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 Class Forums - Spring 2007
 MIND 293 - Play as a Route to Insight, etc.
 Play and Law		  Forum Locked
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Tina Golovanoff
Fledgling

12 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  1:16:17 PM  Show Profile
OK, so Huizinga claims that law (and particularly the sort of contest that takes place in courtroom battles) is a form of play. I do not agree—at all. There may be a contest between lawyers to “win,” but they are not playing with Monopoly money here: people's lives are at stake, and when somebody “loses,” it may mean life or death. Let’s see...is this stressful?? Courtroom battles are not “beautiful”—quite frankly they are often hideous and, to say the least, a courtroom is not a place I would like to take my family for a picnic.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]

Patti Haight
Fledgling

13 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  1:21:55 PM  Show Profile
I would have to agree. Court cases are messy, and even though someone wins, both parties are losers. The victim loses a part of him- or herself and the defendant loses his life or spends time in prison or on probation. There are no real winners in court except the lawyers who make the money.

Patti

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
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Tina Golovanoff
Fledgling

12 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  1:31:57 PM  Show Profile
You’re not kidding. Courtroom battles are evil and stressful for everyone. And seriously, where’s the beauty in that? The only time I would consider a courtroom battle beautiful is when some dumb criminal who deserves to be put away for good is actually put away for good. When stupid people get what’s handed to them, it’s a good system. But...most cases just are not that pretty.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
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Kit Peterson
Fledgling

14 Posts
Posted - May 08 2007 :  2:01:55 PM  Show Profile
I disagree. I think that courtroom battles are play and can be considered beautiful by those who take part in them. Think of the movie Liar Liar. In the beginning of the movie we see Jim Carrey giving a testamony to the jury. His words and his demeanor—basically everything about him is so smooth and easy to believe. It’s why the guy who is obviously guilty is suddenly found innocent, and it was all so that Jim's character could win the case. No one could say that the manner in which he delivered his case wasn't beautiful. That's why he won, because of his beautiful words. He played the game better than the other lawyer, whose words weren't as beautiful as his, and that’s the way the justice system works. It’s a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless. How else do you explain the millions of people who get off easy, or get a slap on the hand, when they should be going away for years and years? Also, how else could we possibly have innocent people in prison serving many years? It’s because it’s how beautifully the lawer plays the game.

[Lightly edited to improve readability —TKT]
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Tina Golovanoff
Fledgling

12 Posts
Posted - May 10 2007 :  09:22:52 AM  Show Profile
Kit I have one thing to say: ITS CALLED HOLLYWOOD FOR A REASON. Real court battles are so far from that its not even funny.
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