Couey Gets Death Penalty For Lunsford Murder

[chri'stina 190]

Has anyone considered that some people are just basically evil? This is like wondering why Hitler turned out like he did.

Gary, if that were true, then we should find out which children are evil spawn and exterminate them. A child is not born evil and people aren't born to hate. I suppose there are people who have an extra chromosome that makes them criminally insane, but most adults who do evil things were 'created' by adults when they were children. Those adults are out there right now - beating the sh#t out of their kids and other abuse. We can do better to stop them before those kids grow up to do evil things themselves.

I agree that is the case in many instances, but we've all heard stories about kids who grew up to do these things anyway, even without abusive parents. Or without any adult being abusive. You hear the parents say "I never imagined he/she could do this, they were a good boy/girl". I believe the mind can get twisted in many other ways in life even if that person had a pretty normal early life. We can do our best to stop it, but I think people also have to pay consequences of their actions no matter what made them do it.

I'd also debate whether people are born to hate or love. I don't think kids are born to hate, but I don't think they are born perfect either. So many kids I have seen running about like maniacs because they have no discipline at home. Why do they naturally misbehave instead of do good when there are no rules? (rhetorical question really)

Edited August 25, 2007 by stina&suj

[Peikko 1,575]

Kids don't naturally misbehave though...kids misbehave for a variety of reasons, one of which is to gain attention from the adults who are meant to be looking after them.

However, when you look at kids playing, most of the time their games are structured and have definite rules.

As for the DP, I still don't believe it serves a useful purpose.

It is always a good idea to try to find reasons why people do bad things. It's sometimes a difficult and disheartening process, but research has proved useful in the past to explain and treat a variety of mental health issues.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Has anyone considered that some people are just basically evil? This is like wondering why Hitler turned out like he did.

Gary, if that were true, then we should find out which children are evil spawn and exterminate them. A child is not born evil and people aren't born to hate. I suppose there are people who have an extra chromosome that makes them criminally insane, but most adults who do evil things were 'created' by adults when they were children. Those adults are out there right now - beating the sh#t out of their kids and other abuse. We can do better to stop them before those kids grow up to do evil things themselves.

I agree that is the case in many instances, but we've all heard stories about kids who grew up to do these things anyway, even without abusive parents. Or without any adult being abusive. You hear the parents say "I never imagined he/she could do this, they were a good boy/girl". I believe the mind can get twisted in many other ways in life even if that person had a pretty normal early life. We can do our best to stop it, but I think people also have to pay consequences of their actions no matter what made them do it.

I'd also debate whether people are born to hate or love. I don't think kids are born to hate, but I don't think they are born perfect either. So many kids I have seen running about like maniacs because they have no discipline at home. Why do they naturally misbehave instead of do good when there are no rules? (rhetorical question really)

I believe that psychosis happens when a child is abused, whether it is emotional, physical or sexual. I've heard those stories before, but I really believe that there is a story behind the facade that those parents give. I'm not saying that someone with nurturing parents will never have a child grow up to do bad things, but I'm thoroughly convinced that deviant behavior, especially vile and disgusting behavior such as this case is almost always a consequence of environmental factors. That's why I'm a big supporter of the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Child abuse happens on a spectrum and most parents are guilty of some form of neglect to the children in one way or another (even 2 parents working and a young 8 year old having to be home by himself for several hours after school is a form of neglect). We should support after school programs, neighborhood watches, friendly and supportive neighbors, extended families. Even a single teacher can have a tremendous impact on shaping a child. Prevention and prosecution of those who abuse children are what we should focus on.

[GaryC 7]

Has anyone considered that some people are just basically evil? This is like wondering why Hitler turned out like he did.

Gary, if that were true, then we should find out which children are evil spawn and exterminate them. A child is not born evil and people aren't born to hate. I suppose there are people who have an extra chromosome that makes them criminally insane, but most adults who do evil things were 'created' by adults when they were children. Those adults are out there right now - beating the sh#t out of their kids and other abuse. We can do better to stop them before those kids grow up to do evil things themselves.

I agree that is the case in many instances, but we've all heard stories about kids who grew up to do these things anyway, even without abusive parents. Or without any adult being abusive. You hear the parents say "I never imagined he/she could do this, they were a good boy/girl". I believe the mind can get twisted in many other ways in life even if that person had a pretty normal early life. We can do our best to stop it, but I think people also have to pay consequences of their actions no matter what made them do it.

