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Nine Charged in Bullying of Massachusetts Teen Who Killed Herself

Oh hell yeah, there may well be underlying issues that lessened er ability to cope, but from the information we have it does look like what she suffered at school wasn't just teasing and thoughtless comments. I'm not saying we should prosecute teenagers just for being thoughtless and too quick to run off at the mouth, but what about when it isn't just teasing, or a scrap in the hall? What about when it's being tormented daily or attacked by a gang of people, or being thrown down the stairs, and sexually assaulted?

There's our normal high school turbulence, and then there's actual, agressive, undeserved bullying of a weaker person to the point where psychological or even physical harm can occur. I'm not sure we can do anyting about the first, but we damn well need to do more to tackle the second.

The sexual assault is the only thing I have read that needs to be addressed, criminally. If she was thrown down stairs, then that should have been addressed, also.

The remainder of everything else I read, the school should have addressed with detentions and suspensions. Nothing happened to this girl that I haven't personally witnessed or suffered myself at one time or another. Kids go to school 5 days a week. I can assure you that 5 days a week, something similar happens at every school. (again, barring the sexual assault)

I just don't see criminal prosecution being a worthwhile pursuit for most of these kids. Yeah, the girl committed suicide and that's tragic. But her commiting suicide does not make these other kids criminals.
 
Both boys are charged with rape, all six older kids (4 girls, 2 boys) are charged with bodily injury in addition to other charges. Three 16yr olds are charged with "assault by means of a dangerous weapon." I presume all were friends, subsequently chiding her continuing after she was dead.

So when you ask, "maybe these kids didn't do much more than any other kids at any other school" - I gotta say, not likely.

There you go. You have your two rapists. I will even throw in the "dangerous weapon" charge as being fair.

The rest, I see no reason to prosecute.
 
The rape part may very well have been the root cause of her taking her own life.

Physically assaulted is just hyper-inflated code for "the kids were fighting".
since i don't know the details, i will withhold judgement. but stalking, physical assualt and sexual assualt aren't typical. if they are, something is very wrong at that school.

being hit in the head with a can of soda is serious, imo. it's too bad she couldn't figure out a way to fight back, and i hope the "kids" who did this to her are justly punished.
 
since i don't know the details, i will withhold judgement. but stalking, physical assualt and sexual assualt aren't typical. if they are, something is very wrong at that school.

being hit in the head with a can of soda is serious, imo. it's too bad she couldn't figure out a way to fight back, and i hope the "kids" who did this to her are justly punished.

I think other than the ones who sexually assaulted her, they should have certainly been expelled. Maybe even expulsed for the year.
 
I think other than the ones who sexually assaulted her, they should have certainly been expelled. Maybe even expulsed for the year.
i think they have been, at least i hope so.
 
The sexual assault is the only thing I have read that needs to be addressed, criminally. If she was thrown down stairs, then that should have been addressed, also.

The remainder of everything else I read, the school should have addressed with detentions and suspensions. Nothing happened to this girl that I haven't personally witnessed or suffered myself at one time or another. Kids go to school 5 days a week. I can assure you that 5 days a week, something similar happens at every school. (again, barring the sexual assault)

I just don't see criminal prosecution being a worthwhile pursuit for most of these kids. Yeah, the girl committed suicide and that's tragic. But her commiting suicide does not make these other kids criminals.

Im not saying these particular kids should all be classed as criminals, but we as a society do ave a tendency to overlook what goes on in schools, even when it takes the form of acts whic would result in prosecution anywhere else. If attacking someone outside the school grounds would get you arrested, then god knows the same should apply within the building. I'm not saying make "urt feelings" a criminal matter, but let's not overlook te downright rancid stuff as just part of being a teenager. I've seen, as a student at school and at the hospitals I work in, kids actually being injured on school grounds; broken bones, bruises, cuts, te whole malrakey. And no-one does anything, unless their parents are willing to raise some hell themselves.
 
What are they being charged with? Harassment?

This is stupid. Yeah what they did is probably illegal but she chose to let it get to her and made the decision to kill herself. It's her fault alone that she chose to kill herself and not theirs.

(Not commenting on the statutory rape charge BTW since the article didn't say much about it.)
 
Can we just put some perspective on this?

First of all, hanging yourself in a closet is a very extreme reaction by a teenager to "Nobody likes me!!!"

