Some bitter food for thought...

[caduceus]

Dear all,

I'm going home tonight after work. Originally, I had meant to leave you with something more positive - but I stumbled across this yesterday and couldn't NOT share this with you...

Death by cyber-bullying

13-year-old Megan Meier hangs herself after being dumped by a "16-year-old boyfriend" on MySpace.

Text @ St. Charles' Journal

An

Comments

[granamyr]

It wasn't just the kids. Adults from the other family were in on the hoax, too, and they must have known that Megan suffered from depression. I'm hoping the authorities can find something to charge them with that will stick.

[caduceus]

Yes, I've read that part too, and was shocked by it. Unfortunately, I don't think our laws cover that kind of "crime" yet... and even if they did, how would you prove something like this caused a teenager with known depression to commit suicide?

*sighs* Truly makes you lose faith in humankind, doesn't it?

[delaese]

House of Feanor, anyone?

Yeah kids can be cruel. They have an excuse - they're kids. A boy who made my life a living hell when I was 13 wrote me a letter to say he was sorry for what he had put me through. Why? Because the boy was now a man and realized he had acted badly. What excuse do these adults have other than they are sick, disturbed and pathetic?

[caduceus]

Had to think of that, actually. And once again counted my blessings not having had to go through that. :(

Unfortunately, adults rarely act like they should ~ and how can you expect kids to grow up to be responsible with the examples they're shown?

*goes to dig for her "misanthrope" shirt* ;)

[delaese]

::Huggles tightly.::

[aglarien1]

This was on the news here yesterday with Megan's parents being interviewed. Apparently it was actually the friend's MOTHER do had done it, which leaves me speechless.

***huge hugs back***

[caduceus]

Humans are often cruel, thoughtless or both. Doesn't exactly make you feel that this world is a good place to live in and raise children...
And while this is one of the truly horrid examples of how twisted people can be, I can't help but think that we ultimately get what we deserve if we stop caring for each other's feelings.
Adults at least should be able to reflect on the consequences of their actions...

[bimo]

When I say "kids can be so damn cruel", I don't mean that as an insult. Kids have always been cruel. It's a part of their psychological development. Whether by telling blunt truths where adults would be diplomatic, or by simply acting on their feelings instead of considering the feelings of others in the situation. That is something you learn by interaction with other humans, and we're sorely lacking that in our society.

Maybe this is only the bitterness of the former victim speaking here, but for me there's a huge difference between accidentally stepping on somebody's toes and doing the same thing on purpose with a clear intention to hurt

[caduceus]

I have to agree with much of what you've said. And like you, I've known that kind of social pressure and mobbing from class mates all through school, because I was perceived as too smart, because I was a teacher's daughter, because I didn't care for in clothes and make up...

But while it hurt me, and made me feel bad ~ it also helped shape me and made me the person I am now. The feeling of self-worth that comes from yourself and your achievements (as opposed to the opinion of others alone) is something that no one can take from you. It's difficult to teach that to a child, and I realized that only later... But I'm less angry and, um, bent on revenge now that I've made my peace with it and am safe in the knowledge that I am appreciated for who I am and what I do, rather than for what I wear and whom I cheer for

[caduceus]

People, you know... Bodily evolution worked rather well, now we need another 3-4 million years to get the brain up to speed.
Seriously, that "misanthrope" shirt of mine is not going out of style anytime soon, I'm afraid.

*hugs*