Egads- no wonder teenagers think all adults are f&cked in the head. At the risk of sounding religious, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
I don't know about you all, but I was an idiot when I was a teenager (I probably still am). You mean to tell me that all of you throwing flack at this guy have never done anything illegal? Never stolen something when you were a kid? Never smoked pot? Most kids know that adults tell them to do things they themselves never did.
Hey, you're all right: owning stolen goods is a crime, and especially immoral when you know the stuff is hot. Maybe I worked with kids too long and I'm more sensative to their points of view than most. I just remember being a teenager and having things like this go in one ear and out the other. A bunch of self-righteuos adults spouting off stuff that doesn't really make sense. Anyone else remember that feeling?
OnTheBlack- your honesty here is getting you into trouble. Being honest is good. Being honest about stuff you KNOW isn't right, doesn't make it right. You know that, too. That isn't what you were trying to imply, but that's how the folks reading the thread saw it. You were asking a question about what to do with stolen stuff, but they saw you trying to justify something illegal.
The legal thing to do would be to accept the goods, call the police, turn over the stolen goods and report the guy who stole them. That's the law so its the only answer you're likely to get to your question in a public forum such as this. I'm kinda surprised you thought you might get a different answer.
I *highly* doubt all the folks on this thread would have actually done that at age 16, though. I didn't. And I stopped ALL even vaguely illegal activities when I turned 18 and I realized I was playing for keeps.
This is why we have minor laws- kids take a while to figure out how reality, right and wrong line up. It doesn't make him stupid, it makes him a teenager. He's not supposed to know everything about how the world works, yet.
Anyway, just my .02$ OnTheBlack, the only thing I can add to the "advice" in this thread is to think VERY carefully about who you want to relate with and how their actions affects you. Owning stolen stuff is quite illegal and could easily get you into a lot of trouble, even if you feel like you aren't the one who did the stealing. Once you turn 18, that kind of stuff can cost you a LOT. If it becomes a way of life (which I kinda doubt it is for you) it can lead to some very dark habits. Been there, done that- got the t-shirt... I'll tell you the story if you want.
Actually, C7's idea isn't bad. This is a good thread to erase. Just go in and edit your first post and it will give you the option to delete it. Do that isn't admitting that you were wrong- its just prudent. Do you really want evidence around where you clearly state you owned and sold illegal goods?
Take care,
Chris
... chrisarua@hotmail.com