At different times in our teenage lives, we all felt that way. And who hasn't been the object of some bullying at varying times? Really? Seriously? Who hasn't been party to or the object of some bullying?

It's part of growing up. It's not a very pleasant aspect of being a kid but it's just part and parcel of the maturing experience. Kids are mean. We all know this. No creature reverts to its primal sadistic state with such alacrity and glee as a kid outside the presence of adults. It's about pecking order and social dominance and just the fact that you are dealing with immature little snots. But it is what it is.

Has anyone stopped to think that maybe these kids didn't do much more than any other kids at any other school but this time their bullying is being magnified as a cause to keep from addressing that Phoebe may have had some compounding stresses or mental illness that caused her to take her own life?

The harassment started in September and ended with her death on January 14th. Just look at the numbers involved, 4 girls and 2 boys have been charged and it sound like they were relentless in that it happened at school and online and text messages. Read the following statement from the DA. It was more than hurt feelings. She suffered tremendous cruelty.

Phoebe Prince, a new arrival at South Hadley High School from a tiny seaside hamlet in County Clare, was mercilessly tormented by a cadre of classmates later dubbed the "Mean Girls" by Massachusetts newspapers.

"The investigation revealed relentless activity directed towards Phoebe designed to humiliate her and to make it impossible for her to remain at school," said District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel.

"The bullying for her became intolerable."

According to students, Phoebe was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring.

Her books were routinely knocked out of her hands, items were flung at her, her face was scribbled out of photographs on the school walls, and threatening text messages were sent to her cell phone.

Scheibel said she had drawn the ire of the "Mean Girls" by briefly dating a popular senior football player in her first weeks at the school.


Two boys were involved in the rape and the physical abuse was witnessed by teachers who did nothing.

Seven of the nine charged Monday are girls charged with a range of crimes, from criminal harassment to stalking to civil rights violations. A juvenile was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon - namely, the Red Bull can.

The two males, 17 and 18, are charged with statutory rape.

Unveiling the indictments Monday, Scheibel said numerous faculty members, staff members and administrators at South Hadley High School were aware of the bullying - some even witnessed physical abuse - and did nothing.

She said the investigation looked at whether the adults' failure to help Phoebe amounted to criminal behavior.

"In our opinion, it did not," she said. "Nevertheless, the actions or inactions of some adults at the school are troublesome."​

Phoebe Prince, South Hadley High School's 'new girl,' driven to suicide by teenage cyber bullies

So no, their bullying is not being blown out of proportion to cover up a problem with the victim, other than she was a victim and you like her tormentors are victimizing her again.
 
I think any teacher witnessing the abuse (particularly the rape if that part is true) must face disciplinary actions if not legal (particularly the rape if that part is true) for this inaction.
 
Im not saying these particular kids should all be classed as criminals, but we as a society do ave a tendency to overlook what goes on in schools, even when it takes the form of acts whic would result in prosecution anywhere else.

True. Because they are kids. Their little noodles aren't developed completely and they have almost zero impulse control, a difficult time finding empathy with those outside their "packs", and they haven't come to understand the resonating impact of their actions. That's why we have juvenile courts separate from adult courts...it's a biological thing and not something they can really help.

If attacking someone outside the school grounds would get you arrested, then god knows the same should apply within the building. I'm not saying make "urt feelings" a criminal matter, but let's not overlook te downright rancid stuff as just part of being a teenager. I've seen, as a student at school and at the hospitals I work in, kids actually being injured on school grounds; broken bones, bruises, cuts, te whole malrakey. And no-one does anything, unless their parents are willing to raise some hell themselves.

If it is, in fact, coming to grievous and permanent injury, then there should be some consequence on the criminal front. That goes beyond rancid teenage behavior.

But a couple bruises, a busted lip, whatever...that's all part of being a kid and growing up. And, if one kid can't handle that, it may just be Darwin calling. Sad as that sounds, it's probably the most likely scenario here.
 
But a couple bruises, a busted lip, whatever...that's all part of being a kid and growing up. And, if one kid can't handle that, it may just be Darwin calling. Sad as that sounds, it's probably the most likely scenario here.

I'd agree with you, but we've somehow gotten away from that. Kids should learn to defend themselves and act against aggressors when necessary. But we shun all forms of violence these days. I think one strong aspect of being a kid is learning that you'll have to stick up for yourself from time to time. But things are getting out of hand, instead of a school yard scuffle, people turn to guns or gang beatings. Back when you could just have a fight and call it good, things were better. If people picked on you, you could beat them up and leave it on the school yard after that. I think a nice little beating would have done this "mean girls" good and perhaps left another child alive.

