Teen beating shows the downside of the internet
Keva Roberts
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Opinion
The internet. It is used globally to connect those on opposite ends of the world. It provides a wealth of information on any subject you like, and hours of entertainment in the form of games or online video.
It's 3 a.m. You have a research paper due at 9 a.m., and you need that one, final source about NAFTA. Internet is there for you. It has your back, providing every type of search engine and online journal database you need. Internet can teach you about world religions, elephants, and muskrats. The world is at your fingertips. Praised by many, used by nearly all, what possible downside could there be?
It's the most lawless form of media, because who polices it? There is no internet police department. There is no internet government. The internet gets to just exist without the restrictions of the FCC. The only real crackdown, and rightfully so, is on any explicit material that involves minors.
This week in Florida, eight teenagers discovered that they're going to be charged as adults, after beating a 16-year-old, recording it on a camera phone, and then placing it on the internet.
It all started because the victim "trash talked" about the girls on Myspace.
For over three minutes, the victim is savagely beaten, punched in the face, and prevented from leaving. The victim was attacked by six girls ages 14-18, and two male teenagers acted as lookouts. After watching the tape, it's clear that the girl just wanted to leave. She's not throwing punches back and she spent the three minutes trying to block whatever shots she could. The victim was beaten so badly, that her father didn't recognize her when he got to the hospital. Maybe its na'veté and even taboo to say it now, but why not just trash talk the victim back online? Did they have to go to such extreme lengths for retaliation? A nasty post mass emailed to their friends would have sufficed. Now they're facing serious jail time for kidnapping, battery, and false imprisonment.
It's 3 a.m. You have a research paper due at 9 a.m., and you need that one, final source about NAFTA. Internet is there for you. It has your back, providing every type of search engine and online journal database you need. Internet can teach you about world religions, elephants, and muskrats. The world is at your fingertips. Praised by many, used by nearly all, what possible downside could there be?
It's the most lawless form of media, because who polices it? There is no internet police department. There is no internet government. The internet gets to just exist without the restrictions of the FCC. The only real crackdown, and rightfully so, is on any explicit material that involves minors.
This week in Florida, eight teenagers discovered that they're going to be charged as adults, after beating a 16-year-old, recording it on a camera phone, and then placing it on the internet.
It all started because the victim "trash talked" about the girls on Myspace.
For over three minutes, the victim is savagely beaten, punched in the face, and prevented from leaving. The victim was attacked by six girls ages 14-18, and two male teenagers acted as lookouts. After watching the tape, it's clear that the girl just wanted to leave. She's not throwing punches back and she spent the three minutes trying to block whatever shots she could. The victim was beaten so badly, that her father didn't recognize her when he got to the hospital. Maybe its na'veté and even taboo to say it now, but why not just trash talk the victim back online? Did they have to go to such extreme lengths for retaliation? A nasty post mass emailed to their friends would have sufficed. Now they're facing serious jail time for kidnapping, battery, and false imprisonment.
Be the first to comment on this story