Adi Segasummasuvila said:
Really?!?
Game consols for christ sake! Not some neccesery cancerdrugs or medical equipment, but some stupid game consols!
Yeah, im really-really need to have some morals like you.
Having had a kid in a hospital, what this guy stole was
1. Relief for the kids. Game immersion can very literally be the only break these kids have from a very painful, dehumanizing sickness, not to mention the trials of the treatment. It's not just the sickness - some kids need spinal taps. Have you ever been in the room when a 4 year old has to have his spine punctured - to make him BETTER, for god's sake?
2. Relief for the parents and siblings. The younger brother of my nephew wasn't getting attention (he was 4, my nephew was 9) and was acting up like kids do under pressure. Having a game to play made a world of difference - it kept him occupied and my sister got some peace of mind for a while to focus on what was going on with her older son.
3. Mental engagement for the kids. You don't want to do any homework when you're sick and getting chemo - you just want to have fun. But you can't do it like a normal kid - your body is weak, your mind is weak. A game is the best way, sometimes, to just have some fun and be a kid for a little while instead of a sick kid.
4. Equality for kids. My nephew tromped my ass at GoldenEye, honestly - it gave him a sense of power and accomplishment that he couldn't get otherwise.
Have some thought about this before you dismiss how serious this guy's crime was. Things are things, yeah, but it's what those things gave to people that he stole, too.
Recommended atonement: donate to www.childsplaycharity.org - does anyone know if this hospital is on the list of sponsored hospitals? Eff my own Christmas, these kids are getting some games.