9 Charged after girl kills herself over bullying

[Prettyface08]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Sometimes parents can't know. My parents didn't have a clue what school was like for me when I was in junior high because I sure as hell wasn't going to tell them. There's only so much they can do short of removing the kids from the school, and that's a hard and sometimes impossible decision (it's great if they can afford private school or afford to move, but that's not always possible). It's up to the school to fix a bullying problem taking place on the campus during school hours.

I understand bullying is always bad, but when the internet is involved it's impossible to escape. Gossip is easily spread by mouth but when Facebook, Myspace, IM, etc. are involved it can be absolutely impossible for the victim to escape, and it's all in writing for the entire world to see. It can feel like there's truly no escape.

So SHE can't turn off HER computer? That part of her world she can control. No, it's not fair that she's not able to use facebook/myspace/whatever space....but she doesn't have to read it. At the very least she could have peace in her own home.

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by epchick

If she consented to it, then probably not. It would just be like two people consenting to have sex.


I only know about the age difference thing because a friend of mine had to go through that in HS. She got pregnant with her bf's baby, and the mom tried to have him arrested for statutory. The police wouldn't do anything because there wasn't technically over a 3 year age difference. (she was 16, he was 19)

This is not the law in MA. There is no requirement for a three year age difference.

See MGL. c.265, s. 23. [Commonly known as the Statutory Rape Law]. Rape and abuse of child.

Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse, and abuses a child under 16 years of age, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years or, except as otherwise provided, for any term in a jail or house of correction. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file. (my emphasis)

Originally Posted by Prettyface08

So SHE can't turn off HER computer? That part of her world she can control. No, it's not fair that she's not able to use facebook/myspace/whatever space....but she doesn't have to read it. At the very least she could have peace in her own home.

Yes, she could turn off her computer, but my understanding is that the bullying was much more pervasive than that (including being followed home from school). Plus, I think it's important to remember that this poor girl was 15--an adult's reaction and ability to cope with internet harassment is likely to be more rational (or maybe not, IIRC, there has been at least one situation here on GC that has gotten out of hand and moved into real life).

[Prettyface08]

Originally Posted by LegallyBrunette

This is not the law in MA. There is no requirement for a three year age difference.

See MGL. c.265, s. 23. [Commonly known as the Statutory Rape Law]. Rape and abuse of child.

Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse, and abuses a child under 16 years of age, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years or, except as otherwise provided, for any term in a jail or house of correction. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file. (my emphasis)





Yes, she could turn off her computer, but my understanding is that the bullying was much more pervasive than that (including being followed home from school). Plus, I think it's important to remember that this poor girl was 15--an adult's reaction and ability to cope with internet harassment is likely to be more rational (or maybe not, IIRC, there has been at least one situation here on GC that has gotten out of hand and moved into real life).

Oh no, I understand that it was more pervasive than that and I think it's despicable...I was responding specifically to the "when the internet is involved it's impossible to escape," comment. Actually if you take my response in it's entire context it says that it's not fair to her. I just meant that at the very least she could have peace in her own home by not reading the stuff on the internet. If they CAME to her house, then that's an entirely different story.

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Yes, if only those stupid kids would just act and think like adults.

Maybe after we can get all adults to do that we can start expecting it of kids.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by Prettyface08

Oh no, I understand that it was more pervasive than that and I think it's despicable...I was responding specifically to the "when the internet is involved it's impossible to escape," comment. Actually if you take my response in it's entire context it says that it's not fair to her. I just meant that at the very least she could have peace in her own home by not reading the stuff on the internet. If they CAME to her house, then that's an entirely different story.

Right. I understand your point, my point was that I just don't think it's very realistic to expect that a 15 year old would just ignore things being said about her on the internet for the sake of peace, especially in light of everything else that was happening. My apologies if I wasn't clear.