How can we tell if a criminal has reformed?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Hi!

Someone has beem posting on this board telling us about the problems with her bf, who apparently did something wrong, but has now reformed. Here's a photo of the bf at a B*P rally last year - front row, blue shirt and tie (not the guy behind with the blue shirt and orange tie). Photo from B*Ps own site

Is it likely that he's really reformed - even though last year he was keen enough to go down to England and spend time with these scum? And what's changed his mind? Would he still be doing the same old shite if he hadn't got nicked? Maybe...who knows. But I'd like some evidence please. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it hasn't been in the microwave long enough.

(Oh, and Mr. Plunk's no a journo. He builds ships. Like Davy used to)

― Plinky Plunk (No Nazis), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:32 (twenty-three years ago)

It might be worth bearing in mind, Plunk, that we on this board have had nothing to do with the man in question. We have only communicated with Plinky and since she's not around right now I don't think anyone can or should answer this thread. Providing 'evidence' of reform is not our job.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:38 (twenty-three years ago)

MODERATOR -- now there's an image referral from a site i don't think we want any attention from

― Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

GOOD POINT!

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I work with a lot evil bastards, but I don't spend all my time googling their girlfriends and getting kicks out of tormenting them. You're as bad a B*P member.

― cc, Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Plinky Plunk you are perfectly entitled to ask these questions here but PLEASE be careful about links and stuff. I didn't delete the picture, but only bcz a fellow moderator got there moments before me.

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Hells Bells Plinky Plunk - given that you know we're trying to avoid B*P people coming to the board could you PLEASE use your brains and not link photos on that organisation's website?? (I've edited it out - it showed some people sitting in a B*P meeting hall).

Catching crims and punishing them is meant to change their mind - that's part of the POINT of it. Has he reformed? No idea. You, Plinky and the rest of us get to wait and see. My opinion is that people who commit crimes because they think stupid or evil things are easier to re-educate than people who commit crimes through uncontrollable impulses. For what it's worth though I think a lot of people on this board have exactly the same gut feelings you do - we just don't want to judge, let alone hound a man's partner based on what he has done.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Fucking great, deep linking to the B*P website. I think you can make your point without the photo.

As for your point. Yes I think people can change. Ricky Tomlinson was famously involved in extremist right wing groups in the early 70's before he saw the light.

As for the guy in question, well you know him better than I do. I think Pl*nky's made a big mistake getting involved with him but hopefully she's right about his volte face. Though his deeds will be more important than words in his case.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)

you aren't helping anyone with this, Plinky Plunk

― DG (D_To_The_G), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:50 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not sure that's the point, DG.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:55 (twenty-three years ago)

I suppose the easiest way to tell if a criminal has reformed is - when they are released - to see if they do it again. This of course is complicated by the type of crime, if it is a hate crime then I suppose we have to wonder if that hatred has been irradicated (or as could easily be the case exacerbated by the incarceration) - crimes of thought rather than deed. But how can you judge someone except on their deeds?

For plenty of answers to this question and similar issues I suggest you try the Racism thread.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 15:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually...it wouldn't have drawn attention from the nazis because their site counter wouldn't have spotted a link to a gif. Wasn't meaning to "hound" the gf. Just suggesting that the bf might not be as reformed as she was leading people to believe.

Anyway...point made. I'll not post anymore and leave you to your MB. Sorry to bother you...but at least you've got some context on Ms Plink now.

(Oh...and Ricky Tomlinson was involved in militant TU politics, not nazism. He was one of the Shrewsbury 2 jailed during the builder's strike. When he was on Brookie, he also had another run in when he was accused of intimidating tenants of some properties he owned inn Oswestry...but that's another story....and one which the mod will probably have to remove for legal reasons.)

― Plinky Plunk (No Nazis), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:20 (twenty-three years ago)

their site counter wouldn't have spotted a link to a gif

I don't think this is true. I know that when images are pulled from my site, I see it in my logs.

― maura (maura), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:23 (twenty-three years ago)

what is MB?

(i had thought tomlinson had been involved in both the far right and militant tu, at different stages of his life)

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:30 (twenty-three years ago)

yes it wouldn't show on a counter, but it still shows in the server logs with a ref to the page that called it.

― Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:32 (twenty-three years ago)

MB = message board, gareth

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Message Board.

Maura is right about the image referrals.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:33 (twenty-three years ago)

MB=message board? and afaik gareth is right about tomlinson.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:33 (twenty-three years ago)

maybe we should lock this page then? or renumber the thread, if that's possible? or transfer all posts so far onto a new thread of the same title?

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:43 (twenty-three years ago)

too late, it doesnt matter, they'll see the domain in the link

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Ricky Tomlinson

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:48 (twenty-three years ago)

but at least you've got some context on Ms Plink now.

No, at most we have some context about Mr. Plinky, and we certainly know more about you. Plinky's still the Plinky we love, though.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 16:49 (twenty-three years ago)

What Andrew said. Plinky's said from day one that she cares for her boyf, but totally disapproves of what he did. What you've told us has been completely consistent with that. Plinky thinks he's reformed. You are sceptical, and that's fair, but she's entitled to believe otherwise. I'm as uncertain as you are about whether Plinky's boyf has REALLY changed, but some of your remarks seem to delight in tormenting Plinky - who did nothing wrong.

In response to the original question, there is no way you can tell in the short term. If they go a long period without reverting to their old ways, perhaps you can call them reformed. It'll take time to see if Plinky's boyf is a changed man (and publicly denouncing his own actions would be a good start), but remember that it is he, and not Plinky, that you should be suspicious of.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 11:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I stand by my asshole comments of yesterday, why is this guy so determined to force the issue.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 11:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah. And using the fact that Plinky "seemed to imagine that the racist scum's colleagues might "want to send him a wee card"", as some sort of proof that she's much more mixed up in this then she lets on is ridiculous. She loves him. She thought it would cheer him up. She wasn't backing what he did. So what's your reason for tormenting her? Focus your anger on actual racists, rather than a woman who's going out with a man who she believes has given up his racist ways. What has she got to apologise for?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 12:04 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.