[Update: see also:
- The Problem with “Fraud”: Fraud, Threat, and Contract Breach as Types of Aggression (July 17, 2006)
- Fraud, Restitution, and Retaliation: The Libertarian Approach
- The Limits of Armchair Theorizing: The Case of Threats]
Stalking as a Form of Aggression, Mises Blog (April 14, 2009):
As the recent stalking of the heroic Shawn Johnson illustrates, stalking is a form of aggression, and ought to be punishable as a crime (privately, of course–but still). For more on this: Stalking and Threats as Aggression; Causation and Aggression; see also The Limits of Armchair Theorizing: The case of Threat; The Problem with “Fraud”: Fraud, Threat, and Contract Breach as Types of Aggression.
Stalking and Threats as Aggression, LewRockwell.com (July 29, 2004):
The looney chick that stalked Catherine Zeta-Jones provides a good example of why stalking should be a punishable offense; why it is a type of aggression. As discussed in pp. 68-69 of this article, the section on Standing Threats (p. 80) of this article, pp. 65-66 of this article. Certainly, under the “are we better off with or without her” test, this stalker chick should be put in jail. (Pat Tinsley and I will address some of these issues in great detail in a forthcoming paper, “Causation and Aggression”.)
Re: Stalking and Threats as Aggression
Re previous post: Here’s another example of why standing threats ought to be punished as crimes. In my view, if the facts of this story (where a 17-year old planned to bomb his high school) bear out, life in prison would be fine with me, under the “are we better off with or without him” test.
See also:
- The Limits of Armchair Theorizing: The case of Threats (Jul. 27, 2006)
- The Problem with “Fraud”: Fraud, Threat, and Contract Breach as Types of Aggression (July 17, 2006) [archived comments]
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Shawn Johnson Earrings for Sale!!
Re the Shawn Johson Peace earrings, as reported here:
“August 23, 2008–Shawn Johnson is scheduled to return from Beijing next week, but lately she’s been spotted all over the United States. From “I Love Shawn” t-shirts to watches and magnets, Shawn’s face is everywhere these days.
“A jewelry company based in California is even coming out with peace sign earrings next months, just like the pair Shawn wore in a recent televised interview.”
Update: Josh Buckman writes: “Shawn will be on David Letterman tonight wearing the same peace earrings. She definitely more impressive than the other more well known ladies speaking tonight (Nancy, Caroline, Michelle). Yuck!!!”
BTW, if you google “shawn johnson peace earrings” there are now tons of posts about this. As someone noted, “I think Shawn made a very conscience decision to wear these bright/white earrings to make a statement. She is 16. she doesn’t want her friends to be drafted to war. “
My Favorite Earrings
After winning the gold in the balance beam, Shawn Johnson, the impressive and mature 16-year old from Iowa, was interviewed by Bob Costas. She proudly wore a pair of simple, white “peace” earrings. Good for her! I bet they’ll be for sale soon on her store….
Updates: The interview starts about 8:34 into this video (thanks to Daniel Uffleman). “Proud Iowan” notes here that not only did she wear the peace earrings during the Bob Costas interview, “she flashed a peace sign at the camera after her routine”.
Another LRC’er writes: “She didn’t get all weepy when the national anthem played during the medals ceremony, either. She’s a tough little chica. The whole women’s team was pretty impressive this year, actually.”And one more:
“I was actually going to bug Lew to post something about Johnson’s earrings. As somebody who works with teens her age, there was something that caused me to root for her above others. After seeing those earrings I’m glad I chose her. I might buy my cousin a pair for her 15th birthday although it would probably tick my neocon aunt.
“I confess had it not been for my coworkers constantly bringing them up, I would probably refuse to watch the games believing them to be a tool by elites to promote nationalism. However after watching them, I have a new found respect for the athletes who compete in them regardless of nationality. The games are not bad, but like so many other things, the politicians ruin what should be an amazing spectacle.”
