Kids beat up girl just for the YouTube value
Wed Apr 9, 2008 5:10PM EDT
See Comments (47)
Eight Florida teenagers are in custody for beating up a defenseless girl. Not news, no, but the reason behind it is: The kids who did the deed planned to put the video on YouTube in the hopes of becoming Internet celebrities once the video was widely seen online.
Six girls did the beating (which ended with a concussion) while two boys stood lookout. In a statement after the eight were all rounded up and arrested, one of the girls' mothers said that the victim of the attacks had "provoked" it by "threatening and insulting the girls on their MySpace pages."
The video did indeed make it to YouTube but it's since been removed. You can see snippets of it here or find it by searching YouTube, but it's largely what you're expecting.
Reaction has been pretty swift, with many naturally turning their ire not just on the teens but also on YouTube and MySpace for not policing content better. Does censorship work? Is it even possible for YouTube to vet every video that's uploaded to its site? YouTube serves some 100 million videos every day. What kind of manpower would it take to monitor all of it? And how would one distinguish between a real fight and a staged melee that's part of a (fictional) short film. (Heck, even Lonelygirl15, the YouTube darling, died in her eponymous show's last episode.) Censoring one type of content (which YouTube actually does plenty of, actually) is a slippery slope.
And really, what would be the point? If not YouTube, would the teens have posted pictures or video clips on their blogs? Or simply used another hosting service? Kids have been beating each other up for centuries, since well before YouTube came along, and they'll be doing it after it's gone, too.
Your thoughts, of course, are welcome.
POLL: Is YouTube responsible?
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Comments on Kids beat up girl just for the YouTube value
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2 Posted by clm_melonie on Wed Apr 9, 2008 6:07PM EDT Report Abuse
I absolutely cannot believe this mother's attitude - this victim had it coming?!? what ever happened to "sticks and stones"??? - OMG - my children are well aware that if they do something illegal, violent or just plain mean they better pray they end up in jail, because when I get hold of them.....It makes me feel terribly old but all I can think is "what is this country coming to??"
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3 Posted by dgauquier on Wed Apr 9, 2008 6:18PM EDT Report Abuse
This action doesn't represent the whole State of Florida. Actually most Floridian are happy to see that our enforcement has taken the proper actions against this violent crime, because that is what this is, a Crime. The real question is, what to do to avoid this kind of behavior to happen that often? I believe that if most parents were watching their kids more, and the TV less, we might have a chance, and that is in every States, not only in Florida. Kids are following our leads, if we, adults loose sense of values, and ethics, how can we expect our children to react positively? Leadership by example, this is what we need in USA... And that is not only for the familly matters...
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4 Posted by qwert13_6 on Wed Apr 9, 2008 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse
Maybe these spoiled, poorly raised delinquents should be shown a job application to just about any company. Somewhere will be the question "have you ever been convicted of a felony". If they lie and say "no", they will be found out and fired. If they tell the truth...they will not be hired. And they think it is funny and ask about attending cheerleader practice? Face it...the parents screwed up, just like millions of pathetic parents now a days. When I was in high school, the issues were talking in class and chewing gun, and a dress code was enforced...no one talked back to a teacher, we respected him or her. If I had ever talked back to a teacher, the school would have disciplined me and when my parents found out, I would have gotten it double by them. I hope these worthless excuses for parents are sued for everything they own and their worthless offspring can earn minimum wage (if they are lucky) for the rest of their lives.
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5 Posted by marasscentsation on Wed Apr 9, 2008 7:55PM EDT Report Abuse
The reaction of that teens mother blaming the victim only allows me to understand why her daughter would think that it is ok to unlawfully hold someone in your home and beat on them. There is no other punishment for these kids other than prison. Whether they were only looking out or video taping they all should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law simply because no one has shown remorse nor did any of them think that they should call 911. While in prison make sure they get some counseling and really get rehabilitated. Why didn't any of these kids talk to ther parents about what was posted. If they had this might have ended so differently. Get involved talk to your kids listen to them let them know that there is always another way and it begins with communication understanding and compassion. We also have to let our kids know that people will talk about you no matter what there will always be someone that finds a reason to make fun of you but thats a part of life do not hold on to it.
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1 Posted by nolo_8 on Wed Apr 9, 2008 5:55PM EDT Report Abuse
I wonder who ratted them out?