Michael Vick and Job offer

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by I.A.S.K.

Stallworth got 24 days for killing a person and 1 year suspension. Vick's life should not be ruined for a bad decision.

I'm really sick and tired of people making this comparison, because it's effing lame. Stallworth was determined to have been negligent and reckless in a one-time incident. He did not have a history of DUI, bad driving, or other reckless behavior. Vick, on the other hand, continued this "operation" for over two years. He didn't just run a dog-fighting ring for a month or two. NO. His "operation" went above and beyond simple dog-fighting. He killed animals who didn't "win," he set up rape racks to allow other dogs to violate each other when it wasn't appropriate, he didn't take care of the animals he had in his ownership.

I'm not an "animal person," I didn't grow up with pets, but I do understand that when you purchase a pet in this country, you are implicitly agreeing to take care of it and not have it killed or raped when it doesn't fill the sick fantasies you and your band of thugs might have for it.

[pbear19]

For those complaining that Vick shouldn't be penalized because other people who do worse things aren't penalized sufficiently, I have a lovely sentiment straight from my mother:

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[rhoyaltempest]

I think it's a trip and SAD how passionate people are about animal rights in comparison to human rights. There are sooooo many people causes to get behind, protest, and fight for. There are soooo many societal ills to correct like racism, sexism, and all the other isms and yet people aren't nearly as passionate about abolishing those. Very sad indeed.

And I am an animal lover.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I'm really sick and tired of people making this comparison, because it's effing lame. Stallworth was determined to have been negligent and reckless in a one-time incident. He did not have a history of DUI, bad driving, or other reckless behavior. Vick, on the other hand, continued this "operation" for over two years. He didn't just run a dog-fighting ring for a month or two. NO. His "operation" went above and beyond simple dog-fighting. He killed animals who didn't "win," he set up rape racks to allow other dogs to violate each other when it wasn't appropriate, he didn't take care of the animals he had in his ownership.

OK - let's make it "Leonard Little" instead. Needless to say, I think this line of reasoning is horrifically flawed.

Also, leaning on "intent" is absolutely irrelevant to the discussion - Stallworth's sentence was unreal light, and is a byproduct of shitty Florida laws mixed with celebrity/wealth. Most states have "instantaneous premeditation" for 1st-degree murder. "Intent" is a VERY loaded word when you kill another person.

I lack the moral compass or authority to determine whether killing a person after repeatedly putting yourself and others at danger via a preventable act (drunken driving) is worse than a pattern of barbarism against animals, but there is certainly some argument that Vick is being maligned MUCH more than those who have killed people or performed acts of barbarism against humans.

[KSigkid]

Wow...figured this would be pretty heated. My thoughts:

I don't have a problem with the Eagles signing Vick. He paid his debt to society, now he's entitled to move on with the rest of his life. He should be able to return to his workplace, so to speak, if someone is willing to hire him.

I do think that what he did was pretty horrible, and I have no problem with the length of his prison sentence. I think the sentence was reasonable, if on the high end of reasonable. I think his celebrity played into that (i.e. sending a message to the dog fighting community through a high profile participant).

He committed a felony, was convicted of it, and served his time. As far as I'm concerned, he should be able to move on with the rest of his life, and hopefully be a productive citizen going forward.

And, for what it's worth, I think the Stallworth sentence was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. He and Leonard Little can go have a couple of drinks and laugh about how they avoided serious criminal consequences.

ETA: For what it's worth, I'd be far more upset if my team signed Stallworth (or Leonard Little, for that matter). Then again, since I was nearly killed by a drunk driver, I have fairly strong feelings on the issue.

[aggieAXO]

You guys are right, I owe an apology to those that live in Philly. It wasn't your decision. Sorry . I do really like your city though I am not sure how I would be able to deal with the winters.

ETA, I am passionate about many things but I became a veterinarian b/c I am most passionate about animals.