German man castrates teenage daughter's 57-year-old boyfriend
Helmut Seifert, 47, an ethnic German originally from Russia, was enraged when he heard his 17-year-old daughter was having a relationship with Phillip Genscher, 57.
He went to police in the town of Bielefeld where he lives but officers said they were powerless to intervene.
"The man then recruited two work colleagues at his factory and then went to the house of the victim," said police.
Wow. Words fail me. As a father of a beautiful young lady, I can certainly empathize with dad here. Knowing your daughter is making such a mistake - and make no bones about it, a 17 year old dating a 57 year old is a mistake of epic proportions - and yet being utterly powerless to influence her decision must have been gut-wrenching. I certainly don't condone the violence, mind you - I understand it - but I can't say that forcibly removing a man's testicles would have been my first response... Then again, this is a German of Russian descent - it's not like restraint was an option...
It's the dad's comment that got to me: "I saw it as my duty as a father." While I may happen to think that the punishment didn't fit the crime, I can understand that dad's motivation for doing something - it really is hardwired to protect your kids. Now, granted, at 17 she's old enough to make her own decisions - and mistakes - and sometimes the best thing you can do is stand back and let them fall, so that they can learn. But damn, the thought of some creep ten years older than me pawing at my little girl evokes some powerful emotions, none of them good or particularly legal to act on.
I guess, what I'm really trying to say here, is simply don't fuck with German daughters unless you have a cast-iron codpiece...
That is all.
9 comments:
Wow...lately I've taken to playing Devils Advocate...
Don't take this the wrong way, Jay, because of my taking up the DA position (I guess I'm going a bit more Libertarian in my old age, as opposed to more Conservative...)
17 YO Gal, 57 YO Guy...would it be OK if it were a 17 YO *guy*, and a 57 YO Gal? (Side note: I know some unbelievably hawt 57 year olds, so its not like the kid would be getting it on w/grandma after she's put her teeth in the glass on the nightstand and tended to a bit of southerly arid conditions caused by her age...)
How about a 27 YO Gal and a 67 YO Guy? (Hollyweird types do *that* all the time. Yeah, its not an excuse, but its the only readily available example I could point to without doing an in-depth InterWebz search...)
Look...I have a 29 YO daughter...been there, felt the rage, have the T-shirt. But after it was all said and done, her mom (my ex) and I came to the conclusion that we did everything we could to bring her up right, that we instilled our beliefs and values into her to some degree, and at that point we need to step back and *trust in our own job as parents* that we did in raising her.
That, I think, is the hardest thing for any parent to do, and was impossible for the German/Russian to do, because if she continued with the relationship he would feel that it reflected on him as a parent and the job he did raising her...he was more concerned with *what will the neighbors say?* than he was with her, really. Because, in that societal construct (I'm speaking firsthand, as my parents are right off the boat Croats, and this is the pervasive mentality of Old Worlders to this day...) a parent is judged by their societal peers on the actions of their children. Its the whole *bringing dishonor onto the family* thing that drives radicalism in Muslim families. Its a pervasive Euro-Asian mentality, and can lead to things happening like in the story of this dad and his kid.
Then again, this is a German of Russian descent - it's not like restraint was an option...
Dang it. Now I have coffee all over my monitor!
Dragon,
No. Reversing the genders doesn't make it any more acceptable.
27/67 is totally different. By 27 they've had a chance to experience life, to be able to identify predators, etc. They're a lot better equipped (although not necessarily) to avoid the pitfalls of a May/December romance.
And yes - you have to trust that you've done your job right, that you've instilled the right values and all as a parent.
That's an interesting concept you bring up - that the child was shaming the parents - and I can't disagree (especially being Italian and all...)
Like I said, I don't condone it, I merely understand it. Even the best kids can be led astray, and some pentagenarian hitting on my teenaged daughter had better pray I don't develop a terminal disease...
Borepatch,
Heh. Thanks.
Holy SHIT. That's just . . . I mean . . . good ***damn.
Mike and I don't have any kids -- yet -- but I plan on building up a nice collection of center-mass targets over the years. To plaster all around the house as warning signs.
OK...so 27/67 is somewhat more palatable, due to having a few more years *under your belt* (no pun nor double-entendre intended) so to speak. :-)
I figured you would understand the *bringing shame on the family* concept with your Italian heritage. And in this case, I can almost guarantee that it was the motivating factor in this guys actions. Remember, this happened in Europe, not Stateside. Also (again, this is firsthand familial experience talking) its *not* out of the ordinary for large age differences in European society...its actually quite common when compared to the same in the USA, but the age difference tends to be more like 20 to 25 years difference, not 40.
Still, that would be a 17 YO gal hooking up with a 37-42 YO guy...and that happens in Europe, especially in Central Europe (ie: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and the Balkans that were once Yugoslavia) I have a 3rd or 4th cousin over there who, at 17, hooked up with a 35 YO, and he was married to boot. She got knocked up, had twin girls (they are both unbelievably adorable) and the father is still with his wife. The shame is brought down on the girls family, and as far as the guy is concerned, he was just taking care of manly urges. Wasn't *his* problem that she got preggers...the attitude over there is that she should have known better to sleep around, and doubly so with a married man.
I'm not condoning it, by ANY means...just pointing out that the culture over there is VERY much different than over here...
I guess, what I'm really trying to say here, is simply don't fuck with German daughters unless you have a cast-iron codpiece...
QOTD!
tweaker
Good lessons right there. Just like cleaning the gun at the kitchen table before the date, the story can be brought to guys attention. Sometimes bad things can happen to good people. As Jay puts it "I don't condone it, I merely understand it"
OTOH, in some cultures the father would have been honor bound to kill his daughter. Although I don't particularly like that he did this, it's better than that particular alternative. At least in my view.
dephantWell....using Dragon's reasoning....
What if she was 14 and he 54, or 15 and 55? Where does that age thing become magical where it IS alright?
67/27?
I'm not sure that taking justice into your own hands is always a good thing...But to paraphrase Paul Harvey, "At least someone is serious about preventing nuclear proliferation!" (I think he was talking about the the Israelis taking out another middle eastern countries nuclear development sites in the late 70's or early 80's.)
Reminds me of "A Time to Kill".
PS...I've actually seen this here in the States, when a local very conservative and self centered religious commune castrated one of their own, a 17 year old, who had played once to often with the teenage girls. He was given the choice of castration or expulsion and chose castration!
Nearly bled to death before they brought him to the ER. Wouldn't ever give anyones name that performed the procedure, either.
Post a Comment