A couple of years ago, Michael Vick was the most hated man on the planet. Now, he's not even the most hated guy in the NFL. Hell, with Guys like Roethlisberger and Alosi out there, Vick's not even in the Top 20.

If Vick can win a Superbowl, someday someone will an Oscar playing him in an inspirational movie.

I don't think it'll go to his head. He gives anti-animal abuse lectures at least once a month, and as it's been pointed out, no one is ever going to him forget what he did. It's been a footnote in every Michael Vick story since it happened, and probably always will be.

Axl Rose complained about this is in one of his famous Use Your Illusion-era tour rants. No matter you do, the press is always going to write about something else. The story is never going to be Axl Rose gave the audience a great show. It's always going to be Axl Rose, who once caused a riot in St. Louis, put on a great show. Or Axl Rose, who once attacked a neighbor with a wine bottle when she complained about loud music, put on a great show.

SnesGuy wrote:

UsaSatsui wrote: Oh, they never let you forget, no. A lot of famous people have made very serious mistakes. The question is, do you let it define you? Vick could have been a footnote in pop culture and late night talk show monologues as "the football player who ran dog fights", but he rose hard to rise above it and resurrect his career. I gotta respect the man for that, particularly since I always kind of felt he was overrated. I saw on the news this morning, however, that he felt he was "ready" to own a dog. Yeah thats just retarded, he will probably never be able to get that dog.

I say, let him. A dog is pretty basic possession, and it's not one that requires any special licenses or permits for ownership. If he wants to own a dog, no one has the right to tell him he can't. This is America. I mean, what the fuck is the big deal. Are people afraid is going to go down this:

"I want a dog... just one dog."
"Okay, now that I have a dog, I need another dog."
"Okay, now that I have two dogs, I need fifty more dogs."
"FIGHT DOGGIES, FIGHT! MWA HA HA! I'M BACK, BABY!"

Get real.

UsaSatsui wrote:

Second, the Justice system certainly has the right to tell him he can't. It's what they do, they punish you for wrongdoing by taking away things you normally have the right to do. The court says he doesn't have the right to own a dog, so, fuck him.

No. The government has the right to fine you, imprison you, or both (community service could be seen as a variant of either punishment). In cases in which the state or federal government issues you to have a license to do something (hunt, drive, pilot a plane), they also have the right to revoke those. But in a free and just society, the government doesn't have the right to make up restrictions outside its jurisdiction. Let's say I stabbed fifteen people to death with steak knives. I go to jail for it, but because I live in Massachusetts, I eventually get paroled. Let's say I get paroled 40 years later. They don't get to tell me that I can't ever own a steak knife again. I already paid my fucking debt to society.

But more importantly, the government can't pick and choose regulations for its citizens on a case by case basis. If steak knives are available to the public, then I can buy them. The government can't say everyone can own steak knives EXCEPT YOU. That's not how America works. That's totalitarianism. The reason the government CAN revoke your driver's license is because it is subject to certification and there are clear standards for what you must do to obtain and maintain your driver's license. Since such standards do not exist for steak knives, the government has no authority to revoke a single individual's right to steak knives. If they decide steak knives are that a big of threat, they can either ban them or enact a law requiring steak knife licenses to be obtained in order for one to own and operate steak knives.

Guns require a license though. That's different. They can require a code of conduct for guns.

If a school wants to hire you, sure. But you're required to tell them you're a sex offender and they probably won't hire you.

Well, under the American philosophy of government, I believe they have no right to do so.

In all practicality, the government has whatever rights it can get away with.