January 5, 2010

France makes "psychological violence" a crime.

But don't get too worried. It's only a crime if you do it to your spouse. This will force verbal-aggressive types to go outside the marriage for release of their pent-up urges.

ADDED: I'm going to have to revise what has long been one of my stock observations about law: Most of the terrible things that people do to other people are not illegal. I just need to add: Except maybe in France.

36 comments:

careen said...

FTA: Mr Fillon said: 'It's an important step forward as the creation of this offence will allow us to deal with the most insidious situations - situations that leave no visible scars, but which leave victims torn up inside.'


You mean like infidelty? Oh wait...that would be unsophisticated.

Still interesting. Is Parent/Child next? I predict an upsurge in internet activity.

Expat(ish) said...

Perhaps next the fifteenth republic will get around to dealing with rioting, burning cars, and "honor" killings.

-XC

wv = liconr - why do I always get the "ewww" ones

traditionalguy said...

LOL...The French are pretending now that government workers can stop emotional trauma like the CO2 rationers can stop weather changes. The growth in government jobs will be unlimited as long as illusions are religiously followed. I can't wait for the new pretend treatments from pretend MDs that Democrats pretend to be paying. But at least laughing is good for your health.

Wince said...

Sociologist Pierre Bonnet said: 'The next step will be to make rudeness a criminal offence. The police and courts will be over-stretched trying to deal with the numerous cases.'

Rudeness?

Shit, we're talking about France!

They'll have to send the entire nation to Devil's Island.

Richard Dolan said...

Will nagging count as a lesser included offense?

ricpic said...

In other words when she eggs him on and on and on he will no longer be allowed to blow off steam by means of a verbal explosion. Law of unintended consequences will kick in, resulting in greater physical violence.

Anonymous said...

These sort of laws are designed with the idea that men will never use them. They're supposed to be gender-neutral-- officially, that is. The best way to show how ridiculous they are is for men to start taking them seriously. Once men start calling the Frenchie cops and saying that they are "psychologically victimized", the whole thing will fall apart.

Besides, women are soooo much worse at "psychological violence" than men are...

Henry said...

There goes blues music.

Methadras said...

So now my wife can't yell at me in France? Awesome.

Shanna said...

This is just another dumb law. How would you even define this? We are on the way to criminalizing all bad conduct.

AllenS said...

Someone needs to take a nine iron, and POW! Right to the kisser of Francois Fillon.

bagoh20 said...

You can identify the psychological violence; it always starts with the phrase: "We are gathered here today..."

KCFleming said...

Say goodbye to French films.

AllenS said...

By the way, I wasn't advocating violence, but urging an attitude adjustment.

sort of runic rhyme said...

New Orléans does it better.

knox said...

What if you say something nice, but in a mean way?

The Drill SGT said...

Allen S said... attitude adjustment.

now that is a term I had not heard in a while.

attitude adjustment = what good Sergeants do to under performing troopers, while smart officers go find something else to do.

"Guppy" Honaker said...

Merd - c'est sont les francaise!

Leave it to the French.

- David

Aloe Vera 101

sort of runic rhyme said...

Burnt toast can be tastier art and more sustaining than cinematic dishwater in our lives.

Arturius said...

Its hard to take a country seriously that reveres Jerry Lewis as a comedic genius and holds mimes as a cultural treasure.

sort of runic rhyme said...

Il a dit, elle a dit

Both parties to a marriage will need to tape all private congress.

reader_iam said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Freeman Hunt said...

Maybe they're trying to discourage people from applying to be police officers.

Can you imagine?

Unknown said...

EDH said...

Sociologist Pierre Bonnet said: 'The next step will be to make rudeness a criminal offence. The police and courts will be over-stretched trying to deal with the numerous cases.'

...

They'll have to send the entire nation to Devil's Island.


If so, maybe we can send Jean Francois Kerry and Barry Obama and the rest of the Enlightened over there to repopulate it.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"Kill all my demons, and my angels might die too."
— Tennessee Williams

traditionalguy said...

The European Union will next consider bringing World Court charges against US Marines that are accused of yelling bad words at Al Queada fighters during fire fights in Iraq. This could be a full employment bill for defense attorneys.

bearbee said...

Will refusal to talk or to ignore constitute "psychological violence?"

Joe said...

Does one spouse not wanting to have sex as often with the other count?

How about saying that Christmas trees are idiotic?

Alex said...

Yeah right - we'll see if it's actually enforced. Don't believe everything you read, oh gullible Althousians.

Joe said...

Problem is, Alex, that like most silly laws, they will be selectively enforced. Laws like this make criminals of most everyone and give the government and others power over you when they see fit.

mariner said...

It's only a crime if you do it to your spouse.

No, Althouse. It will be a crime only if a man yells at his wife.

Anonymous said...

I guess this means the henpecked French husband will be able to wag his finger at his wife and say, "Madame, après la loi du 5 Janvier 2010...."

kentuckyliz said...

In my state, the mandatory reporter law applies to DV in married couples but not unmarried ones.

If you want to smack your bitch up with impunity, don't marry her.

vbspurs said...

As Voltaire said:

Un fromage de chèvre est un fromage contenant majoritairement du lait de chèvre, qui peut occasionnellement être mélangé avec un lait d’autre animal en plus faible quantité, comme du lait de vache ou de brebis.

And I couldn't agree more.

Cheers,
Victoria

Franco said...

"Where are all the good men?" Too smart to want to get married. Criminalize man at your own peril ladies.

Anonymous said...

Correction: That should be, "Madame, d'après la loi du 5 Janvier 2010...."

Never leave errors in the French language uncorrected, because someone will always correct them, and it might as well be you.