The Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 New York Times' Weekend Update section includes an article (see link above and below), "Bullying, Suicide, Punishment," which deals with the suicide of a Rutgers University freshman after two fellow students posted images of him engaging in homosexual acts on the internet. Read the article, summarize it, include points you find interesting and state your opinion. Be ready to discuss your opinions in class.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/weekinreview/03schwartz.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Sunday, October 3, 2010
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Posted by Yaminah Sejour
ReplyDeleteClass SPC1017 T&R 2:05p-3:20p
In this article Tyler Clementi of Rutger university committed suicide after his roommate and another student videotaped him engaging in homosexual acts and then posted the video online. Because of this, Clementi felt as though his solution to his humiliation was to end his life. Clementis reactions are causing a huge uproar in the community which is now asking for harsher punishment to the crime that was initially committed. I side completely with the reporter when he says " the punishment should fit the crime, not the sense of outrage over it". Even though what the roommate and student did was illegal and an invasion of privacy, i think that they should only be prosecuted for that. The public cant expect them to be responsible for the reaction that Clementi took upon himself. Personally i feel that he exhibited weakness in doing what he did and this shows that he was just a ticking timebomb, if this didnt drive him to suicide, something else in life could have also drawn him to the same fate. There are many ways to deal with obstacles in our lives on this earth and his method was indeed disturbing, but the other two students involved should not face the consequences for his actions, they should only face the consequences for their own. In my opinion Clementi was a disturbed individual.
A Rutgers University student, Tyler Clementi, comitted suicide because his roomate and another student streamed a intimate webcam video of him and another man. Now the two students are being confronted with criminal charges that included invasion of privacy and sexual orientation bullying. The consequences will be up to 10 years in prison. Orrin S. Kerr, a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in cybercrime stated that “invading somebody’s privacy can inflict such great distress that invasions of privacy should be punished, and punished significantly.” I totally agree with Kerr's statement. I believe that what Clementi did in his private time is just that... PRIVATE. His roomate had no business going through his videos and uploading it online. If his roommate was doing this as a prank, it does not justified for his actions. The majority of students find sexual preference a very sensitive topic, so for Clementi to jump of a bridge goes to show how serious cyberbullying and gender perference bullying is. I think it will be very apporiate for the prosecutor in this case to investigate bias charges againt Clementi's orientation because that is very much a serious crime aside the invasion of privacy. So if these students get 10 years prison time that will be very acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI believe the punishment that is being giving in this case, fits. Reason being is that most teenagers, mostly college students, don't realize how important privacy is and how cyber bullying can also affect someone’s' mind into suicide. I also believe that privacy is an issue but not a big enough issue as the suicide. If punished for something, it should be for the suicide that the Tyler committed. Addition to privacy invasion, the fact that Tyler was intimate with a guy (sexual gender) in the webcam made them seem as they had some hatred towards gays. If they were to get off with it, I believe the punishment wouldn’t fit the crime. Teenagers don't realize how serious bullying is, cyber or face-to-face, until it's towards them and their mind is on the edge of suicide.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the article, an 18 year old boy, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide after being humiliated and cyber bullied by his roomate Dharum Ravi and a student, Molly W. Wei. Clementi, was having intimacy with another man through webcam. His roomate and teh other student invaded Clementi's privacy and made it public by cyberbullying. Clementi after all of the humiliation, committed suicide. Now the law does not know what type of punishment will be given to these two for cyber bullying Clementi.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I believe that the punishment for these two students should not be a manslaughter how it says in the article. I don't believe anyone should be killed and that there are better punishments than that. Once you kill the person, that's it and they don't suffer nothing, but if you put them inprison for several years it is torture. Not only would they have to survive in prison, but also they would have to be careful of not getting raped. Also, the fact of knowing someone committed suicied because of your fault, is a torture they will have to carry in their conscience for the rest of their lives. I don't believe it is fair for anyone to be invaded in their intimate or any time of privacy and the punishment for this should be major.
I agree with the opinions of the students above me. They think the same way that I do.
Claudia D. Saavedra SPC 1017 9:00-9:50am