The Megan Meier Myspace suicide case *Update: Conviction overturned* see page 23

[LVobsessed415]

OMG what a horrible story. It really ticks me off that there will be no justice for Megan.

[mello_yello_jen]

Originally Posted by Roo

After consideration, I'm seriously considering writing to the DA. As of the news story last night, he hadn't looked at the case, but doesn't think he'll prosecute. The reasons he should prosecute are twofold: 1. People, including Megan's parents, would like a new law enacted that would make such behavior a crime. However, lots of people think the parent of Megan's friend committed a crime as is. The answer is: IMO, crimes were committed (harassment, endangerment etc.) as is. The laws currently governing Missouri - including the cyberstalking law - should be looked at to see how they can apply to this situation. 2. People should not be given the idea that this sort of thing can be gotten away with. This is a horrible message to send. People usually do this sort of thing on the sly, believing they'll never be caught. The reason they do it on the sly is because they know they are doing something wrong. She was caught and the the justice system should take care of this poor child and her family. Of course the party involved can be civilly sued, but it's a horrible ordeal and Megan's parents are clearly not in a state where they can do that. I would imagine they can barely hold it together. Civil suits take years. I'd gladly take it up were I a philanthropic millionaire, and a smart lawyer in the region looking for publicity should consider taking it on pro bono too. But first and foremost, this should be looked at from a criminal standpoint first. No question. Here is the Prosecutor's information: http://www.saintcharlescounty.org/Deskt … ?tabid=187 I encourage anyone who feels the same way to contact him as well. We're all just one voice.

bumping this in case people are only reading the first and last page.

Thanks Roo for the information!

[sweetlove]

A story about it was just on CNN (Anderson Cooper 360, I think) and it was really interesting, though it made me even more upset about it then I previously was. However, I'm very glad they are putting focus on this though, because what these people did is so horribly wrong and the people who did it should not be allowed to walk away like nothing has happened

[Charlie]

Quote:

.... but she did not feel 'as guilty' because at the funeral she found out 'Megan had tried to commit suicide before.'

WTf is wrong with this woman... if she didnt feel guilty why did she call the other girl and aks ther not to mention anything about the fake myspace account she created..

she is a fu**** monster, you dont do this to a girl that could be your child. You just dont do this to anyone. She is sick and should go to jail for this, she DID contribuited to her death.

[JAN!]

This is beyond ridiculous how a full grown woman is bullying a 14 year old girl.
I think enough has been said about that.

With regards to Megan, I cannot even begin to fathom how her family is feeling right now. To know that something so superficial like Myspace drama could take the life of someone who had so much potential. I mean, when I was 14, I was naive and didn't have an adequate amount of self-esteem. But of course, during adolescent years you grow and learn even when there are many social obstacles. I went through a lot of rough times and was picked on in school too. I didn't ever contemplate suicide, but if I did, it would be such an awful waste because like David Suzuki says, 'who you are today is not who you are going to be tomorrow'.

[rubylola]

Originally Posted by Roo

I just wrote the prosecutor this morning. I believe he is an ELECTED official in that location.

Good for you Roo. There isn't much point me doing it from the UK but if enough people in that area do, he is bound to take notice!

[rubylola]

Originally Posted by sweetlove

A story about it was just on CNN (Anderson Cooper 360, I think) and it was really interesting, though it made me even more upset about it then I previously was. However, I'm very glad they are putting focus on this though, because what these people did is so horribly wrong and the people who did it should not be allowed to walk away like nothing has happened

Good to hear it is getting this sort of exposure. Its beginning to look as if this family aren't just going to get away with what they have done, there has to be accountability! Adults cannot be allowed to bully children, manipulate them and mess with their heads, precipitate terrible tragedies and then shrug it off as if it is nothing to do with them!

[Glamfoxx]

MySpace is not evil, it is a tool. It is a tool that is not for children, in much the same way a chainsaw is a tool that is not for children. If somebody hits you with a hammer, do you blame the hammer? Parents need to ban their kids from using MySpace, it is not appropriate for children. People who use MySpace and other such public forums on the internet need to do so with an understanding that people online are often not who they claim to be. It is sick that an adult did this terrible thing which drove a girl to suicide, but much of the blame lies with the girl's parents for allowing their daughter on MySpace in the first place. Clearly this girl had some emotional problems, it is unfortunate that a depressed young girl had a mySpace account. I see some pretty effin stupid parents all around here.