I also think parents these days are well too eager to divorce themselves from the whole "parenting" thing. Which doesn't behoove anyone.
 
Gina said:
The harassment started in September and ended with her death on January 14th. Just look at the numbers involved, 4 girls and 2 boys have been charged and it sound like they were relentless in that it happened at school and online and text messages. Read the following statement from the DA. It was more than hurt feelings. She suffered tremendous cruelty.

Nothing you quoted caused physical harm to her, so there was no "tremendous cruelty". Your feelings only get hurt if you let them.

So no, their bullying is not being blown out of proportion to cover up a problem with the victim, other than she was a victim and you like her tormentors are victimizing her again.

First, as I already said, "verbal abuse" is by its very nature consensual, as the only way your feelings get hurt is if you let them. She let them get to her; that was her fault.

Second, there is absolutely no information regarding the physical abuse or the statutory rape so there is absolutely no possibility of discussing it here (except for the "physical abuse" which was probably having an empty Red Bull can thrown at her, which is ridiculous to call abuse).

Ikari said:
But things are getting out of hand, instead of a school yard scuffle, people turn to guns or gang beatings.

That is because the punishment for fist fights has gotten so ridiculous that it is forcing kids to attack each other through other means that are more difficult to detect and ultimately more sinister.
 
My daily day in Highschool was being tormented daily that included being ignored by everyone or being hit physically or spit on by boys and girls. I rarely talked with kids because they'd normally brush off my attempts at conversation and I mean all the kids did that, the jocks, nerds, losers, etc. I had no one to talk with or hang with in HS, except for my Senior year a Bulgarian student moved to my school from his nation. And he and I would talk whenever possible.

Now after having endured that, I don't believe even after being raped that one should commit suicide. Or just because they are made fun off. I saw the picture of the girl and she was very pretty and I would have loved to known a girl so beautiful like her. But its a shame that she killed herself. Its hard the experiences I had while in school, and I still have difficulties trusting people but one thing i would never do is hurt myself or anyone else. And for those who say get over it because everyone gets made fun of. Their are instances where things are just more than being made fun of.
 
True. Because they are kids. Their little noodles aren't developed completely and they have almost zero impulse control, a difficult time finding empathy with those outside their "packs", and they haven't come to understand the resonating impact of their actions. That's why we have juvenile courts separate from adult courts...it's a biological thing and not something they can really help.

Mhm, and I think we need to find a middle ground between taking that into account and letting kids off with criminal beaviour. Age may be an explanation, and that should be kept in mind, but it's not an excuse.



Jallman said:
If it is, in fact, coming to grievous and permanent injury, then there should be some consequence on the criminal front. That goes beyond rancid teenage behavior.

But a couple bruises, a busted lip, whatever...that's all part of being a kid and growing up. And, if one kid can't handle that, it may just be Darwin calling. Sad as that sounds, it's probably the most likely scenario here.

I honestly don't think a kid should have to handle physical violence as part and parcel of growing up. I don't think it confers any benefit in terms of strength or "toughness", and I don't think it should be in any way condoned. Kids are assholes, that's a fact of life. But as soon as you raise your hand to another person in an unprovoked attack, you're out of line, regardless of age. I'm not really sure like the idea of letting kids think that's not objectionable beaviour; seems like the kind of thing that, for some of them, may persist into adultood.
 
I think any teacher witnessing the abuse (particularly the rape if that part is true) must face disciplinary actions if not legal (particularly the rape if that part is true) for this inaction.

Yep. I fal to see why they should watch kids being beaten or hit without consequences.
 
The harassment started in September and ended with her death on January 14th. Just look at the numbers involved, 4 girls and 2 boys have been charged and it sound like they were relentless in that it happened at school and online and text messages. Read the following statement from the DA. It was more than hurt feelings. She suffered tremendous cruelty.

So she got roughly three months of "abuse" as the new kid at school. :shrug:

[Phoebe Prince, a new arrival at South Hadley High School from a tiny seaside hamlet in County Clare, was mercilessly tormented by a cadre of classmates later dubbed the "Mean Girls" by Massachusetts newspapers.

"The investigation revealed relentless activity directed towards Phoebe designed to humiliate her and to make it impossible for her to remain at school," said District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel.

