Roman Polanski arrested!

There have been other cases like this where the case is quite old, and adjustments have been made in sentencing. But the judge and jury get to take that into account, not the media or the layperson. I highly doubt that the guy would get a huge punishment, but he likely would get some extra for running.

The Doctor wrote: Henry Plainview wrote: TGM: Orb wrote: I find it difficult to decide which side I agree with more. On the one hand, his punishment now will serve, essentially, no purpose except justice for justice's sake (which is a lousy purpose). On the other, his special treatment is ridiculous, and I can't see why being a good director, suffering or being old should stave off punishment. You do not agree with the the abstract concept of justice!? Maybe I am going crazy...   Personally, I have a strictly utilitarian view of the criminal justice system.  The CJS serves two purposes, the purpose of deterrence through the threat of prosecution and prison time, and the protection of society from those who pose a threat to the safety and well-being of people in general.  With this last purpose in mind, I agree with something you said earlier Henry.  If they think a person will again commit a violent act, he should never be released from prison.  I'm not much for second chances where the safety of innocents is involved.    On the other hand, in this case, I can see no threat that he currently poses to society.  As far as I know, there have been no further incidents involving him and young girls in the past thirty years.  That means he has reformed, and there is no need to protect society from him.  Secondly, I think putting him in prison will have no impact on deterring others from committing similar crimes.   Punishment alone is not enough reason to put the victim through more turmoil or waste taxpayer money.    For me, this has nothing to do with the fact that he's a famous director.  I don't think there's one movie of his I actually like.

Essentially. I feel that human justice is a pale approximation of real (dare I say, divine?) justice and so unreliable and shambolic (the same deed will not get the same punishment anywhere, the truth is generally just our best guess, and even in the same justice system, I find it hard to believe that any two cases will be judged under identical standards of justice) that unless a utilitarian, within the bounds of reason (i.e. I consider any form of execution or torture morally unacceptable, even were it useful, and I don't think it's particularly useful, anyway), standard of justice is served, the action is one of either pure revenge or, in this case, since the victim no longer desires punishment, moral self-righteousness.

Edit: so, at the moment, I find it difficult to believe that punishment for a crime thirty years old, when the victim has called for its dismissal, for a celebrity case, will serve any purpose of protection or real deterrence.

That said, I appreciate that he's being given a treatment that any regular case where a thirty year difference was in account wouldn't get (admittedly, it seems fair to say that the US could surely have secured an arrest closer to the time of the event?)... I can't imagine that justice is demonstrably served, in such circumstances, against the same mind that committed the crime. I'm not decided either way, at the moment.


Also, throwing something else into the fray:

BBC thing today wrote: 'The victim at the centre of the case, Samantha Geimer, has previously asked for the charges to be dropped. She has already sued Mr Polanski and reached an undisclosed settlement.'

Edited by TGM: Orb - September 28 2009 at 12:46

harmonium.ro wrote: stonebeard wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: You guys make me puke  Well that's vague. OK, I'll be more specific: I've never seen so much pure hate coming from people calling themselves civilized people.

TheProgtologist wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: stonebeard wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: You guys make me puke  Well that's vague. OK, I'll be more specific: I've never seen so much pure hate coming from people calling themselves civilized people.   Personally,my views radically changed on these kinds of subjects when I had children.If a 44 year old man drugged and raped my daughter when she was 13 I would have killed him outright if I caught up to him.

What about empathy for his tragic loss of  a wife and a child. All pointing to some hippie cult leader that had issues with wealth. There have always been accusations galore for this guy. So he directed a few films regarding the subject matter of the occult. In europe witchcraft had a different environment than the U.S. He was very exacting with his presentations in his films. I'm sure that many people despise him for his style of creative efforts in film. I wouldn't be surprised if certain things of this nature are held against him. I would review his situation and maybe suggest some therapy at best but not confinement to a cell.

