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Post by aln1982 on Nov 13, 2007 10:10:50 GMT -5
^ I can't stand practical jokes, either, which is why I don't like this book.
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Nov 13, 2007 10:51:02 GMT -5
I think they should have sued the Sobaks. Whether they like it or not, it was their fault -- they employed Claudia to watch their kid, and one of the things that would have been expected would be a safe working environment. Regardless of what Betsey did, the Sobaks had a responsibly to ensure that their playground equipment was working safely. If Betsy had invited a kid her age over to play, and the swing broke, and the kid hurt itself, you can be sure there would be a lawsuit there. It's negligence. Did Betsy take the swing apart? I don't remember she saying it was, just that she knew it was broken. If she knew it was broken, she should have told Claudia - she is eight, not four. In a US court, seven is considered the age of reason, or "when you should know enough to know right from wrong".
I am also annoyed about the "litigation friendly" culture in the US, but I really think this is an issue. Claudia was working at the time, so it really was the Sobaks responsibility to pay for things like hospital bills and insurance. Even if it's covered by the Kishi's insurance, it's still their responsibility. It was an accident that should have been prevented, through the proper maintenance of the swing set.
As for the joke war? I thought that was dumb. If it were my club, I wouldn't let anyone sit for them again. But that's just me.
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janey83
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 374
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Post by janey83 on Nov 13, 2007 16:59:56 GMT -5
^The joke war encouraged Betsy that practical jokes were OKAY, even though she just sent Claudia to the hospital! I still say Mr. & Mrs. Sobak should have cleared out Betsy's room of all the joke crap.
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Post by aln1982 on Nov 13, 2007 18:04:35 GMT -5
^ Agree. As for suing, I think Sobaks should have been responsible for bills - willingly. I'm not a big advocate of suing for things like that, though, because then it is hard to draw a line and say where it stops....
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Nov 13, 2007 18:52:09 GMT -5
^I'm with you on that one. Sometimes, it takes a lawsuit to make people take responsibility for something they did or caused, but it can get ridiculous, especially in this country.
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Post by liss31d on Nov 14, 2007 4:29:50 GMT -5
I hate practical jokes as well. I never understand why people find them funny. I think if I was Betsy I would have been mortified!
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Lauren
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,026
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Post by Lauren on Nov 14, 2007 10:06:49 GMT -5
^ I don't mind them unless they hurt someone's feelings or injure them. That's just me though and I know most people don't feel that way.
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Nov 14, 2007 10:44:45 GMT -5
^I don't mind them that much either, unless they injure someone, or hurt someone badly. I also HATE it when they do something that ruins my hair, makeup, or clothing. Clothing more than hair or make up. I spend a lot of time and money on my clothes, and I don't want to ruin them. Hair, mostly because it embarrasses me a lot, but not as much as my makeup coming off. I'm a lot better about it then I used to be, but in high school i would have gone home in tears if I had been seen without makeup. I know, it's superficial and stuff, but I have really weird skin (to me, although some people disagree)and I don't like being teased. However, some jokes, like ... oh, putting someone's stuff in the vending machine at work (on The Office) are funny!
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Nov 14, 2007 11:07:23 GMT -5
^ I think there's a very fine line between funny and hurtful, and that line can be different for everyone. You'd have to know someone pretty well to pull a prank on them and be sure it wouldn't hurt them somehow. I don't mind jokes that are funny, though.
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mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
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Post by mckay on Nov 14, 2007 14:27:07 GMT -5
What I want to know is...was Betsy ever punished? Were her parents trying to get her to stop being such a brat? Or were they the sort who thought it was cute and funny and wouldn't want to stifle her creativity? Because while I'm usually opposed to suing over such things...parents like that deserve it! Practical jokes can be funny if the person you're playing them on likes them! I'm not really a fan, but I know some people really like them and like the challenge of getting the other person back...so I have no problem with them then. But, for example, that show Punk'd always made me angry - some of those "jokes" were really mean.
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janey83
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 374
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Post by janey83 on Nov 14, 2007 15:02:23 GMT -5
As far as I know, nothing happened -- Mrs. Sobak just hired more sitters, and that was that. No punishment, at least that we're aware of -- Betsy didn't say anything about being grounded or anything. This bugs me so much! You would think that the parents would have gone over to the Kishi's, at least with some flowers!
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Post by booboobrewer on Nov 14, 2007 15:34:59 GMT -5
I knooow. Nice job, Sobaks.
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Post by aln1982 on Nov 14, 2007 17:05:09 GMT -5
^ The Sobaks really made me mad in this one. I didn't get the impression that they ever showed much remorse or even punished Betsy.
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Post by aln1982 on Nov 14, 2007 17:08:38 GMT -5
^ The Sobaks really made me mad in this one. I didn't get the impression that they ever showed much remorse or even punished Betsy.
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Post by greer on Nov 14, 2007 22:37:36 GMT -5
she has high spirits!
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