"The bullying for her became intolerable."

I am not inclined to accept prosecution-tailored rhetoric as being gospel truth. Sorry. Plus, everything said here is subjective. Period.

According to students, Phoebe was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring.

Then you know what? You don't allow people to twitter you, you don't have them on your facey space and you don't get on Craigslist and expose yourself to it. That's a reasonable healthy reaction. Hanging yourself in a coat closet is NOT a reasonable, healthy reaction to teasing.

Teasing happens. It happens. Doesn't make it right, doesn't make it ok...but it is what it is. And it always has been since before the little girl hung herself in the closet and it still will be when this story goes out of the news cycle. Crucifying the cheerleaders isn't going to change that.

Her books were routinely knocked out of her hands, items were flung at her, her face was scribbled out of photographs on the school walls, and threatening text messages were sent to her cell phone.

Scheibel said she had drawn the ire of the "Mean Girls" by briefly dating a popular senior football player in her first weeks at the school.

So she dated a boy and some girls decided to be catty...they scribbled her face out of some photos, knocked some books out of her hands, and threw some things. What kinds of things? Spitballs, paper balls...what?

None of that except threatening text messages seems like more than teasing. And as for the messages, why did they have her number to start with?


Two boys were involved in the rape and the physical abuse was witnessed by teachers who did nothing.

The rape needs to be addressed as well as the physical abuse that was witnessed.

Seven of the nine charged Monday are girls charged with a range of crimes, from criminal harassment to stalking to civil rights violations. A juvenile was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon - namely, the Red Bull can.

A red bull can? Seriously? A friggin red bull can? As a dangerous weapon? I'm not buying this at all.

The two males, 17 and 18, are charged with statutory rape.

Oh so now it was STATUTORY rape. It wasn't date rape or some other kind of violent rape...but STATUTORY rape. I am now even less inclined to begin to believe this is anything but a cry of "crucify the cheerleaders" because of some mass hysteria over a community's inability to cope with the real problem here: a teenage suicide.

Unveiling the indictments Monday, Scheibel said numerous faculty members, staff members and administrators at South Hadley High School were aware of the bullying - some even witnessed physical abuse - and did nothing.

In other words, people who are around kids all day long and witness the behavior of kids all day long saw a bunch of kids acting like...typical kids? They saw no need to intervene (which can actually intensify the bullying later) because nothing was out of place enough to warrant intervention. :shrug:

She said the investigation looked at whether the adults' failure to help Phoebe amounted to criminal behavior.

"In our opinion, it did not," she said. "Nevertheless, the actions or inactions of some adults at the school are troublesome."

Well there you go. No criminal negligence on the parts of the teachers. Troublesome because a teenager committed suicide, but not troublesome enough to warrant criminal matters for the people in charge.

But yeah, let's crucify the cheerleaders to make everyone feel better about it.

Phoebe Prince, South Hadley High School's 'new girl,' driven to suicide by teenage cyber bullies

So no, their bullying is not being blown out of proportion to cover up a problem with the victim, other than she was a victim and you like her tormentors are victimizing her again.

Forgive me if I discount your emotional attempt at vilifying me with your accusation that I "like her tormentors" am victimizing her again. That's not debate and discussion: that's you attempting to leverage emotional extortion against the my arguments.

One more time to attack me that way, and I will report. I understand that hearing about a teenage suicide can blur perceptions and inflame emotions, but you don't need to direct your ire at me. You can direct it at the arguments. kthanx.
 
My daily day in Highschool was being tormented daily that included being ignored by everyone or being hit physically or spit on by boys and girls. I rarely talked with kids because they'd normally brush off my attempts at conversation and I mean all the kids did that, the jocks, nerds, losers, etc. I had no one to talk with or hang with in HS, except for my Senior year a Bulgarian student moved to my school from his nation. And he and I would talk whenever possible.

Now after having endured that, I don't believe even after being raped that one should commit suicide. Or just because they are made fun off. I saw the picture of the girl and she was very pretty and I would have loved to known a girl so beautiful like her. But its a shame that she killed herself. Its hard the experiences I had while in school, and I still have difficulties trusting people but one thing i would never do is hurt myself or anyone else. And for those who say get over it because everyone gets made fun of. Their are instances where things are just more than being made fun of.

I had a similar experience, but the difference is I can see why she committed suicide. The thought crossed my mind numerous times because I saw it as a way out of having to go through the hellish day at school.