Finnforest wrote: TheProgtologist wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: stonebeard wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: You guys make me puke  Well that's vague. OK, I'll be more specific: I've never seen so much pure hate coming from people calling themselves civilized people.   Personally,my views radically changed on these kinds of subjects when I had children.If a 44 year old man drugged and raped my daughter when she was 13 I would have killed him outright if I caught up to him.   Bingo Jody.  And I don't even have kids, but I know what you mean.    I think its hilarious people consider punishment to be "moral self-righteousness"  or somehow improper, and not really for punitive reasons.  It helps explain a lot about where society is headed.

That's a misinterpretation. Lotsa people consider execution to be improper, but hardly anyone would say  punishment of any sort is improper.

Finnforest wrote: 2 people just did Stoney.

Who dey?

Dey sillay.

All I can say is that I've been thinking about what I'd do if it was my daughter. Then I wonder what I'd do if it was my son who was the perpetrator.

I am fairly certain I would not say run and live a high profile life.

akamaisondufromage wrote: TheProgtologist wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: stonebeard wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: You guys make me puke  Well that's vague. OK, I'll be more specific: I've never seen so much pure hate coming from people calling themselves civilized people.   Personally,my views radically changed on these kinds of subjects when I had children.If a 44 year old man drugged and raped my daughter when she was 13 I would have killed him outright if I caught up to him.   Probably, most people would do the same.  Which is why we tend not to get the person wronged to pass judgement!

Henry Plainview wrote: stonebeard wrote: That's a misinterpretation. Lotsa people consider execution to be improper, but hardly anyone would say  punishment of any sort is improper. But Orb and Doctor seem to be arguing that punishing him at all is improper at this point, which I think makes no f**king sense, but I am a husk animated only by pure hatred so perhaps I am not objective. TODDLER wrote: What about empathy for his tragic loss of  a wife and a child. All pointing to some hippie cult leader that had issues with wealth. There have always been accusations galore for this guy. So he directed a few films regarding the subject matter of the occult. In europe witchcraft had a different environment than the U.S. He was very exacting with his presentations in his films. I'm sure that many people despise him for his style of creative efforts in film. I wouldn't be surprised if certain things of this nature are held against him. I would review his situation and maybe suggest some therapy at best but not confinement to a cell. Law enforcement officials or who ever the captain is of this crusade, should be more concerned over all the high school shootings in our country or the quick turn over in mental institutions. Parents have to make their daughter aware somehow that dressing up like Hanna Montana is something that a grown woman would do. What the H is wrong with the justice system? Don't they see what's going on? These issues are detrimental to the minds and mentalities of our youth. A lady in the photo department at Wallmart reports pictures of kids in a bathtub to the feds and the parents and children are seperated for a month. Why? That seems completely stupied to me. People have photos of their kids in a the bath and this has been going on for decades. Instead of chasing down Roman Polanski maybe they should examine their priorities. Spend the tax dollar on investigating corruption in the U.S. and do away with the devistaing crimes that we see on the net and Fox 29. I guess Polanski has been sought after too long and there is no statute of limitation for rape? I don't know however I still think they should flush all the media garbage down the toilet. It encourages naive kids to take an interest in crime. Work on that, not Polanski.   What in God's name are you even talking about?   The statute of limitations does not apply because he pled guilty and then fled before sentencing.   And as for suggesting therapy, he raped a 13 year old girl. If that doesn't deserve jail time, I don't know what does.

   Oh what the hell am I saying? You are right . True I am wrong about this point and I forgot the history on the case. Of course that was in the thread.  He does deserve jail time doesn't he? I have never read or heard a statement from the victim. I am a bit curious to hear her version of the incident.  I still can't concieve how if justice in the U.S. is being served to criminals, then why are we saturated with the concept of crime being promoted through advertisments for sex, mainstream music, and overall media coverage. Many young kids feel drawn in and have admiration for crime and this is a fact. Do they focus on this reality enough to change it.? They could if they cared about the corruption of society instead of making a fast buck. But that's another story and not for this thread.