth about $25,000, after breaking into his Cronulla home.

A number of other homes and garages in the southern Sydney suburb were also targeted between 9pm (AEDT) on Sunday and 7am yesterday, police said.

Alexander will speak to the media this morning and appeal for the return of his bikes.

"I've invested a lot of time and effort in training for an upcoming overseas event in three weeks' time and the theft of my competition bikes is a major setback," the athlete said.

"I'd appeal to anybody who knows the current location of the bikes to contact police so they can be returned and I can resume my quest for world championship success."

The Ironman World Championship, which Alexander won in 2009 and 2008, are due to be held in Hawaii in October.

Anyone with information about the thefts are asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.

http://www.news.com.au/national/trialthlon...r-1225835913495

Or maybe something more earth shattering like this? :

Sony says don't use PlayStation 3 for 24 hours

SONY has advised PlayStation 3 owners across the world not to use their consoles for 24 hours while they work on fixing a bug.

A post on the official PlayStation blog today read: "As you may be aware, some customers have been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network today.

"We believe we have identified that this problem is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.”

The problem began last night and was continuing today and affects models other than the new slim PS3.

The blog listed five errors that users may experience as a result of the bug and then advised them not to use their system until the issue had been resolved.

"If you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data."

The latest blog update had 292 comments on it at the time of writing.

Most posters appeared thankful for the information and were prepared to live without their PS3 for a period.

But not so for user "poweredbyzen", who wrote: "this caused me a lot of stress – you owe me free movies and games for life sony! :\"

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/natio...9-1225835953397

Edited March 2, 2010 by spookyturtle

[Ali G. 37]

You mean only important things make the news in Australia? Like this?:

Triathlon champion Craig Alexander's bikes stolen before world title tilt

Or maybe something more earth shattering like this? :

Sony says don't use PlayStation 3 for 24 hours

Um doesn't that prove my point. People there are not on a US style witch hunt against their government. While it is a totally different system of government, nevertheless, it is the government elected by the will of the people.

They also tend to actually work on issues and you certainly won't see something discussed based on whether it's "Constitutional" or not. I am surprised that wasn't thrown around in this thread, as it seems to be in every other topic.

Edited March 2, 2010 by Booyah

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's the whole point, it would not have made the media. It kills me you play ignorant to this. What is considered newsworthy here, is probably not newsworthy there. I do also read BBC every few days and can without a doubt say what is considered newsworthy on there, is quite different to what is considered newsworthy here.

Something like this would have been handled by the department of education; rightfully, nothing to see move along.

Here is a sample of what has been deemed "newsworthy" in the Australian media.

Councils urged to overhaul "outrageous" bylaws

Sex Crazed Elephant causes $303,000 worth of damage at wedding

Angry Anderson blames "other cultures" for corrupting good old Aussie violence

Lap-dancing teacher 'bobbed head near genitals'

Teenage Girl Threatens Delivery Driver

Sharon Osbourn Loses it over rival Dannii Minogue

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Um doesn't that prove my point. People there are not on a US style witch hunt against their government. While it is a totally different system of government, nevertheless, it is the government elected by the will of the people.

They also tend to work on issues, furthermore, you certainly won't see something discussed on the merit of whether it's "Constitutional" or not. I am surprised that wasn't thrown around in this thread, as it seems to be in every other topic.

It's a different point. You claimed that the story in the OP (and stories like it) is frivolous and would not have been reported in the Australian media - because it isn't newsworthy.

It's not believable.

[Ali G. 37]

Councils urged to overhaul "outrageous" bylaws

Sex Crazed Elephant causes $303,000 worth of damage at wedding

Angry Anderson blames "other cultures" for corrupting good old Aussie violence

Lap-dancing teacher 'bobbed head near genitals'

Teenage Girl Threatens Delivery Driver

Sharon Osbourn Loses it over rival Dannii Minogue

Still fail to see any that are an equivalent witch hunt against the government.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Um doesn't that prove my point. People there are not on a US style witch hunt against their government. While it is a totally different system of government, nevertheless, it is the government elected by the will of the people.

