Do you have Affluenza?

[u9y42]

In June 2013, a teenager crashed his car, killing 4 people that were on the side of the road and paralyzing another. Turns out he was driving drunk, with 7 of his friends in the car, and they had just robbed a liquor store.

The case went to court and the judge sentenced him to 10 years of probation and advised he should spend some time in rehabilitation.

The case set off an emotional debate because a psychologist for the teenager said his family's wealth impaired the youth's ability to take responsibility for his actions, calling the affliction "affluenza."

The story in TYT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq3vaJ7P41g.

And as hilariousandco mentioned down bellow:

I think this is a better video from TYT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsfZlGYRWWs
And this one which mentions the black kid who was sent down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYORruzVefQ

[1713936579]

1713936579

[hilariousandco]

Yeah, this was appalling. Apparently the same judge sent a young black kid down who got into a fight and accidentally killed the other kid after he fell down and banged his head or something. Love the Young Turks too.

[yatsey87]

Affluenza? That cannot be a real thing. Was that used in the defense?

[u9y42]

Yeah, this was appalling. Apparently the same judge sent a young black kid down who got into a fight and accidentally killed the other kid after he fell down and banged his head or something. Love the Young Turks too.

Well, that black kid wasn't suffering from affluenza.

Affluenza? That cannot be a real thing. Was that used in the defense?

Yeah, it was used by a psychologist the defense called. And yes, the psychologist just made that up; it's not a real diagnosis.

[hilariousandco]

Affluenza? That cannot be a real thing. Was that used in the defense?

It's not a real thing, but I think they used that because he was rich and was spoiled he had a warped sense of what is right or wrong or some other bullshit.

I think this is a better video from TYT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsfZlGYRWWs
And this one which mentions the black kid who was sent down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYORruzVefQ

[u9y42]

I think this is a better video from TYT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsfZlGYRWWs
And this one which mentions the black kid who was sent down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYORruzVefQ

You're right, those videos are much better at explaining the case. I'll add them to the first post.

[hellscabane]

This is where we need to find a richer teenager to destroy the living crap out of this first teenager, and we too can say that he had Affluenza.

Then again, we could just use common sense in society. But we wouldn't want that because we don't want to be thought of as "common" or some bull like that...

[Elwar]

Damned richers.

[Kaligulax]

Affluenza...better known as spoiled, entitled and unaccountable.
No sympathy for the kid; only his victims.

[u9y42]

One more update to the story... if you live in Texas, you will be paying for the kid's rehabilitation, which will come to about $21000 a month.

The story at The Young Turks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUJsCZkVQpE

[hellscabane]

One more update to the story... if you live in Texas, you will be paying for the kid's rehabilitation, which will come to about $21000 a month.

The story at The Young Turks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUJsCZkVQpE

Yay! Justice!

I'm trying to remember why the U.S. is such a great country, but I just can't seem to figure it out...Too bad I'm stuck here...

[hilariousandco]

http://sourcefed.com/man-sentenced-to-18-months-for-peeing-on-the-alamo/

The double standards in the suposed justice system are baffling. Seems you go to jail in Texas for pissing on the Alamo, but not if you drunkenly kill people.

[hellscabane]

http://sourcefed.com/man-sentenced-to-18-months-for-peeing-on-the-alamo/

The double standards in the suposed justice system are baffling. Seems you go to jail in Texas for pissing on the Alamo, but not if you drunkenly kill people.

Yeah, there is definitely a double-standard (and a lot of the time, it is primarily wealth-driven). The thing is, why should everyone have to pay the burden of this particular mistake? The family is "wealthy," can't we compel the family to pay for these expenses (at least if the facility is going to cost $21k a month)? Or at least the differential between the lowest-end rehab facility (like those $5-8k a month facilities) and this particular facility.

I know in terms of legalities there are certain other thresholds to meet, but sometimes, it conflicts so much with "common" sense.

[u9y42]

One more update to the story... if you live in Texas, you will be paying for the kid's rehabilitation, which will come to about $21000 a month.

Sounds bad, but you have three options:

• Pay for rehabilitation measures - $21,000/mo for a few months
• Pay for his prison sentences for multiple (statistically likely with no rehabilitation) future offences - significantly more.
• Abolish prison and euthanise all criminals - countless millions fighting a rebellion in a long and bloody civil war.

Rehabilitation measures have always been about reducing spending, not increasing it.

You're right, but I don't believe anyone here is arguing against rehabilitation. It's more of an emotional reaction, if you will: he killed 4 people (amongst other offenses), got no jail time because he is too rich to know the consequences of his actions (paraphrasing his defense in court), and now you'll be footing the bill for his rehabilitation if you live in Texas.

And yes, you would still be paying even if he was sent to jail and I'm not sure jail time would have been a better outcome; but as others have pointed out, what's most striking is the double standard. A man points a laser at a police helicopter? 14 years in jail. A black kid gets into a fight and accidentally kills the other? 10 years in jail. You kill 4 people, but you're rich? A slap in the wrist.

[TaunSew]

Can we relate this to Mark Karpeles?!

[counter]

So the rich and affluent people are having their own made up mental illnesses when they commit a crime..  Seems about right, just like the Dupont heir that raped his children and the judge said he would suffer hardships in prison so he got house arrest.