Texsox

I recently gave a server at a popular chain restaurant a smaller than 10% tip because she was inattentive to my table while bestowing great attention to a larger table. When I finally have to get up and find someone to get my check, that sucks. THe reply was my server was very busy with that other group. To which I said, so she was working and taking care of customers, just not me. It was the first time I can remember tipping below 15% in a long long time. I usually bounce between 15 and 20% unless the tab was small for some reason then I will tip a higher percentage. There is one place in particular where the owners will usually comp my meals, I will always calculate the tip on what the bill should have been, not what it actually was. This guy sounds like a pompous dick. If I was in the group I would have to go back and later and tip the server myself. And, while we are on the subject, I hate the tradition of tipping. Pay the servers a decent wage and leave me out of it.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 03:39 PM) It wouldn't happen, but if it did, I wouldn't be surprised because I really have zero faith in professional sports players anymore. And ain't it sad? Sportsmanship and fair play is so old fashioned, they have been replaced by cheating and taunting.

Will they go the way of dry wash stands and baker's cabinets?

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 10:33 PM) ......doesn't get used very often. This guy is one of my favorites. Which is why he remains a favorite.

I wonder what life is like for the average person living over there. From a distance, and with obviously a poor sample of stories, it seems like hell on earth. I'm also beginning to believe somewhere in that region will be the next location an atomic bomb is exploded.

Every time I see the snip of this title I think of the TV show and a Family Guy episode where Peter wanted the view to continue for three hours. LMAO

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 06:05 PM) My problem with the first step is that this is a perfectly normal situation for boys and girls of that age to be involved in. Once again, what if they are attending that school? What if a senior is dating a sophomore? Are you going to stop the campus police and honestly report to them that these kids are dating, and THEY COULD EVEN BE HAVING SEX!!! Yep, it's tough to be an adult. Kids might not like you. They may think you are mean. You can't look at the situation and think lucky kid. You have to be responsible. And this was an adult who was not attending the school. A defense of well I already reported three others so I thought I didn't have to report anymore won't fly. Plus in the real world I would not often be privy to who people are dating unless it was in the same school. Plus once the campus cop tells me that a 16 year old can date any adult, I wouldn't have to report anymore. If he tells me it is illegal, then I would continue to report all I knew about.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 04:54 PM) You are being ridiculously overdramatic for the sake of your argument. You're citing information that is completely out of context. Finally, go ahead and report it to the police. If they then went to my parents I would hate you as a teacher and think you were meddling in my affairs and masturbating to my pictures and s***. The reporting is very simple. I would ask the on-campus police office to stop by during my conference period and explain what was going on. I have fulfilled my duties. Think about the 17 year old that was in the news last week for having sex with the Bengals adult cheerleader/ teacher. Yeah, the guy was probably having a great time. But if a teacher knew about the relationship and did not report it, they would be fired. This isn't about being cool, this is about being a responsible adult. The student can think what they want. If you are worried about hurting the feelings of a student you should not be responsible for them. You are more concerned about the minor child and what she wants. I am concerned about my legal obligations as a teacher. And you accuse me of being ridiculous? You're the one that seems to be overly concerned about the 16 year old getting laid and wanting it to continue.

Again, you do understand this is my career? This is how I earn a living. When the mom is screaming to the police and press that her daughter was being raped (statutory) by an adult, the school knew about it, and did nothing, I very well could lose my job. Now perhaps losing your job doesn't mean that much to you, but it does to me. If I report and it is legal, no problem. If I do not report and it is legal, again no problem. If I report and it is illegal, again no problem. If I fail to report and it is illegal, I lose. Now look carefully at that list, when do I lose? Why is it ridiculous to follow the training I have received and report if I am uncertain? You are saying it is not abuse, I am not a lawyer. I am trained by the state of Texas to not investigate, to not make legal judgments. I am required by law to report if I suspect abuse. Are you suggesting that statutory rape is not abuse?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 04:31 PM) You also risk being a crappy teacher and role model to your students, which last I checked, is your job in the first place. Which are two more great reasons why I should report. People who aren't willing to protect kids from abuse should not be teaching. People who ignore potential illegal activities because they don't want to get involved are very poor role models.

You guys want to be attorneys and cops. I want to be a teacher. You guys want to risk your careers. I don't. You guys are experts on the law in Texas when an adult dates a minor. I am not. I risk nothing by reporting. I risk be accused of covering up an illegal relationship. I would say that rape, even statutory rape, would be abuse and I would report it. You guys are willing to bet your careers that you know the law. I am not that confident in my abilities as a lawyer.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 03:28 PM) Tex, Please ask your principle if you are mandated to report knowledge of a 16 year old dating an 18 year old. I don't think the s*** will ever hit the fan for a 16 and an 18 year old dating or even, gasp, having sex, because the statute specifically says that's a defensible act. We have these conversations twice annually. he always says "if we are not sure, report it to the police." Again you are asking professionals to risk their careers based on them playing lawyer and cop.

