Aural sounds right to me.

I don't remember anyone in office, of any party, advocating the use of nuclear weapons against any target, except in response to a NCB attack against the US or its allies. Please avoid hyperbole when criticizing hyperbolic statements.

How dare I say that pouring sympathy and attention on someone after they kill themselves is likely to make killing themselves more attractive to those who desperately yearn for sympathy and attention!

Well, of course. I was actually refering to Zill's comment as being insightful. But, naturally, that has been degraded to -1 Flamebait at this point.

Minors have the responsibility not to kill themselves. Minors have the responsibility to use the formal means available to report things they cannot handle. Tragic as it is, it appears that the young girl did not succeed at either. There are no formal records of this harrasment at the school, as would be the case if it had been raised by the girl or her mother. Certainly no such records exist with the police. I suppose we could make these things the responsibility of the supervisors (a horrid idea), but this seems to be an impossilbe responsibility. "Don't kill yourself" and "report things you can't handle to the authorities" are basic tasks of a functional human. The tragedy here is that this girl was not equipped to be a functional human.

I certainly agree that we have laws enough to deal with this sort of behavior, in so far as it is necessary to criminalize the cruelty of highschoolers. However, while they are not being charged legeally with her death, "9 MA Cyberbullies Indicted for Causing Suicide" seems to indicate that they are certainly being blamed for her actions. Indeed, I believe the only reason this litany of charges is being handed down for these actions is due to the suicide. If this were handled rationally, by the girl or her parrents making a formal complaint to the school, it is doubtful any criminal charges would be filed. I believe the only reason the accused, while certainly unsavory children, are "twisted sadists" and not "cruel highschoolers" is that the girl chose to hang herself.
I am not defending the actions of these bullies. I think they're shameful and cruel. However, the bullies are charged with nothing more physically brutal than throwing a can of soda at the girl. They are not responsible for her death.

Yes. All the sympathy, compasion and righteous anger is, not without reason, for the girl. It is likely that those who yearn for sympathy, compasion and someone to defend them will now see killing themselves as a possible avenue to gain these rewards. It is a shame that none of the blame for the girls death seems to be directed at the person who put a noose around her neck and hung her.

See, now you're being mean to him. Anything he does to himself might be your fault because you were cruel to him online. Also, this isn't Troll. This is insightful.

The AoC in MA is 16. Given the ages of those charged (17 & 18), and her age (15), 16 is probably a bright line which shall not be crossed. However, not a lawyer.

While certainly it is a tragedy that this girl has killed herself, and certainly any criminal activity related should be punished, is it really appropriate to hold others responsible for her choice to kill herself? She was called names constantly. People posted insults online relentlessly. Her books were knocked from her hands. High school seniors took advantage of her and had consenting sex with her while she was the age of consent for her state. Most, directly, violent of all, she had a can of Red Bull thrown at her, though it might not have hit her. Certainly, if these were observed or reported, the staff of the school had an obligation to mete out punishments and restraints. However, is there a reasonable expectation that these, even if a regular pattern over the course of four months, lead to someone killing themselves? Is it equally likely that, for whatever reason, this young lady simply did not have the emotional tools to manage the sort of abuse that is frequently dealt in high school?
Perhaps my experience as a fat, bowlegged, dork in high school has inured me to the torments of others. Personally, I just skipped school when I didn't want to go. Worked just fine, until I got sent to in school detention, which was conveniently isolated...so I can't really complain there either. To me, the logical consequence of school being a place of torment is that the person just not go when it gets to be too much. If going someplace makes you feel like killing yourself, don't go there. Facebook make you feel like dying? Don't click the Facebook link.
Do we now hold people responsible for another person's actions? Do you want a world where your negative online comments, no matter how vile, can land you in prison because someone else does not have the emotional tools to deal with, or avoid, your vitriol...or what they PERCIEVE as vitriol? Imagine the consequences, manipulations, and abuses that flow from this. Is the suicide a tragedy? Yes, but even as we are certain to punish highschoolers for their cruel behavior, let us keep in mind who chose to kill this girl.

You are mis-informed. She apparently had consentual sex with a 17 and/or 18 year old while she was 15. The charge is statutory rape.

It is likely the statutory rape charges are related to her dating a high school senior of age 17 or older. I do not have the details, but it appears the ages of the charged persons are 17 and 18. It may be outside the law for them to have sex with a freshman, but I seriously doubt it is far outside of normal behavior.

I thought that might be it. Just wanted to toss in my view.

Your point seems to be that if I don't have a job I won't have the money to pay my bills.

Dear The People,

I tried to explain this to you time and time again, but I never loved you unconditionally. I expected things of you. You were supposed to take care of your self. I always wanted you to do more than just survive, but you couldn't even do that on your own.

Liberty