What the HELL is wrong with people?

[shaddyr]

I like to think that we're pretty enlightened in Canada and not as much bad shit happens here as happens in other places.

Then, last week, an inmate ends up having a breech birth in her jail cell because the guards ignored her cries of pain for HOURS and the nurses didn't get a doctor to examine her - told her it was hysterical labour. Seriously.

Comments

[sgamadison]

I hear you. I've been saying the same about my country for quite a while now, but I've kind of gotten accustomed to holding up Canada as the better example. :-(

I wrote a long piece on bullying yesterday, in particular cyberbullying and how pervasive it has become in our culture, and why the traditional means of standing up to bullies doesn't work in cyberspace. Teens are so vulnerable, I think. The emotions and hormones are all over the place, and everything seems so momentous and *forever*.

I don't understand the situation with the prison inmate. That's just mind-boggling. It has to take a certain degree of callousness and burnout to reach that level of cruelty. :-(

[shaddyr]

I would like to apologize on behalf of my country. Unfortunately, there are still far too many dickwads here. We're working on that.

I read your piece. Dude. Something like that should be required reading for all pre-teens before they are allowed to use the net. And Facebook is the worst - it's such a cesspool of utter shite, I just can't stand it. But everyone I know - except for a handful of exceptions - uses the damn thing all the time. And it CAN be a useful way to actually be connected to people you want to be connected to. Except the trolls and assholes.

The prison thing? That's just so fucked up, I have no words. The mom is criminal, true enough - but man, to be put in solitary and ignored and have your baby in a jail cell - that's so fucking beyond the pale of acceptable, it's indescribable.

[sgamadison]

No apologies necessary--Canada is still waaaay ahead of the game compared to the US. Sometimes when I meet people from other countries, I feel the need to duck my head and mumble words of apology though, so I get it.

I read your piece. Dude. Something like that should be required reading for all pre-teens before they are allowed to use the net.

Aw, thanks. It had been on my mind a long time, both due to my own experiences and those of friends. The world has gotten smaller, and culturally we're more global, but the downside is that more people will leap into a dogfight without any knowledge of the participants.

[yasminke]

I just watched Amanda's video (as part of a plea against bullying). Poor, poor girl. I hope she finally found peace.

[shaddyr]

I know! It's just heartbreaking! Like anyone deserves that!

What the hell is going through another kid's mind to say they hope someone else kills them self *right* this time?

Those kids should be forced to go to the funeral and see the parents and family and make amends somehow. Except that it would likely make the girl's family suffer more, so it's not worth it. ARGH!

[yasminke]

I agree but I don't think it will change their behaviour. Being able to hide behind a mask of anonymity emboldens ullies.

[mdlbear]

Just watched the video. Gods! Poor kid; there's no damned excuse for what she went through. None.

I really hope they find the people who did that to her. All of them.

[shaddyr]

I totally agree with you.

I'm sure that the people treated her like shit would suddenly feel differently if it were their pictures up and people were talking shit about them, wishing they were dead.

[admnaismith]

People treat prisoners horribly. Now that it's (mostly) not acceptable to pick on people for their race or sexual orientation, convicted felons are maybe the last group where bullies can reasonably hope that no one will stick up for them. My experience is that bullies looking for fresh prey often choose to become police or probation officers, specifically to indulge their appetites for cruelty. One of the bigger satisfactions from my work have been a couple of times I was able to put a stop to bad behavior from a probation officer.

[shaddyr]

It must have felt fantastic to know that you made a difference and were able to intervene to prevent someone from abusing their power and hurting someone vulnerable. It's such a horrific thing to be powerless and not have people believe you when you try to tell them someone else is hurting you - especially if you were convicted of a crime and now your credibility is compromised.

Good for you. *smishes you* I'm so glad you stood up and made a difference - too many people look the other way and say, "not my problem", or "they deserved it anyway."

[pondside]

I used to tell my staff -- these people are in prison as punishment NOT -to be punished-

Not everyone gets that....

and bullying..... The only time I've ever been physically violent was in jr high when I witnessed a bad case of emotional and physical bullying and beat some kids about the arms and shoulders with a tether ball....to get them to leave the kid alone -- zero tolerance!!

[shaddyr]

Yeah, no kidding! The crown will mete out the punishment required by law; the job of the officers is to guard and enforce the rules, not punish!

Ah, bullies. Girly Girl is so glad to be done with school, but mostly she is glad to be done with the asshole bullies. We've had a few talks since the graduated and it turns out that there was a lot more bullying going on in her classroom than she ever let me know, and it makes me sick to know that in her 'special' class she was even more vulnerable - cuz' that's where the kids with issues ended up - and a lot of times kids with issues = bullying behaviour. And I thought they were on top of it at the school - apparently, not so much.

Fuckers. They are so luck that I don't run the universe. I would probably be a little vindictive and teach them all a lesson, and that would be bullying behaviour at it's grandest. Oi.