“Give Pees a Chance” Student May Face Jail
Before I even get into this story, let me just say, what a LAME fucking title. Fortunately it’s not mine, so I’ll take no blame for that. Anyways, what happened here is that a university student in London by the name of Philip Laing, 19, was arrested following a drunken night out which included him taking a piss on a war memorial. According to the article, what he did wasn’t premeditated or any sort of political statement, he was just really drunk and really needed to go, and didn’t even remember the incident until being shown a picture of it the next day.
Laing has pleaded guilty to the offense, and prosecutors are at this point still open to pursuing jail time for him. Personally, I’m torn on this one. I’m all for being allowed to piss in public without people getting all stupid about it, calling it a “sex offense” or anything insane like that. Sure, you’d rather not be walking around the streets and seeing someone with their hog out, but to claim that when it happens in a purely nonsexual way (as in the average urination) is harmful to anyone is fairly dishonest, and generally falls into the “I’m zealous about something, and just looking to prove my zeal” category, like a women’s rights advocate protesting the use of the term “waitress” or something.
That being said, you can’t just piss anywhere. Property is property, and when something is owned by someone else, you have no right to use it in any way that you don’t have permission to, harmful or not. Running with the pissing example, it’s the difference between pissing on my lawn, and pissing on the sidewalk that borders my lawn. So the issue here, as far as I’m concerned, depends on who owns the memorial, and how much damage was done to it by the urine in question.
But that’s just what I think. Where do you stand on the issue of pissing in “public”? Do you think there are certain places where it is and isn’t appropriate? Or certain times of day? Or is it just never okay? And should this moron get any jail time, or any punishment at all? Or does it depend on certain factors, and if so which ones?
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Can’t say that I haven’t done this…while drunk…in someone’s yard…then being scared away by their dog or…spotting for a friend. That said, I’m really not ok with it. I don’t think there’s an appropriate place to piss outside. Have you ever walked down an alley and it reeks of urine? No one likes that.
Now, I understand that ‘things happen’ and people get trashed or etc. and people who get uber upset about situations like this are just looking for a way to create drama (or…a forum for their zeal).
As far as this guy…eh…just give him some community service, make him clean up some smelly underpasses and move on.
I’m as guilty as anyone for this, except I have never pissed on a war memorial. That, I think, is the underlying issue here and why the public and police are reacting the way they are. I doubt it would have been as big an issue if it was the alley side of a Kinkos or 7-11. It is still kind of disgusting, but if you at least can find a secluded tree or something, in that case who cares? Considering most places do not let non-customers use the facilities and that places are often closed at night anyways… Just don’t piss on things honoring the sacrifices of others and you should be ok.
@SF “I don’t think there’s an appropriate place to piss outside.” You must have trouble camping!! ha ha..
The thing about this is he didn’t mean to. Its not like he was laughing and pissing on the statue, it was all because he had a few drink. And we all know once we drink and have to piss, there really is no holding it in. I don’t think he should get JAIL time for it, that’s going a little crazy. That’s just tax payers money going to a man who pissed on a statue.
Maybe someone should pee on him, then next time he’ll think before he has one to many drinks.
@G- Have you read my ‘Glam-ping’ piece? Yes, I do have issues with not being able to use plumbed toilets. I reserve the right to be extremely girly on this one topic.
But I think the main issue here is the stench that exists when people use sidewalks/alleys/underpasses for their bathroom ALL THE TIME. It’s kinda gross..
@SF Yeah I did read that. The abuse to my short-term memory makes me a sad panda. I owe you 2 drinks now (I’ll likely forget I upped the ante). And while I agree with you, I’ve been drunk as fuck too many times than I should have. I sincerely believe one needs to find a secluded spot. If you choose to walk in the “backwoods” of the inner-city, you pretty much accept that brutal urine-soaked stench. You’ll also witness the beauty of dogshit, hobo pukes, drug/HIV infestation and V.D. Good times! It sucks, yeah babe, but it’s a sick and sad part of human nature. We always find a way to ruin our lives if so inclined. Unless of course you choose to start some sort of piss-control militant group… I like your articles, but have no ambition enforcing this one. Yeah a stupid fuck pissed on a war memorial! Seattle Freeze still rules. JCC tells it like it is. We all win. Basically because WE are not retards.
@G- I guess you’re right about ‘walking in the backwoods of inner city’ and dealing with the ‘nature’ of such but, it just seems…sad. I’ve actually done quite a bit of volunteer work including the ‘cleaning up’ of Seattle and you never really get how truly depressing it is until you’re out there fixing it.
I like how I can ‘up’ the drink number…now I’m going to take that as a challenge! Oh G…you may have just started something you can’t deliver on.
But I have to correct you-JCC tells it like he THINKS it is…which, isn’t necessarily HOW it is. His ego gets the best of him sometimes.
To be fair, on political stuff, I generally am in fact right, with others being wrong.
@SF Its likely I will not be able to keep up, true. Its a fun game though!
@JCC- …in your opinion.
@G- No worries, I’ll go slow for you.
@G- You should write…let’s talk.
@SF you know I’ve been toying with the idea of submitting a weekly prowrestling rant to help alleviate Al Creed’s pain and suffering. The problem is that I keep losing my motivation! And I also wonder if i could even keep it going on a regular basis (without sucking). Generally alot of my creative output goes into mixing and recording music.
@G- I get that too but no one’s expecting perfection…I mean…have you read some of my posts?!?
That said…email me…I’m sure we could work something out.
@SF Ok I am feeling like a retard. I have been searching both this site and your blog for an email link to no avail. Obviously I don’t expect you to post your email publically if this is intentional and I am simply retarded, nor do I want to post mine! Umm… if you are on facebook add a dude named “Gee Hall” from Calgary and that should make it easy. My profile is pretty locked down for privacy reasons I will be willing to disclose out of the public area. Nothing scary I promise.
@G-
I meant PM in the phorums but, I didn’t clarify…this works too. Add me!
Ive pissed on plenty on stuff when ive had a few. I think this is what Sinatra meant when he said “Ive had a few regrets, but then again too many to mention”. Ill piss on whatever the hell i want. Whats the fuzz going to do, lock up my penis? Screw you pigs.