'Taking Two' Talk Of Town; Student Punished For Keeping Extra Soda From Machine

KOAT-TV/DT Albuquerque ^ | 11.3.03

[mhking]

RIO RANCHO, N.M. -- A Rio Rancho teen was slapped with an in-school suspension for taking both sodas that came out of a vending machine, when he had only paid for one.

That story, first reported on KOAT Action 7 News, was the talk of the town Thursday. It was the buzz on morning radio, topped local newscasts and was the talk of parents in the Rio Rancho School District.

On Monday, Rio Rancho student Mason Kisner, 12, said he bought a can of pop at a school vending machine, and instead of getting one can, he received two.

Kisner said he spread the word, and other students tried to get in on the deal. A teacher who saw Kisner getting the two sodas on Monday told him not to do it again. But Kisner said the teacher saw him get another two sodas for the price of one on Tuesday.

The boy said the teacher called him a thief and accused him of trying to teach other students how to steal. He was written up, given a two-day in-school suspension and the incident will appear on his permanent school record.

"I'm flabbergasted, bewildered, dumbfounded. I can't think of another word to describe how I feel about this incident," said Edward Kisner, the boy's father. "What kind of character is this showing Mason?"

"It makes me feel very sad that I'm going to be thought as a thief later on in my life," Mason Kisner said. "Heck, I might not get in a good college or get a good job because on my permanent record it will say that when I was a kid, I stole."

Rio Rancho Public Schools issued a written statement: "On Monday a teacher observed Mason manipulating the soft drink machine at the school. The teacher advised Mason that getting two sodas for the price of one is the equivalent to stealing. When the teacher observed Mason doing the same thing again on Tuesday, she wrote him up."

However, according to Pepsi Cola, which distributes the machines, a problem like this one with a vending machine is usually a programming error. A company representative said the student could not have manipulated the machine from the outside.

"I'm very disappointed I haven't gotten a phone call from the school rescinding Mason's suspension at this point," said Edward Kisner. "You know, when you say you're wrong, it's not a sign of weakness."

[mhking]

Your government schools at work...

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[sgtbono2002]

What a batch of BS.

[Newbomb Turk]

I have had this happen. I just figured it was devine intervention for all those times I dropped my money in the slot and got nothing.

Gees I had no idea I was an aspiring felon.

[SamAdams76]

How come this kind of thing never happens with ATM machines?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

When I was going through digital electronics school for the Navy in San Diego, there was a soda machine that when you put in 2 nickels it would give you a soda and drop out two quarters. It was then found that if you put two nickels in and hit the coin return it dropped two quarters out.

It took over a month for the guy to figure it out and in the interim it was a race to the machine on all breaks. We'd go to school everyday with a roll of nickels or two in our pockets.

I almost feel bad except the guy running the machines was sticking it to us for 6 months on the other side of the base in a different class where the machine would only take bills and wouldn't dispense any change. We made our money back 3 fold.

Never try to outscrew a salty sailor. You never win in the end.

[RightWingAtheist]

Back in high school, I paid for one soda and six came out. Instead of keeping all of them, I just took two, and gave the rest to some friends after they finished track-and-field practice. Hey, they needed it more than I did.

[Not A Snowbird]

I agree with you. All those quarters I've lost over a lifetime, if two sodas pop out I'm for darn sure keeping them both. (I would, however, notify somebody that the machine was malfunctioning. But I also return my shopping carts to the rack, so...)

[VMI70]

I guess buying 1 car, then taking another off the lot without paying for it isn't stealing either.

Lying, cheating and stealing are absolutes.

[nevergore]

We criticize the Public Schools because they do not teach ethics and when they do, we criticize them....

"We will not cheat, steal or lie nor tolerate those among us who do"

The boy was warned once in a confrontation with the teacher then he proceeded to instruct other students on the machine error. The NEXT day he was observed again raiding the machine.....

The Dad is setting the bad example by his mock outrage....a little humility on his part and some leadership would be more in order....

Hate to be a hard *ss but better he learn the lesson here then out in the real world...That's why they call it school...

NeverGore

[Bogey78O]

Not if the dealer gives you the keys to both.

[IpaqMan]

I have failed this test, too. But Jesus set the example with the parable of the talents. Our attitude about the small stuff is important.

[BushCountry]

Ditto

[SauronOfMordor]

I guess buying 1 car, then taking another off the lot without paying for it isn't stealing either.

If the machine dispenses two, what do you want him to do with the extra? He can't shove it back in.

[Joe Marine 76]

I agree! I had a swim coach many years ago who told his swimmers that the character of man is measured by how he handles himself in situations involving (1)authority, (2)money, and (3)stress. This kid missed the target in the first two instances: he ignored the teacher's warning and continued to TAKE THAT WHICH WAS NOT HIS. His daddy ought to chastizing him instead of the school. This is exactly how thieving corporate CEO's are groomed...."Oh, it's just a little bit of money".

[pageonetoo]

and you have never taken anything that was not yours, or did anything else wrong.... Right!

The article says that the machine cannot be manipulated from the outside. To take advantage of this two soda deal isn't illegal, nor wrong. It was actually rather smart, since it was a two-fer deal.
I buy cartons of 12/12 oz. Pepsi cans at the store 5/$10.00. If I get two from a machine, the vendor will surely not go broke. If I lose a quarter or two, the vendor will surely keep it, since I usually can't find him. Get real with your pious attitude. It is just a mechanical error.

Lying, cheating and stealing are certainly absolutes, but this is not an absolute situation.
Sin, according to its proper definition, is "missing the mark", as an arrow shot at a bullseye. Any hit outside the bullseye is sin. Our lives are lived consistently outside the bullseye, for one reason or another, but God provided a remedy (To quote the Bible, John 3:16 comes to mind).
.

[pageonetoo]

BTW, the teacher had the ability to control the error. He could have put a sign on the machine stating "out of order", and notified the vendor.

[T Minus Four]

When I was in the AF, some clever airman discovered if you slapped a discarded radar magnetron (big, strong, heavy magnet)on the side of the Pepsi machine by the coin slot, it would trip the mechanism and give you a free soda. We only got away with it for a few days before disciplinarty action was threatened :-)

[Political Junkie Too]

Does this mean that the vending company is stealing from the student when the bag of potato chips clings to the screw and doesn't drop for the paying customer to retrieve? And what about the next customer who gets two bags for the price of one?

-PJ

[T Minus Four]

What abaout all the times you paid for a car and didn't get it? :-)