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Would Dante Stallworth have gotten the same public scorn as Michael Vick if reinstated this season?

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bulloney Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 07:16 PM
Original message
Would Dante Stallworth have gotten the same public scorn as Michael Vick if reinstated this season?
For the record, Stallworth is a receiver for the Cleveland Browns who was recently convicted for vehicular homicide in Florida. He was recently told by the NFL commissioner that he would not play this season.

Vick can play NFL football after the sixth week of the upcoming season and has been subjected to all kinds of criticism for being allowed to play again after his involvement in dogfighting.

If Stallworth would have been allowed to play again in the NFL after six weeks, would we have seen the same public and media outcry?

Just askin'.
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Captain Hilts Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 07:20 PM
Response to Original message
1. No-What Vick did was not only cruel, it was pre-meditated& went on for YEARS. Killed with bare hands
Being irresponsible is different from being cruel.
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bulloney Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 07:22 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Stallworth was under the influence of alcohol and there reportedly were drugs, too.
Yeah, that's irresponsible, but he killed a human being by irresponsibly driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or other substances.
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hlthe2b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 07:34 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Irresponsible does not equate to malcious intent...
Edited on Sun Aug-16-09 07:36 PM by hlthe2b
That you would equate this to the wanton premeditated cruelty over years that Vick meted out is incredible. You may not grant worth to a nonhuman victim, but it is the act-- repeated, malicious and without regard to the basic humanity that is supposed to separate humans from lower orders of animals-- that makes Vick's crimes so reprehensible.

But in answer to your question to a very very distinctly different issue, Stallworth's sentence was incredibly light for vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving and I would not condone his being brought back this season.
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Iggo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 09:15 PM
Response to Reply #4
9. "Irresponsible does not equate to malcious intent..."?
It does around here, man.

Look for the thread on the woman who mowed down a couple of pedestrians while she was fiddling with her iPod.

(Stallworth's sentence was light because they decided the victim shared some of the responsibility.)
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hlthe2b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 09:57 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. You need a dictionary, it seems...
Edited on Sun Aug-16-09 10:09 PM by hlthe2b
Perhaps start with googling first degree murder versus manslaughter. The difference is premeditation and intent to cause harm. Don't confuse these terms. They are very specific. Manslaughter, though resulting in unintentional death, can still be the result of gross negligence (e.g., drugs, alcohol, inattention)even if there was not a conscious, ptedetermined intent to harm.

With manslaughter, the degree of gross negligence can and should impact the ultimate sentence. Neither the drunk driver or the IPOD user intended to kill so there was an absence of malicious intent. Does that mean there was not gross negligence? No, of course not.

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Iggo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 10:31 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. I understand the difference quite well.
Edited on Sun Aug-16-09 10:32 PM by Iggo
I'm agreeing with you, while noting that others at this site do not.
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hlthe2b Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 11:15 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. yes... unfortunately, many do not
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marshall Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 11:27 PM
Response to Reply #2
15. I've read studies that suggest people empathize with drunk drivers
Since many people drink, at least socially, in the back of their minds when they see a drunk driving case there is a little "There but for the grace of god go I." They might still find the person guilty if they are on a jury, but I believe their own empathy in the case can be a factor.

On the other hand most people do not train dogs to fight savagely in tourneys. I don't believe the average person can envision themselves in Vick's shoes.
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AnOhioan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 07:23 PM
Response to Original message
3. I would hope so...and I say that as a Cleveland fan
In my opinion both Vick and Stallworth should have been told they were done in the NFL...permanently done.

Having either of them in a uniform again is not acceptable to this NFL fan.
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Bluzmann57 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
5. No
Vick will never be forgiven by a lot of people in here even though he did his time.
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Critters2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 08:43 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Most felons live the rest of their lives with consequences of their crimes.
I know that, in this county, one can't live in public housing after being convicted of a felony--even after having served one's time. Most felons have trouble with employment after serving time. I've missed all the threads where you've decried such injustices, but I'm sure they exist.

Unless Vick is different because he's a pro athlete. That couldn't make it different, could it?
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ldf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 08:49 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. "I thought it was cool. Exciting."
his words.

i can not adequately express my contempt for someone who thinks forcing animals to fight to the death, for their own entertainment and profit, as cool.

words fail.
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chimpymustgo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. How about people who train horses for entertainment, sometimes running them to their death?
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smalll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 09:39 PM
Response to Original message
10. I hope we would have seen more. I hope that's the point that you're making.
Hear me now and believe me later --

People matter a damn sight more than animals. And all who deny it are misanthropic crazies with too many pets (sorry, "fur-babies." :eyes: )-- I don't blame them, they may have had difficult childhoods, and/or they may just be ugly and/or have social issues. Nevertheless, misanthropy is insanity.

So yes, I hope that Stallworth would have seen even MORE blowback.

:hide:
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MrSlayer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-16-09 11:20 PM
Response to Original message
14. No, What Stallworth did was an accident. Vick intentionally did what he did.
He keeps saying he made a mistake, but he didn't make a mistake. He intentionally tortured and killed those animals over a period of six years.
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samsingh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-17-09 12:30 AM
Response to Original message
16. vick is an idiot who shouldn`t be allowed to play
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