I understand Michael’s perspective. He is being punished for something he said in public without any ill will to anyone, but someone heard it who was offended and that’s all that matters. He may think he is taking what he feels is an unjust punishment for it, but at least it is a punishment with an ending and things will eventually return to normal. Things have changed since then.
We live in a society today where you have to be very careful what you say and where you say it. If the right person gets offended then it could cost you a lot more than TV privileges and it could last a lot longer than two weeks.
If the punishment is no hassle Mike, you won’t learn from it. The idea is to get you to change your behaviour. To cause you to decide not to do the bad thing again or to do something that’s right. If there was no pain or discomfort involved you’d continue the unacceptable behaviour. When I was a kid I hated being punished so I would change my behaviour to avoid the punishment. That was the idea. Get it?
There’s a reversal exercise that gets the kids to sit down with the parents, and the roles are reversed and the kids have to come up with a punishment that will change the behaviour of the offender. In this case, the kids are told to think about a way they would punish their parents for the same type of offense, and to make it reasonable, but still something that will put an end to the misbehaviour. Then that punishment is what is used with the real offenders. It really gets kids (particularly those over 12) to do some hard thinking and not just come up with the easiest thing.
(Pure sarcasm): Thinking…Hm-m-m-m…what is that? In today’s world it takes time and effort to think. That’s why we have driverless cars, Cortana, and other forms of artificial intelligence to do it for us. Really, if we don’t wake up soon, not teaching and using thinking skills will be the curse of us all!
This punishment seems excessive. I have already forgotten what Mike did! Isn’t it already two weeks? —-First offense of this nature could have been one week…or a weekend. For a kid, that’s a LONG time. Repeat offense? Now do the two weeks. And so on. I think Mike has learned his lesson…prolonged (unfair) punishment only breeds anger.
Mike is looking for punishment without bother. I’d submit that that’s not punishment at all. Editorial—Some people today seem to think that’s the only kind anyone should give.
I remember somebody on Etiquette talking about how she was a real bookworm growing up, she’s rather read than watch TV. Her new stepdad gave her “No TV for a week” as a punishment, she just shrugged and said “Okay.” He was annoyed because he thought she was putting on a front until her Mom said, “No, she just really doesn’t care about TV.”
You can learn to live without TV! I was a TV junkie until about 1964 when sent to Turkey. The only TV that year were on trips to Cairo and Beirut – about 15 min viewing each – in Arabic sound tracks. (If he were smart, he’d find something else to do and act like no TV was no big deal, so it wouldn’t be used as future punishment – but smart doesn’t run in that family!)
Templo S.U.D. over 6 years ago
good luck finding one, Mike
Argythree over 6 years ago
That’s called ‘no punishment’ , Mike…
howtheduck over 6 years ago
I understand Michael’s perspective. He is being punished for something he said in public without any ill will to anyone, but someone heard it who was offended and that’s all that matters. He may think he is taking what he feels is an unjust punishment for it, but at least it is a punishment with an ending and things will eventually return to normal. Things have changed since then.
We live in a society today where you have to be very careful what you say and where you say it. If the right person gets offended then it could cost you a lot more than TV privileges and it could last a lot longer than two weeks.
Alondra over 6 years ago
If the punishment is no hassle Mike, you won’t learn from it. The idea is to get you to change your behaviour. To cause you to decide not to do the bad thing again or to do something that’s right. If there was no pain or discomfort involved you’d continue the unacceptable behaviour. When I was a kid I hated being punished so I would change my behaviour to avoid the punishment. That was the idea. Get it?
M2MM over 6 years ago
There’s a reversal exercise that gets the kids to sit down with the parents, and the roles are reversed and the kids have to come up with a punishment that will change the behaviour of the offender. In this case, the kids are told to think about a way they would punish their parents for the same type of offense, and to make it reasonable, but still something that will put an end to the misbehaviour. Then that punishment is what is used with the real offenders. It really gets kids (particularly those over 12) to do some hard thinking and not just come up with the easiest thing.
Thechildinme over 6 years ago
(Pure sarcasm): Thinking…Hm-m-m-m…what is that? In today’s world it takes time and effort to think. That’s why we have driverless cars, Cortana, and other forms of artificial intelligence to do it for us. Really, if we don’t wake up soon, not teaching and using thinking skills will be the curse of us all!
jpayne4040 over 6 years ago
I agree punishment should be fair, but it also has to sting some!
dlkrueger33 over 6 years ago
This punishment seems excessive. I have already forgotten what Mike did! Isn’t it already two weeks? —-First offense of this nature could have been one week…or a weekend. For a kid, that’s a LONG time. Repeat offense? Now do the two weeks. And so on. I think Mike has learned his lesson…prolonged (unfair) punishment only breeds anger.
dwdl21 over 6 years ago
I said this at the beginning of the arc, when my parents tried this I just went to friends house, is he grounded as well? This arc makes no sense.
rshive over 6 years ago
Mike is looking for punishment without bother. I’d submit that that’s not punishment at all. Editorial—Some people today seem to think that’s the only kind anyone should give.
rebroxanna over 6 years ago
What did he do or say again?
raptor over 6 years ago
One of the traits of the “me” generation – I’m not responsible for what I do or say – so I should not be punished…
paranormal over 6 years ago
Elly should have allowed Michael to watch TV! PBS and CSPAN only!!!
Asharah over 6 years ago
I remember somebody on Etiquette talking about how she was a real bookworm growing up, she’s rather read than watch TV. Her new stepdad gave her “No TV for a week” as a punishment, she just shrugged and said “Okay.” He was annoyed because he thought she was putting on a front until her Mom said, “No, she just really doesn’t care about TV.”
tuslog1964 over 6 years ago
You can learn to live without TV! I was a TV junkie until about 1964 when sent to Turkey. The only TV that year were on trips to Cairo and Beirut – about 15 min viewing each – in Arabic sound tracks. (If he were smart, he’d find something else to do and act like no TV was no big deal, so it wouldn’t be used as future punishment – but smart doesn’t run in that family!)
jbruins84341 over 6 years ago
Well, nowadays, you can say something offensive on Twitter, and have your show canceled.
Train 1911 over 6 years ago
When the punishment over now Mike u can watch tv againNo I’m going out with my friends