Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 2:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"he (Hammers) probably should arrest them, since their silly decision could have cost three other men their lives.
We hope the teens learned the lesson of a lifetime Monday night". I belive that others will continue to find stupid, selfless acts to do for attention since these teens proved that, all to often, there are no consequences for these type of senseless acts. These teens should have had to face some sort of consequence for their action. The fact that there was nothing done may cause another "indispensible" teen to loose his/her life in the near future for trying something else, if not the same thing.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 3:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yep, arrest 'em. Get their finger prints and put 'em in jail. A Felony Swimming conviction should carry a long long sentence. Preferably heavy labor. And grab the girl that dared them too - Felony Daring sounds like a good charge. She should share in their punishment. We simply can't have people doing stupid stuff like this any more. We've been trying to legislate morality for years. Well, its high time we legislated stupidity too. If nothing is done, we may have more and more people jumping into the river and eventually we'll lose so many people it will affect the tax base and the adjustments will fall on the smart folks like myself and our other posters here. This behavior has GOT to be nipped in the bud and we can only do this with extremely harsh punishment.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, these sound like good ideas, but you could just hope that they never ever parent a child themselves. It would be nice if they were not allowed to pro-create and make another version of the same bad apple. Keeping them out of the future gene pool would be a great idea, but how would we do it???

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

redusmfan, Thats an excellent idea. Thanks. We'll add sterilization to their punishment.

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Although I think an arrest would have been stiff, they should be subjected to some community service where they can see victims of accidents, nursing homes, hospices, etc. something to that affect. An arrest alone won't do much, especially since the parents would not do nothing but bail them out, then what? Since they have so much energy to expend, they should have been given community service hours.

Posted by FamilyofGod (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I thought those stickers on lawn mowers showing a spinning blade chopping up a foot that is stuck under the mower were the epitome of unnecessary precaution. Surely there is no one so stupid that such a warning would be necessary!

Alas, I am coming to understand my error.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't believe anything would be accomplished by arresting them . They probably learned their lesson and will have something to remember for the rest of their lives . I remember back in the 60's teenage boys would try to swim under the barges that were docked on the Vidalia side . That was decades ago . That was stupid ! We could start a book right here on site of "Let's Tell Stupid Teenage Stories We Have All Done" and just use the persons that wrote the 260 comments on yesterday's coloumn writing it . And another book following that one titled " The Parents That Lived Thru It "

Posted by elvisss (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Definitely some community service should be in order, at a minimum. Or perhaps they could be volunteered to assist at the clinic they took the Dr. away from.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Community service is always a good idea

Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They did get something, they got to be on the front page of the Democrat. I hope when they cut that article out to put up on their wall, they cut this one out to (to show how stupid they were). Community service should be inevitable.

They can get their number 1 fan to serve them lemonade while they are filling sand bags, picking up trash, etc.

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You know at the begining of this i was like aww they are just kids blah blah blah and now i am with the rest the were just plain STUPID!!!! The thing that turned me was the post by countrygirl4evr (i think that is her name) and themmyboys(wasnt that it)....

Didnt it say that they were going into the service? Didn't it say they had gotten there ged? So until then if that really happens. They should have to cut those 3 mens yards,clean there yard up,do things there wives needs doing. Not just once they should have to give them a day a piece a week for months....What else are they going to be doing?

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Couldn't we just use a little waterboarding on them? The girl too? I think that would make everyone feel better but it wouldn't take up nearly as much time.

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They "Hope" the boys learned a lesson....why not GAURANTEE" they learn it with an arrest?

Posted by itsawounderfullife (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Community Service!!! Gods intervintion, luck what ever you want to call it these boys should be very thankfull for the men that were willing to help them. They owe these men a thank you at the least. I hope that the military nocks some sense into these boys, Lord knows there is no room for such stupidity when at war.

Posted by JECS (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)

I have an insipid idea. The one that's in the military someone need to inform his company commander and tell him of his blunder, and it will help protect the and women he will serve with. even in Iraq.

Posted by JECS (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

correction------men and women he will serve with.

Posted by saywhat (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The men that saved these kids are heroes. I think community service for these kids is a great idea. At the very least they could stand on a busy street holding a sign that reads "I tried to swim the Mississippi River and brave men had to rescue me ". Or somthing like that. Let them put that on the front page of the paper.

Posted by djarum_black (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not to say the "D" word and get everyone all wound up.. BUT...

anyone familiar with the "Darwin Awards"? I think we have some nominees in town!

Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez Democrat: I agree.

Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I say put everyone one of these reckless kids to work! There will be plenty of things to do when the river starts dropping. Don't give them the time to think of other ways to gain recognization. They have ruined our chances of watching the river at it's peak, something we may never see in our lifetime again. So therefore I feel they owe us something. Dress them bright orange so we will be sure to notice them when they are working. They DON'T deserve a summer. I do feel a weekend of sitting in jail would be a good eye opener for them.

I do suggest one thing to the Democrat. Give our heros a chance to voice their opinion on what should be done to them after all they are the reason they are still alive, especially M. Cupstid.

Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YES overthehill60 has a great point... put them in orange jumpsuits, make them pick up driftwood after the water falls, THEN put THAT story on the front page of the NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT!!!

We will probably NEVER be able to see the river at this stage again in our lifetimes. The scenery on the Riverwalk is amazing. Now the opportunity to enjoy it is over THANKS to DUMB and DumBer showing off their "watch what I can do" skills.

If this would have had a devestating turnout, would everyone on here still be saying "get over it"?

Posted by andy (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

what law did they break except being stupid thank god they are alive and well

Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, I think I'm observing pack mentality. I'm beginning to think only blood will satisfy some of you people.

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Whats a rednecks famous last words?

"Hey Y'all....WATCH THIS"

Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Watch what I can do!"
"Hey look, all of these people can watch us do this!"
"I am attention starved, so now I am sure to turn some heads"
"I will make it on the front page of the paper!"

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree that they need to do community service, or at the very least service to the men who rescued them. But, that said, I really think everyone is going a little overboard on it. You can't blame them for the riverwalk closing, that was bound to happen, it just happened maybe a day sooner. And what would everyone be saying if it had been an adult who tried that stunt? Even we adults do some stupid things. I think the tourists who were letting their child play at the edge of the water were pretty stupid too. Or what if a child had fallen in? One of mine tried to jump backwards into the pool at age 3. 12 stitches later he promised he would never do that again. Also what about all the bystanders who watched, why did the doctor have to come all the way out of the clinic? Some might say he was stupid to try to save them. I don't - I think the city of Vidalia should give a banquet for these three and award them medals, or tax-free year or something. The boys on the other hand, and the girl too, having been raised here, should have KNOWN the river is something you don't mess around with. You can stand there and watch it and know you can't fight that current. But teens don't think all the time. They made a stupid mistake that could have ended in tragedy. How many times recently have we seen young people make stupid mistakes? Let it go people, let the parents and authorities handle it. It is after all another one week wonder.

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well freedom42, you can't legislate stupidity nor can you legislate intelligence, so I agree with you there, that is why I suggested in the beginning, they should do some form of community service, especially with AMR/EMR or an entity like that. A group who responds to drown victims, or victims of harmless "pranks."

Posted by vilou09 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

[OBAMA]--
Hopefully their #1 fan won't "dare" them to take a dip again. In 3 days, i doubt much has changed with any of them.
This is just another prime example of the "slap-on-the-wrist" system we have running in our area.
Grr.. hopefully things will change by the time I'm of age to vote!!

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No matter who is voted into office, people will continue to make stupid mistakes and do dumb things. Who's in office doesn't dictate that. Personal responsibility does! Even by way of stricter penalties and laws, there are laws already on the books, enforcement can be one of the issues, but I am seeing more and more reckless behavior from people, and their refusal to accept their responsibility for their acts.

Posted by vilou09 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen Teach4Peace; I couldn't have said it better.
I just think there should be SOME kind of punishment for them.
[redusmfan & OldGrandDad]- those aren't bad ideas... seriously. People with that kind of destructive and infantile mentality shouldn't be allowed to reproduce.
And to think these "men" are about to defend our country... Sheesh.

Posted by Crabbe (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, the kids did a reckless thing, but I'm sure that none of you perfect people never did anything reckless. Get real, the real lesson we all need to learn is to admit we do dumb things and suffer the consequences.

Posted by vilou09 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Reckless acts equal punishment. Atleast thats the way I always understood it....

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Believe me by the time they finish boot camp and are ready for active duty in a war zone, they will have had a major attitude adjustment. Now, can we leave it alone?

Posted by vilou09 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope you're right freedom42... I really hope you're right...

Posted by Jesse1 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good Grief, you people are out for blood! They are just teenage boys and I am sure they learned a lesson. Don't act like none of you have ever done anything stupid, like drive drunk or lean over while driving to tend to a baby or swim alone or drive recklessly or ride a dirt bike or 4 wheeler recklessly or anything stupid that could have costed you your lives! We have all done stupid things at one time or another, nobody is innocent!

Posted by tumbleweed (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

....or ride in a car/truck without a seatbelt.

