Twenty Four Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Ted Wiggins]

You haven't bothered me for like...three whole days, so I'm guessing something's probably wrong. Because it's you, I feel I legitimately have to ask you if you're one of these things. Circle one or more if you can't speak:

DEAD / INJURED / LOST / TRAPPED / KIDNAPPED / OTHER

If I don't get an answer in an hour, I'm coming looking for you.

[Then, later, when he's learned exactly where Ted actually is, he'll dictate into his journal]

[Away FROM Ted Wiggins]

So here's a question for you all. How ethical would you say it is to put a tracking device on a kid's ankle without his direct consent?

Would the morality of it change at all if I point out the kid in question actually actively gets himself into dangerous situations?

Comments

[tapshoetomove]

Very unethical!

[whichwayyoulean]

Okay. Give me reasons.

I need to weigh them against my very good reasons.

[tapshoetomove]

I doubt you'd like it very much if someone did that to you.

Once-Ler

[kungfuwitch]

[Can't you just hear the facepalm, Once?]

You can't seriously be thinking about putting a tracking anklet on Ted.

Phoebe

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yes, yes he can]

Yes. Yes I can. Do you know where he is right now? Trapped in the movie theatre. And just a week ago he was all for skating off onto the ice without realising that hey, ice melts.

...And ok, his complete inability to understand how nature works is totally my fault, but still. The kid needs to be watched.

Once-ler forever

[kungfuwitch]

[she sighs]

Yeah I've heard a couple of people talking about that this week. He's not alone, though. And it's not like he can get into much trouble there.

[she pauses. she tries to keep her voice calm and patient.]

Once-ler he's just being a kid. More than that he's being a boy. Boys take chances, want to pull things apart and try things to find out how they work. You can't just put him on a leash and expect him to be happy.

I agree that he should have someone keeping an eye on him but a tracking anklet is not the answer.

Once-ler

[findatree]

[Ted dutifully circles the "trapped" option]

In the movie theater.

Ted

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yes. Good child]

...How are you trapped in the movie theatre? It's not even open, only on the...

Oh. [This will be the Once-ler pinching the bridge of his nose] You were in there after midnight weren't you?

[A better adult might question if that was past Ted's bedtime, but the Once-ler is not a better adult. The best he can do is make sure the kid is actually able to survive]

Do you have food? Water? Are you alone in there? [Maybe he can get an axe and cut a hole in the wall. Would that work?]

Once-ler

[findatree]

The movie ran long.

We've got stuff like popcorn and soda and candy. I was going to save you some Red Vines, but they're starting to get stale. You may not want them.

There's a lot of other people here. A girl's been throwing candy at a dartboard.

[fantasies]

[as a kid who actively puts himself in dangerous situations on a regular basis:]

Ew, what? No. No, no, no.

[whichwayyoulean]

What? It's not that bad!

[fantasies]

It is so! Can you imagine somebody watching you wherever you go? No way.

[whistles_the_blues]

Why not watch him yourself?

Don't take the lazy way out.

[whichwayyoulean]

Have you missed the hermit thing? Because I thought that was super obvious.

[whistles_the_blues]

Then lock him up there with you. It's just as unethical but you don't have to leave your room and he doesn't get into trouble.

[wilder]

No.

[whichwayyoulean]

...Seriously? Just 'no'?

[wilder]

Yep. Just no.

[toobravehearted]

[There's a light touch of humour in The Doctor's voice.] Hello. Why not just go for one of those contraptions I've seen once before, child harnesses I think they were called. Can't be any less humiliating for the child, can it? [Actually, yes, yes it can. And no, he is not advising that you take this course of action!]

Educating the child is likely your best option. Tracking her or him isn't going to stop curiosity, and children will be children.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler hadn't been paying attention when the Doctor arrived, so his voice is greeted with a gasp]

...Doc? You came back?

[But to the matter at hand] Trust me, I thought about it, but he'd find a way out of it. He's tricky. And I'm trying to teach him, but I'm not....uh experienced in this sort of thing.

[toobravehearted]

...Ah. You know who I am then. I'm sorry, it's a pleasure to meet you but I don't know your name.

How old is he? Young boys often are. Experience comes in time, and if you can guide him now, he'll appreciate it later.

[bezazzled]

I'm going to have to go with a very firm no on that. It's an invasion of privacy!

[And what's stopping him from just putting a tracking device on that poor soul? What if he puts one on her next?]

[whichwayyoulean]

[What if he watches ALL THE CHILDREN?

...No, wait that's the rabbit]

You people and your morals.

[dorkwonder]

I get why you want to keep the person safe, but shouldn't you let him know? [SOUNDS SO SURPRISED. Except he puts tracking devices on people all the time...cough.]

[whichwayyoulean]

What, you mean like warn him before hand?