The problem is the metaphor itself. The metaphor avoids the problem by providing a more trivial or palatable debate, it takes the attention away from the teen i

The problem is the metaphor itself. The metaphor avoids the problem by providing a more trivial or palatable debate, it takes the attention away from the teen in trouble to the definition of the problem and at that point you've stopped caring about the person, you're caring about the problem. This guy facing prison doesn't give a shit about it feeling like a man stealing a pie from your window. It's nothing close to that because you can steal pies from windows and be held accountable in a much more reasonable way, and trying to reframe the situation only helps to an extent.