And because of my experiences I probably am taking this story really personally and is a reason I have tried to stay out of it for the most part. I just feel when it comes to something like this a lot of people read about what happened to this poor girl and ask why didn't she defend herself or fight back. And it isn't that easy after a few months of dealing with kids like this. It is sort of thing you don't really grasp the entirety of what her life was like until you lived through it yourself.
 
I honestly don't think a kid should have to handle physical violence as part and parcel of growing up. I don't think it confers any benefit in terms of strength or "toughness", and I don't think it should be in any way condoned. Kids are assholes, that's a fact of life. But as soon as you raise your hand to another person in an unprovoked attack, you're out of line, regardless of age. I'm not really sure like the idea of letting kids think that's not objectionable beaviour; seems like the kind of thing that, for some of them, may persist into adultood.

We know this as adults. We don't know this as kids until it's our turn to take an ass whipping because we pushed someone too far. I think many young people miss that lesson and it only serves to make the next generation more savage than the previous.

I read signature here once that I will never forget because of it's frank poignancy. I'll paraphrase it...

The level of disrespect tolerated in society grows as the number of young men who have suffered a punch in the mouth for showing disrespect decreases.
 
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Yep. I fal to see why they should watch kids being beaten or hit without consequences.

If it's a standard, 1-1 fist fight; I can see letting it play out for a small time before just breaking it up. Like in hockey. Though the best policy is most likely to break it up on the spot. Something like a rape, if that part is true and teachers or authority figures saw it and did nothing...it's inexcusable. If a teacher saw something like that, the boys should feel lucky if they escaped with just broken jaws. And for the group violence, that can't be allowed to exist at all either.

It seems there was a major break down in the school and parents on this issue. And as much as I don't like "bullying" laws because bullying is part of growing up as is learning to deal with it and defend yourself form it; in this specific case I think it's warranted. Maybe if these girls and boys do some time; they'll think differently about how the treat and interact with others.
 
I, for one, am glad they are prosecuting these young people for their criminal behavior. The school that they all attended should have taken strong action against them long before it came to this.

I think that young people should follow the same laws as adults. I think schools should not tolerate criminal activity on school grounds. I think the school officials should also, in some way, be called to task.

FOXNews.com - Nine Charged in Bullying of Massachusetts Teen Who Killed Herself

New recruits for the Tea Party!
 
The level of disrespect tolerated in society grows as the number of young men who have suffered a punch in the mouth for showing disrespect decreases.

I think there is definitely truth to this statement.
 
It seems there was a major break down in the school and parents on this issue. And as much as I don't like "bullying" laws because bullying is part of growing up as is learning to deal with it and defend yourself form it; in this specific case I think it's warranted. Maybe if these girls and boys do some time; they'll think differently about how the treat and interact with others.

Do you really think putting kids in the justice system over this is going to create more compassionate adults out of them?

Sure you know better than that.
 
Do you really think putting kids in the justice system over this is going to create more compassionate adults out of them?

Sure you know better than that.

I would hope so. I won't hold my breath on it. But there has to be some level of punishment, and we've seemingly removed the natural check on this. So there has to be something in place. We go crazy with assault charges, but to me assault isn't punching someone in the mouth who deserves it. It's if you viciously beat someone up. We don't make that distinction anymore, but sometimes someone really just deserves to be punched. But without that, then we have unbridled the aggressors while punishing the victims. In such case; we still have to have something in place as punishment or the aggressors. Because of the severity of this case, I'm not opposed to jail time. And I would just hope that maybe they'll learn a thing or two because of it.
 
IAnd it isn't that easy after a few months of dealing with kids like this. It is sort of thing you don't really grasp the entirety of what her life was like until you lived through it yourself.

And part of the problem most kids just get made fun of once or twice but at least they have friends to talk with and make them feel better. It isn't like they were on their own like this girl was. I don't believe the majority know what it is like to have been that girl or someone who was truly made fun of and was a social outcast for the majority of their time in school. People won't get that.
I can understand why suicide seemed like a good option, there were many times I did want to commit suicide too, like you felt as well. But really suicide harms no one but yourself. And harming another person is so wrong. I think that she could have prevented killing herself, by just getting a hobby outside of people in the real world. I played lots of videogames or spent a lot of time on internet forums. It really helped to ease the loneliness. She could have done that instead of killing herself.
 
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