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[The Fuzz]

I'm curious....since I'm not a Facebooker, does a lot of this go on with kids this age who are users?

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2011/06/18/dad-sues-girls-bullies-over-facebook-video.html?sid=101

A Houston lawyer has sued three girls who made his daughter the target of a nasty video posted on Facebook, according to a lawsuit filed this week in Harris County, Texas.

Last month, the Kingwood, Texas, students, who attend the same middle school, filmed themselves offering unkind words about a classmate, then uploaded the video to the social networking site, the civil complaint says.

The targeted child's father, Jason Medley, provided the video to school officials, then sent cease-and-desist demands to the three girls and their parents. The letters said he would sue if the youngsters didn't stop all communication with his daughter and if their families did not donate at least $5,000 each to the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, an Oregon nonprofit.

Receiving no response by his early June deadline, one of Medley's colleagues filed a defamation of character lawsuit on Tuesday against the three girls, accusing them of making defamatory and false statements that "impute sexual impropriety and misconduct" to his daughter. The complaint also alleged that the video includes threats to physically harm the girl and seeks a permanent injunction to prevent the three from contacting her.

Medley declined to be interviewed for this story. The Chronicle is not naming any of the children involved.

School officials confirmed the incident, a district spokeswoman said in an email.

Nancy Willard, executive director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, thinks Medley's lawsuit is "a very novel approach" and had no idea that the Kingwood dad had suggested a donation to her nonprofit.

"Think of the lesson he is teaching his own daughter," Willard said. "You do not have to put up with someone hurting you. You can calmly and strongly say 'stop,' and I have your back."

[tnweasel]

I don't know how frequent a problem this is...but, we are a nice middle-class, working family who volunteers for community service, homeschools our children through grammar and middle school....pretty much mind our own business...and our daughter has been the target of Facebook bullying. Our daughter will be a senior at a local private high school(not to be named), is involved in lots of school activities (no sports), is involved in volunteer work in the community, does not date, drink, hang out, or do drugs....because she keeps a low profile Facebook acct to keep up with school activities...she was the target of a very nasty young man's pranks and bullying tactics. Being the kind of mom I am....I approached his mother first and explained to her that her son will NOT be allowed to talk about my daughter in that manner. I alerted the school and Facebook...he has since moved on to other 'targets' ...is still rude to my daughter but is afraid enough that he leaves her alone. We have family all over the US and I hate to cancel Facebook since it's such an easy way to keep in touch...but...not at my daughter's expense. Not sure what's wrong with kids today...when we were teens...if you didn't like someone...you just didn't talk to them. It's disgusting the way teens act today...in more ways than one

[The Fuzz]

I have a lot of friends....young and older who actively use it.  Does appear to be a good way to stay in touch.

I have always wondered about how often this goes on as I seem to read a lot of similar stories to this where ever I go on the local news.

[Monique]

I'm one of the younger ones! ;0)

I absolutely love fb. I'd be lost without it. My whole extended family is there and all my school friends and former coworkers. I love being able to keep in touch with everyone! Personally, I've never seen any ugliness, but then again, I don't know many teenagers.

A person can always block someone from their profile. Then the blockee can't see anything about them at all. I've had to invoke that a couple of times, unfortunately, but it's a rarity.

[The Fuzz]

Touche, Young One!   

[MM1]

I'm on the fence with facebook. 

As for bullying, I think the rate is much lower when your actual name is attached to what you say and do as opposed to being anonymous.  But, with youth and ignorance . . . . sometimes they don't care and say stupid/mean things regardless of their names being attached. 

Blocking isn't going to protect a victim from much, if anything. (IMO) After something is posted on a wall, I'm sure it's not long before it is repeated in school and filtered through enough groups that the "word" will eventually get back to the one being bullied. 

But as long as the ones bullying are identifiable, it can be nipped.  And as long as teens are dumb enough to bully with their names clearly attached, they deserve what comes from it. 

I don't think this is a common problem, but probably happens more than we realize.  Unfortunately the internet is a pretty powerful source that gives mean/stupid/hateful people an immediate gratification for their intentions.

Too bad actually. 

Again, I'm on the fence with facebook.   

[Frenchfry]

I have no interest in Facebook....but it's very easy to register a fake name.

[ell]

I have no interest in Facebook....but it's very easy to register a fake name.

Like MT?

I'm not highly active on fb, but I do check in several times a day.  I used it to track down people I've lost touch with, among other things.  Therefore, it wouldn't suit me to have my account under a false name, as I believe is the fact with most people on fb.  And I have "unfriended" people who only post in the negative, or all their posts are about what they needed for competing in one of the fb games.  And then there are the ones who post every little thing that they do every day.  I don't really care what your routine is at the gym, etc, etc.  If used smartly, fb can be quite interesting and enjoyable.

[Mayonnaise]

Yeah, my wife, daughter & son are on it. Somehow?? my wife convinced me to join. She got mad when I quit playing the games and no longer send her stuff but, contrary to the belief, I do have some-what of a life. 
Anyway, I figured that "IF" I got enough friends, it would be easier to get people to be my pall-bearers.

[Frenchfry]

Hostage Taker Makes Facebook Friends!