• 15Dec 08

  Hackers, free speech and death

  This is my first blog in at least over a year. I am dedicating it to the memory of Megan Meier.

  Many of you may have been following the story of Megan Meier. Megan was a 13 year old girl. According to news reports, she has had problems fitting in and had been battling with depression. But things were looking up for Megan. She struck up a friendship with a 16 year old boy named Josh on MySpace. Megan found him attractive.

  They never met. "Josh" said that his family had just moved to the area, was home schooled and he did not have a phone number yet. Then one day, "Josh" had turned on her. He told her in a message that she was no good to anybody and that the world would be a better place without her. After receiving the message, Megan had hung herself. This was on October 17, 2006. Just weeks before her 14th birthday.

  As it turns out, Josh did not exist. Josh was a hoax created by Lori Drew. Drew is the mother of a classmate of Megan's. Lori created Josh with the motive of gaining Megan's trust, making her think that Josh liked her, only to turn on Megan later. This was all because Drew was trying to get back at Megan for allegedly spreading rumors of her own daughter. I guess it worked.

  On November 26, 2008, a Federal jury found Drew guilty on misdemeanor hacking charges. This comes 20 days after Megan would have celebrated her 16th birthday. Drew had violated the terms of agreement for MySpace by creating a false profile with false information. Drew could spend three years in jail.

  The charges were a bit of a long shot. There was outrage from the community, and demanded justice. Murder was not an option, as there was no intent for Megan to die. Manslaughter really doesn't fit the bill either. Long shot or not, I was happy to see the verdict. After all, a young girl is dead due to Drew's actions. It would have been bad enough if it was a real 16 year old boy, and did all of this to tease a classmate. But this was a grown woman who resorted to childlike antics. And what kind of lesson did she teach her own daughter? If someone is spreading rumors about you, strike back with mean and immature practices?

  Three years for faking a profile seems to be a harsh sentence, but really is a bargain given that there was a death involved. Some worry that this may affect freedom of speech, but I don't think it will. Sure, people are free to say and write anything they wish. But there are still consequences for what you do publish. If you lie, are not charged with Libel or Slander? If someone yells, "Fire!" in a crowded, public building, are you not charged with causing a riot? The freedom of speech does not give us a free pass to publish lies or to cause physical or mental harm. Drew did both of these, and it was right to press for charges against her.

  I think the real lesson for the rest of us, is to try to remember how are actions affect others. You never really know how close to the edge a person is. You never know how much of a push may send them over that edge. Perhaps, instead of giving someone a push, we should all look for ways to give out a hand to bring someone off of that edge.

  • Posted Dec 15, 2008 5:23 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 30Aug 07

  The Crazy Overtime of Summer has Paid Off

  My entire summer was dedicated to work. But as you can see, it was worth it.

  

  The flash of the camera is reflecting off the TV. But you get the jist.

  • Posted Aug 30, 2007 8:45 pm PT
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• 22Aug 07

  From one ass to another

  The good:

  And the name for this guy is:

  

  Arnold! It was close between Arnold and Dimples. Spanky got some votes as well. Thanks to Taylor's mom for the winning suggestion, and to Kathy and Justin for the other two finalists.

  And now for the bad and the ugly. Or an ass of another color.

  • Posted Aug 22, 2007 6:11 pm PT
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