Da Interview #10
Jun. 9th, 2003 09:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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plaid_dragon
1. What was it that left you disillusioned with the legal profession?
It's not any one thing. I feel a general revulsion at some lawyers who represent their clients so zealously they twist all Hell out of the law while doing it and make completely inane submissions that would never succeed just to "give it a shot". It's not that they harbor any real expectation that it might work - it's just to impress the client and justify their fee.
I also find the practice of civil law banal, because it's all about the money. I can understand if a man fights to preserve his liberty and prevent himself from going to jail or the gallows. I cannot understand why a man fights just not to pay a few thousand dollars, which he wouldn't be owing in the first place if he hadn't maxed out his credit cards to buy a new home entertainment system. I certainly don't understand why a person will take a shop to court over a defective toaster, where the time costs and effort would amount to more than the damn toaster or any damages he might have would be worth.
Sometimes I don't know if people get let off because they really are innocent or because the police were crap in their investigations. Similarly, sometimes I don't know if people get convicted because they really are guilty or because their lawyers were crap. Ultimately, I see a system that I idealistically think should serve and help the people and a higher ideal of justice corrupted by incompetence and greed.
I have to say though, that these kinds of things are in the minority and there are plenty of honest lawyers and judges and cops out there. But I'm the kind that isn't going to be happy until everyone gets as puffed up about the ideals of the profession as I do and not just pay it lip service. I guess at the end of the day, I'm not as cynical as I profess to be, or if I am, I damn well don't like having to be cynical.
2. What elements are essential in making somewhere "home"?
I'm pretty self-sufficient. Basically, get me an internet connection, a satellite TV, and the ability to order stuff on-line and I'm pretty happy. But to make it home - it's the people. Having friends around me, people I can talk to and hang out with. Sometimes, all it takes is a place where everybody knows your name.
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd like to unintentionally scare or weird out people less.
4. Falling plane, one parachute. Dubya and Saddam on board - which one should get the 'chute?
Dubya. Saddam is irredeemable, with the blood of hundreds of thousands on his hands. Dubya's a dumb animal. He should be put out to pasture. Now, between Rumsfeld and Saddam, on the other hand...
5. Describe your ideal state (land, location, goverment).
I've often described my ideal country in terms of this. English culture, Singaporean food, American government and land size. An average temperature of 17 degrees C would make it ideal.
plaid_dragon1. What was it that left you disillusioned with the legal profession?
It's not any one thing. I feel a general revulsion at some lawyers who represent their clients so zealously they twist all Hell out of the law while doing it and make completely inane submissions that would never succeed just to "give it a shot". It's not that they harbor any real expectation that it might work - it's just to impress the client and justify their fee.
I also find the practice of civil law banal, because it's all about the money. I can understand if a man fights to preserve his liberty and prevent himself from going to jail or the gallows. I cannot understand why a man fights just not to pay a few thousand dollars, which he wouldn't be owing in the first place if he hadn't maxed out his credit cards to buy a new home entertainment system. I certainly don't understand why a person will take a shop to court over a defective toaster, where the time costs and effort would amount to more than the damn toaster or any damages he might have would be worth.
Sometimes I don't know if people get let off because they really are innocent or because the police were crap in their investigations. Similarly, sometimes I don't know if people get convicted because they really are guilty or because their lawyers were crap. Ultimately, I see a system that I idealistically think should serve and help the people and a higher ideal of justice corrupted by incompetence and greed.
I have to say though, that these kinds of things are in the minority and there are plenty of honest lawyers and judges and cops out there. But I'm the kind that isn't going to be happy until everyone gets as puffed up about the ideals of the profession as I do and not just pay it lip service. I guess at the end of the day, I'm not as cynical as I profess to be, or if I am, I damn well don't like having to be cynical.
2. What elements are essential in making somewhere "home"?
I'm pretty self-sufficient. Basically, get me an internet connection, a satellite TV, and the ability to order stuff on-line and I'm pretty happy. But to make it home - it's the people. Having friends around me, people I can talk to and hang out with. Sometimes, all it takes is a place where everybody knows your name.
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd like to unintentionally scare or weird out people less.
4. Falling plane, one parachute. Dubya and Saddam on board - which one should get the 'chute?
Dubya. Saddam is irredeemable, with the blood of hundreds of thousands on his hands. Dubya's a dumb animal. He should be put out to pasture. Now, between Rumsfeld and Saddam, on the other hand...
5. Describe your ideal state (land, location, goverment).
I've often described my ideal country in terms of this. English culture, Singaporean food, American government and land size. An average temperature of 17 degrees C would make it ideal.
