tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39147744283293704192011-04-21T11:12:31.882-07:00Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928038306739891501noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914774428329370419.post-53772973246852904222008-03-07T01:17:00.000-08:002008-03-07T01:18:59.891-08:00Link to next blog : <a href="http://2008ri3q02angshaowei.blogspot.com/">http://2008RI3Q02AngShaoWei.blogspot.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3914774428329370419-5377297324685290422?l=2008ri3q01alexyeo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928038306739891501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914774428329370419.post-9613103281187818652008-03-06T05:13:00.000-08:002008-03-06T05:40:22.912-08:00The article I have found is about teenage suicide, and can be found at<br /><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/World/STIStory_201649.html">http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/World/STIStory_201649.html</a>,<br /><br />A thirteen year old girl, Megan Meier, committed suicide after becoming the victim of an Internet ruse. The incident has inspired a legislative effort to make it a felony for adults to harass children. Megan was allegedly saying things about another 13 year old girl of another family, and members of the other family namely a neighbourhood mother and her 18-year-old employee were accused of creating a fake profile of an attractive teenage boy to determine what Megan was saying about the daughter online.<br /><br />Later, when Megan Meier began to receive cruel messages from the teenage boy that he would not be Megan’s friend and not speak to her anymore, Megan decided to hang herself. She died the next day.<br />This case cannot enter court, and no charges can be filed against the guilty members, who acted as the teenage boy as there is no state law against this action, say prosecutors. In this case, the proposed harassment law would punish someone 21 or older who harassed someone 17 years old or younger with up to four years in prison. However, Megan Meier’s mother says that even though the harassment laws in the area are changed, it would be highly unlikely that it would stop the suicide, but it would let the parents and family members not having to enduring the pain of knowing that the person who indirectly caused their daughter’s death was still sitting out there somewhere, knowing perfectly well what they have done, which is what makes this case controversial.<br />In my opinion, I felt that Megan Meier was extremely foolish in committing suicide. Being shunned by an “attractive teenage boy” is not a valid reason to committing suicide at all, and Megan Meier should have known better, as doing so would not only take her life, but cause her family members and relatives much grief as well.<br />Also, I felt that the actions of the members of the other family were also extremely uncalled for. Acting as another person just to find out what Megan Meier was talking about online is unethical, not to mention sending cruel messages to a thirteen year old child. I feel they should be punished duly as they have done something that should not be morally acceptable.<br />I agree with Tina Meier, Megan’s mum, when she says that altering the harassment law would probably not have done much to stop the suicide. However, I feel that it would uphold justice and determine whether those involved in causing the suicide, whether directly or indirectly, were guilty and punishable. The court should decide whether these people should be deemed guilty. Knowing that the person(s) who indirectly harmed your child, and caused him or her great pain or even death, is still out there, sitting down knowing what they have done can be a very painful experience for family members, especially parents.<br /><br />Hence, I feel that the law should be changed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3914774428329370419-961310328118781865?l=2008ri3q01alexyeo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928038306739891501noreply@blogger.com1