Not the same, but similar, with regard to how "commenters" are twisted folk:

A good friend of mine (and fellow blogger) lost her 5 year old daughter to a freak drowning accident a few years ago. The comments in the papers were sickening. Some of those people even followed the name to her blog and began harassing her there. There is far too much hate and judgment going on in this world.

That newspaper or news channel , should be boycotted .Sorry about your student , teachers are subjected to society in a way most of us don't understand.

Look at the sentiment towards Dick Cheney.

sides to all sides.

When Dick Cheney hates, whole countries are destroyed. I don't see DU or even the Democrats doing that.

There is no "become" involved.

It's just that the internet has introduced a way to anonymously give our take on things. It's a much different dynamic than real life.

The dynamics at work in comment sections at news websites aren't really all that different from here. Some of the biggest shit-stirrers are 'professional' trolls who just like to shock people. But most are just regular people who feel freer to say things they wouldn't say in real life.

Few people who have talked shit about Trayvon on the internet would actually say that stuff to his parents' faces. Same thing here. Some DUers like to talk about how stupid and evil they think Republicans are, but they would be pretty unlikely to say that to their 90-year old Republican neighbor in a wheelchair whose trash cans they take to the curb on garbage day.

it seems as if that is where people love to display their ugliest, hate-filled selves. i've been advised not to read them; think it's good advice.
the local news sites here leave me feeling much as you do.

and your chance of dying violently are at a historic low (worldwide).

It seems worse because A) higher standards and B) better communication.

Because otherwise ... we're devolving into some kind of demented baby-eating lizard people.

It's so easy for people to judge others. It sounds like you were probably a bright spot in his life.

As far as the violence and crime goes, I agree with you. But, don't forget the diamonds. It's people like you that can dig them out and polish them. It's got to hurt when things like this happen, and you need to allow yourself some time to be pissed off.

I know somewhere in there you have a story about another student. One that made it. Think of him/her when you're done hating the world.

because sometimes, that is all they have. This kid was not a perfect child, I know that but I never expected this. I am just sad.

And mad, as well. We need more teachers that truly love their students and fewer that judge them. When that happens, what happened to this young man will become a rare occurrence.

And, don't worry, I'm not leaving it all up to the teachers. But, speaking from experience, sometimes a wonderful teacher is all a child has.

You're one of those people that makes me want to believe in a God.

Not the other way around...

and I don't understand it

I think it only appears that way because people have many more ways to express themselves in the public sphere. All of theses attitudes have been there the whole time.

But what used to be fit only for private conversations has now moved to the internet, which is anything but private. I think that's the main difference.

thank you for that

...yes, you are right about what you thought of that young man. Many of my friends growing up used to address strangers this way, yet they could not stay out of criminal activity. So, so many of my friends friends were good kids, but were down the wrong path and could not find their way out. So many of us take for granted our own circumstances. We are all prone to doing the most insane shit(this is not in reference to your student). We are as good as we are evil... it's just that our circumstances and a myriad of other factors are so different from one another.

Once again, I'm sorry to hear this... it happens too often, and people don't want to give others a chance. It is sick and stupid.

As for the bigots... they prey on this apathy... kids like this are their favorite victims.

http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,71890.0.html



some day you will get yours~

I'm sorry about your student. He probably didn't get very many breaks in life.

I avoid the online comments section of my local paper and TV stations. Too much ignorant hate. I don't hang out with the Klan in real life, don't want to read their spew online.

and they were way older. We probably won't know the entire story or circumstance, but it is horrible all the way around.


I just wish there was more that could have been done before things got so horrid

And it is a loss, no matter what.

I had a similar experience before comments were all the rage on news websites. I was driving to work and heard a story about a shoot-out between the police and a citizen in the town where I taught high school for 3 years. The citizen was killed after several hours of police chase through the mall Georgia town. When they announced the man's name, I realize he was one of my former students. I had to pull over on I-85 right outside of Atlanta to calm myself. Yeah. He was a "bad" kid - a drug dealer, had spent some time in prison. But he was smart and kind to kids that others bullied.

but he wasn't one for show...heck he didn't even sag his britches


I guess part of me is really surprised, but a part of me knew

I don't want to sound offensive but your world is small if you don't recognize this. Our world has always been like this. We turn on the television no media idiot is shy to say the suspect appears to be a Black or Hispanic male. When it comes to the White male...a man was seen brandishing a weapon. No mention of his race as though in some way to protect him. The White male is given that courtesy the Black and Hispanic male can never afford the same.

Our people are born suspects. For us the world has never change and it would appear that the world won't be changing any time soon for my future children either. Let me tell you this...I am sure if Obama was not so recognizable and he walked into a store he would be watched. If he spoke politely he'd have to endure the forever..."You speak so well."

I would have loved to live in your world during my formative years. However even as a Black woman of only 5'2" stature I was, have always been, and am consistently watched. I wore my pink Mini Mouse hoodie in France and still I was being followed in the supermarket of Paris. The same has happened to me in New York. Because you seem...I am NEVER above suspicion because of the color of my skin.

Probably even with my pink Mini Mouse hoodie from Disney...if I were killed, someone would say the above and if I were alive I would not be surprised because unfortunately that is all to common in my world. I have not been shy in stating that I had issues growing up as a Black child and now as a Black adult all the issues are coming back. I find your statement so petty and small and reeks of privilege. I don't take to understand your background but your statement gives me the feeling that you don't understand the state of ethnic identity in the United States.

I would have loved to say what you just said...sadly I will never have that chance.

and that the world is so hateful that there are people active and clapping that it happened.

What is petty about that?


In my classroom, I don't see color, I see students as kids that need someone to praise what they do that is awesome and to show them a better way when they screw up. White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, male or female

"this is not a world I recognize anymore from both crime and hate"

You have the privilege not to see color. Unfortunately your kids do not if they are miniorities. They have and will never be able to say,"this is not a world I recognize anymore." Because "not" and "anymore" is more like "always."

if they try to steal your lawnmower are the same ones who say absolutely nothing as we are all robbed blind by white guys in suits. They adore high level criminals but hate low level criminals.

They don't care that Halliburton stole billions with no-bid contracts; they are outraged if a mother buys an extra box of Little Debbies with her EBT card.

Libertarians can not also be Christians, since Christ said if someone tried to take your coat, to give that person your tunic also. Christ did not say "shoot the sumbitch." Sorry, conservatives.

So anyone cheering this death is basically a non-believer. Fine with me, just don't play that "I'm morally superior cuz Jesus loves me" card.

They get all orgasmic when a black kid is shot. It makes them feel so manly and so good.
They are sick. Just understand that.

Their hatred stems from being lonely, isolated, unloved and useless. Seeing someone else die gives them true meaning for a little while.

And you just have to feel sorry for any human who is that bad off .