nirvana are meh. their drummer went on to make a much better and more sucessful band: grohl is a better singer than cobain, a better guitarist [not hard as cobain is sloppier than a dobermans lick] and a better songwriter too. nirvana for their vaunted originality were actually meekly following a musical blueprint laid down by bands like the pixies - cobain is more swoon-a-lishious than black francis, though. which must help for things like getting vanguards of the alternative-underground like MTV right behind you. for their much vaunted influence, well grunge was a minor hit for a few months in the 90s, i guess. until bands like oasis and even ecstasy fuelled D.J. worship became a thing that is. their best song is a bowie cover, too.
What makes you think reducing punishment would reduce crime
i wouldn't merely reduce punishment; i would do away with the notion completely.
at the moment we sentence people based largely on the moral outrage caused by the crime. we have a punitive system whereby crimes can be atoned for by serving a sentence. this is just irrational. if people are a danger to society or themselves, then they shouldn't be in society and in secure places. call them prisons if you like. but sentencing should 100% focus on the offender and not on factors like moral outrage, victim impact statements or other extraneous factors. this might actually result in people being in prison for longer periods. the staus quo sees judges set tariffs based on subjective variables such as moral outrage, press interest, victim profile, victim's view on the crime etc etc. the offender is locked up: away from society and its changing norms, away from their family support network and friends, curtailing job prospects and housing them in a bruatalising environment. and once the sentence is complete, punishemnt is served and the offender is then released. this serves nobody and adds nothing to the good of society.
we lock people away from society and then release them expecting them to follow the common values of that society, even if the world may seem alien to them. crime is often a symptom, and we dont offer any treatment for the cause
taking away the notion of punishment, locking up fewer people, and investing money and care into prisoners would actually stand a chance of breaking the cycle of crime - its hard to do worse than the current system
where we do need to put people in prison the prisons should be small, based in local communities and should be places of rehabilitation and care. sentence the offender, not the offence. punishment shouldnt be a consideration
with regard to the kids, i can only speak from personal experience. i read about feral kids being blood-let on violent games and access to porn. i see gangs of teenagers, and they are looking at each other phones, sharing music,holding hands, mixed groups at ease in contact with each other. i see spontaneity in fashion, i hear laughter and and i see a lot of care towards others and politeness. i dont recognise my own young-self and my own peer groups in the young today, they are heads and shoulders above my generation in terms of maturity and class. the kids are alright, innit.
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