They also tend to actually work on issues and you certainly won't see something discussed based on whether it's "Constitutional" or not. I am surprised that wasn't thrown around in this thread, as it seems to be in every other topic.

No, it just proves that stupid things make the news everywhere. Only you can make it into a US is bad Australia is good analogy.

[Ali G. 37]

It's a different point. You claimed that the story in the OP (and stories like it) is frivolous and would not have been reported in the Australian media - because it isn't newsworthy.

It's not believable.

Still stands. What occurs in a middle school would not have made the news, unless it was something big or positive.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Still fail to see any that are an equivalent witch hunt against the government.

Do you also fail to see how these headlines (from the Australian media) are sensationalist?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Still stands. What occurs in a middle school would not have made the news, unless it was something big or positive.

But the Aussie stories I posted were important, big and positive? Please.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Teacher denies lesbian affair with pupil

Schoolboy, 11 threatens pupil, 12 with knife

Trial aims to tame bad behaviour in classroom

Boy, 14 arrested after making threats with large knife at school

[Ali G. 37]

No, it just proves that stupid things make the news everywhere. Only you can make it into a US is bad Australia is good analogy.

Never made it into a US is bad. However, there is a big difference in parenting style over here. Parents over there just don't tend to put their kids on the same 'your sh-t don't stink' pedestal, as many do here.

We know little about this 7th grader or their past and I sure any attempt to find out this information would (conveniently) be considered an 'invasion of privacy'. As a result, the incident is sensationalized to sound like this good normal teenager by the name of Gonzalez, had an awful teacher 'like, call the cops on them'. Unfortunately I am not one of these kid's dumb parents, so I don't buy the horseshit.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Teacher denies lesbian affair with pupil

Schoolboy, 11 threatens pupil, 12 with knife

Trial aims to tame bad behaviour in classroom

Boy, 14 arrested after making threats with large knife at school

Yea, but these are all important stories. They don't reflect anything anti-government like all US stories do. I can change the rules and pretend that I meant something different than what I posted.

[Ali G. 37]

Teacher denies lesbian affair with pupil

Schoolboy, 11 threatens pupil, 12 with knife

Trial aims to tame bad behaviour in classroom

Boy, 14 arrested after making threats with large knife at school

Once again, thanks for illustrating the point. All of these articles are discussing legitimate and serious issues in a school.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Never made it into a US is bad. However, there is a big difference in parenting style over here. Parents over there just don't tend to put their kids on the same 'your sh-t don't stink' pedestal, as many do here.

We know little about this 7th grader or their past and I sure any attempt to find out this information would (conveniently) be considered an 'invasion of privacy'. As a result, the incident is sensationalized to sound like this good normal teenager by the name of Gonzalez, had an awful teacher 'like, call the cops on them'. Unfortunately I am not one of these kid's dumb parents, so I don't buy the horseshit.

How about this one?

Teen's 100 offences in one year

A TEEN committed a string of burglaries and is the key suspect in an indecent assault less than 24 hours after being released from custody.

During the past 12 months the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has racked up more than 100 offences, The Geelong Advertiser reports.

He spent five weeks in custody for similar offences before being granted his freedom last Thursday.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/...x-1225835951910

He was locked up again yesterday after being denied bail with the magistrate calling him an unacceptable risk to society.

A children's court was told yesterday that he was naked when he brushed his pelvis up against a girl and grabbed her breasts last Friday.

The child, who does not attend school, was taken to Barwon Heads on February 26 to meet with friends but did not return to get picked up.

Read the rest of this report at The Geelong Advertiser.

[Ali G. 37]

Yea, but these are all important stories. They don't reflect anything anti-government like all US stories do. I can change the rules and pretend that I meant something different than what I posted.

Why of those articles attempt to paint the teacher as a fool?