Discussions with Zharphyn

Nathan Kotylak tries to burn a police car

Last week the Vancouver Canucks failed in their efforts to win the Stanley Cup.  A group of people, intent upon creating destruction, started a riot.  Hundreds of people decided that it would be fun to participate, and soon the riot was larger than the police could manage.  A number of people, equal in size to the rioters, decided to use their cell phone cameras to take pictures and videos of these idiots committing lawless actions.  Let us be clear.  I in no way condone the actions of the rioters.  I think the law should come down as hard as possible on these people.  Jail time, fines and reparation costs should be leveled against them for their criminal actions.

What I do want to talk about is the actions of the general public in reaction to the riot.  Kudos to those individuals that created websites for people to upload the pictures and videos to help with identifying the criminals.  But shame on the people who have moved from justice to vengeance.  Nathan Kotylak is a seventeen year old boy who got caught up in the craziness and he took his actions too far.  He was photographed attempting to set a police car on fire.  Nathan is a gifted water polo player with aspirations of making it to the Olympics to represent Canada.  He has now been suspended from the National team pending a review.  I hope that the review finds him unworthy of reinstatement.  He had a scholarship to attend University in Alberta.  The scholarship is suspended pending review.  I hope that they give it to someone more worthy.  The police have filed charges against Nathan for his actions.  I hope he gets some jail time and a severe fine.  All of this is fine.  This is justice.  Private citizens, however, have decided that this is not enough, and have posted Nathan’s home address and phone number on the Internet.  Nathan’s father is a surgeon.  His father’s office phone number and address have been posted online.  The family have received enough threats that they have fled to an unknown location to hide, and his father has temporarily closed his practice.  Now we have crossed the line into vengeance.  To those of you who posted personal information about Nathan online, thereby endangering not only his life, but the lives of his family, shame on you.  That action was no better than the actions of the rioters that you supposedly are protesting.  Nathan fired a torpedo into his own life.  He will wind up with a criminal record which will severely affect his ability to function into adulthood.  Since he has already had his lawyer remove the protection of the Young Offenders Act to allow his name to be published, the courts will undoubtedly raise his case to adult court.  His Olympic dreams are in the toilet.  His name and face are public enough that he will have difficulty getting a job.  Kudos to the public.  The public shaming is well underway.  His father, a surgeon, has closed his practice.  This certainly helps the public.  Surgery wait lists will only get shorter with one less surgeon practicing.  Oh wait, that does not sound right.  Remind me how this helps anyone?  People are criticizing Nathan’s upbringing, claiming that the parents did a poor job.  Everyone of you think back to what being a 17 year old boy is like.  17 year old boys are idiots.  When my son reaches 17, he too will be an idiot.  I was an idiot when I was 17, although I did not think so at the time.  This is not the parents fault.  This is the fault of biology.  Everyone, we need to get back to identifying the rioters and shaming them.  We need to remove the personal information about Nathan’s home from the Internet and allow that family the chance to resume their lives.  Nathan will have his day in court.  Let justice, not vengeance prevail.