[Totoro!]

So what do you think about this latest Internet witch hunt?

While I believe these kids actions were completely disgusting and definitely deserve consequences, I don't think death threats from thousands of strangers all over the world is the way to handle it. The punishment does not fit the crime when it comes to stuff like this that gets shared online in my opinion.

This post has been edited by Totoro!: 22/06/2012, 12:18 PM

[melbelle]

I could only watch 20 seconds of the video, it made me physically ill.

I dont agree with threats of violence against the kids, but honestly I can see how this video would have brought up pretty sensitive feelings for anyone who has ever been in that situation.

Had this video not gone viral (one of the kids was stupid enough to put it on facebook) I doubt anything would have been done. Karen, had she complained would have likely been told "My angels would never do such a thing"
You can see the helplessness on her face and it breaks your heart.

I think the overreaction is symptomatic of people being frustrated by a fairly permissive culture around bullying and in some areas the failures of parents to instill decent values in their children. Whilst I do not agree with corporal punishment, that doesnt mean that you cant discipline your children and instill appropriate values and standards of behaviour.

I can only imagine what my parents would have done if I had behaved in that way - and just to clarify, they never ever hit me... but the look on their face and would have been enough.

I saw a seven year old smack their mother in the face with something in the supermarket last weekend, because she wouldnt let him have chocolate.

All she did was say "Darling, that hurts my feelings" Obviously I dont know the story, what issues might be present etc, but I found that very uncomfortable. Then yesterday there was a 4 year old jumping and screaming on a cafe table - again Mum did nothing, just ordered another coffee.
When people see repeated instances of this type of behaviour in public it certainly adds to frustration.

[Totoro!]

I know what you mean. I just hate hearing about how over the top it all goes. It's fine for thousands to condemn it but when it comes to death threats, it's way over the top. Even the victim has expressed concern over it. She also seemed to believe it was some kind of pack mentality going on and that when those kids were alone, they were nice. I'm not excusing it at all and I can understand how angry people get about things like this, I just think there's better ways of handling it than with an online mob.

[fairyflossfart]

Death threats to 13yr olds are just as disgusting as the bullying they did.

[RatbagBob]

What fairyflossfart said. It's sad that it took international headlines to get some justice for that poor woman, and no one should be treated that way.

But equally, grown people leaving thousands of messages and fairy phone calls on a 13yo's phone is bullying too.

[Peridot]

I too could only watch twenty seconds

I do think they deserve a harsh penalty though. I still can't believe children speak like this..

[Totoro!]

On the bright side, it's shown a beautiful side to humanity. The fundraiser set up for her is at over $430,000! I'm so happy the community has reached out to support and compensate her for her ordeal.

This post has been edited by Totoro!: 22/06/2012, 02:39 PM

[Peridot]

I hope to God that I raise my kids with morals and values, and a BACKBONE - so they're not one of these horrible little kids that says 'peer pressure made them do it'... but instead would step in and tell their friends that it's not appropriate.

Same

[Elleness]

They also joked "You don't have a family because they all killed themselves because they don't want to be near you." Her son had committed suicide 15 years ago. I absolutely love that people have banded together and fundraised so much. Someone asked her if she'd continue being a bus monitor she said yes, because most kids are not like that <3

Yes, of course I disagree with people harassing the students who were part of it. It just shows how upset and personal this kind of behaviour is to people.

[new~mum~reenie]

Kids can be cruel, and if that was my son I'd be deeply ashamed and dissapointed - I'd have him write a letter of appology and volunteer him to do jobs around her house until I felt he had learned his lesson and seen how a person he once treated so nastily was a nice person and not deserving of his taunts.

It's easy to say nasty things to people we don't know. It's easy to hate people without a face. It's how wars are started and sustained. Its why people feel so entitled to wish such nasty things on a young boy. They are sending death threats to a boy they don't know. But they are worse, because they are old enough to know better.

This post has been edited by new~mum~reenie: 22/06/2012, 03:39 PM