Eh Steve Posted December 17, 2013 Posted December 17, 2013 Just something I'm pondering. What do you folks think about children owning property? It seems to me a very common punishment to take away certain things like video games or television viewing by parents. Is this a breach of property rights or are children's toys etc. more like privileges? Aside from their person what is it exactly children own? Maybe their clothes, maybe? At what age do you think kids really start to own property? Anyone know a good author on the subject?
MysterionMuffles Posted December 17, 2013 Posted December 17, 2013 Their dignity. Inanimate objects are still paid by their parents, but what stays with them at all times if their dignity, and asserting ownership it through threat and punishment, I think that's where the line is crossed. But did you mean specifically physical objects?
RestoringGuy Posted December 17, 2013 Posted December 17, 2013 I think it should be asked the other way around. At what age should people stop owning property? We take it for granted that property rights magically exist in some "estate" form even after death. But old people are not in a good position to reciprocate property rights, so why preserve them? You can also argue younger people are exploited, forced taxes, forced schooling, prohibitions on working, so much of the old people's property is illegitimate anyway. It seems parallel to the other questions asked here.
TacTZilla Posted December 17, 2013 Posted December 17, 2013 Anything that is bought specifically for them, such as presents, clothing etc. Stuff that needs to be disposed of or passed on should be done with consent through negotiation.
RestoringGuy Posted December 18, 2013 Posted December 18, 2013 Anything that is bought specifically for them, such as presents, clothing etc. Stuff that needs to be disposed of or passed on should be done with consent through negotiation. When property is wasted I think there is mild ethical cause for others to borrow but not permanently steal. I am reminded of that car in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Also, if some kid does not feed their cat, I think it is OK to take away and feed the cat for a little while without owner's consent. I feel that I can also borrow a pen off a vacant desk. Maybe negotiation is mainly for the long-term plans.
TacTZilla Posted December 18, 2013 Posted December 18, 2013 Who is to be the judge of what the definition of 'wasted? is? If a parent buys a cat for a child they should ensure the child is able and willing to care for it in advance, and if the child does not care for it adequately then it's the responsibility of the parent to feed the cat. There's no need to remove the cat in this situation as cats will remove themselves if food is on offer. Perhaps you would use a pen from a desk, but if the child owner was there it would be right to ask permission first. Respect for children includes respect for their stuff. Just noticed this...... Haven't watched yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTw-zIIGpSU
Eh Steve Posted December 18, 2013 Author Posted December 18, 2013 Delightful coincidence. I'm not the listener to wrote to Stef, maybe it is due to the gift giving season. But he gives a response in his latest video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTw-zIIGpSU&feature=youtube_gdata The reason I posted this question is I found it bizarre looking backward. In a lot of families children literally do not own anything until they buy it themselves. And that is sometimes not even respected. It is interesting to look back at it as an adult owning many things.
stigskog Posted December 18, 2013 Posted December 18, 2013 Babies are born only owning themselves. When they are given stuff, then they own it, and they can do what they like with it. You could lend your kid stuff, if you want to get them back at some point to pass it on... but it is for the parent to make clear what is a gift and what is a loan. You can change a loan in to a gift but not a gift in to a loan .. that's just theft. btw gift is the swedish word for both 'poison' and 'married'
Eh Steve Posted December 22, 2013 Author Posted December 22, 2013 If anyone has children I always wondered about this with good parents: Do you consider your kid to own their room? The only consequence of this I can see is they might draw on the walls or cut up the carpeting.
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