Posted by sarabear08 (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARENT HEARTLESS...and to you other people who just cant stop with the cruel comments...get a life,GET OVER IT!!!the boys did stupid stuff,that could have gotten people killed but everyone is allright...if u wanna water so bad.RUN SOME BATH WATER OR drive across the bridge...stop actin like yall are perfect,im sure yall done some pretty stupid stuff back in the day...SO LEAVE THE BOYS ALONE & GET OVER IT...yall think their stupid,what about yall? yall sound pretty stupid sayin some of this stuff

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My posts were made being facetious. But these folks here have certainly outdone me. I would never have dreamed people would treat kids so badly on the local paper's website.

Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OldGrandDad----------FACETIOUS REALLY! ALL OF THEM??!!!! How do you think a POW would feel about water boarding these kids? Funny???? As for the rest of the comments do you feel that they are any different than what these kids do to each other everyday that causes them to fight like the girls in Florida???? There has been so much slander, violation of privacy, and utter disregard of feelings that I am surprised no one has screamed about bring a law suit against someone. I lived in this town when I was a young girl and was so excited to move back and raise my children here. I feel now that I should move far far away. I am ashamed of this community. I pray to God that the people that risked their lives for these two boys are not reading all of this and the other post that you all jumped off of so quickly. It belittles their heroic efforts to put another life above their own. My grandmother was the dearest woman and I am sure most of you knew her, but she gave her life to save another and for that she is a hero. Even if the boys were at fault do not destroy the good that was done. I am ashamed

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lilredhead, Yep. Like I said. Sorry you can't see it.

Posted by notabigot (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lilredhead, I agree with you about what this story "should" have been about. The heroic efforts of three men should have been praised all over this thread. But, OldGrandDad was kind of making fun of the over reaction of some folks with his comments. He seems like a good guy with a good head and a good heart. He's also sarcastic and dry sometimes, but that's his sense of humor, at least that's how it seems. We can't hear a tone of voice or see a smile when we are reading this, and that causes us to have misunderstandings sometimes.

Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

notabigot, Why thank you very much. Its a shame the Democrat doesn't let us post with little smiley faces and such.

Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am sorry to be so emotional but my grandfather was a POW and my mom said he was never the same after. This whole thing has been blown out of proportion. If anyone cares to see the river up close and personal you can go right up the road to the Riverview RV park and down towards the Bunge plant. That is where the water has come up close. There are more places to see the water that are not shut down or roped off.

Posted by 1voice (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There was another gentleman the name of Mr.Brown whose quick thinking improvised by taking a water hose down to the men to use in the place of a rope. Thank you Mr. Brown for your quick thinking. That hose gave one of the men some security to go into the water. So 4 heros it is.

Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on April 23, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Parents, do you know where your children are?

Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Riverfront sidewalk has provided a place for people to walk & enjoy the beauty of the Miss. River. Now because of the wreckless behavior of some trouble makers we are unable to walk.
(Parents, do you know where your children are) was broadcasted every night at 10:00PM on KNOE TV in the 60's. Maybe they should start doing it again.
Most 16 & 17 year old boys have the common sense not to do foolish things like swim in the Miss. River, but we must remember these were not your everyday kids they are a group of kids that are trouble makers that have no respect for adult rules or the law. They saw all the police tape everywhere at the Riverfront so they knew they were doing wrong, but they didn't care.
I doubt very seriously this little group will ever serve our country. We as taxpayers will probably be supporting them in jail before long.
Gossip spreads fast though small communities & having teenage grandkids I am learning alot about them & so far nothing has been good.

Posted by iamnobody (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hey how about making them wear sandwich boards that say "i am an idiot!!" have them stand at each end of the bridge and swap every couple of hours...

Posted by iamnobody (anonymous) on April 27, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

o yeah,, i am all for fix'n them puppies so they can not reproduce their own batch of idiots

but EXTREMELY PUBLIC PUNISHMENT is HIGHLY IN ORDER
what they DID WAY MADE HIGHLY PUBLIC and THUS SHOULD THE PENALTY

to bad there is no rehab for stupidity

Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)

How do we protect people from themselves? Are we going to close the entire 2310 miles of the banks of the Mississippi River? This was not a solution, but a knee jerk reaction to a liability situation for a few people intent on using bad judgment. Don't take away the freedom and enjoyment of those who respect life's limits just because of the occasional desire of some to do their own thing regardless of the risk or common sense of the matter. Apply an appropriate punishment or deterent, and let everyone else enjoy our world.

Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on May 6, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GO PREACHER!

The river is always there and most of the time is just as dangerous as now for the gawking bystander.

Don't get in it, and you will probably survive the raging waters.

If you run into a news editor or a politician who says they should protect you by not letting you go down and see the river, invite them to go jump in the lake! he,he!