From the Texas Attorney General Website and the training I have had Again, why would I risk my career, reputation, and income? I am not an attorney. If I knew a minor was dating an adult, I would report it, not play cop or attorney. I ONLY LOSE IF I FAIL TO REPORT. Again, if I fail to report that is the same as covering it up in the public's eyes. I only risk my job if I fail to report. And in case anyone is missing the point, I am saying what I would have done as a coach and teacher. I am not suggesting that what those coaches did was correct. It was wrong.

I found it difficult to believe he did use PEDs, but eventually was convinced. A procedural error doesn't sway my opinion that he was using. With the money they are earning, and the money labs could be making, I believe labs are continuing to design substances to help athletes and only the guys willing to spend seven figures will have them.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 03:15 PM) Notice the "without malice" language. I would argue this was entirely WITH malice. I agree what the coaches did was with malice. Which is why I would have reported to the police. That way it could remain somewhat private if nothing illegal was happening. I would not have confronted the child and probably not have spoken with the parent.

If it turns out the child was in an illegal relationship and I covered it up? Damn right I would be fired. Do you think I would be fired for reporting it? When the s*** hits the fan and people start second guessing and demanding that everyone who knew be punished, what do you think happens?

https://www.oag.state.tx.us/victims/childabuse.shtml

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 02:26 PM) There's nothing illegal about a 16yo and an 18yo dating. These coaches corned the student and forced a confession which did not include any illegal revelations (even disregarding the less than 3 years clause) and then told her mother. McQuery saw physical sexual contact between a child and an adult and reported it to a prominent public figure who was his boss. These are not remotely the same thing, and I sincerely doubt every high school teacher who is knowledgeable of potential relationships between 16 yo's and 18 yo's are mandatory reporters. Like I said, this is a bit of a grey area and, if I were a teacher, I'd be asking my administrators about how to handle this situation. But I sure as hell wouldn't be comparing it to first-hand reports of actual child rape. I am not an attorney nor a police officer it is not my job to determine if a crime has been committed. Further I do not have to see a crime committed to be compelled to report it. If I suspect I am duty bound to report it. Plain and simple. Teachers are mandatory reporters. If I err on the side of reporting I do not risk my career or reputation. Again, tell me why I should risk my career, reputation, and income? If I report it and the police determine that the relationship is not illegal, I haven't lost anything. If I do not report it, my defense can't be later. well I, as an English teacher, decided that no law was being broken. I only lose if I fail to report.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 10:37 AM) I figured that this was your angle since the OP. Stop being a dummy. McQuery saw an adult male sexually abusing a child. By Paterno's own admission, McQuery informed him that he witnessed sexual contact. In this case, a coach corned a 16 year old student and she admitted that she was dating an 18 year old. She did not admit to sexual conduct, at least according to the ruling so far. They are not on the same continent. The coach also did not report this to police or administrators but to the parents. Read all of McQuery's statements. he has said he did not know what he saw. The same continent is if I, as a teacher, have knowledge about a possible illegal relationship and if I do not report it, I am covering it up, and could lose my job. It's that simple. It is not up to me to investigate, I must contact police and force them to investigate. I may not agree with the current environment but I damn sure will follow them. It's not about agreeing with what should and should not be done. I'm not going to risk my career, reputation, and income. How does that not make sense to anyone?

If I do not report, I run the risk of losing my career. If I report I lose nothing. Seems really easy. Why would I want to risk my career and reputation?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 06:29 AM) Reports by an eye witness of child rape =/= a 16 year old dating an 18 year old with no confirmation of sexual contact. edit: though I'd hope that this incident makes schools in Texas examine their policy in instances like this where the age difference is less than 3 years (I don't know if knowledge of sexual contact between a 16 yo and an 18yo should be reported) and that they make sure their teachers are properly trained. Not equal but within the same area. McQuery wasn't certain what he saw, he's changed his story a couple times on what he told Paterno. If it turns out to be an abusive relationship and the coach did not report it, or only told her boss, her career and reputation is ruined. There is not downside to reporting it, the only risk is not reporting. Why should the coach risk their career and reputation by not reporting it?

Robin is in a nice position. 82 wins Robin = nice job Ozzie = underachievers

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 08:01 AM) If the principal suspects something illegal, their next stop is either the systems top administrators (who then call the police) or calling the police. That is the law. We saw how sending it to the top administrator did at Penn State. I would not have hesitated to call the police. Gay or straight.

You can't just kick it up the chain of command, the coaches needed to call the police and be certain it was investigated.