[madamefifi]

Originally Posted by Glamfoxx

MySpace is not evil, it is a tool. It is a tool that is not for children, in much the same way a chainsaw is a tool that is not for children. If somebody hits you with a hammer, do you blame the hammer? Parents need to ban their kids from using MySpace, it is not appropriate for children. People who use MySpace and other such public forums on the internet need to do so with an understanding that people online are often not who they claim to be. It is sick that an adult did this terrible thing which drove a girl to suicide, but much of the blame lies with the girl's parents for allowing their daughter on MySpace in the first place. Clearly this girl had some emotional problems, it is unfortunate that a depressed young girl had a mySpace account. I see some pretty effin stupid parents all around here.

Thank you! I was starting to think I was the only one who felt this way.

[helium]

I'm a little shocked that everyone here is making a giant distinction between 'adult' and other teenagers who do this. Just to get this out of the way first: this story is absolutely horrible, and insert endless string of angry profanity right here.

With that out of the way, I have to say, it's not right for teenagers to bully people either. It is just as malicious, it's shocking to say that it's an adult responsible this time but it is not ok to find it more 'natural' if it were a victim of teenage bullying. And i'd never attribute it to some sort of 'learning' process because it is horribly malicious towards other people. I mean you don't hit a million things while you're learning to drive just because you're learning. Teenagers don't think of consequences as much (giant generalisation) but they are capable of understanding how to act maturely. My sister did, my best friend did, my cousins did. I'm also not even 18 by the way (one month to go), so this isn't some woman completely out of touch with the demographic talking.

And myspace just disgusts me on a million levels. Glamfoxx said it's a tool, but I don't even know what it's a tool for exactly. What exactly is it a tool for? Why does a page solely for promoting yourself even exist?! It's not acceptable to be boastful about yourself in society, so I can't even wrap my head around a whole website devoted to the idea of self promotion. I only see a website that makes bullying ten times easier than before. Before you could only get the message out to a few of your schoolmates, now it's the whole world. Hooray!

[Glamfoxx]

MySpace is a tool for networking and promotion.

[helium]

Originally Posted by Glamfoxx

MySpace is a tool for networking and promotion.

Sorry i'm not trying to argue with you at all, please don't think that but... why would anyone ever need to promote themselves?

[Glamfoxx]

The question you are asking should be how does a tool like MySpace benefit people who have a need to promote themselves. There are bands, authors, artists, designers, professionals, models, etc. that all benefit from MySpace and other networking tools. MySpace enables these people to reach an audience at minimal cost. I can understand that you feel that kids do not need to promote themselves, and I totally agree with you on that point. It is however, the parents job to keep their kids off of MySpace.

[helium]

Originally Posted by Glamfoxx

The question you are asking should be how does a tool like MySpace benefit people who have a need to promote themselves. There are bands, authors, artists, designers, professionals, models, etc. that all benefit from MySpace and other networking tools. MySpace enables these people to reach an audience at minimal cost. I can understand that you feel that kids do not need to promote themselves, and I totally agree with you on that point. It is however, the parents job to keep their kids off of MySpace.

I thought of models and stuff... but I thought that isn't 'self promotion' as such... kind of like an agent doing it for you if that makes sense. When I say self promotion I mean 90% of what I see on myspace with the teenagers and the 'I like boys' kind of thing, but I realise I was very ambiguous with that point. And I was short sighted not to see bands even though my friend is in a band that does most of its promotion on myspace... ah I have lots to learn.

And I completely agree with you on parents and myspace. Personally, I think if you can't supervise them, don't get them a computer. We never had our personal computers in our rooms and so we never got any chance to do anything bad (the computer was in the dining room too).

[NoSnowHere]

This is horrid. A grown woman creating a myspace account to spy on what this poor girl was saying about her daughter. Being a teen is not easy, and this girl suffered from depression. I think the family should be held accountable.