Mom: Web Hoax Led Girl to Kill Herself

[Pocahontas]

Now that is just horrible! Why was that mother behaving foolishly and getting down on the teenagers levels? If she was concerned about the girl's actions she should have contacted her directly in person or her parents. Pretending to be a teenaged boy and gaining the girl's confidence and then dumping her was cruel and unusual! I hope that mom feels awful!

[piemaker720]

Originally Posted by Pocahontas

Now that is just horrible! Why was that mother behaving foolishly and getting down on the teenagers levels? If she was concerned about the girl's actions she should have contacted her directly in person or her parents. Pretending to be a teenaged boy and gaining the girl's confidence and then dumping her was cruel and unusual! I hope that mom feels awful!

That's exactly what I think. That neighbor had no business pretending to be a boy, talking to the girl then dumping her and calling her names. She was suppose to be the adult. I say throw the book at her, if they can't then find a way.

[joepole]

There should maybe, possibly, barely be a civil judgment, but any criminal charges are ridiculous.

[AnimeSpirit]

I believe the neighbor and anyone who contributed to the false profile should pay a price with interest, but I can't imagine what law they could be booked for. What they did to that girl was cruel and vile. They are monsters! Unfortunately, online deception is not illegal.

I have some related doubts too. Just how stable was Megan to begin with? I've had online relationships myself. Mine included not only e-mail and instant messenging, but phone calls and even plane trips to meet in person. I understand how serious these online relationships get, but Megan didn't even know the "boy" she was talking to! How could his opinion matter so much to her after so little correspondance?

What the neighbors did to that girl was cruel, I agree, but how did it lead to suicide so quickly? I have my doubts that she was stable to begin with.

As for Megan's family, I understand they destroyed the neighbor's foosball table that they were storing for them. Now that, I probably would've done as well, especially after hearing that charges couldn't be filed.

[piemaker720]

Family Shunned Over MySpace Hoax, Teen's Suicide

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315823,00.html

Waterford Crystal Drive is one of those suburban streets that seem so new as to have no history at all. But the suicide of a teenage girl — and allegations she had been tormented by a neighbor over the Internet — have brought a reaction that is old, almost tribal, in its nature.
Residents on the middle-class subdivision have turned against the neighbor, Lori Drew, and her family, demanding the Drews move out. In interviews, they have warned darkly that someone might be tempted to "take matters into their own hands."
Drew became an outcast after she admitted inventing "Josh Evans," a good-looking teenage boy who chatted online with 13-year-old Megan Meier. Megan received cruel messages from Josh that apparently drove her to hang herself in her closet in 2006.
the community reaction has been vengeful and the pressure on the Drews intense.
Last December, after neighbors learned of the Internet hoax, someone threw a brick through a window in the Drew home. A few weeks ago, someone made a prank call to police reporting that there had been a shooting inside the Drew's house, prompting squad cars to arrive with sirens flashing.

Someone recently obtained the password to change the Drew's outgoing cell phone recording, and replaced it with a disturbing message. Police would not detail the content.

Clients have fled from Drew's home-based advertising business, so she had to close it. Neighbors have not seen Drew outside her home in weeks.

Death threats and ugly insults have been hurled at Drew over the Internet, where she has been portrayed as monster who should go to prison, lose custody of her own children, or worse. Her name and address have been posted online, and a Web site with satellite images of the home said the Drews should "rot in hell."

This lady thought the cops couldn't charge her, well she has been thrust into the depths of hell. She says she is being haressed, I think she is getting what she deserves.

[AnimeSpirit]

Originally Posted by piemaker720

This lady thought the cops couldn't charge her, well she has been thrust into the depths of hell. She says she is being haressed, I think she is getting what she deserves.

Agreed, no one likes a bully who complains when someone bullies back. She needs to grow up and take her beating like an adult.

[joepole]

Maybe she'll kill herself.