I'd also debate whether people are born to hate or love. I don't think kids are born to hate, but I don't think they are born perfect either. So many kids I have seen running about like maniacs because they have no discipline at home. Why do they naturally misbehave instead of do good when there are no rules? (rhetorical question really)

I believe that psychosis happens when a child is abused, whether it is emotional, physical or sexual. I've heard those stories before, but I really believe that there is a story behind the facade that those parents give. I'm not saying that someone with nurturing parents will never have a child grow up to do bad things, but I'm thoroughly convinced that deviant behavior, especially vile and disgusting behavior such as this case is almost always a consequence of environmental factors. That's why I'm a big supporter of the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Child abuse happens on a spectrum and most parents are guilty of some form of neglect to the children in one way or another (even 2 parents working and a young 8 year old having to be home by himself for several hours after school is a form of neglect). We should support after school programs, neighborhood watches, friendly and supportive neighbors, extended families. Even a single teacher can have a tremendous impact on shaping a child. Prevention and prosecution of those who abuse children are what we should focus on.

So you don't think people are responsible for their own actions then? By your reckoning any deviant behavior is excusable if something bad happened in their youth. Sorry, I don't buy that psychobabble nonsense. It doesn't take a village to raise a kid, it takes two parents. And after the kid is raised he is then totally responsible for his own actions. I don't excuse this monsters behavior in any way. I don't care what his upbringing was.

[peejay 327]

No-one ever touches the underlying issue of how people get turned out this way - because simple solutions (like the DP) are easier than looking at diffuse causes and effects. The DP is as much about making an example as it is an act of simple vengeance, but whether it deters anyone from crime is arguable.

I believe that all environmental psychosis is anchored on the relationship between a child and its primary caretaker(s), particularly mothers. I would bet that in every FBI profile of such deviants, the perpetrator had a turbulent childhood.

There are kids out there right now that are being turned into tomorrow's killers/monsters...what are we doing to stop it?

Establish the John Couey Foundation and hold fundraisers so you can fund a cure. Even if there is no cure, you can fund a support group so other murderous psycopathic pedophiles don't feel so abandoned by an unsympathetic society. It's not their fault.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Has anyone considered that some people are just basically evil? This is like wondering why Hitler turned out like he did.

Gary, if that were true, then we should find out which children are evil spawn and exterminate them. A child is not born evil and people aren't born to hate. I suppose there are people who have an extra chromosome that makes them criminally insane, but most adults who do evil things were 'created' by adults when they were children. Those adults are out there right now - beating the sh#t out of their kids and other abuse. We can do better to stop them before those kids grow up to do evil things themselves.

I agree that is the case in many instances, but we've all heard stories about kids who grew up to do these things anyway, even without abusive parents. Or without any adult being abusive. You hear the parents say "I never imagined he/she could do this, they were a good boy/girl". I believe the mind can get twisted in many other ways in life even if that person had a pretty normal early life. We can do our best to stop it, but I think people also have to pay consequences of their actions no matter what made them do it.

I'd also debate whether people are born to hate or love. I don't think kids are born to hate, but I don't think they are born perfect either. So many kids I have seen running about like maniacs because they have no discipline at home. Why do they naturally misbehave instead of do good when there are no rules? (rhetorical question really)

I believe that psychosis happens when a child is abused, whether it is emotional, physical or sexual. I've heard those stories before, but I really believe that there is a story behind the facade that those parents give. I'm not saying that someone with nurturing parents will never have a child grow up to do bad things, but I'm thoroughly convinced that deviant behavior, especially vile and disgusting behavior such as this case is almost always a consequence of environmental factors. That's why I'm a big supporter of the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Child abuse happens on a spectrum and most parents are guilty of some form of neglect to the children in one way or another (even 2 parents working and a young 8 year old having to be home by himself for several hours after school is a form of neglect). We should support after school programs, neighborhood watches, friendly and supportive neighbors, extended families. Even a single teacher can have a tremendous impact on shaping a child. Prevention and prosecution of those who abuse children are what we should focus on.

So you don't think people are responsible for their own actions then? By your reckoning any deviant behavior is excusable if something bad happened in their youth. Sorry, I don't buy that psychobabble nonsense. It doesn't take a village to raise a kid, it takes two parents. And after the kid is raised he is then totally responsible for his own actions. I don't excuse this monsters behavior in any way. I don't care what his upbringing was.

Geez, Gary - can you highlight the part of what I said that gave you that crazy idea?